A place for ‘Liberty’

MACHIAS – A steel sculpture sits in a living room looking for a home.

“I made it for the people in this county. It doesn’t belong here,” said Joe Powers, 48, who made the 6-foot-tall, 3-foot-wide piece after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Powers said he wants the sculpture displayed in a public place such as a courthouse or mall. The sculpture had been displayed from late 2001 through late 2002 at the Everett Mall. But since then, no one has requested it, and it’s been at his place in Machias, Powers said.

“These days, emotions and thoughts are subsiding,” he said. “I don’t want people to forget” the terrorist attacks.

Like other people, Powers was glued to a TV on Sept. 11, 2001. At night, he suddenly woke up with abstract visions pouring into his head.

“I just visualized a complete chaos,” he said.

Powers immediately began working on the sculpture day and night, skipping meals and losing sleep.

“It was very intense. He would wake up during the night all the time,” said his wife, Sandy Powers.

He didn’t know what he was making for about a month and a half. “The piece totally built itself,” he said.

Then, the finished work spoke, Powers said. It showed the American eagle descending onto a damaged tree. The sculpture, named “Liberty and Justice for All,” represents the strength and unity of the United States, he said.

“I just wanted this piece to speak of the greatness of this country and where we came from,” he said.

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