HOULTON, Maine — It has been home to a magnificent moose and a bounding black bear statue, but now a wind of change can be found in Houlton’s Riverfront Park as a new “wind sculpture” has been erected.
“We had seen these sculptures in Down East magazine and were kind of intrigued by them,” said Jane Torres, a member of the Riverfront Park Committee. “We thought it was a perfect thing with the motion of the Meduxnekeag River. Eventually, we would like to get a few more because they look even more impressive with several in a row.”
The park first hosted a bronze moose sculpted by Hammond artist Glenn Hines back in 2009. That piece was on loan to the town with the hopes that money could be raised to purchase the piece for $75,000.
When that didn’t happen, Hines sold the sculpture and it was replaced by a bronze black bear statue created by Monroe artist Forest Hart. Like the moose, the bear statue was on loan to the town until such a time that either the town purchased it or the artist had a chance to sell it.
Torres said neither the town, nor the Riverfront Park Committee thought it was wise to spend $30,000 to keep the bear statue and it was removed a couple of weeks ago.
Needing something to go in its place, the committee contacted Lyman Whitaker Sculptures in Kennebunkport and the decision was made to purchase one his pieces at a cost of about $2,000.
Whitaker’s sculptures, which are handmade from copper, steel and stainless steel metals, spin on a sealed ball bearing to create an impressive effect with just the slightest breeze, Torres said.
“We were looking for something reasonably priced and we found this piece,” Torres said. “I have seen these before in Bar Harbor and they are very impressive. We really wanted to see something there and I think it works really well.”
