October 19, 2026
To: Chris Clapper, Saratoga Springs, NY
From: Stephen Brown, Comfort Island
Dear Chris,
This weekend, when you were here for dinner, you saw the first work of art that I bought back in 1993. It’s a monumental figure by Wayne Forte that I could barely afford and it’s hanging in the dining room. Over the years I’d buy one or two new pieces, but it wasn’t until I bought Comfort that I really started leaning into collecting art.
Alson E. Clark built Comfort in 1883. One of his three sons, Alson Skinner Clark, became a celebrated American painter who eventually settled in Pasadena and joined the community of artists who became known as the California Impressionists.
When I purchased Comfort, it came with two paintings by Alson Clark: a view from Comfort looking across to Wellesley Island and a portrait of his father, painted during a family visit to Paris.
Alson started me on my accumulation of works by California Impressionists. His murals of geishas, still on the walls of Comfort, inspired me to start buying antique Japanese woodblock prints—something both Monet and Van Gogh collected.
From there I moved into 19th and 20th century portraits, mid-century photography and studies of the male figure.
At this point I have a lot of art. Not all are great. But all captured my eye.
Alson started a collection that now makes my son Brody’s head explode.
My sister Regan claims I have no more wall space. I’m sure I can find some.
The trouble is, I love art.
And I’m lucky enough to have really good friends and family who are talented artists.
And through the years I’ve been even luckier to add pieces they have created to my collection.
If you come to Comfort for dinner, or for a weekend, you better bring your superpowers with you. My artist friends bring their humor, their insight and their way of looking at the world that I find fascinating. Jeff is motivated by movement, Mark by light and Gregor by form and function. Individually, they create beautiful, powerful art.
I’ve always believed that surrounding myself with people who are smarter, funnier and more talented than I am makes me a better person.
This past weekend, we had so many creative and talented people staying here, and everyone brought their A game. And looking back, it energized and inspired me. The dinner conversations were lively and smart. Interactions were meaningful and sometimes hilarious. Daytime skinny dipping in 58-degree water comes immediately to mind. Thank goodness the tour boats have stopped their rounds.
My friend Matt, who you met at dinner, knowing that I was going off to France to study French, brought me a French dictionary. This weekend he worked on an embroidery project and fixed a broken knit in my sweater. He was charming and funny all weekend. More of him please.
I’m not a fan of small talk. Life is too short. The folks who came here this weekend understood the task. Chris, you always do. And I was glad you were seated next to me at dinner.
Stephen