Unique interactive exhibit asks library visitors to grab art and explore

By Erin Rose

Visitors are welcome to touch and explore art in a new exhibit by artist and Windham resident Tony Prizio on display until the end of July at the Windham Public Library.

A unique new hands-on exhibit by Windham artist Tony Prizio
at the Windham Public Library features a collection of 500
different works ranging from as large as a sheet of paper to
as small as an index card and will be displayed through
July 31.  PHOTO BY ERIN ROSE  

“A lot of artists say, ‘don’t touch my stuff, that’s why it’s on the wall,’ said Sally Bannen, Technical Services Librarian. “This is very different. He really did create it to be interactive.”

Prizio has curated a collection of 500 different works ranging from as large as a sheet of paper to as small as an index card, and divided them into different easels, crates and boxes. Visitors are asked to take a crate or easel and go through the selected art pieces to see what sparks their inspiration or starts their mind thinking.

“I’m encouraging people to pick up one of the crates, and take a seat and thumb through them,” Prizio explained. “Art is instructive; it’s supposed to bring you out of the shell you’ve built around you so you can expand your view to see.”

The works range from photographs, both new and from the past, to collages, pen and ink and watercolors, and include some realism, pointillism, and pieces for the viewer to interpret. They are on top of the stacks on the second floor, as you exit the stairway, along with some works hung around the area.

“Some of the pieces, to one person they may look incomplete or just an idea, but to other people it may look like a cool piece,” Bannen said. “It does really make you look at things.”

The artist hopes that viewing the pieces will help others expand their mind as to what art may be, and potentially inspire them to start to create works of their own.

“It’s as simple as a scribble or a doodle on a piece of paper that’s representative to the way you’re thinking or what’s on your mind,” Prizio said.

“People say they ‘can’t draw a straight line with a ruler’ or ‘I can’t draw a tree.’ There are plenty of pictures and photographs of trees,” he said. “So, do your thing instead of trying to imitate what you saw at a museum.”

Prizio was inspired to shift to smaller canvases after retiring and needing to create in a way that considered his smaller surroundings.

“I used to be able to paint in a large barn and in an attic space, and now, I live in an apartment, so I don’t have a ton of space,” he said. “I started making a lot of desktop items in paint, collage, pen and ink, and drawing.”

Retired after a career in construction, Prizio has spent his life making art and even majored in painting and sculpture at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, New York.

“I did not make my living that way [through art], because you can count on two hands the number of people who have actually made successful living from painting or sculpture,” he said. “Throughout it all, and I’m 76 years old, I’ve painted and made drawings and whatnot the whole time.”

Exhibits that infuse artwork into the library’s stacks help bring art to those who may not otherwise have access, Bannen said.

“It’s important especially since not everyone can get into places like galleries or museums,” she said. “To be able to look at and interact with art because you just happen to be at the library, and here’s something like this, whether you’re looking at art on the wall or sitting down and interacting with it, I think it’s important.”

“That might be the only time that someone is exposed to it,” Bannen said. “Like Tony says, if it gets someone thinking about ‘hey maybe I can do this,’ I think that’s great.”

Prizio is a longtime visitor to the Windham Library making the exhibit more meaningful for the staff who have gotten to know him over the years.

“I love getting anyone in to show their work at the library, but it’s extra special when it’s someone you’ve interacted with and chatted with, and you find out there’s an aspect to them you didn’t even know about,” Bannen said.

The exhibit will continue through July 31. More information can be found on the library’s website at https://www.windham.lib.me.us/. <

Split decision: WHS senior competes in USA Mullet Championships

By Masha Yurkevich

Was the mullet ever in style or did it never go out of style? No matter the answer, Windham High School senior Eliott Kullman, also known as “Big Redd,” rocks the look. In fact, he wears it so well that he decided to compete in the USA Mullet Championships.

Elliott Kullman, a senior at Windham High School, has
advanced to the second round of competition in the teen
category of the 2024 USA Mullet Championships.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

This all started in 2021, when Kullman and his friends were joking around about mullets, and one of Kullman’s friends tried out the mullet hairstyle and said that Kullman should try to grow one out too.

“At first, my mom didn't want me to get a mullet,” says Kullman. “It took probably a week before my mom actually approved it and from there, I went through four different hair places to get the mullet I wanted.”

It was something very new for Kullman and a lot of people helped him to fully understand the look and how to take care of his mullet.

Later, when he heard about a national mullet competition called the USA Mullet Championships, he decided to give it a shot.

The USA Mullet Championships started in 2020 and is an annual competition with a goal to crown the very best mullets in the country. The competition awards cash prizes and bragging rights to winners in child, teen, and adult mullet categories.

It is the world's largest competition of its kind, with more than 1,000 competitors each year. The competition also raises money for charity and for this year, the USA Mullet Championships is partnering with Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors, a national charitable organization that helps build mortgage-free homes for wounded American veterans. All donations from the mullet competition will go to the Homes for Wounded Warriors charity.

To officially join the mullet competition, Kullman had to send in three photos – a front, a side, and a back – of his mullet, as well as write an essay about the story of his mullet. After a bit of waiting this spring, Kullman received the word that he was approved and was officially in the competition.

Since then, Kullman has been actively trying to raise money for donations and people to vote online for his mullet.

“The winner is determined by the number of votes and donation amounts that each competitor gets,” says Kullman.

As well as raising money for a good cause, winners of the USA Mullet Championships will also receive a Mullet Champ belt, a GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera, and a cash prize.

In the preliminary round ending earlier this week, Kullman came in fourth place in the teen category, and qualified to compete in the USA Mullet Championships second round.

Voting in the second round is underway and ends July 30. If Kullman gathers enough votes and donations, he will compete in the final round from Aug. 14 to Aug. 21. USA Mullet Championship winners will be announced online on Aug. 28.

Kullman is asking the community to vote for him and his mullet, as well as make a donation of any size, if possible. You may place your vote and/or donations on the USA Mullet Championships website at www.mulletchamp.com.

Believe it or not, Kullman is still growing his amazing mullet.

“I'm glad I decided to get a mullet because it's rare to see a ginger with a mullet,” he says. “I get a lot of compliments and I love this hairstyle. Lots of people tell me it looks great on me.”

Over time, Kullman says that he has gotten used to his mullet and taking care of it and gets it cleaned up every four weeks.

“I thought I wouldn't be able to pull it off until a lot of people gave me confidence and I kept going,” he says. “So here I am in 2024 with an awesome mullet and hoping to win the USA Mullet Championship Competition. I love my mullet and I am going to keep it for a long time.” <

Fairytale house a whimsical landmark in Raymond

By Nicole Levine

Find yourself in a fairytale when traveling down Main Street in Raymond. There lies The House That Jack Built, a peculiar town landmark that transports you into the world of a child's imagination.

An old postcard show The House That Jack Built in its heyday
on Main Street in Raymond Village. The former gift shop and
ice cream parlor is long gone but the building remains and
is a local landmark in the town. COURTESY PHOTO 

The House That Jack Built has a distinctive look that stands out amongst the rest of the houses within Raymond Village. It has playful yellow-colored walls with cyan blue framing around its doorways and windows. The house is built to look crooked, resembling an imperfect, yet magical children’s drawing.

To people passing by, its presence is a mystery. However, to many locals who have lived in Raymond for years, it is a nostalgic memory and sentimental reminder of their past.

The House That Jack Built was not created by Jack but was originally constructed in the 1930s by the Foster family of Raymond. Its fantastical look is inspired by the nursery rhyme that was favored by their daughter, The House That Jack Built.

The Fosters had opened an ice cream parlor and tea shop within the building, where they sold a variety of knick-knacks in their Maine-inspired gift shop. Some of their products included moccasins and maple syrup products. They also had their own soda fountain within the parlor.

Lucy Foster, also a former teacher, was often seen working within the shop. Many today still have very high regard for her heartfelt dedication to her students and her community. Don Foster, who also owned the business, was said to be “quite the character and funny” during his time working in the shop.

This used to be a very popular destination, as Route 302 originally ran past The House That Jack Built, before it was redirected to go by Raymond Beach in 1955.

The ice cream parlor was a favorite spot for teenagers during the time it was open. It was “the place to be” for local teens to hang out and socialize with their friends.

One customer reminiscing about the business, says “It sure was a popular place and one all the teens in the 50’s loved.” Another said, “I had my first banana split there.”

Many of the teens who used to frequent the ice cream parlor would often sign their names on the walls within the interior. The list of those names gives a unique glimpse into the past of those who used to call this their hangout when they were young.

The business within The House That Jack Built was open for around 25 years before it eventually closed. The property was then sold by the Fosters to the Timmons family.

Even though the business that brought so many teenagers fond memories had closed, The House That Jack Built continued to remain in many locals’ hearts.

Alice Bradeen, secretary for the Raymond-Casco Historical Society, grew up right next to the house. She was close with the Timmons family, who were residing on the property at the time. She spent many of her days exploring and playing there.

She described how there was also a wishing well added on to the back of the property. It was something that kids could climb inside and play. The wishing well just created all the more magic to this already fairytale-inspired home.

When describing the inside of The House That Jack Built, Bradeen says it was incredibly “quirky and neat” to go along with its eccentric exterior.

“You could picture how the tables were set up, and there was a bar where they served the ice cream with stools,” she said. It was almost as though she could still visualize what it once had looked like, when it was a thriving town scene. “Because it was something I saw every day, I did not appreciate how unique it was until later on.”

Nowadays many of us pass by this one-of-a-kind treasure, wondering to ourselves, “What is this quirky storybook-like building?”

The truth is, this Town of Raymond gem is truly something magical and serves as a looking glass back into local history.

Today, The House That Jack Built remains in the Timmons family. There has been some discussion of preserving the house as a historical landmark, however its future is unknown.

This charming feature of the town of Raymond brought a fairytale to life, and has created many fond memories for local residents, thanks to the Foster family. <