Public Art Committee OKs proposal to take Abenaki-themed bronze sculpture to City Council, subject to fundraising

The Portsmouth Public Art Committee voted to move forward with a proposal to present sculptor Anthony Alemany’s design “Nebi” for Bohinkel Gateway Park to the City Council, with the caveat that the project proceed only after sufficient fundraising.

The sculptor, Anthony Alemany, described the proposed work as a 9-foot figure holding an Abenaki water vessel, mounted on a granite base and a turtle-shell element; he said the piece would be cast in silicon bronze and estimated to weigh roughly 400–450 pounds. "Nebi means water in the Algonquin language," Alemany said, and the piece is intended to “honor the Abenaki people” and local maritime history.

Committee members said the presentation to council would be done now in principle so the committee can begin formal fundraising and use council approval to authorize expenditures into the public art trust. "The advice was in July, at the July meeting, to bring it to the council in principle," a committee member said during the discussion; the motion to present the proposal to council, subject to fundraising, carried with an affirmative voice vote.

Alemany outlined a stepwise schedule and budget assumptions: he said a one-third-scale maquette would take approximately 6–8 weeks and cost about $2,500; full-size sculpting would follow and require months of studio work, moldmaking and foundry casting. He estimated the total project budget in the range discussed at the meeting — roughly $123,000 to $125,000 — and noted site-preparation and engineering were additional costs the committee should expect. An engineering estimate cited by Alemany recommended a poured concrete pier with stainless steel anchors; an initial design estimate to draft footing plans was cited at about $6,000, while a broader site-prep figure he used in his budgeting was about $12,000.

Committee members flagged permitting, foundation design and the need to consult the city archaeologist for any excavation. Paul Poullier and Denise Poullier of the Kalisuk band of Pennacook Abenaki told the committee they had reviewed the concept and offered guidance; Alemany said they had given him input on symbology and would continue to advise on design details.

The committee and artist discussed location options within Bohinkel Gateway Park and noted that proximity to water could raise engineering difficulty and cost. The committee discussed possible DPW participation in site work and recommended an engineering study up front to reduce uncertainty during contracting.

Alemany proposed a phased fundraising approach tied to deliverables: a deposit to begin the maquette, staged payments at approval milestones, and fundraising steps timed to the production phases. He estimated the foundry and casting work would add several months, putting overall completion at roughly a year from approval, subject to fundraising and permitting.

The vote to take the proposal to City Council subject to fundraising passed by voice vote; the transcript records unanimous "Aye" responses but does not list a written tally or name the motion maker or seconder.

The committee directed staff and members to prepare materials for a July City Council meeting so the council could "bless our fundraising effort" and consider site approval in principle.