JP Jacquet, the art teacher at Pomfret School, created this 4-panel art installation that is in the main dining room of The Vanilla Bean Café. This project was installed in two parts. The first two panels, the ones on the west wall, were installed in 2002. They feature the café owners, employees, the artist himself and people from the Pomfret School Community. The second group of two panels were installed in 2004 on the south wall and feature more people from the community at large. The people in what is referred to as Panel 1 (from left to right when seen from the dining room) were requested by Barry Jessurun. Betty (article above) and Newell Hale are featured on the left side of this panel. The people in Panel 2 were people the artist chose to be included for various reasons.
Panel 1 – Patio
1 – Betty Hale – Local philanthropist responsible for the increase in the quality of life in our community
2 – Newel Hale – Local business man – same as above – and so much more
3 – Len Martin – Father of James Martin (James is our Managing Partner at 85 Main – see Panel 4)
4 – Taylor Martin – James Martin’s daughter
5 – Cheryl Martin – Mother of James Martin – responsible for introducing many people to the VBC
6 – Patricia Jessurun – Mother of Brian and Barry Jessurun – a terrific cook, she made the quiche and soups in the early days of the Bean – “she made good gravy.”
7 – Albert “Jess” Jessurun – Father of Brian and Barry Jessurun – Known for many things, but mostly his sense of humor
8 – Paul Aicher – Local businessman, philanthropist and avid birder – also Barry’s mentor
9 – Syd – He has been on the Coke cooler since Day 1 – donated by a family friend. During a cleaning day he was seated at a table, and Paul Aicher sat with him during lunch
Panel 2 – Parking Lot
1 – Syd – from panel 1
2 – Nick from Pyzz – Bartender and motorcyclist from a local pizza joint
3 – Alyce Santoro – Artist’s ex-wife
4 – Ted Kelley – Famed history teacher at Pomfret School
5 – Bret Mathes – English teacher at Pomfret School – known for eating pasta by the fish tank
6 – Charlie Brooks – Student at Pomfret School and aspiring artist – assisted JP
Panel 3 – Inside
1 – Nigel Vincent – Our head chef at that time – now the Executive Chef at the Back Eddy in Westport MA
2 – Tahsha (Mastiff) – our first mascot – 1990-2001
3 – Mitch Pinkowski – English teacher at Pomfret School and artist’s good drinking buddy
4 – Junko Pinkowski – Artist and teacher at Pomfret School
5 – Peter Nelson – Local artist and a regular, and wine connoisseur
6 – JP Jacquet – The Artist himself
7 – Beth Jacquet – The Artist’s wife and sexy muse
8 – Barry Jessurun – see panel 4
Panel 4 – The Bean
1 – Barry Jessurun – Co-owner of The Vanilla Bean Café – Chief Story Teller – President of Green Valley Hospitality (VBC was the launch site of Vanilla Coke in 2002)
2 – Maria Sangiolo – Local Musician, music booking agent for VBC, and Barry’s wife
3 – Brian Jessurun – Co-owner of The Vanilla Bean Café – Free-dive spear fisherman – Chief Schmoozing Officer of Green Valley Hospitality
4 – James Martin – Co-owner and Executive Chef of 85 Main (a Green Valley Hospitality Restaurant) fun fact – he started out as a dishwasher at the Bean
