Antique Emporium offers unusual Maine items with a new twist

Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
HANDMADE — This shirt was created entirely from doilies by Gina Parent, owner of the Antique Emporium in Houlton.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff writer
    HOULTON — In today’s tight economy, finding ways to make extra money on the side is now a regular part of people’s daily lives. So how can one go about finding ways to supplement their income? The answer is not as complicated as one might think.
    For many people, items stashed in their basement or attics are sitting collecting dust, when they could be earning income, according to Gina Parent, owner of the Antique Emporium in Houlton. Parent has forged a profitable business venture by collecting unusual Maine items, turning them into something new and selling them to people around the country via the Internet.
    Known as “altered art” or “assemblage art,” the process involves taking a combination of items, both new and old, and creating a new piece of artwork from the individual pieces. The pieces can be anything that piques the interest of its creator, and can often be acquired for very small amounts of money, if not for free.
    “It (altered art) is making something out of found objects,” Parent said. “Something that is pleasing to your eye or something you like.”
    Altered art often involves combining several extremely different art forms into one medium. It typically involves recycling items that some might consider junk. Parent said inspiration for an object can come from the strangest of locations. One day she was picking up rusted pieces of metal, including nuts and bolts, from a project her husband was working on when she came up with an idea to turn those objects into a piece of artwork.
    “At first he looked at me like I was crazy, but now he’s seen how those things can be put together into a mixed media collage to sell,” she said.
    Parent routinely goes “freestyle picking” through various towns throughout Aroostook County. Freestyle picking is simply that. She goes to a town and looks around yard sales and flea markets for odd items. She also has been known to stumble across random items while on walks.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
ALTERED ART — Turning ordinary items into something new and different is the concept behind “altered art.” This photograph shows how an old door lock can be turned into a necklace.
    Recently, she found an old cast-iron stovepipe fitting and welder’s helmet, which she plans to turn into something new.
    “I can make something cool out of these,” she said. “I don’t know just what yet, but it will come to me.”
    Inspiration can strike at any moment too. She recently sewed a shirt made entirely from doilies and has a created several pieces of jewelry from an assortment of found objects.
    “All these weird, funky little finds can be turned into something,” she said.
    Old typewriters are among the more popular items, particularly those with rounded keys as bracelets, rings and necklaces can be created from them. Metal items are also trendy items to pick up as they can be turned into various wall sculptures.
    “There are a lot of things that people have in their attics or basements, particularly in this area,” Parent said. “We have a lot of senior citizens, who have been in their homes for a long time, and have accumulated a lot of ‘retro’ items.”
    Finding the right outlet for your product is the biggest challenge. Although she has a shop in downtown Houlton, Parent said the bulk of her sales are done via the Internet. She said without selling items online, she would have to close her shop.
    “You have to sell online,” she said. “Selling online pays for my rent. It’s a really good thing for people in The County to figure out. You have to reach people in other parts of the country or the world that have money.”
    One way that people can get their items to those that want them is via an Internet website known as Etsy (www.etsy.com), which allows crafters to post their goods online for people to purchase.
    “There are a number of altered artists on the website Etsy who make things out of what some would call junk.” Parent said. “So I am always in the search for junk. People around the country are thirsty for Maine items. They think we are different and are interested in the items we have from here.”