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| Aroostook Republican photo/Mark Putnam Barrel painters included, from left, bottom row: Rita Olson, Arline Ferguson, Betheny Anderson and Karen Wakem. Second row: Karen Poulin, Kristi Perrow and Marty Gallant. Third row: Sue McCarthy and Rita Anderson. Top: Nicole Michaud. |
By Nicole Duplessis
Special to the Aroostook Republican
Caribou held its first O.P. Pierson Days this past weekend. Olof P. Pierson, as many of Caribou’s residents know, is the inventor of the french fry. What many people don’t take into consideration, however, is how his invention has impacted many people, and it all started right here in Aroostook County.
“He exemplified what Aroostook County is all about,” Kathy Mazzuchelli, Caribou’s recreation director and chair of the O.P. Pierson Days celebration, said.
By creating a celebration in honor of Pierson, it gave residents of Caribou, as well as people from all over, the opportunity to celebrate his inventiveness as well as the community heritage. One of the major events that kicked off the celebration was the painting of potato barrels. There was a total of 10 potato barrels, each hand painted by local artists. Barrels ranged in a variety of different paintings connected to the potato theme: planting and harvesting the crop, to plates of french fries and scenic paintings of what The County is like.
“I found it to be a very positive experience. It made sense to bring some art into these festivities,” said Betheny Anderson, a local artist from Caribou who created a panoramic Aroostook farm scene on her barrel.
Bringing art into the event allowed for people to express their creativity in ways they may have never previously done.
“It was a lot of fun. It was my first time to do anything like this. It was this first time to get my artwork out there,” Rita Anderson, a local artist from New Sweden, said. Anderson painted a plate of french fries accompanied with baked potatoes and different ways people consume the County staple, on her barrel.
Other participating artists included Rita Olson, Arline Ferguson, Karen Wakem, Karen Poulin, Kristi Perrow, Marty Gallant, Sue McCarthy and Nicole Michaud.
Having this event as part of the Pierson Days festivities really allowed people to get engaged. It helped people, according to Mazzuchelli, to truly see the talent that The County has to offer.
“There is so much talent in this part of the county,” agreed Anderson.
Indeed there is, and showing off the talent will catch the attention of many. The painted barrels were displayed throughout the weekend at the Caribou Wellness Center, Caribou Library, Caribou Historical Center and the Downtown Mall. The special creations will be auctioned off through a silent auction as well. The auction begins on Monday, Oct. 7 with bidding continuing until Thanksgiving time. No set date has been decided as to when the auction will officially close.
Updates of the auction and photos of the barrels will be provided through the city of Caribou’s website, www.cariboumaine.org, as well as at the Caribou Recreation Center.
“We hope to engage those that live far away,” Mazzuchelli said in regard to the barrel art project being showcased online.
The future of the O.P. Pierson Days looks very bright, and high hopes are set for next year’s festivities, especially for the youth.
“We want young people to understand that it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can do great things here,” Mazzuchelli added.
