This morning, as the wind kicked up and a thunderstorm began to threaten, I thought it might be a good time to visit two of the City’s newest additions to its Public Art Collection, located along Baxter Boulevard in Winslow Park. “Rustle”, framed by the swaying branches and darkening sky, looked its part. And the “Cloud Bench” almost glowed.

Both pieces, by Maine-home-grown artist Vivian Beer, were installed this summer. The plantings, designed by local landscape architect Regina Leonard, were recently finished as well.

I am proud to say I was co-chair of the Portland Public Art’s subcommittee for Winslow Park, which selected Vivian Beer’s proposal. When the City’s Urban Designer position was eliminated, I became the primary contact in the City for this project, and worked with Regina (who went above and beyond the call of duty and with whom I hope to work again) and Vivian (who charmed us all) to navigate the staffing limbo.

This project was relatively modest, cost-effective, and quick, particularly when compared to some of the other projects on Portland’s public art horizon. There are currently three privately funded, large-scale public art projects in the works– “Boom” by Portland artist Aaron Stephan and commissioned to commemorate PD Merrill’s contributions to the City (I’ve included a blurry picture of the PD Merrill group’s presentation to the Public Art Committee), a Fisherman’s Memorial landscape and public art project at Bell Buoy Park, and Art All Around, the oil tanks over in South Portland. The Portland Public Art Committee has an advisory role in the Portland projects, and has no involvement in the oil tank project.

As the Public Art Committee, still a relatively young program, continues to mature and evolve, it will be interesting to see how it (we, I guess) manages the relationship between publicly funded and privately funded pieces. There is certainly an important role for each.