PCES students and volunteers celebrate ‘Arts Alive’

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    GUILFORD — Arts Alive was celebrated at Piscataquis Community Elementary School on June 6, thanks to the efforts of more than 100 staffers and volunteers and support from True Textiles, Hardwood Products and other local businesses.
    Arts Alive began in the 1980s at the now-closed Abbie Fowler Elementary School in Sangerville and seems to get bigger every year, according to program coordinator Diane Stephens, a second-grade teacher at PCES. “We have more parents involved now than ever before,” said Stephens. “But we also have volunteers who keep coming back year after year, so that really says something about the popularity of the program.”

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    MASK-MAKING — Showing off their mask artwork are, from left, Noah Kain, Allie Raymond and Jorja Russell.

    With more than 300 students involved, it takes a great deal of coordination to create hands-on workshops for diverse age groups. “Art” can be anything from geocaching, and birdhouse building to stop-action animation and pottery, said Stephens.
    “Of course, cake decorating is always popular. You can eat your creation,” she joked.
    Susan Ramsey and Ruth Fogg of Highlands Classical hosted a music program and there were plenty of hands-on classes like tie-dying, martial arts, shaving cream art and operating a sewing machine. “We have boys taking an interest in sewing and girls enjoying martial arts,” Stephens noted.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    SHAVING CREAM ART — With assistance from volunteer Jennifer Draper, youngsters are getting the finer points of shaving cream art. Pictured, from left, are Gabriel Talbot, Corinne Libby and Abbie Burgess.

    SAD 4 Director Joe Chadbourne participated in Arts Alive for the first time, and said in an email message that he was “amazed by how many different activities are offered to our kids … the number of volunteers that participate and how seamlessly it comes together. I cannot imagine the number of hours that go into planning a day like today to make it successful, but I know it’s a lot.”
    Chadbourne’s employer, True Textiles, held a session creating message boards from the fabric used at the plant.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    POTTERY DESIGN — Gavin Richards and Ashley Valcourt put the finishing touches on their pottery artwork

    This year’s T-shirt — “Let’s all strive for Arts Alive” — was designed by fifth-grader Sabrina Hamele and printed by The Work Store in Glenburn.
    The day’s activities were capped off by the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteer Show.
    SAD 4 Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick, who spoke to the students and parents before the show, said that the “three ingredients of a great school are hardworking, positive teachers; students that come to school each day with the two tasks of working hard and following the rules, all set in a community that cares about its children.”

Contributed photo

    T-SHIRT DESIGN — This year’s Arts Alive T-shirt was designed by Piscataquis Community Elementary School sixth-grader Sabrina Hamele.