me arts ed

News Release

WINTER HARBOR:
The volunteer leadership of Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium (SISS), guided by founder and local (Steuben, Maine) artist Jesse Salisbury, is honored to announce the receipt of a $40,000 matching grant from the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation of New York. The grant, over two years, will enable SISS to continue to offer the Symposia by extending the support needed for two on-going part-time positions. The positions will provide a steady supplement to the work of volunteers and the fund raising that is required from each community invited to participate.

The full operating expenses for each of the Symposia total over $225,000, a sum that must be raised bi-annually from communities, grants, and donors. This large total need to offer a Symposium is independent of the funding which will be provided through this matching gift for the two part-time positions.

SISS has, since 2007, received area and national recognition for successfully involving Downeast Maine communities in the creation and support of public art that builds community identity and positively affects the intrinsic value of the arts, the contributions of Maine natural resources, and the economic and social benefits that follow.  Through its efforts, placement of large granite sculptures, accomplished by internationally recognized artists, are now sited in local communities (to date thirteen Downeast communities enjoy the beauty and benefits of these major significant works of public art and six more will be added in 2011).

The next iteration of the Symposium will now occur, as planned, in the summer of 2011. The 2011 Symposium will be the third in the series of five symposia over the decade.  In the letter of receipt of the grant it was noted by chairperson of SISS, Cathy Lewis  (Sorrento, Maine) that the Foundation’s grant will enable SISS to put into place a structure and two positions that are now essential to making possible the continuation of the Symposia, and to gaining the local support needed for sustaining them. To this end, SISS is pleased to announce that the required match for this Foundation grant for the two positions has already been achieved through the generosity of local community members who became aware last month of the opportunity for a match. In thanking the Foundation, Jesse Salisbury wrote: “Everyone in our communities can take pride in the sculptures, the local involvement and commitment of Downeast citizens, but also the overwhelming positive response and area ownership that has emerged for a project that exhibits the finest qualities of Maine through public art.  We express our gratitude to Ms. Julie Kidd, President of the Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation, for her confidence and her generous gift.”

The SISS web page can be found at http://www.schoodicsculpture.org.  Support for the next (Summer, 2011) Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium( a 501c3 non-profit project) is  needed and is greatly appreciated. Gifts can be sent to SISS PO Box 122, Steuben, Maine, 04680. Thank you.

CONTACT:  Gerry Williams
207-667-5268, email: germarl@roadrunner.com

YAHOOOOOOOO for student artwork

Dayna's collage

As many of you are aware the Maine Department of Education’s Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) has provided a photography opportunity for students in grades K-12 by asking students to submit photographs of their artwork using any medium.  This is the second year this opportunity has been available and almost 400 photographs were submitted. In a blind judging, 19 pictures were selected for use on the screen saver as part of next years MTLI MacBook image. The MacBooks are provided as learning tools for every student and teacher in grades 7 and 8 and to many of Maine’s high school students and teachers.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students whose artwork was selected

“All Star” by Lindsey Purpura, Yarmouth High School, Grade 11
“Aqua” by Kelly Normand, Noble Middle School, Grade 8
“Autumn Bliss” by Lindsey Purpura, Yarmouth High School, Grade 11
“Burst of Autumn” by Erick Schadler, Jordan Small Middle School, Grade 8
“Collage” by Nate Arbitrario, Lewiston Middle School, Grade 8
“Colour Me Beautiful” by Samantha Hall, Yarmouth High School, Grade 12
“Dew” by Jonas Oppenheim, Yarmouth High School, Grade 12
“Fall” by Emily Drummond, Grade 12
“Fire and Ice” by Adrian Baker, Freeport High School, Grade 12
“Flower” by Melanie Jackson, Bangor High School, Grade 12
“Flowers and Shadows” by Emily Gauthier, Brunswick High School, Grade 11
“Golden Umbrella” by Mark Lightbody, Middle School of the Kennebunks, Grade 7
“Lyrical Dance” by Dayna LaPorte, Skowhegan Middle School, Grade 8
“Rain Drops” by Sam Askins, Bangor High School, Grade 12
“Reflection” by Rachel White, Yarmouth High School, Grade 11
“Star” by Marie Jarowicz, Middle School of the Kennebunks, Grade 8
“Sugarloaf” by Catherine Pellegrini, Cape Elizabeth Middle School, Grade 6
“The Pool” by Kersti Bayne, Freeport Middle School, Grade 8
“Winding Road” by Maggie Ditre, Maranacook High School, Grade 12

Skowhegan Art Teacher Frank Chin and 8th grader Dayna presenting

On May 27th the students were recognized for their accomplishments at the 7th Annual MLTI Student Conference that was held on the UMaine Orono campus. One thousand participants, comprised of 835 middle and high school students and 165 of their teachers and parents from across Maine attended the conference. The student artwork was projected on a GIANT screen as participants entered the performing arts center. It was VERY COOOOOOOL! Please consider entering student photographs next year.

Participants spent the day learning about and sharing a variety of ways to utilize technology. Student Dayna LaPorte, 8th grader at Skowhegan Middle School who had an artwork selected for the screen saver and her art teacher, Frank Chin joined photo judge David Patterson and myself to present a session on the screen savers. Participants learned about the elements of a good photo, tips on how to take photos, how to upload the photo to Studywiz  and other details about participating. Hopefully all 20 workshop participants will submit artwork next year.