PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Since the first grade, Niki Michaud has been one of the many students whose artwork has been displayed at the SAD 1 Art Exhibit, but the anticipation and excitement of having work featured in public has never gotten old.
“I’ve kind of gotten used to having my work on display, so it’s not weird having people look at what I’ve done,” said Michaud. “It’s definitely been fun because my artwork has progressed over the years, and it’s been neat to see how I have improved.
“While art isn’t everyone’s forte, it’s still fun to walk in here and say, ‘Oh, that’s mine,’” she said. “It’s a chance to be featured in a public setting, and it’s wonderful to see all the little kids’ artwork, too.”
The Presque Isle High School senior has two paintings and three photos on display at the 12th annual SAD 1 Art Exhibit.
“I enjoy acrylic painting the most,” Michaud said of a black and white painting she did of ballet slippers. “I probably spent two and-a-half to three months on it in during art class. I’ve done colorful paintings before, so I wanted to try black and white.
“A friend of mine took a picture of my friend’s ballet slippers,” she said, “so I had the picture to work from. My painting wouldn’t look quite the same if I had to do it from memory. I’ll probably put this painting in the art contest at the Northern Maine Fair. I’ve gotten some judges’ awards over the years, so I’ll probably enter this one, too.”
Michaud said she’s considering minoring in art at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Other student work representing Presque Isle High School ranged from still life drawings, still life paintings, original watercolors, prints, collages, large-scale sculptures, and copies of famous paintings.
“I work with them in going through their portfolio, and each students picks their best or their favorite work … the ones they are proudest of,” said Ellyn Whitten Smith, art teacher at PIHS. “We have immensely talented students.
“This is such a wonderful experience for them to say, ‘I’m an exhibiting artist. I’ve had my artwork up in a gallery.’ That’s a rare situation for most of these kids,” she said, “especially in Aroostook County where there are so few galleries here.”
Kevin and Sue Cook toured one of the galleries looking for a picture created by their daughter, Kimberly.
“She loves art and is learning how to draw horses and other things,” said Sue. “[I think having the art show] is really good because it gives the students a chance to show their talents from kindergarten all the way through seniors in high school.”
“I think [the art show] encourages the kids to do well in art,” Kevin said. “Art gives the kids the chance to express themselves either on paper or with ceramics, and now they can say, ‘Wow, I’ve got my picture in a public place where everybody can see it,’ and it encourages them to be more open with the public.”
Kimberly, 7, a first-grader in Sherry Plissey’s class at Pine Street Elementary School, was anxious to have her parents attend the viewing.
“She mentioned a few times that she wanted us to come to the mall,” smiled Kevin. “With the music and the art, it’s a way for the kids to get out and entertain the public which is fantastic.”
The Cooks said they’re already looking forward to next year’s art exhibit.
“Last year it was a self portrait, this year it’s flowers, next year … who knows,” said Sue. “We’re seeing quite a progression with Kimberly’s art, so it will be nice to see what she comes up with next year.”
“All the kids have done a wonderful job,” Kevin said. “There’s definitely a lot of talent in the community that should be tapped into.”
Jayne Tasker is the art teacher at Presque Isle Middle School.
“I think it’s great to have a place for the students to exhibit their work,” she said. “The parents can come in and see their kids’ work hanging … not just as it’s coming home after school. A lot of kids have told me that they’ve gone on to have their work framed and it’s hanging in the hall, their bedroom, or in the living room. That makes me feel really good.”
Artwork featured by the middle schoolers included watercolors, drawings, scratchboards, aluminum foil masks, and mandalas created with colored pencils.
“I told my students to pick their two favorite pieces,” said Tasker, “and each of them has two pieces on display.”
Tasker said she was very impressed with the work that her students have done.
“I’m thrilled,” she said. “I’m happy that I got them to try something maybe they’ve never done before, and they did it, succeeded, and are surprised at how good it turned out. I love seeing them working and watching their faces as they’re seeing how it turns out. We have a lot of talented students in SAD 1.”
Argy Nestor, visual and performing arts specialist for the Maine Department of Education, was on hand for the opening of the SAD 1 Art Exhibit.
“I’ve been in this position since August, which has been unfunded for 12 years and unfilled for five years,” said Nestor, “and my number-one goal is to re-establish a connection between the Department of Education in Augusta and the classroom through visual and performing arts teachers.”
Nestor has been visiting all the schools in Maine and her trip to Aroostook County schools coincided with the art show.
“What perfect timing,” she said. “To see this many people, and the connection with the mall, is wonderful and absolutely necessary. Clearly there’s a lot of pride in the kids and rightly so.”
The classroom visits are a way for Nestor and art teachers to converse about a variety of issues.
“In arts classes across the state, there are awesome things going on,” said Nestor, who has been in 150 schools since Sept. 1. “The arts teachers are sometimes on the peripheral, but they’re at the heart of things. When there are excellent arts programs, excellent education is going on, and the arts teachers and the curriculum that they use certainly enhance that. I want to communicate that to teaches and let them know that they’re awesome and I appreciate them.”
The artwork will be on display through April 26. Galleries are located to the right of Deb’s, next to Trader Joe’s, to the left of Fashion Bug, and near Kay’s Jewelers.
Performing at the April 10 opening were the Percussive Arts League, the Zippel fourth-grade Recorder Ensemble, Zippel and Mapleton fourth-grade Recorder Ensemble, Zippel and Mapleton TC Club, Elementary Band, PIMS Jazz Band, and the PIHS Jazz Band.
