Thousands raised for proposed art center
Photo by Lanette Virtanen
Martin Puckett, top left, reacts as the bids go up on one of the pieces in the 12×12 Art Auction, held on May 3 at the Wintergreen Arts Center in Presque Isle. Behind Puckett are several pieces of art that were sold during the event. The auction raised more than $7,100, which will help the University of Maine at Presque Isle and the WGAC establish a cultural center in the downtown area. Looking on are, clockwise from top right, Ray Rice, Michael Sonntag and Leo-Paul Cyr.
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Thousands of dollars were raised, through the recent 12×12 auction, to help the University of Maine at Presque Isle and the Wintergreen Arts Center establish the region’s very first facility dedicated to the visual arts: the Northern Maine Center for the Cultural Arts.
“We raised a little over $7,100. There were 70 pieces auctioned, with the lowest bids coming in at the minimum $60, with the highest reaching just under $500,” said organizer Heather Sincavage, UMPI assistant professor of art.
Sincavage said much of the artwork originated beyond Maine.
“The art came from as far as Michigan, Pennsylvania, California and Oregon. The piece from Oregon was by Wintergreen Arts Center founder Lara Cannon,” said Sincavage.
She said in addition to having many artists return from last year’s event, several new ones were added to the mix.
“Many of the artists we picked up since last year, who’d heard about last year’s event after the fact. Last year we had 54 canvases we auctioned, so the event is really growing,” she said.
About 300 people attended throughout the evening, which coincided with May’s First Friday Art Walk festivities in Presque Isle.
“The event was planned by the center’s executive director, Wendy Gilman-Zubrick, and myself, but there were a bevy of board members, community and student volunteers that helped out in one way or another. We could not have done the evening without that help,” noted Sincavage.
Participants had fun bidding on their favorite piece of art.
“It was an amazing turnout. I bought a painting by Kirsten Arndt of a happy raven. I love it,” said Rachel Rice.
Money raised will be used toward the NMCCA.
“This is a project I have been working on to bring a university presence to downtown Presque Isle. Culture has proven to be a strong catalyst impacting the face of a community,” she said.
“I think it is safe to say that the First Friday Art Walks have changed the face of Presque Isle in the few short years it has been in existence in this area. Hundreds of people come out monthly to take in the evening, view the art, listen to gallery speakers, eat dinner and take part in the special events that community organizations and businesses have organized — such as wine-tastings or the Pottery Slam the Aroostook Commons sponsored last fall. It is truly a way for people to come together and engage, both with each other and their community,” Sincavage said.
She said the NMCCA will create a keystone building dedicated to the arts.
“Housed at the 149 State St. location, UMPI is developing the second and third floors over Wintergreen. The second floor will be a museum-quality gallery space and will have the ability to host exhibitions not possible in the Reed Art Gallery (at UMPI). The third floor will be six to eight artist studio spaces for emerging talent. These artists will be represented in a marketing plan for the arts in Aroostook County,” she said.
“What this allows is accessible and collaborative programming directly between Wintergreen and UMPI but also with other community organizations. We are interested in hosting cultural events in the space, as appropriate, which will be organized by a newly formed Cultural Events Committee from campus, but also overseen by the NMCCA director — a new position,” said Sincavage.
According to Sincavage, a huge step forward with this project has been made possible through a recent grant that the WGAC/UMPI consortium received.
“We received the Maine Arts Commission Creative Communities — Economic Development Grant, a $50,000 award. We are one of two communities in Maine to receive the award,” Sincavage said.
Sincavage said there are more fundraisers in the works.
“We are currently finding sponsors for a ColorRun5K. They are currently the huge craze across the country. Wendy and I felt that in a place where the outdoors are so revered, where families want fun events to participate in, and be able to create an event that is filled with creativity and color — it would be a wonderful way to embrace the community and a different way to raise funds,” said Sincavage, explaining, “the ColorRun asks people to dress in white and throughout the course, runners are hit with colored powder (cornstarch). When they complete the run, they are rainbow colored.”
“It’s a wonderful and fun event. The date is still to be determined,” said Sincavage.
Sincavage wished to thank the sponsors of the 12×12 auction, noting this year’s event “would not have been possible without them.”
