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Challenging Work Brings Opportunity-Throwback Thursday:Hometown Memories

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The mirror is the challenge presented to artists this year as a fundraiser.  We were given a mirror in a 26 x 54 frame.  Every year we have the chance to make a piece of art from some everyday object that can be used in the home.

I usually get the information in early June and have until October to pick the piece up at the museum and take it home for transformation.  The real transformation usually happens within my thought processes and skill set.  Usually an idea comes to me quite soon but then I spend all summer taking and teaching classes, making the work for the Gallery to sell and spending as much time as I can with the Grandchildren.    All of a sudden it is mid September and I have not yet begun to actual work on the project.  You see, after I have made the decision about how to transform the piece, my mind thinks “It’s finished”, but of course it is not.

I confer with my husband about how to physically transform the piece in some way.  This year we added approx. 10″ to one side of the mirror frame and a cradle to support the whole piece.  When I say we, I mean he did the work, I just sanded, primed and painted the product he produced.  Thankfully he is very generous with his talents.  I begin to create the final painted piece.  Somewhere along the line there is a new product, new design idea or new technique that takes time to be incorporated.  Then I need to add time for accidents that might occur, ( I know this after 10 years of experience) setting the finished product back by sometimes as much as a week.  Then to top it off this year I went to reinstall the mirror and realized it was cracked-so a new mirror had to be ordered.  Luckily the folks at the museum are patient and gracious.

The auction is being held on November 13th at 6pm at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bangor.  It is always amazing to attend this auction.  I love seeing all of the creations in one room, seeing the atmosphere of good times for a good cause and the very supportive crowd who attend and buy the art.  Check out the website at MaineDiscoveryMuseum.org/Auction  to see the beautiful work folks have done.  Bidding will be possible in person or online.

Leonardo's Penumbra 36 x 54 mirror frame in Acrylic Paint

Leonardo’s Penumbra
36 x 54 mirror frame in Acrylic Paint

Hometown Memories-Ferry Boat, Ruth

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Ferry Boat Ruth

This is my rendition of the Ferry Boat, Ruth coming to the dock in Winter Harbor.  I believe that this Ferry Dock was located on the Summer Harbor Road and the Ferry ran from BarHarbor to Winter Harbor and back.  I love the lines of this boat.  It’s funny that Winter Harbor once again has ferry service to BarHarbor.  It sure will be interesting to see how we can continue to benefit from having the new services and not become another BarHarbor.  I know we do not have the same amenities and landscape as MDI but the Schoodic peninsula sure does have a lot to offer.  The access to the raw beauty Down East is another area of potential growth.  That word-growth-good or bad????

Open for comments and ideas anytime!!!

Hometown Memories-Ice Cream Dreams

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Ice Cream Dreams

Marie Gerrish-A favorite among many.  Marie owned and operated JW Gerrish Store on Main St, in Winter Harbor, downtown.  She offered up many special treats to folks but Ice Cream seemed to be one of the best.  It probably wasn’t so much the ice cream but what it stood for to us.  We had the freedom to “go to Marie’s for an Ice Cream” -the beginning of excuses to head out the door and wander the streets.  Many folks would stop to get an ice cream for their dog as they took the ritual ride around Schoodic or Grindstone.

Marie’s was the place to go for penny candy, soda, milk shakes, sandwiches, coffee and tea.  This pretty much covered the needs of most age ranges and would mean you also would be quite likely to run into someone you knew.   It was a place to pick up your newspaper, for many years there was a Post Office attached too.

In this piece you can see a lady up in the left hand corner just above the cash register.  This was Maude Gerrish, Marie’s mother.  Marie’s mother and father opened the place and operated it for many years, I’m not sure when Marie took over.  Maude is near the cash register in this photo because some of us remember being in the store and hearing Maude call down to Marie, “Marie I don’t hear that cash register going!”  Marie worked long hours, taking only Sunday afternoon off and then she drove her mother around Schoodic.  I admire how friendly and calm she always was when I saw her.  It was probably not the job many could do but she did it well.  Thank you Marie!

Thank you too to the Historical Society for allowing me access to their photos and taking such good care of the collection.  If you are interested they have one more meeting on schedule for August and perhaps something for September that has of this writing to be announced.

August 12-7pm-Historical Society- Charles Joy will give a presentation about “John Moore”, from Steuben, he owned approx. 2000 acres on Schoodic Point and was the person to donate it to the National Park Service.  He also built a home on Grindstone called Far From Wolves-known by many as Frenchman’s Bay Lodge.