Student artwork brightens up mall
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
GRAYSON JORDAN, 5, a kindergartner at Pine Street Elementary School, proudly displays his picture, a finger printing using warm colors, to his grandmother, Roseanna Jordan, during last Tuesday’s opening reception of the SAD 1 Art Exhibit at the Aroostook Centre Mall. The work of students from Pine Street, Mapleton and Zippel are all on display at the K-5 gallery located next to Expect More Dollar Store, while the 6-12 gallery, featuring pieces from students at PIMS and PIHS, is located next to the new Cardsmart store. The student artwork will remain on display through May 24.
Staff photos/Scott Mitchell Johnson
KALLIE BARTLEY, 5, a kindergartner at Pine Street Elementary School, gets a lift from her father, Chad, to get a closer look at her gadget printing and shapes picture that is now on display at the Aroostook Centre mall as part of the 18th annual SAD 1 Art Exhibit.
CAIJSA BENSON, 9, a fourth-grader at Zippel Elementary School, points out her artwork (top row, second from left) to her mother, Chalai Benson, and two-year-old brother, Weston. Benson’s oil pastel flower, which is inspired by Georgia O’Keefe, is among the many pieces presently on display at the Aroostook Centre Mall as part of the 18th annual SAD 1 Art Exhibit. An opening reception, which also featured several musical performances by SAD 1 music students, was held last Tuesday night.
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Colorful pictures and catchy tunes were shared with the public last Tuesday night as the opening reception of the SAD 1 Art Exhibit was held at the Aroostook Centre Mall.
For 18 years, the district has held a show of student artwork from Pine Street, Zippel and Mapleton elementary schools, Presque Isle Middle School and Presque Isle High School.
“The annual art exhibit is a time to put all of the student work together and showcase it for the public so that they can see what’s going on in our programs,” said Ruth McAtee, art teacher at Mapleton and Zippel. “It’s important for the community to know what we do with the kids in art, which will help support the art programs in our schools. It’s good for people to know what kind of lessons we’re doing and the quality of the work.
“Even if people come into the school for a play or a concert, you don’t have all your artwork up from throughout the year on display for people to see,” she said. “Here at the mall you get numerous people coming in … many of them just to look at the artwork; they’re not related to the kids but want to see what’s going on in the classrooms. There’s a lot in the lessons we do; it’s not just using pages from a coloring book. We teach famous artists, concepts, techniques and art elements … color, line, shape, texture and values of colors.”
Anna Trombley, a fifth-grader at Mapleton, has two pieces on display.
“One is of a duck. I used colored pencils and watercolor for that,” she said. “It took three or four art classes to make that one. It was my entry in the Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest, and I got an honorable mention from my school.
“The other one is complementary color heart design painting,” said Trombley. “I like the duck one better. I like detail and it has a lot more detail.”
Trombley said she enjoys art and the opportunity to display it in such a public setting.
“It’s one of my favorite subjects, and whenever I’m bored at home I do art,” she said. “I like to draw people and animals. If I’m angry or happy I can use art to express my feelings and it relaxes me a lot.
“It’s neat having my artwork on display at the mall. I like that people can see my ideas and what I like to do,” said Trombley. “It makes me a little nervous sometimes because I’m not sure if they’re going to like it or not, but I hope they do. I think everyone did a good job. There are a lot of neat pieces here.”
At the opening reception, several music students performed in the food court showcasing their artistic abilities, as well. Performers included the PIHS Scat Cats under the direction of Jay Nelson, the Elementary Band and the PIHS Jazz Band, both led by Dan Schneider; Jerry Levasseur’s guitar class at PIHS, and the PIMS Jazz Band, directed by Patrick Bragdon.
The work of students from Pine Street, Mapleton and Zippel are all on display at the K-5 gallery located next to Expect More Dollar Store, while the 6-12 gallery, featuring pieces from students at PIMS and PIHS, is located next to the new Cardsmart store.
“I’m very pleased with the work that the students have on display,” said McAtee. “They all did a wonderful job, and I encourage everyone to stop by the mall to enjoy the pieces.”
The student artwork will remain on display through May 24.
