Art Walk to feature paintings,
live performances
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — From paintings to a live performance, downtown Presque Isle will be the place to be for November’s First Friday Art Walk.
“William Lloyd Duncan is the featured artist at Morning Star Art & Framing on Friday, Nov. 2, as part of the First Friday event,” said Brian Brisette, of MSAF. “Bill is a painter, photographer and graphic artist who combines all three mediums in his current work.”
Brisette said Duncan uses the landscape of Maine and New Brunswick as his subject.
“Bill was born and brought up in Caribou and now lives and works in his studio at Madawaska Lake with his wife, Jean,” he said.
When asked about his background in art, Duncan replied, “I learned to draw in elementary school and also taught myself through books and by doodling during class. I got a John Gnagy ‘Learn to Draw’ kit and watched his television shows. Gnagy was the Bob Ross of the day. I also took several art classes in high school.”
Duncan went on to earn a bachelor of arts in art from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and a master of fine art in visual art from Norwich University (Vermont College).
“I’m not sure that qualifies me as an artist but, in the absence of any state of Maine artistic licensing bureau, I’ve taken on that title. I am an artist. I do art,” said Duncan. “My newest paintings are done with a basic red-blue-yellow palette and mixed on the painting’s surface. This gives a real vibrancy to the shadows,” Duncan said.
Duncan also does freelance graphic design, web design, illustration, photography and fine art printing. The artwork will be on display through November. The artist’s work is also available through his website www.WilliamLloydDuncan.com.
MSAF is located at 431 Main St. in downtown Presque Isle. Live music, sweet treats and extended hours from 6-9 p.m. will be offered. For more information, call 764-1810.
Wintergreen Arts Center on State Street will also be taking part again in First Friday festivities, this time with a live performance.
“The students from Presque Isle High School’s Shipmates’ Playhouse will be performing music from their production of ‘Honk,’” said Wendy Gilman-Zubrick, the center’s director.
“The musical is based on one of the world’s favorite fairytales, Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Ugly Duckling.’ The play is fun and the music is great,” said Gilman-Zubrick. “Our event is a fun, free sample of what is in the works for the school play.”
Cast members will be performing at Wintergreen beginning at 7:30 p.m.
“Wintergreen will also be featuring the artwork that will be auctioned during the 2012 Rotary Art Auction at the end of November. More information on that will be released at a later date,” said Gilman-Zubrick.
The full play will be performed on Nov. 9-11 and Nov. 16-17 at the Presque Isle High School. Admission will be $5 per person. For more information, call 764-0121.
