Andre Audette
Creative to the very core of his soul, André Audette will be remembered for his artistic talents. From a very early age, his drawing ability was recognized and celebrated. He made art every single day of his life. He drew, painted, silk-screened, made pottery, and blown glass, he was a visual creator and art appreciator.
He also enjoyed ice hockey and was a fluid and graceful skater, skateboarder, and rollerblader. Coached by many wonderful fathers, they remember him as a quiet leader who inspired by example. A few highlights of his life include winning the state hockey championship on his birthday, climbing Cadillac Mountain at dawn with his family, enjoying music festivals, the many summers with family and friends at 3Mile Island camp, being the youngest artist accepted to a juried art show at the Concord Art Assoc., and attending Rhode Island School of Design.
Much of his art extended beyond the medium, gifting it to others was equally important to him. A key image in his later years was the mandala of two people connected by a journey of understanding in the mind, heart, and body. Heart to heart - eye to eye - selfless - speechless. - together in a shared quest.
André enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships he made while working at Haute Coffee, Verrill Farm, 80 Thoreau, Albright Art and Seawright Day Lily farm.
For the last nine years of his life, André had suffered from mental illness which ravaged his creativity and stole his dreams. He tried to remain positive and his recent artwork represents the daily battle he had with hearing voices. He made t-shirts, stickers, banners, buttons, sweatshirts with smiling faces, and “All is Well” which he sold and gave away to the many people and friends he made in Concord Center. His designs live on all over the world from Canada to Puerto Rico to Singapore.
André meditated on and savored the beauty and ever-changing majesty of nature: clouds moving across the sky, the wind in the trees, the harmony of blue and green. He was a compassionate soul who gently caught insects trapped indoors and released them outside. Not even close do these words come to illustrate the amazing person that André IS. He is every fluffy cloud, every blue sky, every green leaf. He brought so much joy to our world.
