Arts commission recommends two community art projects, including school pollinator mural

At a regularly scheduled meeting, the Bangor City Arts Commission voted by voice to recommend two public-art projects to Bangor City Council: a community-painted container now placed in the Abbott lot and a pollinator-themed mural to be painted on the gymnasium at Pitt Street School.

Presenter (S3) described the projects and said commission recommendation is the first local approval step under city code before council review. The container project was completed with community volunteers and is currently staged in the Abbott lot. The school mural, the third in the commission’s school-series, will focus on pollinators and apple trees and will incorporate student drawings collected by the school and scanned into the final rendering. “Every student has a chance,” the presenter said, describing student involvement in the design and painting process.

Artist (S5), who works from the student sketches, said she adapts children’s imagery into the final mural design so students retain ownership of the work. “It was really about making a great mural, but having the kids have ownership of the mural itself,” the artist said.

Staff member (S2) told commissioners the school is partnering with Retreus, a nonprofit that helps plant orchards and runs related educational programming; staff said the commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to city council for final approval. Commissioners signaled approval by voice during a brief procedural motion called by the chair (S1). The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; staff said the recommendation package will be presented to council as part of the city’s normal approval process.

The projects are described by commission members as temporary or relocatable: the presenter noted the container is temporary and can be moved if necessary. The commission also discussed volunteer participation and the role of local high-school students in finishing murals, which members said provides skill-building opportunities.

Next steps: staff will forward the recommendation packet to Bangor City Council for formal consideration; the projects require council approval under the city’s code before construction or installation proceeds.