Lupine field print benefits area arts

    As far back as he can remember Brett Carey, who grew up in upstate New York had been told to keep watch for the moose in Maine. Coming to Houlton and Drew’s Lake to visit his grandparents, Percy and Doris Hoar, he always watched for the animals on each trip, however, he failed to see any.
Photo by Karen Donato
IN THE LUPINE —Houlton artist, Esther Faulkner, revealed her watercolor of the ”Lupine Field Surprise” to Brett Carey of La Plata, Md. at Visions art gallery on Main Street in Houlton. Carey had taken the photograph of the moose on the Drew’s Mills Road in New Limerick in 2007 and had given a framed photograph to his mother Marilyn for Christmas the following year. Carey’s mother then showed the photograph to Faulkner who decided to paint the scene. Since then 100 numbered prints have been matted to sell with the proceeds going to support the Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project.
    Now a captain in the United States Army and living in La Plata, Md. with children of his own he continued to hear the warning from his mother, Marilyn Carey, “Once you get into Maine watch for the moose.”
    As the decades passed by without seeing the elusive creature he decided they must be just a mythical phenomenon.
    Then in August of 2007, Carey, then 38, saw the elusive moose in a field of multi-colored lupine on the Drew’s Mills Road. There was not only one, but a mother with her calf. He quickly grabbed his camera to capture this long-awaited moment.
    The following Christmas, Carey had a photo of Maine’s most famous mammals finished off for his mother, making his own handmade frame for it.
    After receiving the gift, his mother showed it to local artist Esther Faulkner. Faulkner who is partial to lupine thought it had possibilities. From the idea of the painting came the idea of a fundraiser for the Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project.
    “It took six months to complete the painting due to all the individual lupine plants surrounding mother moose and her baby,” said Faulkner. “It was quite time consuming.”
    “The Lupine Field Surprise” was unveiled in the summer of 2009 while Carey and his family were in Maine. Since then, 100, 11- by 14-inch prints have been made to sell as a benefit for SACAP. Each print is numbered and is matted to fit a 16- by 20-inch frame. They sell for $50 each. There are also notecards available at $3 each.
    The limited-edition prints are only available through Visions at 66 Main Street in Houlton. They have been selling fast since their debut just a few weeks ago.
    Faulkner, who is well known in the area for her many landmark originals has painted all her life, learning from her father, also an artist. She has taught art classes for the local adult education program for 30 years and just completed her 10th year with the SAGE program through the University of Maine at Presque Isle Outreach Center.