The Portland Museum of Art will be hosting a special public forum on Friday at noon to discuss Gov. Paul LePage’s controversial decision late last month to remove “The Maine Labor Mural Cycle” from the main lobby of Maine’s Department of Labor in Augusta.
The forum, entitled “Whose Art Is It?” Will be a round-table discussion open to all members of the community, and includes guest speakers Mark Bessire, Portland Museum of Art’s director; Christina Bechstein, sculpture professor and director of Public Engagement at Maine College of Art; and Chris O’Neil, Government Relations Consultant for the Portland Community Chamber.
Also making a rare public appearance — despite the national coverage of the mural’s removal, is Judy Taylor — the artist originally commissioned for the public work by the Maine Art’s Commission in 2007.
An invitation was extended to Gov. LePage, but his office informed the museum that he will be unable to attend the event.
The free event is open to the general public and is co-sponsored by the Portland Museum of Art, Colby, Bates and Bowdoin college art museums, and the Maine College of Art.