If approved this month, an installation titled “Nailed It” by artist Josiah Glover will be one of six to go into the Tree Streets neighborhood in 2022. This one would be installed at 143 Pine St.
LEWISTON — Not one, but six public art installations could be in store for the Tree Streets neighborhood next year, if approved by officials this month.
“Aboreal Figure,” by artist Hugh Lassen is one of six installations slated for Lewiston’s downtown. This sculpture, shown at a much smaller scale here, would likely be installed in Kennedy Park.
The public art projects, part of the city’s Choice Neighborhoods initiative, will add to an already hefty list of public art in Lewiston and are considered part of a larger effort to beautify and “activate” neighborhood gateways and city-owned vacant lots in the downtown.
Members of the city’s public art working group presented the six projects to officials this week, including proposed locations for each one. If approved on Dec. 21, the pieces would be installed throughout 2022.
The project received funding from an initial $1 million grant Lewiston received as it was gearing up to apply for the larger $30 million federal redevelopment grant. According to Misty Parker, economic development manager, the initial grant was allocated in order to begin some improvements to the neighborhood.
She said the effort was delayed by the pandemic, but that the art installations will be part of “getting the ball rolling” on neighborhood improvements. It will also tie in closely with work to complete the new athletic field and sledding hill at the former Hudson Bus property, she said. Two of the installations are expected to be sited there.
Each installation has a budget of $35,000, for a total project cost of $140,000. Parker said a call for artists was conducted for sculptures that pay homage to the neighborhood.
Darby Ray, a member of the working group, said the group wanted a variety of styles and vision due to having several projects come online at the same time.
According to a council memo from Parker, each piece is “intended to be a signature work that reflects the Tree Streets neighborhood, engages neighborhood residents and the wider public,” hitting on themes of “growth, revitalization, trees, community connections, transformation,” and more.
An installation called “Nailed It,” by artist Josiah Glover, would be placed at 143 Pine St. The piece is a large hammer with surrounding “nails” in the ground that double as seats for the public.
A sculpture dubbed “Aboreal Figure” by Hugh Lassen could be installed in Kennedy Park. The artist already has a similar piece in Auburn.
Other work would come from artists James Meyer, who creates action scenes in bright-colored metal and Andres von Huene, who is designing a sculpture that would be placed on a city-owned parcel on Bartlett Street.
Artist Jim Creighton is creating a large wooden sculpture out of white oak, while Jesse Salisbury creates large stone pieces that invite sitting and climbing. The work from Salisbury and Meyer is planned for the Hudson Bus fields.
A rock sculpture by artist Jesse Salisbury, which invites people to sit or climb, would be placed on a triangle of land overlooking the new Hudson Bus athletic fields.
According to the memo, the sculptures will be city owned and maintained, and they could be moved if needed. Ray said all the work will also be added to the L/A Arts digital public art map — a map that continues to grow.
Over the last few years, Lewiston has seen its number of public art projects balloon — from Arlin Graff’s zebra mural and Charlie Hewitt’s “Hopeful” sign, to Andy Rosen’s “Ledgers” next to Baxter Brewing and Melanie Therrien’s mural outside Munka Coworking.
In July, city officials initiated a review of the previously approved process for handling public art due to the influx of public art requests.
According to the memo Tuesday, the city is working on an updated public art policy that, “will provide a framework for best practices to maintain all city owned public art and future budget items may be proposed to support needed maintenance.”
The updated public art policy will be presented to council in early 2022.
Officials were supportive of the project Tuesday, with Mayor Mark Cayer stating that public art has the power to change people’s perceptions of an area.
“Prior to a few years ago, we just didn’t have that,” he said, referring to the prevalence of public art. “Imagine if that perception changed to, ‘Oh, that’s the place to go check out public art in Lewiston.'”
Councilor Lee Clement said officials are always talking about improving Lewiston’s image
“We need to improve (our) image, and these are the kinds of things that will do that,” he said.
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