A mural dedicated to Hearts of Pine fans is going up in downtown Portland
A new four-story mural on Congress Street in downtown Portland is putting the fans of the Hearts of Pine soccer team front and center, turning supporters into public art that celebrates the bond between the club and the city.
The mural at 645 Congress Street, between High and State streets, measures roughly 52 by 42 feet and features at least 10 fans in the team’s blue and green colors surrounding the slogan “Lead with Your Heart.” Portland artist Ryan Adams began painting the wall in early September and expects to finish within the week, weather permitting. The work is a collaboration among the team, Portland Downtown, and building owner Jamey Gaston.
Justine Satterthwaite, a season-ticket holder from Scarborough, was one of the fans chosen after team staff photographed hundreds of supporters at games. She said she had no idea her face would appear on the building until a friend sent her a photo. “First off, I was shocked and a little like, ‘Oh, that’s a giant picture of my head,’” Satterthwaite said. “But I’m very honored to be part of something like this. I’m grateful.”
Other fans in the mural include Dana Ricker, a Gorham Middle School teacher known for leading cheers with a bullhorn, and Dawn Meeks of Brunswick, a season-ticket holder who stopped by to photograph the work in progress. The team selected some longtime supporters and others who had attended only a few games.
“Hearts of Pine is in its second season in Portland and has been selling out games regularly,” said Josh Lane, the team’s vice president of marketing. Lane said the downtown location was deliberate: the club wanted to contribute to Portland’s tradition of public art and share its message of togetherness beyond the stadium walls. “This club has a message of togetherness we’re trying to share, the ‘lead with your heart’ ethos. We want that to live far beyond the walls of the stadium.”
Adams, known for community-focused and social justice murals across Maine, said he admires the way the team has built a sense of belonging. Though he admits working 60 feet in the air is not his favorite part of the job, he is being assisted by local artists Spenser Macleod and Mike Rich.
The team plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the mural on Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. Lane declined to disclose the cost. Gaston, who had once considered painting the blank wall himself, said he welcomed the idea immediately. “I am a big fan of seeing Portland be proud of itself.”
Satterthwaite met Hearts of Pine founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson at a recent fan gathering and said the project made her feel part of something bigger. “I really thought that was nice, and it made me feel really special and part of this journey,” she said. “This team is so much a part of the community and the community is part of the team. There’s no way to separate them.”
The mural also arrives as the team has proposed building a new stadium at Cassidy Point on the West End waterfront, a 11,000-seat venue that would replace its current home at Fitzpatrick Stadium, which seats about 5,500.
