Augusta Sturgeon Project.
Every summer scores of sturgeon battle against the current of the mighty Kennebec River to make their way upstream in order to find suitable mating spots. These prehistoric behemoths, which can grow as large as 16 feet and weigh as much as 800 pounds, draw thousands of visitors to the Augusta shoreline to watch their curious jumping habits– the likes and reasons for which still remain a mystery.
In homage to these mighty, ancient creatures, the Augusta Downtown Alliance, through the generosity’s of T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant, installed 26 fiberglass sturgeon on Water Street to bring these magnificent creatures to new light.
Featuring the designs of 25 regional artists, several of which include collaborations from nonprofits, as well as business owners, these colorful fish will grace our sidewalks each summer, as we invite you to grapple the mystery of a living fossil that has been around for over 250 million years!
My Sturgeon
I created this sturgeon using marine paint and took up motifs of “nature” elements that remind me of my home state.
While we were cautioned not to make “political” or “religious” works, I subtly incorporated pink triangles and the colors of the trans liberation flag to comment on the oppressiveness I felt growing up in central Maine as a queer teenager. Even when told to hide central elements of your identity, you cannot keep this Mainer from doing so! While I’m not trans, I think of trans liberation as clearly on the front waves of what queer teenagers in Maine must fight for.
