Murals and Public Art

“Proud Past, Bright Future” Somersworth, NH 2008 1493’ sq. (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

Unlike the one above, the murals and commissioned Public Art paintings I design are usually painted in acrylics on either canvas or wood, mostly for (but not limited to) interior settings.

After extensive consultation with the client, I usually produce these artworks entirely in my studio. In many cases, this means that the larger ones need to be modular in nature, easily coming apart for transportation and reassembly on site.

From the initial concept, the mural design progresses through black and white and color stages. As the client signs off on each stage, they are invited to visit my studio and assess my progress.

By producing the artworks in my studio, I’m able to create optimum working conditions for myself, cut down on transportation time, and stay out of the client’s way until installation.

My artworks are built, painted and varnished for longevity, and usually need no maintenance besides an occasional dusting.

“Gordon put in over 1,000 hours in this mural, and the whole town felt it was worth every penny of the price he quoted us. It is absolutely beautiful!!! Everyone is so proud of it. There isn’t anyone in this town who wouldn’t recommend Gordon Carlisle as a muralist. He’s the best!”

Patricia J. Francoeur,
Somersworth Main Streets Committee
November, 2008

---

"Together, We'll Do It" - Skowhegan, ME   2022
​
This is one of three murals commissioned in 2021 by the Wesserunsett Arts Council of Skowhegan, Maine. The Request for Proposal indicated their interest in depictions of local history, including log drives along the Kennebec River. That's what initially piqued my interest, and my mural grew conceptually from there. To offset all these men battling it out on the river, I felt I needed to depict a local victory for women. Their 1907 settlement with Marston Mills was just that, the culmination of years of struggle against hostile management. The women picketed outside the mill, sometimes in sub-zero temperatures, to achieve their goal of fair working conditions. The third panel is more aspirational in nature. It imagines a cleaned up Kennebec River, where the anadromous fish are once again able to swim upriver and spawn they way they'd done for millennia. That will take work, too, to achieve that goal, but "Together, We'll Do It." Click here to see a brief video interview with me during the installation.

---

---

“A Delicate Balance” Hampton Beach State Park, Hampton Beach, NH, 2011 101’ sq. (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

“Proud Past, Bright Future” Somersworth, NH 2008 (detail)

---

“Summer on the Souhegan” Merrimack Court, Merrimack, NH 2011 24’ sq. (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

“Medicine Wheel,” Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 1998 120’ sq., tondo. (Photo: Andrew Edgar)

---

“Gordon created a magnificent mural for our staff lounge. It beautifully and vigorously reflects our organization’s history, mission, and challenges.”
Nicki Nichols Gamble, President,
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
June 1999

“The Dance Hall Mural” Kittery, ME 2012 66.7’ sq., total. (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

“Proud Past, Bright Future” Somersworth, NH 2008 (detail)

“His teaching skills, ability to effectively communicate with their arts committee, and his flexibility made this one of the most stellar community arts projects that the State Arts Council has ever funded.”
Judy Rigmont, Creative Communities Coordinator,
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts
October 2008

---

---

“Summer on the Souhegan” (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

“Columbus Day Hike Up Rattlesnake,” Fourth District Court, Laconia, NH 2012 Total of all four panels: 69’ sq. (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

"Lest We Forget (The Manchester Mural," Manchester, NH 1987 3,384' sq. (Done in association with Mural Works; design: Gordon Carlisle; Photo: Steven Lee)

“The Dance Hall Mural” (detail) (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

“Proud Past, Bright Future” Somersworth, NH 2008 (detail)

“Christa and Alan: Space Explorers!” McAuliffe- Shepard Discovery Center, Concord, NH 2009 41 7/8” x 55” (Photo: Tim Gaudreau)

“Christa and Alan: Space Explorers!” 41” x 58 9/16” 2009 (Photo: Tim Gaudreau)

“The Sky’s the Limit” Laura Richards Elementary School, Gardiner, ME 1992 346’ sq. (done in association with Mural Works. Design: Gordon Carlisle; Photo: Robert Meyer)

---

“Rough Crossing” Youth Development Center, Manchester, NH 2006 216’ sq., total (Photo: Tim Gaudreau)

“The School By the River” (detail) Washington County Community College, Calais, ME 2007 Total of all five panels: 160’ sq. (Photo: Gary Guisinger)

“Granite State Patchwork: Industry and The Land” (Private commission), 1997 Total of all three panels: 180’ sq. (Photo: Andrew Edgar)

“Discovery Room,” NH Dept. of Fish and Game, Concord, NH (detail) 2001 1300’ sq. (Photo: Dan Gair)

St. Peters Catholic Church (detail) (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

“Windows Coming Home” (detail), The New Hampshire Veteran’s Home, Tilton, NH 2003 Total for all nine panels: 83’ sq. (Photo: Dan Gair)

“Windows Coming Home” (detail) (Photo: Dan Gair)

“Waterworks” (detail), Waterworks Restaurant, Nashua, NH 1995 197’ sq. Total of all four panels: 197’ sq. (Photo: Andrew Edgar)

"From Bald Rock Mountain, Lincolnville," Waldo Justice Center, Belfast, ME 2019 26.7' sq.

“Rough Crossing” (detail) 2006 (Photo: Tim Gaudreau)

“The School By the River” (detail) (Photo: Gary Guisinger)

"Marsh Triptych," Exeter Hospital, Exeter, NH 1995 Total of all three panels: 66’ sq.

“Granite State Patchwork: Industry” (Photo: Andrew Edgar)

“Discovery Room” (detail) (Photo: Dan Gair)

St. Peters Catholic Church, Portland, ME 2015 (detail) (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

St. Peters Catholic Church (detail) (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

“Windows Coming Home” (detail) (Photo: Dan Gair)

“Waterworks” (detail) (Photo: Andrew Edgar)

---

“It is without hesitation that I, who had daily contact with him throughout the mural’s creation, would recommend Gordon for any form of mural work or community arts project. We sought a mural that residents would gaze upon and simply utter ‘Whoa!’ and, through Gordon’s tireless effort, that goal was undoubtedly obtained.”
Darryl Cauchon, Executive Director,
Somersworth Main Street Program
November 2008

---

“Rough Crossing” (detail) 2006 (Photo: Tim Gaudreau)

“The School By the River” (detail) (Photo: Gary Guisinger)

“Granite State Patchwork: the Mills" (Photo: Andrew Edgar)

“Mooselauke Triptych,” Glencliff Home For the Elderly, Benton, NH 1999 103’ sq. (Photo: Dan Gair)

St. Peters Catholic Church (detail) (Copyright © Gary Langley Photo)

Sandy Point Discovery Center, Stratham, NH 1997 63’ sq.

“Memory Lane” (detail) (Photo: Dan Gair)

“Memory Lane” (detail), New Hampshire Hospital, Concord, NH 2000 Total for all nine panels: 154’ sq. (Photo: Andrew Edgar)

---

“Gordon recently completed a large, beautiful hallway mural for our Hospital… Gordon is a delight to work with. He helpfully and sensitively captured and portrayed our thoughts and expressions and gave us a piece that will impact our staff, patients and families for many years to come.”
-Jud Knox, CEO, York Hospital, York, ME

---

“The Little Androscoggin at South Paris” Lobby B, Oxford County Superior Court, South Paris, ME 2020 36.7’ sq.

“Family Wall” York Hospital, York, ME 2017 147.5’ sq.

“Catamount Pond, Bear Brook Park” Merrimack Superior Court, Concord, NH 2020 29.24’ sq.

“Summer Along the Contoocook” Merrimack Superior Court, Concord, NH 2020 20’ sq.

“Our Double Arch Bridge” Milford District Court, Milford, NH 2021 31.2’ sq.

“Swing Bridge Panorama” Milford District Court, Milford, NH 2021 30’ sq.

“The Story of the Columns” Milford District Court, Milford, NH 2021 30’ sq.