BLVD Graphix owner commissions seven-foot carving from local artist
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
If nothing says Maine like a giant lobster and a seven-foot moose, and BLVD Graphix was saying it loud and proud at the Winter/Fall Expo in Presque Isle this weekend.
Staff photo/Mark Putnam
Owner of BLVD Graphix in Limestone Joe LaPierre stands next to his recently created seven-foot moose at the Winter/Fall Expo on Sunday in Presque Isle.
While the store has had no problem maintaining its individuality or drawing customers, owner Joe LaPierre recently commissioned well-known Limestone artist Tom Cote to sculpt a 7-foot tall moose for the shop. LaPierre, who designs and custom makes all sorts of apparel and signage, commissioned the piece just a few weeks ago in early September.
“The moose was right there when people walked in the door at the forum [for the Winter/Fall Expo] and well over 100 people stopped to take a photo,” LaPierre said.
“I’m very satisfied with the piece,” he added, mentioning that people have been coming to the store to have their photo taken with — and on — the moose. “We were looking for something different that would compliment the big chain feel of the store to bring people in.”
The moose isn’t the only aspect of the shop drawing customers; the store has recently expanded their inventory to include quintessential Maine souvenirs and gifts.
While it may seem different that an artist and an art owner would encourage anyone and everyone to visit the shop and put their hands all over a work of art, Cote and LaPierre designed the piece with curious customers in mind.
The roughly 350-pound moose is made of basswood pieces carved by Cote the old-fashion way, which meant not cutting any corners (no carving pun intended).
“Everything’s been doweled, pinned and glued together,” he said. The moose’s hollow body and very few wood screws are not only in line with traditional carving practices (woodcarving in the Cote family is going on six generations) it’s also made the moose sturdy and safe for youths who want their photo taken astride the iconic ungulate.
By trade, LaPierre has typically been on the receiving end of design; a customer brings him a theme or idea and he finds creative and unique ways to portray their image or slogan on their merchandise of choice.
When it came to the creation of a seven-foot moose, however, LaPierre found himself on the other side of the counter having concepts pitched to him.
“Joe was really open to ideas,” Cote said, adding that LaPierre’s experience in dealing with design was a boon to the creative process — having been given leeway for creative freedom, Cote thoroughly enjoyed working on the sculpture. He’d brought LaPierre a couple of ideas for the iconic sculpture, but it all came down to a seven-foot moose with some big feet.
According to Cote, LaPierre kept a resin moose on his counter that held his business cards; that little caricature of a moose inspired the sculpting of a mammal so large that Cote nick-named the moose Bumpy for all the times that he bumped into the seven-foot carving.
For durability reasons, LaPierre did stipulate that the ears and antlers of the moose be carved from the same block of wood and that the units be detachable from the moose.
Once the antlers and ears were attached and ready to go, the moose was painted and finished with an antiquing wax for a very approachable knobby-kneed statue that’s bound to become a northern Maine icon.
“I think it would be interesting to see more large sculptures around town,” Cote said, explaining that with the World Acadian Congress of 2014 right around the corner, having a traditional artistic appeal throughout the community would bode well for bringing people to the town.
The moose lives at BLVD Graphix on 77 Main Street in Limestone. Additional information about the store or the moose can be obtained by calling 325-2583.
