The mural will be in the unused shoulders of Hammond Street as depicted by the project map on the west bound (uphill) side of the road extending from Main Street up to the U.S. Post Office, and in the crosswalk buffers on Franklin Street. The mural will paint around and emphasize where existing crosswalks intersect the mural. The mural will be approximately 3400 square feet in size and will leave a 10-foot travel lane, the recommended size for urban areas to increase safety by discouraging speeding (National Association of City Transportation Officials). The mural will increase the perceived size of the sidewalks and crosswalks, causing drivers to slow down.

The mural’s theme will revolve around water and earth, depicted with blue swirls flowing downhill toward the Kenduskeag Stream and Penobscot River and a representation of Mount Katahdin. It will also feature water and land animals and native sources of food such as fiddleheads and the Three Sisters (corn, beans, squash). It will tie into and serve as an extension of and connection to the Wabanaki Youth & Cultural Center (WYCC) , whose logo provides an excellent example of the mural's potential design style. Window space at the nearby WYCC will be used to provide a description of the project’s meaning. The artwork is being developed by Wabanaki artists with assistance from experienced muralists from Bangor Beautiful to adapt the design for implementation. Attached are some very early drafts that are currently being developed. The final design will be very large, simple, and colorful.

Lisa Sockabasin, Co–CEO of Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness says, “This visually stunning piece of art will tell the vital story about our connection to the earth and river. We hope to merge creativity with community, illustrating our shared responsibility to honor and protect our environment by beautifying our streets."

The mural will be painted using a high-quality bio-based, water-soluble traffic paint which will allow for easier installation and cleanup.  A non-slip aggregate will be added to the paint to ensure safety by increasing traction. 

The mural will be installed by Bangor Beautiful volunteers & WPHW staff over the course of 3-5 days in May or June of 2024. As the mural is being installed in the shoulders, no road closures will be required and we will ensure sidewalks remain open. The nearby WYCC will be used for storage of supplies and cleanup. Special care will be taken around storm drains to ensure no paint is put into our waterways.

The mural will be touched up each spring and more frequently if needed for 2 to 3 years until Hammond Street is repaved, which is scheduled for 2026. This relatively short lifespan with a definite end will serve as a pilot project for this type of public art.

The project budget is approximately $10,000, which will be funded through grants and donations.  WPHW is generously contributing in-kind the work of their artists. The budget includes paint and supplies for annual maintenance for the life of the project.

As a pilot project for the first large-scale asphalt art mural in Bangor, it will serve as a model for potential future ground murals to beautify and increase safety at other locations in Bangor. We are so excited to bring this new medium of public art to Bangor and to see all of the many benefits that will come with it.