Rez served on the VCS board during some of the most challenging moments
of the ongoing Moshup Trail Project. At that time, a half-dozen
strategic parcels of priceless coastal heathlands were about to be lost
to development. Rez quoted ecologist Peter Dunwiddie, who described the
rare habitat as “our Redwoods.”
A partnership involving the state, town, private conservation groups
and foundations stepped up, resulting in preservation of one of the
Vineyard’s flagship natural areas. Our board was repeatedly tested.
Complex title issues were sorted out. Acquisition funds were raised
with only hours to spare. The town even stepped in to exercise its
eminent domain power to secure one strategic parcel, with backing from
VCS. “It was quite the fight,” recalls Williams.
Rez donated the Moshup Trail painting seen below as part of an “Art for Legal
Defense” auction that helped sustain the effort. He went on to serve as
board president at Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation.
I asked Rez what he thought were going to be challenges for VCS in the
future. “It’s a tough nut. With the population increase and the
building boom of the 1980s and 90s, I see now the beginning of what I
think is going to be disastrous effects on our great ponds. The
consequences are getting uglier and uglier. VCS will have to get into
the work of fixing things rather than heading them off. Wind power,
sewering and condoms,” (Rez joked) were three things that came to mind
when talking about fixing things.
The Moshup Trail painting seen here was one of Williams’ last landscapes, painted when he served
on the VCS board.
Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (who
died last December), counted Rez along with Andrew Wyeth, Frank Stella,
Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons as among the finest artists of the 21st
century. Hoving said about Rez, “His scenes of the Vineyard smash into
your eyes like crescendos.” A modest Williams stated that Hoving’s
description was nothing more than a favor to boost interest in his art.
Having been in his studio, one would have to agree that Hoving was onto
something.
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