Wing murals have become popular street art in major cities, inviting people to step in and become part of the piece.
One of the best-known examples is Kelsey Montague’s “What Lifts You” mural in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now northern Maine has its own version, and instead of paint, artist Ella Ruiz used about 125 moose antlers to create large wing patterns on the side of a building. It took her only a couple of days to assemble and complete the installation.
The antlers were shed by moose throughout the winter and found by avid shed hunters. Most came from Drew Maciel and his rescue dog Ace, who tracked them down over the past five years.
Building owner Chris Pepin wrote on his Facebook page that bought the property at 240 Penobscot Ave. over the summer and immediately saw its potential.
“When I saw that big side wall, I knew it had the potential to become something special for the community,” he said.
Ruiz added a special message that was unveiled during the 10th Millinocket Marathon this past weekend: “Live wild. Hike wild. Run wild. Millinocket wild.”
Pepin said the project started as a fun idea he was passionate about but has since grown into something inspiring to watch.
“I love the outdoors and spend so much time with my family in Millinocket, so creating something meaningful for the town was important to me.”