A modern pop art experience in the county

WASHBURN, Maine (WAGM) – Young artists from the county were invited to a Modern Pop Experience in Washburn today. At the event, they were able to meet an artist who traveled from New York to showcase his creations. News Source 8 reporter Megan Waceken has the details…

For the past 15 years, Michael Albert has traveled throughout the country sharing his artwork and inspiring others.

Albert says: “My mission is to bring art to the people. If you don’t tour, you won’t succeed.”

His travels now took him to Aroostook County, where families gathered at the Washburn Memorial Library to meet Albert at what he calls the Modern Pop Art Experience.

Albert says: “I tell my story. I explain who I am and why I make art. I show them examples of my work – my posters.”

Many of Albert’s posters are collages made from materials we see every day in the supermarket and in our own cupboards.

Albert says: “Everyone has these boxes. All the things we buy in the supermarket, drugstore and toy store are packed in these printed boxes.”

Lilith Collins was one of the young artists at the Modern Pop Art Experience. Her favorite piece of Albert’s art was the collages he made out of cereal boxes.

Collins says, “I liked when he used cereal boxes to make words and characters.”

After seeing Albert’s art and learning about his inspirations, participants had a go at creating their own collages. Bonnie Haley, Livianna Therrien and Lilith Collins told us what they were working on.

Haley says, “I’m doing the Canadian flag and the reason I’m doing it is because he did the American flag. And I really like Canada because about half of my family lives there. That’s why I did Canada.”

Therrien says: “I’m making a lilac tree because those are my favorite flowers. Also, some family members died recently, so I’m going to put their names on there.”

Collins says: “I spell ‘chicken’ and then just put letters around it.”

While the event was about creating art, for Albert it is primarily about educating the next generation of artists.

Megan Waceken News Source 8

All rights reserved.