Sheri Withers-Hollenbeck peeks out Tuesday afternoon from behind a traffic control box that she recently painted at the corner of Main and High streets in Lewiston. It was part of a public art project where dozens of artists have painted many of these boxes throughout the city over the past year. Some people complained that this one was highlighting psychedelic mushrooms, but Withers-Hollenbeck explained, “These are not the psychedelic mushrooms people are complaining about. The top left one is a portobello and the one to the right of it is a white button mushroom. The ones at the bottom are enoki, and all of them are available every Sunday at the farmers market.” Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — Sheri Withers-Hollenbeck, an artist and downtown business owner, recently painted two electrical control boxes in Lewiston as part of a public art project that sought to turn 48 utility boxes into works of art.

One of Hollenbeck’s creations, located close to Central Maine Medical Center, depicts three types of mushrooms on a single panel along with the term “mushies.” On the other panels there are paintings of beets, bees and honeycomb.

Last week, Withers-Hollenbeck was surprised to learn that her painting was the subject of controversy stemming from a City Council discussion, where a councilor said the depiction of mushrooms and the term “mushies” appeared to condone drug use as the city continues to face substance abuse issues.

Councilor Tim Gallant said “mushies” is a slang term for psychedelic mushrooms, and that the painting appeared to be “telling young people that drugs are OK at the entrance to a hospital.”

However, many were quick to defend Withers-Hollenbeck and artist Melanie Therrien who oversaw the project, due to the mural’s obvious garden theme, while also arguing that “mushies” is used as slang to describe all types of mushrooms, not just psilocybin or “magic mushrooms.”

Withers-Hollenbeck, who owns Downtown Handmade on Lisbon Street, was quick to point out the types of mushrooms in her painting: white button, enoki and portobello — all among her favorites in recipes that she said she eats frequently to combat chronic illnesses.

“Mushrooms are a very important part of my life and diet,” she said, adding that she was surprised that an issue came up now considering she painted the box in June.

Gallant, who brought up the concern during a council meeting on Oct. 15, said the content of the public art projects should be reviewed more closely. When fellow councilors began to push back on the seriousness of the concern, and whether “mushies” is slang for psilocybin, Gallant said he holds “a drug and alcohol degree.”

Sheri Withers-Hollenbeck peeks out Tuesday afternoon from behind a traffic control box that she recently painted at the corner of Main and High streets in Lewiston. It was part of a public art project where dozens of artists have painted many of these boxes throughout the city over the past year. Some people complained that this one was highlighting psychedelic mushrooms, but Withers-Hollenbeck explained, “These are not the psychedelic mushrooms people are complaining about. The top left one is a portobello and the one to the right of it is a white button mushroom. The ones at the bottom are enoki, and all of them are available every Sunday at the farmers market.” Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Other councilors said they would support more oversight for public art projects, but appeared to not be concerned with the overall message of the “mushies” mural.

“I’d like to point out that for three years, a block from here, one of the power outlets had a colloquial term for fornication on it, that the city didn’t do anything about it,” said Councilor Josh Nagine, adding that it was eventually spray painted over. “I agree with providing a level of oversight, but ultimately I don’t think this was malicious intent.”

Nagine also pointed out that psilocybin is used to treat some mental health and depression issues.

Mayor Carl Sheline echoed Nagine’s comments, stating, “You can drive around town right now and see graffiti with slang terms and swears. If we have a mural with mushrooms I think we’re doing pretty well.”

In the days that followed, as discussion of the mural and “mushies” spread on social media, and after Withers-Hollenbeck explained the mural, Sheline had a little fun with the topic on the popular “Lewiston Rocks” page. Sheline, who is Hungarian, said he had reached out to his mother to get a Hungarian mushroom soup recipe, and he later posted the recipe on the site.

During the Oct. 15 meeting, city staff said $11,000 in funds provided to the Public Art Committee was used for the control box project this year. Therrien, of Wicked Illustrations, has orchestrated several other public art projects in the city, including on crosswalks and fire hydrants.

Withers-Hollenbeck said Therrien and others involved in such projects are always careful to follow guidelines when it comes to public art. They consulted the federal highway traffic manual when creating the city’s first creative crosswalks, she said, and work with Public Works staff.

“We do our research, we’re not just going out and painting stuff,” she said.

Withers-Hollenbeck, explaining the painting, said her favorite medium is block printing, and that she wanted the electrical box to reflect her work.

“I always use kraft brown paper as a background,” she said. “I was so excited to find this goldenrod brown to represent the paper. My carvings tend to do with nature and whimsy, especially my love for mushrooms and beets.”