Over break, beautiful paintings by local artist Susan Mesick were installed near the Agora Stairs at the entrance of the Arts and Communication wing of the Sanford High School and Sanford Regional Technical Center. The pieces of art add not only add color and class to this high traffic area but point distinctly to Sanford's rich history. Once all the art is installed in the new school, we look to have a "meet the artist" open house for the public to view. Below you will find Susan Mesick's Artist Statement.
"The Mills"
by Susan Mesick
Artist Statement
Growing up in Sanford, these mills dominated the skyline of the downtown area. They employed hundreds of people from the surrounding area and supplied cotton and woolen goods to the world. Our predecessors, working these mills turned out world famous cloth, shoes, and most recently, skylights. Once the center of employment and the lifeblood of the community of Greater Sanford, these mill buildings have been idle and neglected for many years.
I began to think about the changes in the use of these mill buildings and I was compelled to capture them before the structures themselves changed. As I painted them, I thought about the people who came from near and far to find work in them. They took pride in the products they manufactured, as well as the craftsmanship and pride that went into the construction of the buildings themselves. These works represent my emotional response to the mills and all they represent. I sought to capture their majesty and presence on canvas. What awaits their future is exciting to think about albeit bittersweet.