This past summer TEMPOart commissioned four monumental sculptures by Daniel Minter called Mother’s Garden. These sculptures, which are located near Kennedy Park in East Bayside, evoke the food and spirituality of the African Diaspora. In conjunction with this project, and in partnership with World To Table, TEMPOart sponsored four dinners for recently arrived immigrants and longtime Mainers. Our goal for the year, to help bring Portland’s diverse communities more closely together through art and food, was a great success.

In addition to the dinners, we sponsored four youth art and writing programs, including those offered by the Telling Room and Mayo Street Arts. We also hosted summer interns from the Portland Museum of Art.

Each year new TEMPOart projects enliven Portland’s public spaces. They serve as catalysts for addressing important issues and ideas that can help make our city a richer and more interconnected community.

For the coming year our theme is Resilience in Place, a concept that will enable us to explore and respond to challenges posed by imminent changes in our natural and social environments. From a field of 14 artists we are pleased to announce that Jesse Salisbury has been invited to create an installation for TEMPOart 2020. The sculpture will be located at Fish Point along the Eastern Trail, an easy walk from both Fort Allen Park and Commercial Street.

We have another exciting announcement. After 6 years of reliance on an all-volunteer board, TEMPOart has hired its first full time executive director. We are happy to welcome Tony Adams who will start work in December. Tony brings many years of experience in non-profit arts management as well as a deep commitment to multiculturalism. We hope you will have a chance to meet him in the near future.

TEMPOart continues to grow and to provide unique ways to encourage community connectionsand conversations. Our challenge in the coming year is to support both our ambitious 2020 project and our new professional staff.