Sculpting Maine Granite

     Starting in 2007 the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium has brought together sculptors, visitors and communities to create a public sculpture collection in eastern Maine.  The sculptures are commissioned by towns and institutions in the area.  An international community of sculptors assembles in Maine for six weeks in the summer where visitors can watch (at no charge) as they create their works.  When completed they are transported to the various Maine communities that sponsored them.  They are currently scattered from Deer Isle to Machias.  You'll have to check a Maine map to see the range.
     So, today, eight of us drove up to Orono on the U Maine campus to see this year's edition.  

     When you are working with multi-ton chunks of Maine granite, there are times when the artist's touch must be supplemented by some brute force.

     Teams of folks combine efforts to create lasting sculptures.  Notice the hearing protection, breathing masks, and the Penobscot river in the background.

     I don't know what this one signifies...perhaps it was commissioned by a newspaper recycling facility.
     We watched them work for a while.  The noise was intense.  There were diamond saws and grinders plus the polishing machines.  Baxter was not impressed.  (He is much better, by the way).  
     When we left, we went our separate ways for a late lunch.  We found a "hole in the wall" place on route 9 on the south side of the Penobscot river in Brewer called the "Eagle's Nest"  We ordered a pair of lobster rolls and a small order of onion rings to go.  I watched the order being assembled.  It was all made to order.  We then headed west for a couple of hundred yards to a boat ramp area that had a covered picnic table.

     We have had a lot of lobster rolls during our extensive times in Maine.  Never have we had a more generous one.  I believe that, in addition to other lobster meat, mine contained at least six whole claws!
     We returned to the campground, and I made a quick grocery run in order to get back to our usual Happy Hour where we solved most of the world's problems.  Life is good.  Have I said that before?