Celebrating Public Art in Maine: 30 Years!

Celebrating Public Art in Maine: 30 Years of the Percent for Art Program

The Public Art Event Series

As the Maine Arts Commission’s Percent for Art program enters its 30th year, the agency is celebrating the program’s transformative power by sponsoring a series of public art events that take place throughout the state in 2009.

The Public Art Event Series is designed to foster discussions about public art in Maine. National and international experts and public artists will spark conversation by challenging preconceived notions about what public art is today as they share their artistic methods and practices.

Through a juried selection process, five Maine arts organizations were funded by the Maine Arts Commission to present dynamic speakers who will make significant contributions to our notions of public art. The local arts organizations are: Tides Institute and Museum of Art in Eastport, Portland Arts and Cultural Alliance, Waterville Arts Council, SPACE Gallery in Portland and Maine College of Art.

Schedule:

May 29, 7pm
Amy Hausmann
Discusses Arts for Transit (AFT) Program
SPACE Gallery, Portland

June 5 – Oct. 31
Eighth Annual Sculpture Garden Invitational
(Conversation with the artists on August 26)
Art Gallery – University of New England, Westbrook College Campus, Portland

June 6, 6pm
Jean Shin
Discusses Celadon Remnants
SPACE Gallery, Portland

June 19, 5 – 8pm
Eco-Motion
A multi-site installation of interactive sculpture
Downtown Belfast

July 25 – Sept. 12
Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium
Watch the creation of public sculptures
SERC, Schoodic Point

Aug. 9 – 15
Sue Clifford
Parish Maps: Building a Sense of Place through the Work of Common Ground
Tides Institute and Museum of Art, Eastport

October 9, 6pm
Amy Franceschini
Discusses Futurefarmers and Free Soil
Maine College of Art, Portland

October 17, 2pm
Swoon
Discusses public installations and interventions
SPACE Gallery, Portland

November 13-14
Liz Lerman and Juice 2.0
Art, Innovation and the Built Environment, Camden