Art Walk ushers in summer in Star City
By Christopher Bouchard
Special to The Star-Herald
PRESQUE ISLE — A variety of businesses and organizations in the community, including Morning Star Art & Framing, The Reed Art Gallery at the University of Maine and Presque Isle, the Riverside Public Market and Oasis Salon, showed their appreciation for art and creativity throughout the city last week during First Friday Art Walk.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Bouchard
ART SUPPORTER — Brian Brissette, co-owner of Morning Star Art & Framing, is a regular participating merchant in Presque Isle’s ongoing First Friday Art Walk events.
“I’ve been involved with the art walk ever since it started,” said Brian Brissette, who owns Morning Star Art & Framing with his wife Jane Caulfield. “It’s a great way for local artisans to show their creations to the rest of the community, whether they create chairs, paintings, photography, or make music, the art walk gives them a chance to put that hard work on display.”
Morning Star Art & Framing showcased the work of craftsman Terry Kelly, who comes from Mapleton. Kelly creates a myriad of unique furniture reproductions, such as Shaker pieces and Windsor chairs that are based on designs from the 17th and 18th centuries. All of Terry Kelly’s work is made by hand and involves an impeccable amount of patience and attention to detail.
“In addition to Terry Kelly, we also host a great deal of local musicians at Morning Star,” added Brissette.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle presented “BFA 15: Selections from the Senior Show” at 4 p.m. at the Reed Art Gallery. The show featured pieces by Jessalyn Levesque, Dylan Markie, Renee Royal, and Chelsea Searles, all recent graduates of UMPI’s art program. In addition to participating in the Art Walk, the Reed Art Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. However, they are closed on Sundays as well as University holidays.
Numerous Presque Isle businesses are also participating in a new event called “Free Art Fridays,” hosted by Christine Akridge. One of the objectives of this event is to engage more people in their local art community. Local artists will drop off a piece of their art in a local business, at which point community members are encouraged to look for hints via the “First Free Art Friday” Facebook page. The first person to find the hidden art will win the painting if they send in a picture of themselves standing next to it.
The Riverside Public Market also hosts an open market for vendors and customers alike from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Fridays and 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays.
