Citizens to the Rescue

The most painted object in the U.S. is probably a weather-beaten, 84-year-old fishing shack in Rockport, Mass, known to artists, professional and amateur, as "Motif No. 1." Rockport citizens have long taken jealous pride in preserving its warped red siding and sagging shingles in a state of paintworthy dilapidation. A year ago the tenant, Dana Vibert, lobster dealer, strung overhead wires to the shack to run an electric pump. Horrified art colonists demanded that he take them down; they spoiled the charm. Replied Vibert: "If you don't like the wires, don't paint 'em." Charm or no charm, he intended to go right on running his electric pump with electricity.

Last week, with Lobsterman Vibert's permission, Rockport artists found a way out. After raising $100 by subscription, they had a trench dug for an underground conduit. Then, in a formal ceremony which also opened Rockport's summer painting season, they triumphantly clipped and removed the offending wires.

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