PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Wintergreen to feature two artists during the month of October, Kendyl Reis and Xavier Peng. An opening reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 6 from 6-8 p.m., during Presque Isle’s First Friday Art Walk.
Reis is a candle creator and owner of the Mainely Aroostook Candle Company. She is a native of Wisconsin and lived in Connecticut before taking a job that brought her to Aroostook County during the summer of 2021.
“I was thrilled to be moving to an area that was so much like my home state,” said Reis. “I’ve always enjoyed helping my mom make candles for her own business and I was inspired to create a candle line based on my new home.”
Reis lives in Mapleton with her boyfriend, their two blue-eyed, white-furred cats, and Bernese Mountain dog.
Peng is a genderqueer filmmaker, writer, and photographer born in 2006 in Nanning, China. His works mainly center around social issues, underrepresented communities, and his unique observations in life.
“I convey these topics [in photographs] through the use of visual metaphors, composition and curations,” said Peng.
Peng’s photographs have been recognized by organizations like Scholastic Art & Writing, UNESCO, and OutMaine.
“We are excited to feature these two artists and artforms,” said Grethen Violette, Wintergreen’s events coordinator. “Please join us and check out their original works of art: Kendyl Reis’ unique candles and Xavier Peng’s award-winning digital media exhibition.”
The Wintergreen Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006, and located in Presque Isle. Wintergreen is an organization based on the idea that creativity, advocacy, and community can produce great things. Our mission is to provide meaningful experiences that encourage an appreciation of the arts, stimulate creativity and innovation, and offer an artistic community space where all are welcome.
