Peter Marcucci

Photos Courtesy University of Maine

John and Marisue Pickering worked with the University of Maine to establish The Sculpture Trail in 2016.

John and Marisue Pickering worked with the University of Maine to establish The Sculpture Trail in 2016.

When you think of Maine, what image first comes to mind? Do you think of a picturesque fishing village with lobster boats? What about a pristine waterway and cascading waterfall, or a mountain valley teeming with moose?

Perhaps you’ve hiked, explored mountain trails by horse or ATV in the fall, snowmobiled or snow-shoed in the winter, smelled maple sap cooking in the spring, or eaten yourself sick while picking wild berries in the summer?

These are just a handful of what Maine has to offer the millions of tourists who visit every year desiring a “New England experience.” Honestly, the list is endless. Just pick your passion and you’ll likely find it in Maine!       

Not many people know that there’s also an active stone sculpture community throughout Maine. It is not only huge, it’s also one of Maine’s best-kept secrets.  Every day, scores of men and women work their hammers and chisels and air tools and blades in their studios, backyards or at local symposiums.

These symposiums, specifically the famed Schoodic International Sculpture Symposiums from years past, were truly spectacles to behold. (I know – I’ve covered a few for the Slippery Rock.) It’s unfortunate if you’ve missed them, but no problem, friend.

The fruits of these symposiums are always on exhibit at the University of Maine (UMaine) in Orono as well as areas throughout the state. 

Above Left: A New Dawn Created by artist Johnny Turner of New Zealand, A New Dawn is one of three sculptures on campus carved during the 2012 Scoodic Symposium. Maine granite affixed to a basalt oval on a granite base. Above Right: Rhino Artist: Hugh Lassen, Maine A gift to the Buchanan Alumni House from Hugh and Jenny Lassen as part of the Littlefield Gallery Sculptor-in-Residence Program, Rhino was created from granite excavated from the Lassens’ blueberry field.

Above, Left:  A New Dawn
Created by artist  Johnny Turner of New Zealand, A New Dawn is one of three sculptures on campus carved during the 2012 Scoodic Symposium. Maine granite affixed to a basalt oval on a granite base.


Above, Right: Rhino
Artist: Hugh Lassen, Maine
A gift to the Buchanan Alumni House from Hugh and Jenny Lassen as part of the Littlefield Gallery Sculptor-in-Residence Program, Rhino was created from granite excavated from the Lassens’ blueberry field.

Known as “The Sculpture Trail,” these exhibits were created by artists invited from all points around the globe to show up and make large-scale public art. All artists who have attended these super-organized symposiums have left their mark on Maine granite, and beautifully. Finding Maine soil for placement and viewing is, however, the flip-side of the coin, explains UMaine Professor, Marisue Pickering. “My husband John and I are retired, and we had written a book that featured local artists because we’ve always been interested in promoting Maine. In doing it, we were aware that the university had so much wonderful art in the gardens and courtyards, but it hadn’t yet been promoted in an organized way. So we took our perception to the school provost, Jeff Hecker, and he asked us to work with marketing to see what we could do. We then came up with this idea of The Sculpture Trail. The tour went live in spring of 2016.”

Above Left: Sea Form Artist: Hugh Lassen. Carved from polished Monson Slate, Sea Form reflects the artist’s desire to “create vital, life-enhancing forms.” Sea Form is one of four sculptures donated to the Buchanan Alumni House in honor of Nathaniel “Nat” Diamond, who — at age 43 — graduated from UMaine (’63). Above Right: Inanna Artist: Mark Herrington, Maine Mark Herrington speaks of the stones he works with as being “a gift of geological time.” Herrington was the first artist in UMaine’s Artist-in-Residence Program sponsored by Winter Harbor’s Littlefield Gallery.

Above, Left: Sea Form
Artist: Hugh Lassen. Carved from polished Monson Slate, Sea Form reflects the artist’s desire to “create vital, life-enhancing forms.” Sea Form is one of four sculptures donated to the Buchanan Alumni House in honor of Nathaniel “Nat” Diamond, who — at age 43 — graduated from UMaine (’63). 


Above, Right: Inanna
Artist: Mark Herrington, Maine
Mark Herrington speaks of the stones he works with as being “a gift of geological time.”  Herrington was the first artist in UMaine’s Artist-in-Residence Program sponsored by Winter Harbor’s Littlefield Gallery.

According to Marisue, the Littlefield Gallery located in Winter Harbor, Maine has been instrumental in the tour. The gallery, owned by Kelly and Jane Littlefield, has donated five sculptures to UMaine’s Buchanan Alumni House Garden, and nine sculptures in total around the campus. Great strides have been made in Maine’s public art due to the “One Percent For Art” Program. This program, passed into law in 1979, basically says that one percent of the cost of any new building or renovation has to be set aside for public art. This means that for any university buildings built or renovated with public funds, one percent has to be set aside for publicly accessible art. Public schools are allowed to opt out of this; universities are not, said Marisue. 

“We have a great deal of art on UMaine’s campus that was paid for by this One Percent For Art program. About half of the states in America have this law, so we are very fortunate to have the program as well as the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium. These symposiums have given such a huge boost to the art scene, which of course has had a long history here, anyway. I also feel very optimistic about what the Littlefield Gallery in Winter Haven, Maine is doing to support the Sculptor in Residence Program. It is just unbelievable. Owners, Jane and Kelly Littlefield, have strong connections to UMaine.” 

According to Marisue, two new sculptures have recently been added to the tour. One is by artist Kazumi Hoshino (known as Hoshi), the other by artist Andreas von Huene. Both are from past symposiums. 

Other featured artists include, Hue Lass, Mark Harrington, Jessie Salisbury, Jonny Turner and Matt Foster. Foster, said John Pickering, has his own special story.

“The students that are within the different art programs throughout the state are getting much, much more exposure to a whole variety of artistic styles. One of the students that we’ve followed is Matt Foster. His first involvement was at the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium here at UMaine in 2012. Matt was a volunteer that assisted the artists, and by the next symposium he was a selected artist. His work is actually in Bucksport, Maine, at this point. So over a period of five years, Matt moved from volunteering to be a full-fledged sculptor working within the whole state of Maine. 

“Let me also say that I think one of the things that have helped considerably over the last few years, is that the art department has added another faculty member who is specifically focusing on sculpture. He is working with a number of students that are now beginning to move into the professional ranks of sculpting.” 

Above Left: MINA Artist: Andreas von Huene, Maine Created as a tall, freestanding stele, MINA is sculpted from red-hued granite. von Huene’s polished work with its dramatic presence is modeled on the countenance of a teenage niece. Well known for having pieces in both private collections and public spaces, von Huene, with a background that includes engineering, often pushes the boundaries of how sculptures are positioned in space. Above,, Middle: Pylon Artist: Don Justin Meserve, Maine Pylon was created by the late Don Justin Meserve, known as a mentor to a younger generation of Maine sculptors. Meserve worked primarily in granite and basalt. Pylon is a striking example of his smaller granite pieces and suggestive of massive stone pylons found around the world. Above, Right: Tec.ton.ic Artist: Mark Herrington, Maine Installed in 2015, Tec.ton.ic is the first piece created during UMaine’s Littlefield Gallery Sculptor-in-Residence Series. Upon completion, 80 photos of this granite sculpture were taken and — using photogrammetry — 3-D models printed by the university’s Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center (IMRC). Ultimately these models will allow Herrington’s design to be used in glass, aluminum and bronze castings.

Above, Left: MINA
Artist: Andreas von Huene, Maine
Created as a tall, freestanding stele, MINA is sculpted from red-hued granite. von Huene’s polished work with its dramatic presence is modeled on the countenance of a teenage niece. Well known for having pieces in both private collections and public spaces, von Huene, with a background that includes engineering, often pushes the boundaries of how sculptures are positioned in space.


Above, Middle: Pylon
Artist: Don Justin Meserve, Maine
Pylon was created by the late Don Justin Meserve, known as a mentor to a younger generation of Maine sculptors. Meserve worked primarily in granite and basalt. Pylon is a striking example of his smaller granite pieces and suggestive of massive stone pylons found around the world. 


Above, Right: Tec.ton.ic
Artist: Mark Herrington, Maine
Installed in 2015, Tec.ton.ic is the first piece created during UMaine’s Littlefield Gallery Sculptor-in-Residence Series. Upon completion, 80 photos of this granite sculpture were taken and — using photogrammetry — 3-D models printed by the university’s Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center (IMRC). Ultimately these models will allow Herrington’s design to be used in glass, aluminum and bronze castings. 
Above Left: Relic in Time Artist: Matt Foster, Maine Relic in Time creator Matt Foster (’12) notes that, “stone forms create balance through a sense of order.” Foster’s work includes the massive granite piece, Before the Wind, created during the 2015 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium and located on the waterfront in Bucksport, Maine. Relic in Time is one of four sculptures donated to the Buchanan Alumni House in honor of Nathaniel “Nat” Diamond. Above, Right: Geologist’s Stone Artist: Deborah de Moulpied, Maine Geologist’s Stone, the centerpiece of the Buchanan Alumni House Courtyard, was created by former UMaine Professor of Art Deborah de Moulpied from slate she selected from the Monson, Maine quarries. The sculpture, a gift in honor of geologist Richard R. Leveille (’51), was named to reflect Leveille’s long career and specialization. de Moulpied chose a stone with dramatic, undulating edges and added liquid bronze as a striking, contrasting medium to carry the water over the edge of this handsome sculpture-fountain. The Arlington Cemetery grave markers of both John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis are of black Monson slate.

Above, Left: Relic in Time
Artist: Matt Foster, Maine
Relic in Time creator Matt Foster (’12) notes that, “stone forms create balance through a sense of order.” Foster’s work includes the massive granite piece, Before the Wind, created during the 2015 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium and located on the waterfront in Bucksport, Maine. Relic in Time is one of four sculptures donated to the Buchanan Alumni House in honor of Nathaniel “Nat” Diamond.


Above, Right: Geologist’s Stone
Artist: Deborah de Moulpied, Maine
Geologist’s Stone, the centerpiece of the Buchanan Alumni House Courtyard, was created by former UMaine Professor of Art Deborah de Moulpied from slate she selected from the Monson, Maine quarries. The sculpture, a gift in honor of geologist Richard R. Leveille (’51), was named to reflect Leveille’s long career and specialization. de Moulpied chose a stone with dramatic, undulating edges and added liquid bronze as a striking, contrasting medium to carry the water over the edge of this handsome sculpture-fountain. The Arlington Cemetery grave markers of both John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis are of black Monson slate.
Line Totem — Man and His Dog Walking into the Forest Artist: Tim Shay, Maine A sculpture from the 2012 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, Line Totem draws on the Native American heritage of its sculptor, who created this granite piece with complete spontaneity (no preliminary sketches). In Shay’s words, Line Totem “reflects the power of line.” It was a project of the State of Maine Percent for Art Program, which provides for original art for publicly financed new or renovated buildings. This innovative program has allowed UMaine to be the site of significant works of art.

Above: Line Totem — Man and His Dog Walking into the Forest
Artist: Tim Shay, Maine
A sculpture from the 2012 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, Line Totem draws on the Native American heritage of its sculptor, who created this granite piece with complete spontaneity (no preliminary sketches). In Shay’s words, Line Totem “reflects the power of line.” It was a project of the State of Maine Percent for Art Program, which provides for original art for publicly financed new or renovated buildings. This innovative program has allowed UMaine to be the site of significant works of art.
Above, Left: The Wheel Artist: Jesse Salisbury, Maine Internationally recognized sculptor Jesse Salisbury is based in Down East Maine, and is well known as the founder of the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium. Over a number of years, the symposium has resulted in a public collection of 34 sculptures in eastern Maine. The Wheel is one of two outdoor sculptures funded by the Percent for Art Program. The Wheel is one of three sculptures from the 2012 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, held at UMaine. Above, Right: Metamorphosis Artist: Lee Zih-Cing, Taiwan In the artist’s words, she wanted to express “the love of life through the metamorphosis of a butterfly.” Because of the granite’s grain and color, as well as the sculpture’s location, Metamorphosis takes on different shadows and lines at various times of the day and presents itself differently according to season. Metamorphosis was created during the 2012 Schoodic International Sculpture Sy

Above, Left: The Wheel
Artist: Jesse Salisbury, Maine
Internationally recognized sculptor Jesse Salisbury is based in Down East Maine, and is well known as the founder of the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium. Over a number of years, the symposium has resulted in a public collection of 34 sculptures in eastern Maine. The Wheel is one of two outdoor sculptures funded by the Percent for Art Program. The Wheel is one of three sculptures from the 2012 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, held at UMaine.


Above, Right: Metamorphosis
Artist: Lee Zih-Cing, Taiwan
In the artist’s words, she wanted to express “the love of life through the metamorphosis of a butterfly.” Because of the granite’s grain and color, as well as the sculpture’s location, Metamorphosis takes on different shadows and lines at various times of the day and presents itself differently according to season. Metamorphosis was created during the 2012 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium held at UMaine. The university commissioned this piece; the stone used — considered gray or “salt and pepper” granite — was quarried in Sullivan, Maine.

A Future Etched in Stone

As for John and Marisue, they are both 80 years young, in good health, and will continue to develop the tour as long as possible, said Marisue. “The buildings on campus are full of art, including canvas and mosaics. It’s been a wonderful project. We get to keep working with the university and promote the tour and Maine artists, and that’s why we are doing what we are doing.” 

John: “We are also toying with the idea of highlighting some of the unique architectural features that are part of the buildings on campus. Everyone keeps coming up with new ideas, so I don’t see our work ending anytime soon. Our hope is that this year some people will make Maine a destination, and while they’re here, visit a number of these places that people don’t normally visit.” 

So if you’ve been dreaming of a visit to Vacation Land, include a walk on the art side. Visit a Maine quarry or symposium, and be sure to pick up a brochure that features sculpture throughout Maine as well as New Brunswick, Canada. 

A special thank you goes out to Margaret Nagle of UMaine’s Division of Marketing and Communications for her part in this the tour and this story.

Below are four websites to get you going:

• www.Umaine.edu/sights/outdoor-sculpture-tour/

• www.schoodicsculpture.org/trail/ 

• www.mainegraniteindustry.org

Also search the www.SlipperyRockGazette.net archive for the keywords Schoodic Sculpture Symposium.