VINALHAVEN –– A historic building in downtown Vinalhaven made famous by the artist Robert Indiana is up for sale, upsetting some Indiana fans who wanted to see the home preserved.

“I’ve gotten quite a few people, quite a few people coming into the town offices saying how upset and sad they are,” said Vinalhaven Town Manager Marjorie Stratton.

The Maine Street building, named the “Star of Hope,” is now listed with an asking price of $1.4 million. The sale, announced last week, has drawn national attention from the New York Times and a number of art-related publications.

Built in the late 19th century, the building has been home to several businesses, and even the lodge for a fraternal order. 

But Indiana moving there in 1978 put the home on the map for art aficionados. Indiana, best known for his “Love” painting and sculpture, died in 2018. Within about a year, the Star of Hope Foundation, a nonprofit created by Indiana himself in 2016, took charge of the property.

The foundation’s managing director, Carole Martin, said this week that just maintaining the building has become extremely expensive for the foundation.

“It’s an old building and it’s a very complicated structure,” she said. 

The foundation’s move to sell it, however, seems contrary to Indiana’s wishes to have the home converted into a museum or art education center, and many people are not happy about it. 

On the Facebook page for ARTnews, some fans responding to a post by the publication about the sale did not conceal their disappointment.

“This is very very sad for Vinalhaven,” wrote Melissa Foster Hall. “This historic building has been a fixture for longer than Bob was on the island.”

Another poster, identified as “Francois Bringer Photography,” simply wrote, “Love of $$$$”

Stratton said she was friends with Indiana and had fond memories of visiting him at the home. 

“I was sad about it,” she said when asked about her reaction to news of the sale.

Stratton said she personally remembered discussing Indiana’s wishes to see the building preserved after he died.

“It was his dream,” she said.

Martin said the foundation had considered Indiana’s wishes in the beginning and also held multiple events to solicit the public’s input on the issue.  

In the end, Martin said, the foundation decided after spending millions of dollars for most of a decade just keeping up with repairs and maintenance, that any major renovation project, regardless of Indiana’s wishes, just couldn’t happen.

“We know that maintaining it and getting it to the full purpose of the foundation is going to be difficult,” she said.

Martin said she was aware the foundation’s decision has sparked criticism.

“We understand the emotional response that’s happening for some people now and we also understand the hopes and aspirations,” she said. 

Martin said the foundation cares deeply about the art community on Vinalhaven. She said the foundation has not laid out its plans in detail yet, but that proceeds from the sale will be donated to local art education programs.

“We are very supportive of island residents and their interest in arts and culture,” she said. “We’re in no way abandoning the island, or the people there.”

As to Indiana’s belongings, Martin said the Foundation has taken possession of several items, including furniture and the artist’s collection of works. She said the foundation is working with a New York-based gallerist on options for displaying Indiana’s artwork.