10,492-34-71: Miles, States, Days

5 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Wintergreen Arts Center is featuring artwork created by the Harvell family during a 10-week road trip traversing the United States.   Their show titled “10,492-34-71: Miles, States, Days” opens Jan. 4, 2019, during Presque Isle’s First Friday Downtown Art Walk, and will be on display for the month of January.

John and Heather Harvell, along with their three children, Jayden, 11, Josh, 9, and Isaiah, 4, departed Presque Isle on Oct. 2, in a 32-foot-long RV towing a family-sized car strapped with bicycles. Measuring 45 feet in total length, the family of five headed west on the road trip of a lifetime.

The Harvells are long-time supporters of the Wintergreen Arts Center.  Heather Harvell has served the nonprofit in multiple roles including teacher, executive director, board member, and co-chair since the center’s inception in 2006.

“This trip originally stemmed from John’s fond memories of doing something similar when he was a kid from Washington State to Yosemite,” said Heather Harvell.  “I jumped onboard because I love to travel and living in northern Maine, it is sometimes easy to start to feel isolated. Combine that with an opportunity to show our kids the big awesome USA and spend uninterrupted time together as a family, it felt right to just take the plunge and hit the road.”

On Dec. 11, the Harvell family pulled back into their Centerline Road driveway to below-zero temperatures ready to share memories that will warm hearts and inspire the wanderlust in most all of us.

“We believe the Harvell family show will be one of largest First Friday events we’ve ever hosted,” said Dottie Hutchins, Wintergreen’s executive director.  “They have struck a chord with so many people who have been following snippets of their adventures online. We all can’t wait to see what 10,492 miles through 34 states in 71 days looks like.”