Friday, March 11, 2011

WHS Art Students Receive Regional Recognition in National Contest


WELLS—
Six Art students at Wells High School have placed in the Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, a national competitive art competition sponsored regionally by Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk.
The students are those of Vanessa White-Capelluti. According to White-Capelluti, 12 students entered the regional competition with 6 students receiving awards or honorable mentions. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards recognize students with three levels: Gold and Silver Keys and Honorable Mention.
For the past three years, Heartwood College of Art has hosted the Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. This creative competition is open to all Maine high school and middle school students from grades 7 through 12.
Those from WHS who placed in this year’s Regional Scholastic Art Awards include Megan Foster (Grade 12: 1 Silver Key Award for Photography Art Portfolio), Cheyenne Bastille (Gr. 12: Honorable Mention), Courtney Crawford (Gr. 12: Honorable Mention), Wantana Theerathampitak (Gr. 11: Honorable Mention), Emily Knight (Gr. 12: 1 Gold Key Award for Drawing, 4 Silver Key awards including one for Art Portfolio plus 1 Honorable Mention) and Kaley Merrill (Gr. 11: Honorable Mention).
Emily Knight received a Gold Key for her black and white drawing “Hatching Things Up.” As a result, she will be entered in the national competition of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, which will take place in New York City in the spring. Knight will also exhibit some of her work on March 19 at a ceremony at the Coastal House in Wells. At that time, the work of all Gold Key winners will be displayed. Entries that received a Silver Key will be presented in a slide show.
Another of Knight’s work, a computer generated drawing titled “Mixed Thoughts” will be on display in the Maine Art Education Association’s display for Youth Art Month at the Portland Museum of Art beginning in March. Knight says she will study art in college and hopes to become an Art teacher.
According to White-Capelluti the students’ artwork was entered in the contest in December of 2010.
“I always tell them they do good work and sometimes they are recognized for it; sometimes they aren’t. So celebrate the times when you are. They’ve all done so fantastic (a) job this year. So I was very pleased to see them rewarded.”
Photo caption: In the back row from (l to r) are Megan Foster, Cheyenne Bastille and Courtney Crawford. In the front row (l to r) are Wantana Theerathampitak, Emily Knight and Kaley Merrill. Emily Knight’s Gold Key Award winning drawing is on the table in front of the students. (Photo by Reg Bennett)

Opening Scenes: ‘The Adjustment Bureau’


By Chip Schrader
Movie Reviewer
“The Adjustment Bureau” begins with Matt Damon standing alone in a cathedral like room with the light seeping through ornate windows. The key words are “Next Senator David Norris” as a montage showing dailies and GQ with his face on the cover, an appearance on “The Daily Show,” and New York mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsing him all accompanied by Norris’ speech at a rally. The last headline to drop across the screen regards a college prank that could cost his election.
Set in New York and inside some of the most palatial buildings, “The Adjustment Bureau” follows the handsome political hopeful through the early stages of his career. But, through a misstep of chance interfering with “The Plan,” his career is sidetracked by a woman with whom he is forbidden to fall in love. The Bureau is employed, like guardian angels of a sort, to ensure that “The Plan” is followed through and properly executed. When David Norris is in the wrong place at the wrong time, he finds himself having to choose between the greatness he is fated to become or the woman he loves.
Norris is genuinely and articulately played by Matt Damon. While this role provides little challenge to Damon, he comes off naturally as the Kennedy-like politician. Elise, played by Emily Blunt, is seductive but with an organic soul. Blunt’s performance is so intimate the viewers feel they are in the room with her whenever she speaks. Like Damon’s performance, Elise is not a difficult character to manage, but Blunt brings about very natural portrayal, as well.
The characters are likeable, charming, and interesting to watch, but there is little psychology in their development. Other than loving Elise, we really aren’t shown what makes David Norris tick. We see his public side and his yearning for this woman, but we don’t see much about who David Norris really is, other than a well groomed politician with a relatively squeaky clean image. Much of the same can be said about Elise. We learn she is a passionate dancer and has a wit that equals that of Norris, but there is little development beyond that.
The wide-angle shots, visual effects, and shots from various angles are dazzling. The pacing of the film is even, but it never gets dull. While one might expect more action from a film like this, the intrigue and interplay between chance and “The Plan” are more than enough to keep the audience invested in the story. The wide-angle shots that show Norris inside a palatial room or a giant warehouse nicely parallels the concept that one man is very small portion of a much larger architecture. The imagery, setting and design are stunning!
“The Adjustment Bureau” has the soul of a classic Hitchcock thriller coupled with a postmodern edge like “North by Northwest” meets “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” The story that inspired the film came from the same author who inspired the science fiction cult classic “Blade Runner.” While this film sets its aim high, the movie falls just short of the mark needing a deeper back-story to make the need for the characters’ success more compelling. With that said, the combination of romance and intrigue make “The Adjustment Bureau” a date movie well worth the price of admission. 3.5 out of 5.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster of “The Adjustment Bureau”)

Ogunquit Celebrates Mardi Gras in Style


By Molly McCoy
Staff Columnist
OGUNQUIT—
Hats, masks and floats filled the streets of Ogunquit on Saturday, March 5, as visitors and locals gathered to celebrate Fat Tuesday early with events all weekend. A Hat and Mask Making Party at MaineStreet helped outfit the crowd who then paraded downtown, led by the King and Queen of Mardi Gras who had been crowned the night before at The Front Porch. Homemade floats were pulled down the street and sidewalks as colorful Mardi Gras beads were thrown from the second floors of downtown businesses.
Award ceremonies at Old Village Inn immediately followed the parade. Best Child Costume went to Estelle Reardon. Best Hat Made at MaineStreet was by Isabella DeHart. Best Hat Brought from Home went to Brenda McKeon. The Best Float was made and decorated by Julie Twombly. Best Costumed Group or Family went to the Fournier/Kaszubinksi Family. Judges’ Choice for costuming, hat and overall attitude went to Dan Leonard.
Photo caption: The Ogunquit Mardi Gras Parade is pictured leaving MaineStreet’s Hat and Mask Making Party and beginning their route through downtown to Old Village Inn. (Courtesy photo)