Expanse by Miles Chapin, approximately 2,400 pounds, was one of four sculptures being moved along Sculpture Boothbay’s outdoor trail in Boothbay Harbor that extends to East Boothbay, Southport Island and Boothbay.

On July 16, some sculptures were installed in new locations, another was moved, but on the same property and another, “Not My First Rodeo,” the metal, JBone Sawyer sculpture outside the Opera House, was moved first thing that morning back to Sawyer’s home and studio in Warren.

The new First National Bank needed a new sculpture. Before work on the new building began, Don Meserve’s “Rhino” was there. Now “Owl” by Andreas von Huene stands just outside the door, silently reminding everyone to make wise financial decisions!

At Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, “Expanse,” Miles Chapin’s 147 x 47 x 33 granite beauty, was loaded up on a Campbell Marine flatbed and driven to Tugboat.

Next was Tugboat Inn, where Bob Royall’s “Galaxy” has stood for three years. The granite sculpture’s focus: Our solar system, complete with black holes and planets and their orbit lines. In the early afternoon, this piece was moved to Ocean Point Inn’s famed garden.

Tugboat was the most intense of the locations – with the exception of moving “Expanse” from the Chamber. Patricia Royall of Sculpture Boothbay said, “We called it Robbie’s (Campbell) heart attack.”

Robbie, of Campbell Marine, didn’t disagree. “Both times, when I started pulling that one up with the crane I held my breath. I really worried about that one!”

And it was quite something to watch – the process of removing one sculpture and its base, prepping the ground for the new sculpture making sure to get the positioning just right. But then the crew members – Campbell, Alman Morton; Glen Rines and von Huene – were experienced and worked well together. At one point, von Huene said “They are working together and talking things out – and with no ego. No ego. That’s important.”

After getting “Galaxy” and its base on Campbell Marine’s truck, it was time to plant the base for “Expanse” in the Tugboat garden – and that took awhile – leveling the ground and the granite base. And then the tension grew just a tad – even among the bystanders – as the crane attachment began lifting, ever so slowly.You could hear the straining of the yellow lifting strapping as Campbell turned the crank. When it was upright, came a shared sigh of relief. And then a momentary return to normal breathing.

The union of sculpture and base was still to come. At one point, von Huene asked Rines to use the handle end of a rake to help keep “Expanse” hanging straight.

But in about an hour or so, “Expanse” was installed. Tugboat General Manager Bonnie Stover was brought out to see it.

“I didn’t even know we were getting a new one,” Stover exclaimed. “Wow. It’s beautiful.”

After repositioning a sculpture at Greenleaf Inn, the crew powered on to Ocean Point Inn for the final installation of the day, and lunch!

Another of Bill Royall’s sculptures will be moved from Townsend Avenue near House of Logan to Union Square just behind Mama D’s this week.