WATERVILLE, Maine—Waterville Creates is excited to announce a new public art installation coming to Levine’s Park this summer: Wild Maybes by Chris Miller, artist and founder of New Paradigm Design Workshop. The sculptures will arrive in late August, with an official opening reception on Friday, September 5, from 5–7pm as part of downtown Waterville’s First Friday celebration. All are welcome to visit Levine’s Park, where Main and Front Streets meet Spring Street, and enjoy these fascinating sculptures.
Commissioned by Waterville Creates and presented in partnership with the City of Waterville, Wild Maybes is a semi-permanent installation featuring four large-scale sculptures of whimsical, friendly creatures, in the tradition of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs. These fantastical beasts draw inspiration from real prehistoric mammals that roamed the earth 50 to 60 million years ago—just after the age of dinosaurs.
Created by Portland-based artist Chris Miller, Wild Maybes reflects a creative practice rooted in kindness, curiosity, and imagination. Influenced by ideas of outer space, dinosaurs, bedtime stories, and ice cream, Miller’s work invites viewers of all ages to wonder, dream, and play.
“This is a dream project, right in the middle of all the exciting things happening in Waterville right now,” Miller said. “These four big friendly creatures are going to make people smile. I can’t wait to see that.”
The prehistoric beasts comprising the Maybes—Barylambda, Coryphodon, Eoconodon, and Uintatherium—remain shrouded in mystery. We know they existed, and we have a rough idea of what they looked like, but can only speculate as to their behavior and other characteristics. These unknowns, as much as or more than the facts, inspired Miller along the creative process. Wild Maybes invites passersby into the park to greet these mysterious beasts and let their own imaginations run wild.
Miller’s recent work includes both temporary and permanent public art commissions throughout Maine. Notably, he created Carousel Cosmos, a temporary installation in Portland commissioned by TEMPOart. His work has also been featured in exhibitions at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., the Shenzhen Biennale, the Boston Public Library, the City Museum of New York, the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center at Macalester College, the Hyde Park Art Center, and Myopic Books in Chicago.
Wild Maybes is the latest piece in a broader, ongoing initiative by Waterville Creates to promote more public art in the area. Last fall, Waterville Creates conducted a community-wide survey to gather feedback on its programming, facilities, marketing, and overall impact. The results demonstrated strong support for public art: 70% of respondents expressed a desire for more public art in Waterville, and more than 80% agreed that it enhances quality of life and fosters community pride.
“This project reflects our community’s strong desire for more public art, and we’re thrilled to welcome Wild Maybes as a joyful and imaginative presence in downtown Waterville,” said Marie Sugden, exhibitions coordinator at Waterville Creates.
Learn more at watervillecreates.org/shows/wild-maybes.
First Friday
The September 5 opening is presented as part of Waterville’s First Friday, a monthly celebration of the arts and business in downtown Waterville. This First Friday will take the form a block party, with Main Street closed between Temple and Spring Streets. Waterville Creates is partnering with the Colby College Museum of Art, Elm City Music School, Discover Waterville, and other partners to bring fun, free programs for all ages. All are welcome Friday, September 5, 5–7pm.
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About Waterville Creates
The mission of Waterville Creates is arts experiences for all. Offering diverse programming for all ages, Waterville Creates is building a thriving, connected, and equitable community through shared experiences in the arts. For more information about Waterville Creates, visit watervillecreates.org.