PRESQUE ISLE – The Rotary Art Auction celebrates its fifth year this month by presenting 21 works of art by 18 artists.
Thirteen of those artists are participating in their first Rotary Art Auction, and all of them either live or have associations with Aroostook County.
Contributed photo
DAVE PETERSON, president and chief executive officer of The Aroostook Medical Center, takes in one of the 21 works of art that will go up for bid at the end of the month as part of the Rotary Art Auction, which will be held Nov. 27-29. The Art Auction is in its fifth year, and this year is representing the work of 18 artists who either live or have close ties to Aroostook County.
The Rotary Art Auction is held every year as part of the annual Presque Isle Rotary Radio/TV Auction, which is celebrating its 60th year. This year’s auction will be held Nov. 27-29.
The purpose of the Art Auction – besides raising money for charities – is to improve the appreciation of art in northern Maine, and to increase awareness in the community of the many fine artists who live in or have an association with Aroostook County. Organizers try to include a diverse range of art in the auction, including well-known and fairly unknown artists, in a variety of media, with broad geographic coverage of “The County.”
The five past Rotary Art Auctions combined have shown the work of 66 artists with county ties.
“I am personally amazed at the quantity, quality and diversity of northern Maine artists,” said Art Auction co-organizer Kevin McCartney. “The enthusiastic and generous support of this auction by the artists and the community has been very good.”
The works that will go up for bid at the end of November are now on display at the Pinkham entrance of the The Aroostook Medical Center/A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital, where they will remain until just before the auction.
The artworks were hung by Rotary Art Auction co-organizer Gina LeBlanc-Eggert.
This year’s Rotary resident artist will, for the second year, be Limestone resident and teacher Tom Cote. Cote’s specialty is woodcarving, and his work has been seen for many years at area art and craft shows. Cote and his apprentice, Jessica Stackhouse, each will be creating woodcarving pieces during the auction. Those who watch on television will be able to view the progress of these artworks as they are made during the nine hours of the auction. Both woodcarvings made during the auction will be sold in the last half-hour.
Proceeds from the auction will go to C.A.N.C.E.R, Nordic Heritage Sport Club, Star City ATV Club, Aroostook Football, Homeless Service of Aroostook, Spragueville Extension, and the Rotary Youth and Scholarship Funds.
This year’s Rotary artists are Ashley Bard, Elizabeth Jane Cain (three pieces), Lara Cannon, Laura Caudle, Jamie Corey, Tom Cote (two pieces), Julie Daly, Ed Dery, Rosalie Doughman, Renee Felini, Valerie Martin, Susan McCarthy, Sandra McLaughlin, Margaret Peers, Evelyn Powers, Jessica Stackhouse, Annette Tardy, and the Rev. Shelly Timber.
