June, 2014
L/A Arts/The Fay Slover Fund at The Boston Foundation
NEW TREE GRID
PUBLIC ART SCULPTURE INITIATIVE &
FIRST MAJOR CORPORATE DONATION
Artist rendition of Hewitt sculpture in downtown Lewiston
LEWISTON – L/A Arts is pleased to announce its newest initiative, a public art sculpture project entitled the New Tree Grid. It is also excited to announce the first corporate donation in support of the project, in the amount of $2,500 from Time Warner Cable to jumpstart the fundraising effort. “We’re happy to partner with L/A Arts in support of its new sculpture initiative which makes a proud statement for the area while bringing enjoyment to the public,” said Paul Schonewolf, area vice president of operations with Time Warner Cable. “Time Warner Cable is honored to be part of the Lewiston-Auburn community,” he added. This initiative facilitates the installation of two major art sculptures in downtown Lewiston, created by nationally recognized artists with direct connections to L/A. These pieces will begin a larger place-making initiative in the area, as the eventual goal of the New Tree Grid will be the installation of a series of public sculptures along an artwalk connecting the Twin Cities. For this initial phase, a sculpture by L/A native and artist Charlie Hewitt will be installed on a vacant lot in downtown Lewiston, the site of a fire in the spring of 2013 which destroyed the buildings which stood there. The work will capture and celebrate the area’s rich heritage and culture, and further the revitalization of Maine’s second largest city.
NEW TREE GRID PARTNERS: L/A Arts, Cities of Lewiston & Auburn, Androscoggin Valley of Governments (AVCOG), Lewiston/Auburn Economic Growth Council (LAEGC), the Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce, Community Concepts, Bates College, and Senator Susan Collins office.
For more information on this unique project, including how to become a sponsor, please contact:
L/A Arts Executive Director Joshua Vink at josh.vink@laarts.org
Artist Charlie Hewitt overseeing his work in studio
Artist Bio:
CHARLIE HEWITT, (www.charliehewitt.com) formally a New York City based artist, painter, printmaker and sculptor – moved to Portland, Maine in 2004 to accompany his exhibitions of sculpture and painting at the FarnsworthMuseum, (Rockland, Maine) as well as his print retrospective at the Bates College Museum of Art (LewistonMaine). Hewitt returned to Maine, his native state, following a long association with the Vinalhaven Press where he created prints for publisher Pat Nick. Charlie continues to exhibit in New York City as well as at regional venues. His work can be found in the collections of: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum, The Brooklyn Museum, and The Fogg Art Museum as well as the following collections in Maine: The Portland Museum of Art, The Farnsworth Art Museum, and the museums at Bowdoin and Colby Colleges. His most recent sculpture project, Urban Rattle, is currently installed on The High Line in New York City’s Chelsea district. He is represented by Jim Kempner Fine Arts, New YorkNY.