Fifth annual Paint Presque Isle event
to be held one week earlier
File photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
CAPTURING THE CITY LANDSCAPE — Beth Brown, of Washburn, was one of 17 artists who participated in last year’s “Paint Presque Isle: A Fresh Paint Event and Auction,” a fundraiser for the Aroostook Partners in the Arts. Brown set up her easel on south Main Street and painted the University of Maine at Presque Isle windmill and nearby fields. This year’s event will be held Saturday, Aug. 18, one week earlier than the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest.
PRESQUE ISLE — For the first time, the fifth annual “Paint Presque Isle: A Fresh Paint Event and Auction” will be held the week before the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest rather than be part of the festival itself.
“[Having it the same time as the Balloon Fest], we’re always competing with the balloon launches and we hate to pull people away from the launches and festivities, and we hate to lose people to the launches and festivities,” said Heather Harvell, member of the Aroostook Partners in the Arts, host of the event. “We decided to try it the weekend before the Balloon Fest so people don’t have to choose between the two.”
Scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18, artists will set up around the Star City and create original pieces which will then be auctioned off that night with proceeds benefiting the Aroostook Partners in the Arts, an organization whose mission is to bring more art enrichment to the schools in Aroostook County.
Last year the organization funded performers and events such as mime and ballerina Karen Montanaro, who conducted workshops for students in Presque Isle, Mapleton, Easton, Washburn and Ashland. Montanaro taught the students the definition of culture and an African, Greek, Irish and American dance to represent each culture.
In addition, the Theater at Monmouth presented “The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship” at Mapleton Elementary School. About 40 students from Ashland District School also viewed the performance. Michael Wingfield conducted a presentation on African culture and music through the medium of percussion to students at Presque Isle Middle School and Ashland, while more than 100 pre-K and kindergarten students attended programs at the Wintergreen Arts Center, which included decorating their own T-shirts. This year’s Paint Presque Isle event will help to continue this mission.
“The amount of performers, artists and events that we have either funded — in part or in full — grew this year, as well,” said Harvell, noting that more than $7,000 was raised through last year’s fundraiser. “We were able to include many different schools this year which is great; that’s the whole purpose of the Aroostook Partners in the Arts. We were able to spend our money really well and we’re ready to raise more so we can do it again.”
Paint Presque Isle continues to grow in popularity. Last year’s event featured 16 “live” artists, and more than 20 original works of art were auctioned.
“In addition, over 40 silent auction items were featured including such diverse items as hand carved furniture and birds, pottery, photos, weaving, handmade paper products, quilting and jewelry,” said Pat Rathbun, member of the Aroostook Partners in the Arts. “This is a wonderful opportunity to find unique, one-of-a-kind original gifts and art for your home or office.”
“Artists keep coming out of every corner of Aroostook County to participate and that’s fantastic,” said Harvell, who won’t be attending this year’s event due to a family obligation but will submit a piece in the silent auction. “It’s nice to see returning artists, as well as have new artists come on board and introduce themselves to the community in this regard.”
Anyone wishing to donate items to the silent auction can call 768-6311 or drop them off at the event table in the Northeastland Hotel lobby Aug. 18 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Registration for artists will be held from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Northeastland Hotel. As part of the $10 registration fee, artists will receive a bag lunch and two tickets to the auction/reception to take place that night.
Recognizing that a lot of local residents like to watch the artists work, there will be a large map at the Northeastland to show the location of where each artist plans to set up.
At 3 p.m. artists will bring their completed work back to the hotel where it will be matted by Morning Star Art & Framing.
Another change this year will be that the reception and auction will be held at The Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Event Center, LLC.
“Space-wise we’ll have a larger area to work with at The Crow’s Nest, parking is a little bit easier and we’ll be able to accept credit cards this year, which will be a big help,” said Harvell. “The event is growing and we need to grow with it.”
A preview reception will be held from 6-7 p.m. and the auction will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets, which are $5, are available at the door and at the Morning Star Gallery. Matt Gregg will be the auctioneer.
“From 6-7 p.m. is the opportunity to view the artwork and decide which piece you would like to get in on the bidding for. It is also a time to bid on the silent auction items while enjoying some light refreshments and drinks,” said Harvell. “It’s a really important time for both the prospective buyers and the artists because it gives people a chance to mingle and ask the artists about their work. It’s also a good opportunity for the artists to interact with one another.
“To make the event even more sophisticated, we’ll have complimentary chocolate-dipped strawberries, donated by ACE Rent-A-Car, and wine donated by Barresi Financial at each table,” she said.
The artists can choose to donate all or a portion of the proceeds from their artwork to the Partners in the Arts. To facilitate bidding, organizers ask for a price range for each work. The high end represents the fair market value at gallery price, while the low end will be the “artists’ reserve,” the price below which artists will not allow the work to be sold. Should any piece not receive the requested price, the artist will take the piece at the end of the auction.
Pre-registration for participating artists is encouraged. Forms can be picked up at Morning Star Art & Framing or online at www.crownofmaineballoonfest.org.
The Paint Presque Isle event will be held rain or shine and artists are encouraged to prepare for inclement weather and bring such items as an umbrella, canopy, raincoat and sweatshirts.
Aroostook Partners in the Arts, which organized in 1995 to work cooperatively with local schools to develop, support and sponsor high quality performing arts, visual arts and humanities experiences for school age children, typically meets at 11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library community room. Anyone interested in joining the group is invited to attend a meeting. Community members should contact the library or Martha LaPointe at 768-6311 for exact meeting time.
For more information on the Paint Presque Isle event, call LaPointe or Harvell at 749-1075.
