The Maine Arts Commission Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Awardees- Fiscal Year 2007
Tom Côté, Limestone
Tom Côté, of Limestone, learned woodcarving from his mother and grandfather. When he was 27 years old, he apprenticed to a cousin in Quebec, where he learned much of his skill. Among his works is a statue of St. Louis that was carved for the Catholic church in Limestone. Côté teaches carving in the Limestone High School. He will team up with two apprentices, Jessica Stackhouse and Traci Weatherhead, both of Limestone. Both Stackhouse and Weatherhead remember their grandparents carving and whittling, and both hope to teach others once they have mastered the art themselves. Côté maintains a small shop in Limestone where he carves reliefs and small figures. How does one know where to find Côté? Pedestrians passing by will see a smiling face beaming at them from the trunk of a tree in Côté’s yard.
Cynthia Larock, Lewiston
Stepdancer Cindy Larock, of Lewiston, is a veteran of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program. She studied as an apprentice with Quebecois master Benoit Bourque, a member of the acclaimed Canadian music ensemble, Le Vent du Nord. After studying with Bourque, Larock became a master in her own right, taking on apprentices. Currently she is teamed up with apprentice Donna Casavant. Larock founded the youth folk dance ensemble Les Pieds Rigolants (The Giggling Feet), which she coaches in performances throughout Maine. Casavant grew up hearing stories of Saturday night family dances, and remembers her grandfather dancing in his chair to the music he played on his harmonica.
Stan Neptune, of Passadumkeag
Stan Neptune, of Passadumkeag is a member of the Penobscot Nation, and a traditional carver of ceremonial root clubs. Neptune was born on Indian Island, where he has lived for 50 years. After serving in the Army for two year, Neptune traveled and attended traditional Native American gatherings throughout the northeast and Canada. Much of his knowledge of traditional ways is handed down from Senabeh, a Penobscot elder considered to be the last medicine man of the Penobscot tribe. It was Senabeh who taught root club carving techniques to Neptune. Neptune has teamed up with apprentice Dennis Tomah.
Doug Protsik, Woolwich
Doug Protsik, of Woolwich has teamed up with 10-year old Milo Stanley. Protsik, a fiddler, had traveled with the string band, Old Grey Goose, to Central Asia, Poland, and Cuba as a cultural ambassador. His young apprentice has been wowing audiences all over Maine with his fiddling. Earlier this year, Stanley appeared with Protsik at the Saco River Grange Hall to standing ovations, and calls for an encore. Milo also performs with the Pineland fiddlers. Milo’s mother, Kristin Salvatore writes, “Watching them work together is not so much like watching a 10-year-old and his teacher, rather they are two musicians who enjoy making music together.” In addition to fiddling, Protsik composes and records scores for silent movies. He directs the annual Maine Fiddle Camp.
