Whaling Wall mural may get pinched by lobster plant
Portland’s 950-foot Whaling Wall mural — painted almost 20 years ago by the international artist Robert Wyland — may have to lose a whale or two in order to accommodate Richmond-based Shucks Maine Lobster’s plans to convert a portion of the city-owned building at the Maine State Pier into a lobster-processing plant.
The Portland Press Herald reported that Shucks needs to cut into the mural to create a loading dock, a product entrance and a door for its employees, as well as install a nitrogen tank next to the wall for freezing lobster.
John Hathaway, president and owner of Shucks Maine Lobster, told the newspaper he intends to save as much of the mural as possible. He said the mural wall is the only way to access the space he’s planning to use for a processing facility that is expected to employ up to 70 workers when completed.
The newspaper reported that a spokesman for Wyland said the artist would like to see the 1993 mural preserved or possibly moved.
Shucks Maine Lobster is scheduled to go before the Portland Planning Board with its preliminary plan on April 22.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments