Briar Pelletier: Exploring art from Maine to Japan

Briar Pelletier, a University of Maine art history major from Lewiston, Maine, will study this spring at Hirosaki University in Aomori, Japan to learn about cross-cultural perspectives in contemporary Japanese woodblock printing.

While abroad, she will be working on her capstone thesis “Art as Ambassadorship,” as well as assisting in a woodblock print exchange between Maine and Aomori artists as part of an international internship with Friends of Aomori, a sister-state organization based out of Portland.

“I am excited to be able to discuss cross-cultural perspectives and experience through art-making in my research by being directly involved with a print exchange between Maine and Aomori artists — from both sides of the world,” says Pelletier.

For the past year and a half, Pelletier has interned at the University of Maine Museum of Art. She has assisted the museum with event planning, cataloging, exhibit preparation, and educational outreach. One of her favorite roles at the museum was being a teaching assistant for the Young Curators program.

“The experience has made me realize how much I want to work for an arts or cultural institution, and working here has provided me with many skills necessary for such a career,” she says.

This semester, she also is working on a project for the Franco-American Centre on campus, exploring how younger members of Franco families identify with the culture. She is working with students from the FAS 101 class, who are exploring the topic through art and writing. A small catalog and exhibit of the projects will be displayed and shared with the community at the Centre in February.

In fall 2014, Pelletier transferred to UMaine from the University of Southern Maine. After she graduated from high school, she attended Maine College of Art for studio painting. Here she took her first art history course, which combined her passion for art and writing.

“I think experiencing art school helped me realize what I truly wanted to do in the arts,” she says. “I returned to college several years later and feel more dedicated to promoting the arts and artists rather than art-making.”

Pelletier, who also has a minor in studio art and international affairs, found a home in UMaine’s Department of Art after taking Michael Grillo’s art history course. He has remained an influential person throughout her studies.

“Above all, Professor Grillo is an educator who will push you to be better and will stay in your corner to cheer you on while you are working towards your goals,” says Pelletier. “He pushes my stubborn self to take risks. He is an amazing advocate for students. I don’t know if I would be going abroad without the support of the Art Department, especially him.”

Last semester, Pelletier was awarded the Paula E. Peer award at the UMaine Juried Student Exhibition, which will allow her to study abroad. She won the award after writing a compelling essay describing her inspiration for studying Japanese arts and culture, and how being immersed in the environment would enhance her studies.

“Getting the opportunity to assist a contemporary print exchange between cultures, immerse one’s self into a foreign culture, and make international connections adds a dimension to my undergraduate experience that I never dreamed of being a reality for me,” says Pelletier.

“At my old school, I could not picture myself going to Japan for academic research or taking on an international internship. Now I am doing both.”

After graduating from UMaine in December 2017, Pelletier plans to move back to Portland and continue working with Friends of Aomori to make the printmaking exchange an annual event. Her ultimate goal is to have a career in the arts, preferably with a museum or a cultural institution.