Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The weekend sunshine drew out area artists given a six-hour task of capturing the Presque Isle aesthetic on Aug. 23.
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Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
ASHLEY NICHOLS, an UMPI graduate and Presque Isle native, paints part of the downtown using acrylics during the Paint Presque Isle event Aug. 23. Ten artists created scenes from around Presque Isle to sell at an auction to benefit the Aroostook Partners in the Arts.
Ten artists set up easels and equipment following a route around the bike path, Main Street and Riverside Park donating their time and work to benefit the Aroostook Partners in the Arts in the first Paint Presque Isle: Fresh Paint Event and Auction.
Ashley Nichols, a recent graduate of the University of Maine at Presque Isle, chose a shaded area of Main Street for her location.
“I haven’t had a chance to paint since graduation, and this was a great opportunity to get involved in the art community around Presque Isle,” said Nichols of her decision to join in the program.
Nichols used acrylics to paint the buildings housing Aroostook Music and the Braden Theater. “I enjoy architecture, and I think downtown’s a fun area with a lot of great old buildings,” said Nichols.
Nichols’ neighboring artist on the sidewalk, Suzzanne Toussaint, had similar inclinations to use the Main Street structures as inspiration for her piece. Toussaint used oil paints to recreate Morning Star’s storefront, because of “the vivid color in the stained glass.”
Toussaint, a resident of Eagle Lake, was invited to take part in the day’s activities when organizers spotted her painting during the musical performances in Riverside Park this summer. Toussaint took up the paintbrush after being diagnosed with cancer and taking adult education classes with Gertrude Thibodeau.
“I’m not a person that just likes to sit, so painting was perfect,” said Toussaint.
Artist Heather Harvell preferred a more peaceful area in a natural settings around the bike path to work on her two watercolors. “I do more organic work, and I get easily distracted,” said Harvell working from the branch of the bike path between Academy and State. “This area is my favorite stretch of the bike path; I love the fence and the flowers.”
Harvell recommended the Paint Presque Isle project to the APA when they were looking for a different kind of fund-raiser during the winter. Harvell had participated in similar events downstate, and believed they could also prove successful in the County.
While most of the artists agreed that the time-sensitive nature of the assignment was a little bit of a challenge, they didn’t hesitate to speak to passing pedestrians about their process and show their work in progress. “I’m not used to doing it all in one sitting. Usually, I work on it, set it aside and come back to it; but it’s a nice challenge,” explained Nichols.
Thirteen paintings where later displayed at the Northeastland Hotel by artists including Nichols, Toussaint, Harvell, Lara Cannon, Frank Sullivan, Roger Rabideaus, Whitney Graham, Michaela Page, Kirsten Ardnt and Skye Sawyer before the auction.
Despite a conflict with the evening balloon launch, the auction generated $1,875 for the APA. “I was a little concerned at first because the balloons went off late and it was the same time as the auction. We had a 25 percent turnout from ticket sales, and every piece went above the artist reserve price,” said Harvell.
The Northeastland donated use of the ballroom for the auction, and Morning Star gave a 25-percent off gift certificate for framing to all purchasers. University of Maine at Presque Isle President Don Zillman was the auctioneer.
The APA has yet to receive requests for funding for this school year, but expects applications in the near future. Possible guest artists this year include Karen Montanaro, a professional mime and prima ballerina, who APA brought to the County two years ago.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
CAPTURING THE CALM OF NATURE ON CANVAS, Skye Sawyer details her painting of the view from Riverside Park during the Paint Presque Isle event on Aug. 23.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
ENJOYING THE QUIET OF THE BIKE PATH, artist Heather Harvell workers on her watercolor for the Paint Presque Isle project. Harvell suggested the idea of a day of painting and auction to benefit the Aroostook Partners in the Arts program.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
FRANK SULLIVAN, an artist from Littleton, surveys his canvas before adding some more color for the Paint Presque Isle event on Aug. 23.
Staff photo/ Meridith Paterson
ADMIRING THE ARCHITECTURE OF DOWNTOWN PRESQUE ISLE, Suzzanne Toussaint of Eagle Lake chose to paint on Main Street during the Paint Presque Isle project on Aug. 23.
