PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — When Melanie Reese filled Wintergreen Arts Center with her bright and vibrant fiber art quilts and sculptures Friday, Sept. 3, she took one step further into Presque Isle’s supportive art community.
Visitors to Reese’s exhibit opening Friday evening praised the variety of Reese’s quilts, which included depictions of family and friends and self-described “whimsical” portraits of animals, trees, birds and storybook-like scenes that spring from her imagination.
Though Reese has enjoyed drawing and painting for much of her adult life, she did not begin making fiber art until the pandemic. With more free time on her hands, Reese found that the nontraditional form of quilting allowed her to create images that were unexpected.
Unlike traditional quilting, fiber art uses a variety of materials such as cotton, polyester, fabric, yarn and beads and focuses more on images instead of distinct patterns.
“Every piece is so radically different. It really has to do with whatever inspires me that second,” Reese said.
A Presque Isle High School graduate, Reese primarily lived in Vermont before she and her husband returned to Presque Isle five years ago. Since then, Reese has become involved in many cultural groups, including the Caribou Choral Society and Presque Isle Community Players.
By embracing her artistic talents, Reese has also formed friendships and collaborated with like-minded people in the community.
In addition to 33 quilts, Reese’s Wintergreen exhibit features three fiber art sculptures that her friend Mickey Carter, owner of Grammy’s Chair in Mapleton, upholstered: “Sebastin,” a peacock, “Dinner,” which depicts a lizard grabbing an insect with its tongue, and “Nurture Life,” a curved hand with flowers growing out of the fingers.
Prior to Wintergreen, Reese and Carter displayed their work at The Common Gallery in Presque Isle. Carter praised Reese’s ability to let inspiration take her in new directions.
“We make a good team because I’m the technician and she’s the artist,” Carter said. “Her ideas are so varied. They just pop up and she creates them.”
Carter is especially proud of “Mickey and the Geriatrics,” a large quilt depicting her with her parents Donna and Winston Carter, dogs Souris and Lola and cats Bruce and Peabody.
“Before [Reese] gave it to me, my cat Bruce died and after she finished it, my mother died and so did the dogs,” Carter said. “Now I’ll always have them with me.”
Around 30 people attended the First Friday Art Walk exhibit opening, many of whom displayed pieces of Reese’s that have become part of their personal collections.
Kate Easter of Limestone, a close friend of Reese and Carter, said that the uniqueness of each creation made it difficult for her to pick a favorite.
“It’s amazing how she’s able to break boundaries and look outside of traditional quilting,” Easter said.
Reese’s work will be on display at Wintergreen, located in the Aroostook Centre Mall, throughout September.
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — September 3, 2021 — Melanie Reese’s fiber art quilt “Larry” depicts UMPI professor and musician Larry Feinstein. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star Herald)
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — September 3, 2021 — Melanie Reese’s fiber art sculpture “Dinner,” depicting a lizard, is one of several sculptures on display from Reese and upholsterer Mickey Carter at Wintergreen Arts Center. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star Herald)
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — September 3, 2021 — Presque Isle-based artist Melanie Reese has displayed over 30 fiber art quilts and sculptures at Wintergreen Arts Center. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star Herald)
