BANGOR, Maine — After nearly six years of discussion, disagreement and delay, the “Continuity of Community” sculpture that has graced West Market Square for 37 years will be relocated to a different part of the community.
The City Council voted 5-3 at Monday night’s meeting to approve its business and economic development committee’s recommendation to move the 10-foot-wide, 6-foot-tall, elliptical, stainless-steel structure to the end of the Bangor Waterfront bulkhead and remove the fountain that formed its base.
The relocation plan, which was approved 3-1 by the committee last week, got a unanimous endorsement from both the Historic Preservation Commission and the Commission on Cultural Development.
Brian Ames, past Downtown Bangor Partnership board president, and George Kinghorn, University of Maine Museum of Art director and vice president of the Downtown Bangor Partnership board, both came to the podium at City Hall council chambers to affirm their support for the plan, but three councilors were not in agreement with the majority.
Councilor Nelson Durgin was the first to voice his disapproval, noting that he thinks the new location — a location near the intersection of Railroad and Front streets at the end of the steel wall running downriver from the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge past the Sea Dog restaurant and public docks — is less visible than its downtown location at the square at the intersection of Broad, Main and State streets.
“I’m in favor of keeping it where it is, closing Broad Street to vehicle traffic, and removing the fountain while renovating the West Market Square area,” said Durgin.
Councilors Pat Blanchette and Charlie Longo sided with Durgin, citing history and visibility reasons.
Councilors Ben Sprague, Geoffrey Gratwick, Joe Baldacci, Cary Weston and Sue Hawes all voted to approve the move, citing downtown merchants’ desire to have more open space at the square for events such as art shows and concerts. Other factors include a desire to increase safety and improve maintenance and snow removal capability.
The removal and relocation will cost approximately $25,000 in downtown tax-increment financing funds.
The move will be part of the first phase of a waterfront renovation plan which includes pathway construction. Removal may begin later this month and be completed as early as June or July.
Kinghorn said he is hopeful “Continuity of Community” will rest on a 4-foot-tall base as a centerpiece of a “sister city monument” which provides a location for recognition of the city’s significant relationships and events. The idea is for several, smaller monuments to be represented in a circle of boulders around the sculpture.
“Continuity of Community” was completed by Castine resident Charles Battle Fitz-Gerald in 1969 and donated to the city shortly after.
If you take a looksee at the square from the archival books that can be bought at any Bangor bookstore, you can see that the sculpture is taking up much-needed space and traffic flow or pedestrian flow (whichever the City desires here) is impeded. Whatever is the decision is fine with most folks I guess, but one thing is for sure, at least we will not see the foamy, bubbly piece of work laced with any more soap suds from time to happy time.
Are you suggesting that someone dump several bottles of bubble bath into that fountain? Because the results would be hilarious (and harmless, as it would eventually work itself out).
Give it to Brewer. Let them put it next to the “Aluminum Tree” on Wilson St.
I’m shocked local pill heads haven’t tried to steal either one for scrap metal, yet!
Aluminum pretzel, meet aluminum tree (though I’m disappointed to learn said pretzel is made from stainless steel, after years of calling it that).
This work of art, costing a lot of money plus upkeep, should be placed alongside the Bangor High School campus work, from the mid-sixties. They would offer silent testimony to the thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on the starving “artists” in this country.
It is beautiful and I hope it finds a visible, happy home.
Beautiful art is supposed to be a “moving” experience.
Hey, why should a landmark be left alone? Let’s move the USS Maine memorial too and make room for expanded parking at the bank!
If this thing is truly “art” why not rotate it around the world to various prestigous galleries. Wouldn’t the MOMA love to have it for a while? Bangor is a giving community, let’s not be selfish with this lovely sculpture.
That area of the city has the Paul Bunyan Statue, Hollywood Casino, Water Front Concerts, Geaghan’s Pub, Seadog, and the New Civic Center. The sculpture will just add to the atmosphere. I don’t think it matters that I could bend a more attractive sculpture out of a left over paperclip.
If people still liked it and it was still relevant it would be staying. Its not. So lets not waste $25,000 of our tax dollars trying to do something that looks politically correct. have public works bulldoze it and throw it in the scrap heep at the public works garage. Lets be sensible. The current proposal is a big waste of money.
I really can’t believe people hate this statue so much……are we tearing down Paul Bunyan next?
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“Six years of discussion, disagreement and delay”….. Over the singular issue of moving a sculpture…..And the end vote split in a 5 to 3 count…..here-in lies the foundational problem with local, state and federal government….my parents used to say, “here-in lies a lesson” and we as kids were to learn and do better or different the next time a similar situation arose…..Crazy…..
Auction it off. Some nut in Bangor would pay 10k for it.
Some find the statue ugly. Some people find the new arena building to be beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and art is art. I do not like the arena building style and love the statue that is hidden down in the hole beside 40 Harlow St. but no one asked me my opinion.
I heard some one say that the government was trying to faze out Maine and let it turn back into woods and wild animals, I thought that it was a stupid remark but with the way the government has been going here in Bangor I am beginning to believe it.
Had an idea: make a roundabout at the intersection of West Broadway and Hammond, and put the sculpture in the center with some lilies like the lily garden in the middle of Howard St. I would like white lilies.
Chipi said ” you can see that the sculpture is taking up much-needed space and traffic flow or pedestrian flow….”
There would be more flow if the bars hadn’t cordoned off city property for their outdoor party space. Just how much rent is the city collecting from this “free” space?
Maybe the rent should be put toward the moving fee for Continuity’s sake.