Arts take center stage at SAD 1 opening reception
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — From jazzy notes filling the air to colorful artwork adorning the walls, the Aroostook Centre Mall was the place to be last Tuesday night as it was home to the opening reception of the SAD 1 Art Exhibit.
ENTERTAINING THE AUDIENCE 
at the opening reception of the SAD 1 Art Exhibit are members of Jerry Levasseur’s guitar class at Presque Isle High School, from left: Jake Cyr, David Paradis, Dan Sanipass, Tom Carlton, Matt Sullivan, Tiffany Kinney, James Stepp and Levasseur. Also performing but hidden from view were Wilder York and Dylan Michaud.
For 17 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.
“We keep doing it because it’s a great way to showcase what the teachers are doing with their kids and in their programs,” said Ruth McAtee, who teaches art at Mapleton and Zippel. “This is a great way to put the students’ work out there and get not just the kids’ families, but the community in here. There are people that I’ve talked to that don’t have kids in the district — their youngest child is 32 — but they come in and say how wonderful it is and how much they enjoy looking at the artwork.
DO YOU LIKE IT DAD? — Richard’s son, Everett, a sixth-grader at Presque Isle Middle School, shows off his Day of the Dead sculpture. The artwork is part of the 17th annual SAD 1 Art Exhibit. 
The work of students from Pine Street Elementary School, PIMS and Presque Isle High School are all on display in the gallery located across from the Shoe Department, while Mapleton and Zippel elementary school pieces are featured at the gallery across from Houlton Farms Dairy. The student artwork will remain on display through May 24.
“SAD 1 is very appreciative of this annual opportunity to showcase and promote the ‘arts’ talents of our students with the community at the Aroostook Centre Mall,” she said, noting that Julie Nadeau is the art teacher for Pine Street and PIMS, while Ellyn Whitten Smith teaches art at PIHS. “This is a unique opportunity for schools and community to come together under one roof to celebrate the sights and sounds of art created by SAD 1 students from grades K-12.”
Staff photos/Scott Mitchell Johnson
DO YOU LIKE IT DAD? 
— Zippel Elementary School third-grader Holden Zuras shows his father, Richard, the monochromatic portrait he has on display at the Aroostook Centre Mall.
PIMS seventh-grader Elise Guerrette has a picture of her clay sculpture on display.
“It makes me proud to show that I did something,” she said. “I’ve had artwork here over the years. It’s kind of cool that people can see it. It makes you work harder.”
Guerrette’s mother, Carol, said the display instills a sense of pride in both the student and the parents.
“It’s nice to see it in a collection with everyone who worked on those types of things to see how everyone’s doing. I get to see her stuff, but generally I don’t get to see anyone else’s. Of course I’m a little biased,” laughed Carol.
Elise said she “loves working with clay.”
“The piece I created is home on our kitchen counter,” she said. “It was a fun piece to make.”
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
EMMA FORTIER, right, a fifth-grader at Zippel Elementary School, shows her grandmother, Kathleen Hart, her mirror image art piece that is presently on display at the Aroostook Centre Mall as part of the 17th annual SAD 1 Art Exhibit. 
At the opening reception, several music students performed in the food court showcasing their artistic abilities, as well. Performers included the Percussive Arts League and the PIHS Jazz Band, both under the direction of Dan Schneider; Jerry Levasseur’s guitar class at PIHS, the Elementary Band, under the direction of Kevin Kinsey; the PIHS Jazz Choir, led by Jay Nelson; and the PIMS Jazz Band, directed by Patrick Bragdon.
The work of students from Pine Street, PIMS and PIHS are all on display in the gallery located across from the Shoe Department, while Mapleton and Zippel pieces are featured at the gallery across from Houlton Farms Dairy.
The student artwork will remain on display through May 24.
