SEARSPORT, Maine — Project Pathology, the inventive Christo-like outdoor sculpture exhibit developed by 12 University of Maine at Augusta art students, is on display at Moose Point State Park through Aug. 8 before it will move on to Lamoine State Park in Ellsworth.
Project Pathology staggers 50 large photographic works along an outdoor path and has been displayed at the Pine Tree State Arboretum. It will be installed at Lamoine State Park by participants of UMA’s Partners in the Parks project Aug. 10 and will remain on display through Sept. 7.
“I don’t believe Maine has ever hosted an exhibit quite like Project Pathology,” said Robert Rainey, a UMA professor of photography who supervised the student-initiated exhibit. “In some ways, it compares with the work of Christo, whose world famous provocative displays like Umbrellas and Gates brought art to an unsuspecting audience in an unusual outdoor environment.”
Professor Rainey said, “One direction of Project Pathology is in color, depicting the comings of life, and the opposite direction is in black and white, depicting the goings. The photographic images explore very diverse subject matter — the ordinary, the surreal, the reflective, the comical and more — but all address the pathology of life.”
Funded by a grant from the Harry Faust Art Fund awarded by the Public Art Sculpture Grant Committee managed by the Maine Arts Commission, Project Pathology also is supported by the University of Maine at Augusta’s Student Government Association. It was enthusiastically received by the three hosting parks.
“We could not be more delighted to be hosting Project Pathology at two of our state parks,” Commissioner Patrick McGowan of the Maine Department of Conservation said. “Moose Point and Lamoine state parks are special places, and tourists and Maine folks will be excited to see this unique art exhibit displayed there. Part of our mission is to offer the beauty of the outdoors to our visitors, and we like to think that Project Pathology adds another element to that.”
The contributing artists are Gilbert Ancira, Lorri Dougherty, Richard Fortin, Brandi Dyer, Danielle Gilcott, Russ Gilchrist, Sierra Jackson, Rebekah Juarez, Catherine McDade, Kera McIntosh, Tanya Russell and Rebecca Stover.
For more information about park fees and hours, visit parksandlands.com or maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/index.pl.
For more information on Project Pathology, visit ProjectPathology.com.