Splashes of color at Sunbury

BANGOR – Splashes of color surround the residents at Sunbury Village retirement home this month. Paintings of the Maine coast, the New Hampshire woods and the Vermont hills cover the walls of the activity room and hallways.

These are no ordinary wall decorations, however. They are the work of Marie Mairhuber-Whitehall, Sunbury resident and longtime artist.

Mairhuber-Whitehall, 88, of Orono, has lived at the Ohio Street facility for more than two years. She has been painting since age 40, when a visiting friend encouraged her to pick up a paintbrush.

“I never thought that my paintings were exceptional,” she said. “I like to paint and that’s all that matters.”

As the Sunbury librarian, gardener and frequent journalist for the monthly “Sunbury Village,” Mairhuber-Whitehall is well-known and liked throughout the retirement community.

Each month she puts up a new painting on her door. The paintings are composed in her quiet hours from still life, photographs and memories.

“When you start to paint you forget everything, but you still have to be receptive,” she said. “It takes a lot of energy, but brings a lot of peace.”

Inspecting one impressionistic work, she remarks that paintings are merely splashes of color. This quiet, yet important aspect of her life was revealed to the Sunbury community this month when she was chosen Resident of the Month.

As part of a new program at Sunbury, enrichment coordinator Renee Smith selects a particularly talented resident each month and displays his or her work or achievements.

Smith’s goal is to help the residents get to know each other, and also to encourage them to embrace their talents.

“I wanted them to get to know each other on a personal level,” she said.

Last month’s showcase highlighted Bill Godsoe’s woodcarving. When Smith discovered that he had boxes full of bird carvings, she knew they needed to be on display.

Though Godsoe had given up carving years ago, he began again for the exhibition. The residents are still raving about it.

Each exhibit stays up all month, and during the third week the Resident of the Month gives a talk. Godsoe gave a demonstration of his woodcarving.

Mairhuber-Whitehall talked about the difficulties of nurturing a fresh talent at a later stage of life.

“So many are afraid of starting,” she said, adding she hoped that what she’s done will encourage others to follow their inspirations.

Smith hopes the monthly program will continue to reveal the unique and interesting talents, stories and achievements of those who live at Sunbury.

In October, trophies, running shoes and medals will fill the cases, highlighting Emery Plourde’s running career at Caribou High School.

“We have so many talented people,” said Smith.

The exhibitions and talks are open to the public – families, individuals, even those on a lunch break – with no appointment necessary.

As with all the talent at Sunbury, Mairhuber-Whitehall’s paintings come with a story or a memory. They are a window to her past.

Above all, her work reflects her life philosophy: “I like to make other people smile,” she said. “It’s so important to laugh.”

Mairhuber-Whitehall’s exhibition will be up until the end of September at Sunbury Village, 922 Ohio St.

For information, contact Renee Smith at 942-0802.