through
Carmen Johnson’ 72:
Bringing nations together
through
art
When Carmen( Cassette) Johnson’ 72 moved up to Fort Fairfield in northern Maine a few years ago to be near her husband’ s family she welcomed a quieter pace of life and rolling hillsides. However, having lived most of her life in southern Maine, on one day in 2015 she got lost while out driving and ended up crossing the border into Canada where she pulled into a gas station to ask for directions. It was there where she met, by chance, the honorable Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Jocelyne Roy Vienneau.
Carmen is an artist who uses ink and watercolors to capture beautiful landscapes, finding inspiration in Vincent van Gogh’ s style and opting for bright colors.“ Art has always been a part of my life— it’ s a talent that God gave me,” she said. She sells prints, postcards, and magnets, and thought it would be a nice gesture to send Lieutenant Governor Vienneau some of her art, including magnets featuring Maine’ s iconic Portland Headlight and a moose.
STORY BY EMMA DEANS PHOTO & ARTWORK COURTESY OF CARMEN JOHNSON
L to R: Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick Jocelyne Roy Vienneau, Carmen Johnson’ 72, and Ronald Vienneau, at the Government House in Canada. Below: Portland Headlight watercolor by Carmen Johnson’ 72.
“ She responded with a thank you note along with an invitation to visit the Capitol, in Fredericton, New Brunswick. I could not make it this past summer, so a surprise came right before Christmas— an invite to come to the Governor’ s mansion to celebrate the New Year’ s Day afternoon levee with them. I was just thrilled and excited. I brought her some of my artwork and my husband and I received a gracious tour of the estate. There was a four-piece jazz band, homemade chicken soup, apple cider, and an assortment of cookies.” Carmen has donated her artwork to several charitable organizations, including prints for the 2017 Thornton Fund Auction, which will be held on May 6!
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