Ray Ellis has been painting for over 70 years, much of it on the Vineyard. This year one of his paintings was auctioned off for $120,000 at the Taste of the Vineyard fundraiser for the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust. Two years ago at the same event, a painting by Mr. Ellis went for $250,000. Last year, his tie was bought for $150,000. To hear him talk will only cost $75.

Mr. Ellis will be hosting, along with friend and fellow artist Allen Whiting, the first in a series of Speakeasy events to benefit the West Tisbury Library expansion. The event will be held on Wednesday, July 11, at the Granary Gallery on Old County Road in West Tisbury. The Granary Gallery and State Road Restaurant, in collaboration with the West Tisbury Library Foundation, Inc., are hosting the series which will continue throughout the summer. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m.

For those who lean more to listening pleasure, there is another chance this week to help the library. On Tuesday, July 10, at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury, Livingston Taylor and Elizabeth Straton perform a concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. The concert opens the Tuesdays at Twilight series, to be held throughout the summer as a benefit for the library. Future performers include Jemima James with Dan Waters and Al Schackman, the Flying Elbows, Danna Banana (children’s performer Dan Cohen), Nina Violet and Lilah Larson with Sons of an Illustrious Father.

For more information about these events and the library expansion in general, visit wtlibraryfoundation.org.