Associate Professor of Art Annie Lee-Zimerle was awarded the Maine Percent for Art in 2025. She was commissioned to create public art for the new Mountain Valley Community School (RSU 10, Maine Public School). The completed artwork was installed over winter break 2026. The title of the piece is “The Tree of Curious Minds,” and it is a triptych, made of hand-carved woodblocks with black ink.
Enacted in 1979, the Maine Percent for Art Law requires that at least one percent of the budget for construction or renovation of state-funded buildings be set aside for the acquisition of original art. This program, administered by the Maine Arts Commission, enhances public spaces through works commissioned for libraries, schools, and state offices. An advisory committee—including architects, arts professionals from the Maine Arts Commission, and agency representatives—recommends artwork for final approval.