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Portsmouth Public Art Review Committee presents inventory and plans for new commissions
Summary
The Public Art Review Committee delivered its first annual report to the Portsmouth City Council on March 17, detailing an inventory of about 73 works, a percent-for-art commission on Pierce Island, and project recommendations for playgrounds, Sherburne housing, a future garage and the Mechanic Street pump station.
The Portsmouth Public Art Review Committee reported to the City Council on March 17 that it has completed an inventory of roughly 73 public artworks and is advancing multiple commissions and partnerships.
The report, delivered by committee chair Chris Dwyer, said the committee has clarified ordinance provisions, created content for a city webpage, built a mailing list of more than 100 arts organizations, and established an inventory with photographs and explanations for each work. “We've created an inventory of the 73 or so public artworks that we actually have in the city,” Dwyer said.
Why it matters: the committee’s work will guide where the city places new art and where it asks artists to participate in capital projects. The committee described one completed percent-for-art commission for Pierce Island, another commission underway for the middle school, and an upcoming commission tied to a planned High Hanover garage. Dwyer said the inventory will be digitized with the Portsmouth Historical Society and made nationally available through the Public Art Archive; the committee also expects to offer a walking tour this summer.
Councilors and members of the public suggested specific places and approaches. Councilor Bullock asked whether large residential facades such as the Margisson Apartments had been considered as sites for murals; Dwyer said the committee thought such building faces were “canvases” worth pursuing. Councilor Mora proposed extending consideration to the City Hall complex and noted that public art can include landscape design, lighting or sound, not only murals or sculpture.
The committee recommended identifying capital projects that could include artists in design, naming playground refurbishments, the Sherburne housing development, a future garage and the Mechanic Street pump station as candidates. It also recommended strategic placement of art to support economic development—Market Square, the rail trail, Langdon Park and the Bohanco Gateway Park were listed as priority areas.
The report was received and discussed during the council meeting; no formal council action was recorded on the report itself.
The committee said it will continue outreach, fundraising and coordination with staff as it implements the inventory and commissions planned for 2025 and 2026.
