Committee hears update on large sculpture fabrication, transport and installation logistics

Portsmouth Boards & Commissions members received progress updates on a large waterfront sculpture that is being fabricated out of state and will be trucked to Portsmouth for installation.

Members said fabricators in Texas welded the sculpture sections into larger assemblies rather than shipping them in pieces, and that the artist and fabricators will paint the work before transport. Committee members and staff discussed transport using a lowboy trailer, crane lifts for loading and unloading, multi-state routing permissions for oversized loads and the potential for turf or lawn disturbance when offloading on site. Sean and others noted the need to coordinate public-works support when the sculpture arrives.

Mirco (fabrication lead) estimated "another month of fabrication" before painting begins. Committee members asked Mirco to prepare a memo listing the sculpture’s size and weight so staff can coordinate with public works, schedule equipment and document site protections. No final installation date was set; participants said they were aiming for as soon as transport and on-site planning can be completed but did not set a firm deadline.

The group also discussed delaying a large public dedication until artist Vito returns to the country; members suggested early October as a possible time for a ceremony.