Public art committee reviews Ona Judge mural plan; HDC review set for next week

A proposed mural honoring Ona Judge drew detailed planning questions and technical review from the Portsmouth Public Art Committee on a presentation by Barbara Ward and artist Manny Ramirez of Positive Street Art.

Committee members said the project already has a variance and will go next to the Historic District Commission for approval; Ward said, "we got a variance for it to be as much as 28 feet tall and 24 feet wide." The mural would be made of masonry cladding panels affixed to the brick wall rather than painted directly on the historic brick, and preservation mason John Wostrom is coordinating with the fabricator on spacing and wall breathing.

The committee framed the case for the mural as both commemorative and educational: Ward described the work as "a really important teaching tool" and said the design draws on historical references — including a 1795 dock scene used for the background — and aims for costume and physical features that reflect contemporary documentary descriptions of Ona Judge.

Artist Manny Ramirez described materials and durability: "I mostly use spray paint, but it's, usually over a, in this case, it'll be over a latex or acrylic based masonry paint. So there'll be a base and then, the spray paint will go on top of it. And then, the the final coat would be, the clear coating of it for longevity." He added that clear coats can extend the mural's life and that anti-graffiti coatings exist but can complicate later conservation. Ramirez said the on-site installation would take about "3 to 4 weeks, I would say."

Committee members focused questions on siting, visibility and neighbor impacts. The mural location sits adjacent to a shared residential driveway; committee members said they had talked with neighbors and that the Black Heritage Trail, which owns the building, holds the variance. The committee discussed mounting height and clearance for vehicles; Ward said the bottom of the installed panels will be raised to about "a large truck bumper height" (committee discussion put that at roughly four feet) so the work clears parked vehicles. Alyssa Murphy asked, "Why not just have a flat surface?" when the proposal initially described panels that simulate brick texture; Ward said alternate panel materials were under review because of weight concerns and that final materials could change.

The committee also discussed how viewers will experience the work from sidewalks and the stop-sign-controlled corner and agreed that scale was necessary to make facial and costume detail legible from the public right of way. Members noted the location gives sightlines to the Langdon House and the design will be augmented with a plaque and signage on the front of the building describing the subject and context.

On technical and maintenance points, Ramirez and the committee discussed water management features on the panels, a drip edge at the bottom of panels, and routine reapplication of clear coatings to protect against UV fading and salt exposure. Ramirez said the spray paints alone can begin to fade in three to five years under heavy sun exposure but that clear coats and periodic maintenance can extend useful life for many years. Committee members said the Black Heritage Trail will be the owner and will work with the artist on maintenance planning and budget.

Next steps: committee staff will draft notes using the committee's public-art criteria and forward them to the Historic District Commission. Ward asked for a quick turnaround because the case is likely on the HDC agenda next week. Ramirez and Positive Street Art said they will be available to provide additional documentation and images to the HDC; committee members encouraged public outreach and an installation-day program if the project is approved.

The discussion produced no formal committee vote on the mural itself at tonight's meeting; the committee will submit a memo with technical and contextual comments to the HDC before that hearing.

Ending: If the HDC approves the design, committee members said they hope to mark the installation with community programming and a dedication; Ramirez and Positive Street Art indicated willingness to participate in an outreach or dedication event.