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 !
18
BY LINDSAY LAPRAD HUDNOR
Washington D.C. Gathering
With nearly 40 guests in attendance,
the Washington D.C. reception held
on November 24, 2016 at the Army
and Navy Club was one of the largest
alumni regional receptions to date. A
great part of the event’s success can be
attributed to Coordinating Host Joel
Levesque’s ’85 passion for networking
and bringing people together. He
worked with the Development Office
to plan the event.
The venue was booked in May,
long before the announcement of
the National Tree Lighting, which
coincidentally was planned for
the same evening. Joel voiced how
impressed he was with the alumni
who “not only braved the traffic of the
National Tree Lighting but also blew
off a national level event to spend
the evening with Thornton Academy
alumni and shut down the Army Navy
Club.” Alumni from the class of 2008
all the way to the class of 1965 came
together to mingle and to hear more
about the state of the school from
Headmaster Rene M. Menard ’88.
Since graduating from Thornton,
Joel has always been thankful for his
education and alumni network. “I’ve
never felt unprepared or alone. I’m
never far from friends and people I
connect with,” he said. Joel is currently
serving as President of the Maine
State Society, a “home away from
home” for Mainers living and working
in the Washington D.C. metro area
since 1884. There is a large Thornton
Academy alumni contingency in the
Maine State Society and the group is
actively looking to recruit members.
Joel shared, “We have an annual
Lobstah Dinnah, a Bean Suppah, a
Congressional Delegation Breakfast,
Wreaths Across America at Arlington,
and we host the Maine Cherry Blossom
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