LEWISTON — City officials approved a new slate of public art projects last week, including a series of storefront window murals and new lighting spanning the John Jenkins Pedestrian Bridge.

Also approved was a sidewalk mural project and a mural at Lionel Potvin Park.

While some previous work has garnered mixed reactions, the public art projects are a continuation of work the city has done to encourage murals and other installations to activate spaces, support local artists and spur economic activity.

They also mirror a renewed effort stemming from City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath to eliminate blight and restore the city’s image.

“We’re excited about this slate of public art projects and the momentum they bring to Lewiston’s revitalization efforts,” Kaenrath said Monday. “Public art enhances the aesthetics of a city, but it also plays a powerful role in shaping community identity and boosting civic pride.”

The projects will use what remains of the Public Art Committee’s fiscal year 2025 funds, with the pedestrian bridge lighting also being partially funded by the city of Auburn and the committee’s 2026 funding.

All three projects funded by the committee’s budget total just under $25,000. The mural at Lionel Potvin park, to be placed on a storage shed, has a budget of $16,500 coming from the city’s remaining federal funding from the Choice Neighborhoods planning and action grant.

“Public art is for everyone, and the work that this committee is doing to help transform Lewiston is much appreciated,” said Mayor Carl Sheline.

‘EYE-CATCHING’ WINDOW MURALS

The council approved an expansion of a downtown window mural series that is already underway, with the list of locations stretching to nine.

According to Gerald Walsh, agency manager for L/A Arts, which is overseeing the project, the window murals are meant to transform empty and underutilized spaces into “eye-catching, aesthetic experiences that celebrate and provide opportunities for local youth, emerging and underrepresented artists.”

The art commissioned so far include three by Central Maine Community College students and one planned for 491 Lisbon St. to be completed by Marissa Joly, a Wabanaki artist who graduated from Edward Little High School.

Vacant storefronts along Lisbon Street have been the primary focus, and Walsh said landlords and businesses that choose to participate do so at no cost.

The murals use a window cling material that’s applied to the external side of the window and is capable of withstanding all weather, with an average lifespan of between six months and a year.

Locations on the city’s list include windows at the former Kimball Street Studios at 191 Lisbon St., the former Dube’s Flower Shop at 195 Lisbon St., the Lewiston Public Library, the former Victor News at 59 Park St., and more.

Kaenrath said Monday that the window mural project is “especially promising as it reimagines vacant spaces and creates a more vibrant, walkable downtown.”

‘BRING LIGHT’ TO JENKINS BRIDGE

A roughly $30,000 project will light the John Jenkins Pedestrian Bridge that crosses the Androscoggin River, connecting Lewiston’s Simard-Payne Park and Auburn’s Bonney Park. Both parks are dedicated to three police officers that died in the line of duty.

The lights would be programmable in various colors, meaning they could be themed around holidays and other events, the memo said.

Lewiston police Det. Joe Philippon, who pitched the project to the committee, said the lighting of the bridge would “bring light to the dark events of the loss of local police officers while also shining light on the importance of connectiveness and community, which represents, in part, the spirit of the bridge’s namesake John Jenkins, who served as mayor for both Lewiston and Auburn.”

The council approved $7,701 in committee funds for the project, with Auburn providing between $2,338 to $4,538 toward the project. The remaining funds will likely come from the Public Art Committee’s fiscal year 2026 funds, which total $52,000.

Kaenrath said the lighting “will be a spectacular display and a symbolic connection between Lewiston and Auburn.”

ADDITIONAL ART

A $2,000 project will hire between 12 to 16 artists to create murals on the sidewalk between 124-180 Lisbon St. Committee member Courtney Schlachter, a local artist who has done several public art projects in Lewiston, is organizing the murals.

According to the memo, the artists will be advised to utilize acrylic paint both as a primer and for the artwork to minimize slipperiness and spray sealant. It’s estimated that the murals will have a lifespan of one year.

A separate project funded by federal funding through the Choice Neighborhoods program will place a mural on a storage shed at Lionel Potvin Park off Cedar Street.

The park and playground, located across from the newly opened Picker House Lofts, is popular with residents but, according to the memo, the building at the park has been “severely defaced with extensive graffiti.”

The mural is slated to be done by Angolan artist Serafim Yssolo, who had an exhibition at L/A Arts last year.