Spring Arts in Aroostook

Aroostook Centre Mall – until May 16

Essence of the North Student Art Exhibit

Aroostook county

Thank you to art teacher Ruth McAtee for contributing this blog post and the photos that accompany it.

This is our fifth annual Essence of the North Student Art Exhibit. It is now on display at the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque, Maine. This show is put on by the Northern pARTners Aroostook county regional art educators, a group of art teachers from school districts around Aroostook county. Throughout the year we meet once a month or every other month to share information on what’s happening in the visual arts at the state and national level as well as what we are doing in our own visual arts programs. We usually meet at a school site, and art teachers who cannot come to the site, attend via Tandberg. Planning for the our annual art show takes place at these meetings.

This year the show features selected art pieces from the following districts: Caribou, Limestone, Connor, Easton, St. Agatha, Frenchville, Hodgdon, Houlton, Mars Hill, Presque Isle, Mapleton, Ashland, and Washburn.

A reception for the student artists, their families, teachers, and administrators took place March 15 from 7:00-7:30 in the gallery space at the Aroostook Centre Mall where the student work is being showcased. Visual Arts teachers at the reception:  Judy Babbidge (Pre-K-6, Connor) absent from photo, Ruth McAtee (MSAD#1 grs. 3-5 Zippel and Pre-K-5 Mapleton Elementary schools), Beth Ann Walker (K-8, Washburn),  Sue Beaulier (Pre-K-12, Ashland), Jane Hutchison (K-12, Easton), Bonnie Tidd (High School, Houlton), Wanda Jackins (K-12 Mars Hill).

The art work is on display from March 11-April 6th.

While in Aroostook county for the Mega-regional workshop in Easton I had a chance to visit the exhibit at the mall. It was great to see the work of the Northern pARTners. I could imagine the art teachers there together putting the show in place and the families at the opening enjoying it. The collaboration that the art teachers have is marvelous. CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU for providing the opportunity for your community!

Angela Wang, grade 10, Drawing II – student of Ellyn Whitten Smith at Presque Isle High School