The town of Wilton has gone a little “loon-ie” over this year’s Bicentennial Blueberry Festival. Western Maine’s largest outdoor art display, Loon Maine-ia, features a flock of oversized, sculptured fiberglass loons painted by Maine artists and nestled throughout the town for public viewing.
Artist and Wilton resident Barbara Hathaway is the Loon Maine-ia 2003 coordinator and chose the loon shape for the sculptures to draw public attention to Wilson Pond at the center of Wilton.
“Several real loons make their home in Wilson Pond,” explains Hathaway. “This project was intended to emphasize the environment and protection of Wilson Lake.”
Hathaway designed the loon sculpture and contracted with Tom Bernardi of Broad Bay Tooling, Inc. to fabricate the mold and loon shapes for painting. The first loons were 33 pounds, four feet long and three feet high. Other businesses donating materials for the project include Dexter Supply, Hammond Lumber, Vinings, and Coca-Cola. Cement bases for displaying the loons were constructed by Wilton resident, Barry Hathaway Sr.
An auction of the painted loon sculptures will take place on August 2 at 2 p.m. at Academy Hill School during the Bicentennial Blueberry celebration. Each art sculpture will have a plaque placed at the base to title the work and name the artist and sponsor. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the town of Wilton and the State of Maine as well as the artists and their sponsors. Sculptures can be viewed at the school prior to the auction on Friday and Saturday.
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