The new murals will be unveiled this spring and summer.
BANGOR, Maine — Two new murals are coming to downtown Bangor just in time for spring and summer.
“One way to influence people’s values and emotions is through art, because they can see it and they can feel it,” Jill Fedarick, a PhD student of ecology at the University of Maine, said.
Fedarick isn’t an artist, but she is one of the minds behind Bangor’s latest mural projects.
“This is probably going to be one of the most influential things I do in my PhD, in terms of getting people to care about these species,” Fedarick said.
Her goal for the mural was to bring attention to freshwater mussels and migratory fish, which are a threatened species.
“I want people to see and think about what a healthy river ecosystem looks like,” Fedarick said.
Now this idea is coming to life through a collaboration with Bangor Beautiful to create the Penobscot River Ecology Mural. All four sides of the Kenduskeag Pump Station in Downtown Bangor will be painted with underwater creatures.
“This is the entire building that we’re painting, so hopefully it’ll make people be more interactive walk around, explore, and play in this area,” Anette Dodd, president of Bangor Beautiful, said.
Art and ecology students at the University of Maine and students at Brewer and Bangor high schools are also helping with the mural.
“Having these kinds of things makes everyone join together and show what we can do for our community,” Sierra Phillips, a student at Bangor High School, said.
However, this isn’t the only mural coming to downtown Bangor this summer.
Twenty local artists will fill the fence in front of the Maine Savings Amphitheater along Main Street, creating a mural spanning 760 feet.
“They are painting their depiction of Maine, and it’s a very loose theme, but we thought it’s a great way to really highlight the region,” Dodd said.
Fedarick, whose one idea transformed into a mural, now gets a chance to be a part of the action.
“Feeling like I’m making a difference, and not only [in] these students’ lives but also downtown Bangor with this permanent installation—it’s just really exciting,” Fedarick said.
The Penobscot River Ecology Mural is expected to be completed by May 3, and the Waterfront Concert Mural is expected to be complete by mid-June.