LEWISTON, Maine — After the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, the resilient community is finding healing through the power of art.
A local art studio has become the epicenter of this collective effort, inviting community members to join in painting a mural that will stand as a symbol of hope and unity in downtown Lewiston, on Lisbon Street.
Melanie Therrien, the owner of Wicked Illustrations, a local art studio, envisioned a project that would not only serve as a form of artistic expression but also as a therapeutic outlet for those affected by the tragedy.
"I knew I wanted to do something. I chewed on it for a little while, and this is what I came up with," Therrien said.
This isn't the first time Therrien has created a mural of a set of wings. In 2019, she created a set of wings that currently is hung on Lisbon Street.
However, this new set of wings is set to replace the previous one.
"These wings are healing; the community was all involved. Those wings were ones Melanie did," Lisa Flynn, a local resident involved in the wings mural, said.
Through the power of social media, news of the wings project spread rapidly.
Over a hundred community members, spanning various ages, came together at the art studio to lend their hands and paintbrushes to this meaningful endeavor.
"This room was full. We had to get extra chairs," Flynn said.
"Age three to who knows, all different ages, families came, couples sat down for a little while—some painted for an hour, and some came in and did one little section and left," Therrien said.
The community's collective desire to take action in the face of tragedy helped people come together in a therapeutic way to heal.
"I'm sure a lot of people, like me, felt helpless after this. What do you do? This is something you can do," Therrien said.
The act of picking up a paintbrush became a powerful means of empowerment and a tangible way for individuals to contribute to the healing process.
As the community continues to pour its collective spirit into the project, the wings of hope will soon find their place in downtown Lewiston.
Therrien and the community have transformed tragedy into a beacon of hope, proving that, indeed, art has the power to heal.
The wings will be placed on display on Lisbon Street this spring.