BLUE HILL, Maine — The location of the now controversial 11-panel Maine labor history mural may still be a mystery, but Down East residents can see the next best thing at the Blue Hill Public Library.
A full-scale replica of the mural, curated by Maryland artist and curator Nancy Nesvet, arrived at the library last week.
The real mural was painted by Southwest Harbor artist Judy Taylor, who was commissioned by the state to create a mural depicting Maine’s labor history. The mural hung at the Maine Department of Labor until March 2011, when Gov. Paul LePage had it removed for being too pro-labor.
This year, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that sought to have the mural reinstated, and the case remains under appeal.
LePage has declined to let anyone in on the mural’s current whereabouts, and some unsuspecting patrons at the Blue Hill Library have thought they had stumbled upon the genuine article.
“They look pretty convincing,” said library director Rich Boulet.
Boulet said that while the real mural is embroiled in controversy, the library is not making a political statement by hosting the replica.
“My hope is that people would see that this is what libraries do: We shine light,” he said Tuesday. “It sounds kind of corny, but I hope we’re cutting the politics and ignoring them entirely to share a local artist’s work that was very much in the news.”
Other library patrons, however, have stronger opinions. John Miller of Blue Hill said he’s happy the library has the panel reproductions, but he would like to see the original mural back on the Labor Department’s walls.
“Labor is the foundation of our society,” he said. “When it’s dismissed as easily as it was, we need to question that. I’d like to see it put back.”
Judith Hauer of Brooksville said she hoped that once people see the mural, they will realize that there’s nothing offensive or lopsided about it.
“I’m glad they’re here so people can see for themselves that these are just great works of art,” she said.
The library will host Taylor at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6. The artist will give a talk about her work and the national controversy surrounding the mural.
Follow Mario Moretto on Twitter at @riocarmine.
The mural wins, LePage loses!
Whether or not LePage had the right to remove the mural from a room in a state building that he had never visited is yet to be determined by an appeals court. Even if he did have the right to remove the mural, what gives him the right to HIDE IT away from the public. We paid for it.
The whole thing is silly Le Page shouldn’t have had it removed
The mural could make someone a nice gift to be used to keep warm this winter.
They won’t get any way near the $60,000 worth of heat the inept Baldacci administration paid for it, but it would make a nice bonfire.
il ove hearing these comment from thiose who don’t want to spend a tax payer dime on anyone but themselves.( and corporations).
So burning works of art is an acceptable practice to you? Along with book burning?
What books would you like to burn as well?
Sell it
Put it back where it was. LePage’s excuse that an anonymous fax was the impetus to remove it is laughable on its face.
LePage is an untrustworthy BS’er who is so in over his head he should resign for the good of our state.
Le Page had no right to come in and remove the mural… what did he accomplish with having the mural remove.. nothing
His lasting accomplishment was that he proved that he is a liar. When asked his reason for the removal on seperate occasions he has given at least 3 different answers. First it was the annonymous letter, then is was because it cost the tax payers money, then he said he deemed a labor mural in the deptartment of Labor building to be inappropriate. I’m sure if asked again he will blurt out another answer.
It’s weird nothing was really accomplished by doing that that will help the state
Ship it to LePage with a note:
Dear Pauly, many disagree with you removing the mural, Perhaps it was taking up a lot of wall space, maybe you wanted to hang more pictures of your vacations to Jamaica or Florida in the labor building to prove to visitors that being a bully and getting paid to be one at a job, you can do anything and using those pictures as an example. So here I present to you the mural at a smaller scale, it goes back on the wall and you still have wall space for more mug shots of your vacation trips or whatever else you decided on.
Signed: One anonymous person
Why again did the Department of Labor need $60,000 lobby art? I believe it was mostly funded with Federal money, but that is tax money too. Maybe they could have high school art clubs create something for the lobby every year and do something better with the money. Perhaps they could have some plants and some magazines in the lobby as most private companies do.
How many meals would that $60,000 buy for the homeless in Portland? How many inoculations or coats for poor children? What program or service that reaches the needy would not be more worthy of $60,000?
Yes it was idiotic for the Governor to pull it after we paid for it. Put it back in the lobby where it belongs. It was far worse for us to buy it in the first place, put the $60,000 price tag above it on the wall and let it teach it’s true lesson to the taxpaying public.
Why do we put up monuments at tax payer expense anywhere? Why do we build elaborate courthouses and state buildings? Imangine what could be done with the money it costs to run two wars in the last 10 years?
The glorious history of the State’O’Maine Department of Labor requires a monument? Waste is good then, why not follow it up with more?
It was funded with unemployment money meant to help the unemployed, the people democrats could care less about unless they belong to a union.
The actual term is “could NOT care less”. Don’t worry though, everyone gets that one wrong. Private union membership is down to 7% in America. That is not very many “Democrats.” How do you suppose they won the election?
“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the
end of the republic.”
Ben Franklin
Do you find it ironic that when Ben Franklin made that statement the only ones who voted were rich white men?
Your attempt at turning that quote racist is amusing, but predictable.
Try looking at the percentage of AMERICANS receiving benefits, clearly enough to sway an election.
And please, in the future, do not attempt to draw me into your foolish games.
You do realize that a large percentage of people who are receiving benefits go to work everyday for great “American” companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Walmart? BTW, I am one of the least racist people on the planet. I worked side by side with blacks and Hispanics in the U.S.M.C. and the U.S. Merchant Marines. My reference to “white” was only to illustrate how limited the voting was back then. I am also a big fan of Ben Franklin, we are both Masons.
Of course I do. And your point is?
His point is, you’re making mountain out of a mole hill.
Thanks for your constructive input.
With such important decisions to be made in this Country and State, I belive your saying applies to this entire mural debate, so I am not wasting a moment of thought on it.
I was simply answering the question posed.
Why do you think the Dems won?
I’m going out on a limb here, um … more votes?
(I) could(n’t) care less is an IDIOM. Don’t worry though, everyone gets that one wrong.
“Meaning It doesn’t matter to me. (The less bears the heaviest stress in both versions. Despite the apparent contradiction, either reading of this—both the affirmative and negative—usually have the same meaning. The exception would be in a sentence where the could bears the heaviest stress: I COULD care less, [but I don’t.].)”
The “missing” mural is stored in a closet down the hall from where it was previously displayed. Now you all can stop looking for it. Where’s the “Open for Business” sign that was stolen?
BS.
AMEN!!
I can’t believe we’re still arguing over, what in my opinion, is an ugly painting depicting unions more than work ethic. $60K is WAY too much to shell out for this crap. And how much did they shell out for the “art work” on the turnpike? Put it on ebay and see what it brings. Due to the notariety, probably more then the $60,000 we paid for it. After that, get over it!
your innate bias is showing
The most pathetic thing about the removal of the mural is that it will go down in history as LePage’s single greatest accomplishment while in office. I wonder if it will be worth that pat on the head from the Koch brothers?
No doubt Paulie has his AG looking for something in the law that will allow him to shut down the library’s display.
I bet this replica of the “Organized” Labor Mural didn’t cost $60,000 of Taxpayers money!
Wants wrong with organized labor. There is a reason for it. How about all the young women that died, in the NY shirt factory, because they had been locked in, How about women being told they lose their job if the didn’t have sex with the boss. This is why we had and have unions. Because men are prickz.
that’s not the reason there’s unions.