Design Wire November/December 2024
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE ART GALLERY recently acquired TANGLE, a sculpture by artists PAMELA MOULTON and ROY FOX. Located on the school’s Portland campus, the artwork depicts a whimsical five-legged creature constructed of industry-discarded “ghost gear,” including steel, rope, and net salvaged from the Gulf of Maine. Funded by the MAINE PERCENT FOR ART program administered by the MAINE ARTS COMMISSION, the 14-foot-tall sculpture speaks to the history of net fishing in the state, a tradition the Wabanaki people have continuously practiced for 12,000 years. Moulton is a multidisciplinary artist known for her playful, large-scale installations built entirely from salvaged nets and ropes; Fox has worked as an artist and designer in both Los Angeles and Maine.
The WESTBROOK PLANNING BOARD unanimously approved a proposal to build Maine’s first center for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) residents, a community that comprises more than 26,000 people across the state. Sitting on 30 acres of land owned by WATT SAMAKI, a nonprofit Cambodian Buddhist temple, the center will include a large event hall, instructional and conference spaces, and offices that will house a variety of AAPI organizations and provide access to services, including immigration support, workforce development, English language classes, and small business incubation. The campus will include a new worship center, a traditional Khmer temple, extensive gardens, statuary, and walking trails. KHMER MAINE, another nonprofit serving the state’s Cambodian community, is raising funds for the $5 million project. Construction is expected to begin next summer by local firms, including ACORN ENGINEERING and WINTON SCOTT ARCHITECTS. “In keeping with Buddhist traditions of honoring and connecting to the natural world, the building includes sustainable elements such as a green planted roof system and a solar array on the event hall roof,” explains STEPHEN WEATHERHEAD, principal at Winton Scott. The office and classroom spaces will feature light shelves to direct natural light deeper into the building, thus lessening the reliance on artificial lighting. High-efficiency electrical and mechanical systems, reduced-water-flow plumbing fixtures, and high-thermal-performance window and wall systems will reduce energy needs for the building.
NIKE’s new “TOGETHER WE RISE” campaign is flipping the script on the company’s traditional SWOOSH logo. To celebrate the rise of women’s sports, the third kits for men’s and women’s teams in European and Latin American football clubs feature a double swoosh pointing upward, a 90-degree pivot from its usual positioning. According to Nike, this limited-time graphic communicates the “acceleration” of the game and supports the brand’s belief that “women and girls are on the leading edge of change, redefining the parameters of sport and how it serves the next generation.”
BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION in Waterville recently underwent an extensive renovation that included updates to the building’s accessibility, HVAC system, audiovisual services, and security led by construction manager SHERIDAN CONSTRUCTION. The building’s refresh also included the construction of a mikvah, a Jewish ritual bath used for celebrations and healing. Designed by BECHTEL FRANK ERICKSON (BFE) ARCHITECTS, the mikvah is one of only three in the state and is supported by the JEWISH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE OF SOUTHERN MAINE. It consists of an entry room, a changing room, a bathroom, and a mosaic-tiled pool filled with more than one ton of water melted from solid ice sourced from a spring-fed pond on a congregant’s property. “The mikvah is a place of communal support with connection through engagement of the users and professional practitioners. The project at Beth Israel began with listening to the stories told by congregants, which provided us with the necessary vision, inspiration, and relevance of the mikvah for the greater Waterville community,” says Gerard Frank, principal at BFE Architects.
Biomedical research institute JACKSON LABORATORY (JAX) launched a $750,000 fundraising campaign to renovate HIGHSEAS, the 112-year-old Bar Harbor mansion that has housed the organization’s alumni, researchers, and students over the past 70 years. Built in 1912 from locally quarried granite and bricks shipped from Pennsylvania, the estate is consistently maintained but requires updates to the roof, wood trim, and windows that have withstood wear and tear from Mount Desert’s salty ocean air. Renovations to the building, which features two floors of residential space and a third-floor classroom, will reflect its historic character with modern materials. “JAX’s HighSeas is emblematic of the legacy of our highly successful summer student program as well as a significant and iconic former summer estate. We are excited to be reinvesting in the facility to serve as a home based for the next generation of JAX learners, fellows, and scientists,” says Charlie Wray, vice president of education at JAX. The facility will remain in use while exterior renovations are performed.
Built more than 80 years ago, the INDIAN CELLAR TEA HOUSE in Hollis was facing demolition when SACO RIVER THEATRE began a fundraising campaign to relocate the structure to its site in Buxton. The subject of Margaret Hammel Shea’s book Tavern in the Town, published in 1948, the tea house has served as a store, a restaurant, and a canoe rental facility. In its new location, it will undergo renovations to become a scene shop for the theater with prop and costume storage. Spring 2025 construction on the SALMON FALLS BRIDGE, which connects Hollis to Buxton, adds to the urgency of the structure’s relocation.
Ever wondered what it’s like to sit in JELL-O? Thanks to the new JELLY COLLECTION, a line of inflatable Y2K-inspired furniture in the shape (and colors) of iconic Jell-O molds, you can finally find out. Designed to build on the rise of jelly-inspired home decor and beauty trends along with the resurgence of nostalgic inflatable furniture, each Jelly Collection chair features smooth, rounded curves that create an inviting and comfortable seat along with a built-in cup holder that perfectly fits a Ready-to-Eat Jell-O Gelatin snack cup. “With the Jelly Collection, we’re not just celebrating our rich history; we’re bringing it to life for today’s families. By blending our heritage with a modern twist, we’re inviting consumers to embrace the playful spirit that has made Jell-O a beloved favorite for generations,” says Tyler Parker, brand manager of desserts at Kraft Heinz.