FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 27, 2024

FMI Contact:
Suzanne Watson
Executive Director, Meetinghouse Arts
[email protected]
207-712-3016

"The Pinkies Come to Freeport: Bold Art Installation Shines a Light on Climate Change and Maine's Fishing Heritage"

Freeport, ME - Meetinghouse Arts, in partnership with Maine Coast Fishermen's Association (MCFA), Freeport Climate Action Now, Center for Arts & Ecology in Freeport and Freeport Oyster Bar, is proud to announce the arrival of The Pinkies - three 9'-11' tall, huggable pink sculptures made from old fishing gear, nets, and ropes sourced from recycling centers, donations by fishermen, and clean-up efforts led by Maine's fishermen, nonprofits, and volunteers.

The Pinkies will be on display from October 2024 through October 2025 on the lawn in front of Freeport's Town Hall at 30 Main Street. A series of educational events inspired by The Pinkies are planned over the next year, engaging local students and the community to celebrate art created from reclaimed materials, honor the stewardship of Maine's coastal fisheries, and offer meaningful opportunities for community dialogue about the growing impact of climate change on our marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.

An opening & welcome event is planned on the Town Hall lawn with The Pinkies for October 11, 2024, from 4-6 pm.

"Posey's Pinkies have been a vibrant part of Payson Park in Portland for the past two years, and when it was time for them to find a new home, we knew Freeport would be the perfect fit. This coalition of local businesses and nonprofits was eager to step up and bring these bold sculptures to our community," said Suzanne Watson, Director of Meetinghouse Arts. "We are also incredibly grateful to the Town of Freeport. Freeport's dedication to public art - a key element in the 2022 Downtown Visioning Plan - along with their partial funding and permission to use town property, has made this possible. We are hoping it leads to more public art projects in the future."

Artist Pamela Moulton ("Posey") states, "As a teaching artist, I've had the privilege of collaborating with over 5,000 individuals from schools, museums, environmental organizations, and retirement homes to create these sculptures. The Pinkies are a testament to the power of collective creativity and I'm thrilled to see them find a new home in Freeport, where they can continue to inspire conversation and action around climate change."

Freeport, a town normally known for its shopping, is also home to a variety of working waterfront businesses, including aquaculture, commercial fishing, seafood restaurants, and shoreside support. This public art installation underscores Freeport's connection to Maine's coastal economy.

"MCFA believes deeply in breaking down barriers, creating opportunities for education and awareness, and building more resilient communities through relationships and dialogue. Art creates a vehicle to spark real conversations about what is happening both within our communities and out over the horizon in the Gulf of Maine, and we are excited to be a part of the team bringing the Pinkies to Freeport," said Ben Martens, Executive Director at the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association.

"Why, you might wonder, are these creatures pink? Because, Posey tells us, pink is the color the Arctic ice is turning as it warms and algae bloom in response", added Kathleen Sullivan of Freeport Climate Action Now, "For us at FreeportCAN, these figures are important reminders that the Gulf of Maine and all the creatures, human and otherwise, who depend on the health of those waters are at risk. The question they pose is how can we together find ways to care for and protect this beautiful, elegantly constructed ecosystem which is such a beloved part of this place we call home?"

For more information about The Pinkies and upcoming community events inspired by them, visit MeetinghouseArts.org/Pinkies or contact Suzanne Watson, Executive Director, Meetinghouse Arts, at [email protected] or 207-712-3016.

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About Pamela Moulton aka Posey
Prolific collaborator, as both teacher and artist, Pamela Moulton (Franco-American, b.1961) tries to foster an ethos of generosity and creative exchange through making art and collaborating with multi-generational communities. Posey's installations are playful, large-scale, hands-on, and exploratory. Posey is a multi-disciplinary environmental artist whose work targets climate issues. Rooted in world-building and collaboration, she recently collaborated with over 5,000 community partners, including lobstermen, neurodivergent patients, schools, artists and many more in her TEMPOarts installation in Portland's Payson Park. Her interactive spaces may be crawled through, climbed upon and occupied-allowing the public to explore its environmental consciousness in a direct, material way. PamelaMoulton.art

About Meetinghouse Arts
Meetinghouse Arts' mission is to cultivate Greater Freeport as a vibrant center for arts and culture by fostering creative collaborations, expanding access to arts and cultural resources, and amplifying the arts and culture as tools to economically strengthen, educate, and connect the community.

About Maine Coast Fishermen's Association
The Maine Coast Fishermen's Association (MCFA) is an industry-based nonprofit that advocates for the needs of community-based fishermen present and future, and works to enhance the sustainability of the Gulf of Maine's fisheries.

About Freeport Climate Action Now (FreeportCAN)
Freeport Climate Action Now (FreeportCAN) is a local grassroots organization whose mission is to transform the reliance of its citizens on a fossil fuel-based lifestyle to one that enhances the life systems of our planet. Through our action groups, we help educate and advocate for our community to take advantage of opportunities to decarbonize our lifestyle.

About Freeport Oyster Bar
Freeport Oyster Bar is a popular seafood spot in Freeport, Maine, offering a selection of fresh, locally-sourced oysters and seafood. Located in a historic building near the iconic LL Bean flagship store, the bar features oysters from local farms like Spartan Sea Farms and the Maine Family Sea Farm Cooperative. With a focus on sustainability, Freeport Oyster Bar celebrates Maine's coastal heritage, serving oysters alongside carefully curated drinks and local flavors.

About the Center for Arts and Ecology at the Desert of Maine
The Center for Arts and Ecology at the Desert of Maine is a nonprofit that operates onsite at the iconic Freeport attraction. The "desert" has long stood as a visual reminder of the power of nature, made visible by the communities of plants that are actively restoring the land after the intense ecological disturbance of historic overfarming. Through immersive arts and ecology programming, their mission is to inspire people to channel the wonder they feel in the presence of nature and the creative process into meaningful action for future generations.