Boothby Square Gets the Spotlight on First Friday

Public Art Committee to lead a brief discussion on historic fountain and square during November’s First Friday Art Walk

Portland, Maine – This Friday as a part of First Friday Art Walk, the Portland Public Art Committee (PPAC) will hold its seventh talk in the Art in Our Front Yard: Portland’s Public Art Collection series with a discussion of the Boothby Square and Fountain located on Fore Street (photo attached). PPAC member Jere DeWaters will lead a discussion of the square and artwork, its history and significance within the city’s collection. The public is encouraged to join the PPAC Friday November 2nd and learn about the art in their front yard and share in a discussion of the unique place public art holds in our community.



In 1902, Colonel and Portland Mayor Federic E. Boothby donated land to establish a park near the intersection of Fore Street and Pearl Street and in 1903, installed a watering trough in honor of the philanthropic work of his wife, Adelaide. The space subsequently became known at Boothby Square.  An unfortunate car accident nearly demolished the trough resulting in its removal in 1946. The trough was then sold to an antiques dealer and was moved to Wells. For more than twenty years, the city tried to purchase and return the trough and finally in 2004, thanks to efforts by the city, the Libra Foundation, Eric Cianchette and Cianbro, a restored and refurbished watering trough was brought back and reinstalled near its original location. The return of the fountain also marked a larger effort to revitalize Boothby Square.

In April 2000, the City Council established the Portland Public Art Program to preserve, restore and enhance the City’s public art collection. The Portland Public Art Program commissions art that engages with the surrounding environment to create, enrich, or reveal a sense of place, and to express the spirit, values, visions and poetry of place that collectively define Portland. Currently, the public art collection contains twenty-nine works of art that are permanently installed throughout the city, including works of historical significance dating from the nineteenth century, as well as contemporary pieces that reflect the diversity and spirit of the city. Of the twenty-nine pieces, twelve located within walking distance of the Arts District will be a part of the Art in Our Front Yard: Portland’s Public Art Collection series. For December’s First Friday Art Walk, PPAC will lead a discussion of the Maine Lobsterman. For more information about the Portland Public Art Committee, visit www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/pubart.asp.

When: Friday, November 2, 2012

5:30 PM                                                      

Where: Lincoln Park and Fountain Portland