Roughly hewn from raw and painted salvaged wood and inflected with a gentle humor, the imaginative sculptural creations of Bernard Langlais are a ubiquitous Maine feature. Ranging from mosaic-like abstractions to large-scale renderings of animals, these works grace the seaside bluffs of Ogunquit on the southern coast, dot forests and fields up to Aroostook County, welcome travelers at the Portland airport, and enliven museums, libraries, and other places of gathering across the state.

To celebrate this beloved Maine artist, Love your langlais invited the Waterville community and museum staff to participate in the selection of the works in the exhibition. Voting posters featuring sculptures drawn from the Colby Museum’s collection of nearly two hundred Langlais works were placed at local partner organizations including Children’s Discovery Museum, South End Teen Center, Waterville Creates, Waterville Public Library and across the Colby College campus. Over the span of two and a half weeks, more than seven hundred people participated in the voting process, informing the selection of works in the show. Over the course of the exhibition, voting will continue in the gallery and online to determine the Waterville community’s all-time favorite Langlais sculpture.

This exhibition is curated by the Waterville community. The project team includes Christian Adame, Mirken Director of Learning and Engagement; Kiko Aebi, Katz Curator; Beth Finch, former Head Curator; Virginia Lopez-Anido, Coordinator of Community and Visitor Engagement; and Juliette Walker, Assistant Manager of Exhibitions and Publications.