BRIDGING ART and COMMUNITY
by JBONE, the artist formerly known as Jay Sawyer, 21OCT25
Jay Sawyer walking Glimmer of Hope, Stainless steel, 46” diameter.
THE TRANSITION OF MY LIVELIHOOD TO THAT OF A METAL SCULPTOR WAS AN ORGANIC EVOLUTION. My education at Maine Maritime Academy provided the requirements for employment as a USCG Licensed Engineer in the US Merchant Marine on ocean-going vessels of unlimited horsepower. This industry was highly dependent on operating systems and vessels manufactured with steel. Increased experience of operations and maintenance demonstrated that design for efficient transmission of steam power resulted in components with beautiful form.
View of bridges from the deck of an oil tanker in 1985.
Bayonne Bridge, New York City, 1985. Notice the tug boat tied alongside the tanker for maneuvering in the river.
This career also offered extensive travel and exposure to magnificent architecture around our nation and beyond. Possibly the most impactful was the number of notable bridges that I had the experience of traveling across by car and under by ship. Views from below lent a powerful perspective of the incredible engineering achievements in that period of industry and the craftsmanship performed with pride that is on display in these examples of innovation. The Golden Gate Bridge may be the most inspiring. These two fields of influence forged an emotional connection to these industrial scale structures and the elements used in their construction.
Carquinez Bridge, Vallejo, California, 1985, with California Maritime Academy training vessel in the background.
In the mid 1990’s I began operating my own welding service company acquiring more skills in metal repair, modification and construction of all types. Performing these tasks around the state would often have me returning home with salvaged materials. The more distressed, the better! These appropriations embodied the history attached to schools, hospitals, churches, correctional facilities, opera houses, bridges, wharfs, ocean-going vessels and more. The hunter-gatherer in me was moved to collect these materials that spoke to me loudly. Over time a reputation for expertise in this field was growing and my creativity was expanding. Repeated calls to repair metal sculptures of all types that had been created by notable metal sculptors supplied confidence and motivated me. With a push from three mentors, I committed to an effort in becoming a professional metal sculptor. David McLaughlin was one of these mentors and early in our friendship he collaborated in a project with the Maine Department of Transportation. He helped to design and construct a masterful gate at the lower entrance of the Observatory of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. This bridge was to replace the deteriorating Waldo-Hancock Bridge spanning the Penobscot River on US Route 1.
Trips across the Waldo-Hancock Bridge amazed me as a youngster. In later years, a highlight of my stint at Maine Maritime Academy was the year round spectacle and physical thrill every single time I traversed the Waldo-Hancock Bridge. Any particular mood was elevated while on that bridge. A rite of passage cemented my emotional connection with the bridge early one morning. While returning to MMA with three classmates after a full evening in the city we climbed to the top of the bridge. Dark. Foggy. Eerily still. From the top you could only see the structure. It was lit up and from there the fog faded to darkness quickly. No fear. I trusted her.
Waldo-Hancock Bridge on Opening Day, 1932. Collection of Penobscot Marine Museum.
The Waldo-Hancock was the first bridge to utilize the Vierendeel truss in the two supporting towers. This new design with prefabricated and prestressed cables was not only efficient, it was beautiful. A sense of pride was instilled in me when I learned that this was the same design later used to build the world renowned Golden Gate Bridge.
Golden Gate Bridge from deck of an Exxon tanker, 1984. Notice the gray primer that had been changed to water-borne inorganic zinc. A rare photo of the Golden Gate Bridge, not wearing it’s classic International Orange.
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge was completed in 2006. David’s relationship with the MDOT fascinated me. My effort to create a sculptural body of work was just a year old, but, it was clear that obtaining salvaged elements from the iconic Waldo-Hancock Bridge could yield some incredible creations. There was the motivation to inquire about the possibilities. This concept and strategy was new to me and can be a tough sell when dependent on a multi-million dollar project. My livelihoods were just beginning to transition and looking back it was the hardest period of any employment throughout my life. I was armed with only a fledgling body of work, inspiration, speculation, and optimism. This didn’t seem to make much of an impression on the powers to be and I watched the bridge as it was slowly demolished. Oh well, you can’t have everything!!
In 2016, the MDOT announced the deteriorating state of the Frank J. Wood Bridge over the Androscoggin River between Brunswick and Topsham. There was mention of a possible replacement. My art career was progressing with commissioned work, private sales and a steadily growing number of public installations. This was the year of my solo show at Emery Community Art Center on the Campus of UMF, in Farmington. Sculpture Soup was an ambitious show with over forty sculptures that broke attendance records. The SS El Faro had sunk in 2015. Of the 33 crew members lost to the sea, five of them were my MMA brothers and sister. I sensed of responsibility to create a worthy memorial for this worst maritime casualty in 35 years. Shortly after Sculpture Soup I began to focus my energies in preparation for a completely independent approach to seeing a need and working hard to utilize my gifts and fill that need for a prominent Lost At Sea Memorial. The realization of the devotion this effort would require even had me putting my seasonal open studio schedule on hold. With that said, I followed the FJW Bridge matter closely.
A visit to study the Frank J. Wood Bridge with J Walking, 2017.
As time passed I visited the FJW Bridge multiple times to observe and speculate on potential concepts with regard to bridge materials and hopes of manifestation. Court battles were active regarding costs to replace the bridge versus costs to repair the existing bridge. These concerns were on display with intense passion and there was an obvious element of the sentimentalities connected to the history of the local landmark and its influence on generations of community members. These battles played out over years as I was slowly and deliberately at work with El Faro Salute!. At some point I contacted Nathan Moulton at the MDOT. He and I spoke during the Waldo-Hancock Bridge project and this early contact in the FJW Bridge project was an attempt to get my foot in the door.
Eventually the final hand was dealt and the Frank J Wood Bridge would be replaced. I was closely following who would be contracted for the project and the timeline for demolition. This was falling in line with my completion of El Faro Salute! when the sculpture was installed in September of 2022. That had been a very long project which was entirely managed by Studio JBONE and the rewards of experiencing the instant success of this prominent memorial provided much inspiration regarding future projects.
Call for Conceptual Visions, Frank J. Wood Bridge
Through the next couple of years completing many projects that had been put on hold while devoted to El Faro Salute!, I was aware of the fact that a contractor had been selected for the Frank J. Wood Bridge replacement and that the project was underway. In the summer of 2025, I received news of a committee formed within Brunswick Public Art to explore and pursue the creation of a public sculpture with salvaged elements of the Frank J. Wood Bridge. This beloved structure has linked the hearts of two communities since 1932 and is named after a community member in recognition of his vision for an adjustment in the location of the bridge for practical reasons. Along with this news I learned that two accomplished Maine sculptors had suggested that the committee invite me to an upcoming invite only brainstorming session with local stakeholders. This was an incredible development regarding my passionate quest to appropriate some of the bridge components for creativity. The notion of having been referred to by my peers added to the enthusiasm.
That meeting was constructive for all in attendance and demonstrated the interest of community members in not only paying tribute to the history of the bridge, but in honoring the passionate efforts and emotions by many people that resisted the replacement of the Frank J. Wood Bridge. Members of that camp were invited to this session and this respectful consideration did not go unnoticed. Several opinions were voiced regarding facets of a concept. One that seemed to make the biggest impact on my own considerations was that the work be “forward looking.” My first potential concept materialized on the drive home from the session. I communicated this development with committee members and a call for proposals was initiated.
The 10th Anniversary of the El Faro tragedy on October 1st was approaching and I was working hard to clear my plate to be comfortable in announcing a Remembrance Ceremony to take place at El Faro Salute!. Contact with families of the crew began in early August and I knew strong commitment would be required to organize this ceremony to take place on September 27th. This gathering would be followed by a reception with food and live entertainment at my creative environment in Warren.
On August 18th, I received word that my proposal to the BPA committee had advanced to the final round and on September 5th I learned that those proposals would be due on October 10th. With my prior commitments regarding organizing the remembrance ceremony, the following reception and the commission of a sphere for delivery to PA that following week there would not be much time to nurture my final proposal. It was clear to me that a worthy model would be required to make up for my hasty narrative that accompanied my model.
The Dedication Ceremony of El Faro Salute! in late 2022 drew nearly 1000 people and right out of the gate El Faro Salute! was recognized as a symbol of collective compassion and a source of community pride. In early 2023 the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded Studio JBONE the Beacon Award solely for the obvious positive impact that El Faro Salute! was destined to have on the community and from the chamber’s perspective this prominent memorial with the beautiful backdrop of Rockland Harbor and Penobscot Bay would draw visitors to the city, which, in turn, would stimulate the local economy.
It was quite an experience to organize that dedication and the emotions of the day were very strong. However, the task of organizing a Remembrance Ceremony for the 33 souls represented in El Faro Salute! was of an intensity that I may not have been fully prepared for. Even so, the program and associated details came together efficiently and produced a wonderful gathering to remember the El Faro crew. While creating the commissioned sphere the following week there was much reflection on the emotions I was exposed to while organizing the remembrance ceremony.
Being on stage while shipmates, family and other loved ones spoke of several crew members and their strong traits of character had a powerful impact. Many of these exact sentiments had been expressed directly to me in the past, but there was something more powerful taking shape as I closely observed these people speak to an audience while still struggling with their personal loss ten years later. I witnessed bonds being created between community members at a level I had not witnessed with prior public tributes. This aspect of going beyond placemaking and uniting community was quite a revelation. These bonds were formed not only by connection to the tragedy, but also by the financial contributions from many regions that made the memorial possible.
Once finally at work to create my model for the final proposal, it became obvious that this opportunity provided by the Brunswick Public Art committee had potential to be nurtured into a creation that could also lead to significant bonds formed in the community. Possibly some healing could take place after the litigation and hard feelings caused by the bridge replacement. Fundraising efforts by the committee would certainly result in a broader sense of ownership regarding this effort and my efforts with the initial proposal to try to provide a source of community pride made more sense than ever.
Early considerations for a concept leaned toward something symbolic with easily recognizable elements. With the straight lengths of lattice girder and my personal love for the spherical form, I happened onto the theme of square, triangle and circle. These three most basic forms are described by some as the building blocks of reality. The square symbolizes stability, order and moral integrity. The triangle suggests balance, strength and a ability to bridge abstract and tangible domains which can lead to divine harmony. The circle is a strong symbol of oneness in both community and spiritual connection.
Taking those three shapes to a three dimensional form would produce a cube, prism and sphere. You are now talking about some serious symbolic power. Stacking these forms with attention to aesthetic proportions and comprised of elements from the historic structure that at the time was a symbol of evolving technology, could be interpreted as an inspiration to improve upon form and function for the better of the community. And, there is nothing restricting that inspiration to technology. One could assume that if it is good for the community it is good for the Universe. These symbols are recognized as having a profound influence on human thought and social constructs.
The model is titled Study in Reality and if selected the installation would be 20’ tall and be titled Building Realities. I am confident that this concept covered the “forward looking” concern.
Study In Reality downstream of the Frank J. Wood Bridge just before delivery to the BPA FJWood Bridge Committee.
Another reason for my personal gratitude toward the BPA committees vision was when they announced their fundraising goals. This budget would allow for an ambitious effort to achieve my desired goals. They had created a scenario that could go beyond my personal quest to salvage bridge material for my own creative juices, and set the potential for a work with the energies to enhance the local sense of community.
With a projected budget to work with I took into consideration that the location of this installation is at the edge of town that is only passed by if you are exiting or entering Brunswick at that one point. With this in mind, I proposed a satellite installation expressing an obvious relationship with Building Realities at a location with more exposure to every day vital community activities. This would be a large sphere with the same proportions of the sphere atop Building Realities, simulating the straps in the largest lattice girder sections. I suggested that the BPA committee create a list of significant events in the entire history of Brunswick that would pay tribute to scores of structures, buildings, institutions, or events and I would then weld these individual details onto the straps resulting in raised letters. This would not only trigger intrigue by anyone viewing the sculpture, but it would certainly be a catalyst for community pride. The sphere would sit atop short legs created with bridge elements and be titled The Brunswick Biosphere.
This essay will be submitted for publication a day or two before the BPA committee convenes to consider the final proposals. Timing of this invite to provide an essay for ZEST was also in the mix. This new online edition of Maine's ZEST, the former print magazine, had requested my essay for publication in its upcoming first edition near November 1st. In mid September I learned of a deadline of October 15th for this submission. I’m right on schedule.
Now, I will anxiously await to learn the fate of this exciting proposal. Stay tuned…