The stretch of Broadway in front of Family Dollar is not known as a Bangor hotspot for art lovers or bird watchers.
But a new mural is brightening up an area that was previously a plain concrete retaining wall.
A 430-foot mural that depicts five Maine birds — loon, chickadee, kestrel, woodcock and green heron — intends to highlight habitat loss and conservation issues, according to Bangor Beautiful and the Maine Audubon Society, which worked together to introduce the project.
“I was very happy to take it on,” said Alison Ross, the East Machias artist who designed the mural. As an artist with experience doing projects of this size, as well as a birder and gardener herself, she said “it was right in my wheelhouse.”
In October, artwork by high school students from Bangor High School, Brewer High School, and Cobscook Experiential Programs in Washington County will be added, Ross said. About 40 smaller panels painted by students will depict images related to the birds in the mural.
The space “will also become a habitat,” she added, when volunteers plant a native garden in the space above the mural. About 40 volunteers have helped with the mural, and more will help with the garden, Ross said.
Bangor Beautiful also plans to donate 15 trees to be planted along Broadway near the mural, according to the organization.
Ross said she was excited for the work to be placed in an area that doesn’t get a lot of attention. Already, she’s gotten honks and other shows of support from commuters, bikers and pedestrians who seemed excited about the project.
Work on the mural is running ahead of schedule and is set to wrap up Friday.
