Tom Brennan was commissioned to paint a series of ten large paintings commemorating the Bicentennial of the City of Calais. The committee established to organize theBicentennialfestivities decided that fine art would be a very long-lasting and significantly appropriate way to memorialize the city's two-hundredth birthday and selected Tom Brennan to complete the works. The theme was "times when our community comes together to socialize and celebrate."The results were astounding creations that incorporated real community members past and present. "My favorite is the Christmas piece which shows the whole town turning out for the annual Santa Claus parade"...noted the artist ." To be able to include 176 recognizable faces was a challenge I thoroughly enjoyed as I knew many of the subjects. After completing research in the local library and receiving other reference materials from friends and neighbors, the tough part was figuring out how to have as many as possible fit in and look right." The ten paintings are now on permanent public display in the City Building located centrally in the downtown district.
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UPDATE... Here are more Calais, Maine scenes completed by Tom. ANDREWS HOT DOGS shows the very popular local dairy bar that featured the best tasting hot dogs and hamburgs in the region for many years. The TEE HEE depicts a 1960's malt shop on Main Street and the wonderful woman who ran it. The third piece is a sepia painting of BECKETT'S STORE around 1900. INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL PARADE is the fourth finished piece below. On the bottom are two rough studies for future possible paintings of SMOKEY'S GREATEST SHOWS and MADELINE'S RESTAURANT.
ANDREWS HOT DOGS
The TEE HEE
BECKETT'S STORE 1900
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL PARADE
Rough Study for future possible nostalgic painting of SMOKEY'S GREATER SHOWS
Rough Study for future possible nostalgic painting of MADELINE'S RESTAURANT
Tom Brennan PAINTINGS & PORTRAITS ROBBINSTON, MAINE 04671 USA
