Art Project Unveiled in Brunswick

Collaborative Public Art Project Unveiled in Brunswick

Brunswick, ME - Mid Coast Hospital, in collaboration with Bowdoin College and Brunswick Public Art (BPA), unveiled “Maine Street, Brunswick” on Saturday, a mural that now hangs in the Mid Coast Primary Care & Walk-In Clinic, Downtown at Brunswick Station. The 14-foot oil-on-linen painting depicts scenes of community life on the Brunswick Mall.

View images from the dedication event<http://www.pinterest.com/midcoasthosp/mid-coast-art/>.

View video of the artist describing the in-process painting<http://vimeo.com/72917737>.

The project began more than two years ago when Artist Lucy Walker submitted a proposal to BPA as part of her Public Art class at Bowdoin. Walker was selected from a pool of 18 artists to paint the mural, a project funded as part of a gift from a Mid Coast Hospital Auxiliary pledge toward the completion of the Walk-In Clinic.

Mid Coast Hospital President and CEO, Lois Skillings stated that the project is “part of Mid Coast’s commitment to creating an environment of healing.” She also noted that the Walk-in Clinic is a critical part of Mid Coast’s vision for the future of healthcare where people can be economically treated for minor immediate concerns rather than going to the more costly emergency room.

Walker explained that she spent countless hours observing the happenings on the Mall and based her painting on real life “characters.” She commented, “I’ve spent so much time with each of the characters, I am excited to see them back in the community where they belong.” She added that she considers the piece to be “a portrait of health and what it means to have a vibrant and healthy community.”

Bowdoin Art Professor Mark Wethli was instrumental in the completion of the project. As the teacher of Walker’s Public Art class, a BPA member, and a contributor to Mid Coast Hospital’s “Healing Environment Project,” he has a true understanding of the importance and significance of this piece in fostering health within the community.

Amongst much gratitude for those involved, Wethli said, “Lucy’s perseverance and dedication to this project has been extraordinary. It is a remarkable painting that captures the unique qualities of the Brunswick community.“

The Mid Coast Primary Care & Walk-In Clinic is located at 22 Station Avenue in Brunswick and welcomes patients and community members to view the mural during operating hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit midcoasthealth.com/primarycare or call (207) 406-7500.