Freeport sculptures pay homage to Maine’s state flower — the pinecone
FREEPORT — Two giant pinecones and a branch now stand watch over the picnic tables in front of Freeport Town Hall, the latest public art installation to take up residence in the downtown green space.
The sculpture, titled "Pinecones with Tassel," was created by Lisbon Falls artist Patrick Plourde using 82 recycled shovels. The two pinecones weigh between 250 and 300 pounds each, and a third piece, an enlarged twig with needles, completes the grouping. Together, the work depicts a dramatically scaled-up scene from the Maine woods and references the white pine cone and tassel, Maine's official state flower.
The installation arrived in early July, stepping into the spot vacated in April by "Pinkies," a trio of pink, chewing gum-like structures made by artist Pamela Moulton. Like Moulton's piece, Plourde's pinecones are built from recycled materials and invite viewers to think about the natural world.
The new work is the product of a partnership between Meetinghouse Arts and the town of Freeport, two entities that have spent years building public art infrastructure downtown. The pinecones are slated to remain in front of Town Hall for 18 months.
Freeport Town Council Chair Joanna Benoit said the connection between the two installations is not accidental.
"I really appreciate that both the Pinkies and the pinecones have not only the sustainable materials piece, but they're tied to nature," Benoit said. "So there's a tie to thinking about how we interact with our environment and nature that I think is a message we need to make sure keeps getting out there."
Plourde traces his artistic eye back to a childhood spent outdoors.
"The genesis of everything for me was growing up in rural Brunswick on River Road, with the cattle farms, and pastures, and woods, and fields and farms. That's probably where I got my interest in farm equipment and stuff," he said.
The artist, who collects natural objects like feathers, bird's nests, animal skulls and pinecones, said the Freeport project is part of a whirlwind stretch for his work. Another set of his pinecone sculptures was recently selected for the Blaine House property in Augusta, and Plourde said the pieces have captured public attention faster than he anticipated.
"It's been a crazy two months of dealing with these pinecones," he said. "They've taken on a life of their own."
The sculptures were selected by a public art committee convened by Meetinghouse Arts, according to Executive Director Suzanne Watson.
"I think it's a perfect example of how a town that's been going for 40 years in one direction — which is largely national retail — is transforming or changing into a more community-based place that the downtown is seen as a gathering spot," Watson said.
Plourde said the sculptures have a particular appeal as the seasons change.
"They're beautiful when lit and snowed upon," he said. "That's the one sculpture that improves with inclement weather."
The downtown art push has its roots in a 2022 plan adopted by the Freeport Town Council to reimagine the town center. That Downtown Vision Plan identified public art as a central strategy for revitalization, according to town Development Director Brett Richardson.
"Public art was really part of a strategy that Meetinghouse Arts took a big lead on to sort of be the boots on the ground," Richardson said.
The green space in front of Town Hall got a physical refresh that same year, courtesy of a T-Mobile grant, creating the venue that has since hosted the rotating installations.
The Pinkies, which preceded the pinecones, served their purpose by drawing attention and conversation, town officials said, even among residents who were not entirely charmed. The pinecones now carry that tradition forward, and according to their creator, the best is still ahead.
