Despite an art exhibition and a State House reception in his honor hosted by Gov. John Baldacci, Robert Indiana’s painting “First State” was to come off of the lobby walls as the exhibit ended on Feb. 13. Citing current tax issues and budget woes, legislators have been unwilling to free up $75,000 to purchase the painting, even though funding was authorized by Maine’s Percent for Art program.
Indiana, an icon of the 1960s pop-art era and resident of the historic Star of Hope building on Vinalhaven, began work on three pieces for the extensive renovations of the State House back in 2001. “First Light,” depicting the early light of dawn Maine experiences first in the United States, stays true to Indiana’s billboard, hard-edged style which focuses on numerals. The 85-by-85-inch oil painting portrays a vivid red numeral “1” with the words “Maine First State to Hail the Sun” on rays of gold and green. Two previous works, “Islands” featuring the islands of Penobscot Bay, again, in his particular pop media design, and “Dirigo,” an oil composition on driftwood, had been deemed as inadequate to meet the state’s criteria. Of the three, “First Light” became the choice and recommendation of the Maine Arts Commission.
According to Christopher Crosman, director of the Farnsworth Art Museum and an adviser to the Percent for Art Commission, “The Percent for Art money is already allocated and mandated that it be spent on art only. The legislature is also mandated to consider the Maine Arts Commission’s recommendation for the State House collection. They still must vote on the appropriateness of this particular piece, however, and could feasibly sit on it for 50 years…” Crosman added, “I have recently spoken with Indiana about bringing the pieces here to the Farnsworth. We would love to have his work.”
Indiana, in the meantime, is not exactly waiting for the “check in the mail.” Having witnessed the Sept. 11 attacks from the streets of Manhattan, he is currently at work on a collection of 30 pieces on the theme of “peace.” The exhibit, due to be shown at the Paul Kasmin Gallery in Chelsea, in Manhattan, in the spring of 2004 is in response to what Indiana calls America’s “burst of patriotism” after Sept. 11. He also plans to continue a conversation he began with Gov. Baldacci while at the State House. In the interest of keeping young artists in Maine, the governor, with Indiana’s involvement, would like to establish a yearly Governor’s Award for young Maine artists.