Meg Adams
Dayjob: Cook, organizer, housekeeper.
Dream job: Dancer (Modern) or Back Country Ski Guide.
Hobby: Any activity that has me at the top of a mountain.
If you could come back as an artist or work of art, who/what would it be?
Merce Cunningham. His work is just technically ridiculous. He also had such a unique relationship with contemporary visual artists and was keyed into what was going on in the music world. And he’s lovely. I also want to come back as Bill T. Jones because his pieces overtly integrate different art forms and they make you think and feel deeply. The two choreographers are so very different, yet equally incredible and inspiring.
Why public art? Public art marries multiple interests of mine– the built environment, landscape architecture and visual art. It can also embody my interest in music and movement.
What do you like to make? I like to make people feel welcome and seen.
What do you want to tell people about public art? It’s okay not to understand it. It’s okay for you not to like it. It’s not permanent. Change is good.
Mitra Battan
Hobby: Learning. Always learning makes for a lifetime of adventure. Woodworking, painting, perspective and drawing. At the moment, it’s knitting. I just picked it up! Something I never thought I’d ever do.
If you come back as a piece of art what would you be? Witness by Shahzia Sikander. There’s controversy around her work, but it’s awesome. She’s Middle Eastern, and creates sculptures of women that some believe is the work of the devil. It’s amazing work, beautiful, feminine and feminist. It invites conversation, and incites some anger. I think that’s what art is, it should stir, inspire and teach people.
What inspires you? When are you most inspired? Deadlines. Questions that I have to find the answers to.Stress generates energy. I love walking away with a new skill in my toolbox.
What do you like to do outside? Very little! It’s hard to say that with Mainers around. I prefer to make my journey to the inside.
What do you want to tell people about public art? Seek it out! Find inspiration, within the artwork. Then, learn more about it. Find out who the artist is, what it means to them, what it signifies and what it means to you. It’s important to have that dialogue. It gets those brain synapses firing.
David Eaton
Heartland: Maine is my center.
Home: Outdoors.
Dayjob: Retired. I have several gigs, one as a commercial real estate finance consultant/broker and the other as a saltwater fishing guide.
Hobby: People ask me why I moved to Maine, and I say, “Two words: brook trout.”
If you could come back as an artist who would you be and why? Frederick Church. He painted large and vibrant landscapes, of Mount Katahdin, and charged people to view them. That struck me as brilliant. He found something he loved to do and a way to be able to do it. He made quite a lifestyle and living from his art before there was photography.
If you come back as a piece of art what would you be? I would like to be the Brown Trout, in the town of Baldwin, Michigan on the Pere Marquette River. It marks the first place that brown trout were introduced in America. It’s in a little public park with a great view of the prison in town.
What do you want to tell people about public art? Dogs are great ice breakers. If you go to a dog park, it’s easy to talk to people. Good public art does the same thing. It’s engaging.
Why Portland? Back in ‘72-’73, my buddy and I took a gap year to build a log cabin deep in the woods near Rangeley with a view of the Longfellow Mountains. It changed my life. It gave me confidence to try anything I wanted. After that, I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I did know where I wanted to do it: Maine. So I poked around in Rangeley, Augusta, Camden, Brunswick. As soon as I got to Portland, I said, “This is the one for me.”
Kerry Eielson
Heartland: Outside.
Home: It always will be where my family is.
Dayjob: Inside. (Bricks and mortar.)
Dream job: Maker.
Hobby/ies: I love beekeeping, books, crochet hooks, and writing.
Claim to Fame: Creating and running (for 20 years!) La Muse Retreat, in Labastide Esparbairenque, France.
Why TEMPOart? I love the people supporting this organization. They’re a fun, lively bunch. I also love that every year we get to start over and highlight a new corner of Portland with something surprising.
What inspires you? We are happiest when helping each other.
What do you want to tell people about public art? It’s just for fun. Lighten up!
Kate Fox
Heartland: Ohio.
Home: Cozy.
Dayjob: Fundraising.
Dream job: Creating. Things that matter.
Hobby: Kids.
Why public art? Because it’s for everyone.
Why TEMPOart? To bring joy.
If you could create any artwork in the history of the world, what would it be? One of the huge Cut-Outs by Henri Matisse. It’s not that artistic really. I’m not a drawer so that’s what came to mind.
What do you want to tell people about public art? To support it.
If you could come back as an artist who would you be and why? Cindy Sherman because I love photography and it would be fun to dress up like other people.
Sue Lambe
Heartland: In the arts.
Home: Maine.
Dayjob: I want to say “Getting into trouble,” but that’s not really true. I’m not really someone who gets into trouble very much. So I’ll just say enjoying life.
Dream job: Making art would be a dream but I don’t have that skillset.
Hobby: One of the things I”m really passionate about is finding rocks on the beach.
Why TEMPOart? What a special thing to have a nonprofit commissioning temporary art. There are hardly any programs like this in the country.
If you could come back as an artist, who would it be? It would have to be someone who was participating in the Paris salon at Gertrude Stein. Matisse would be my flavor.
If you come back as a work of art what would you be? JR’s What is He Thinking?
If you could create any artwork in the history of the world, what would it be? An artwork in the future that would span issues around disparity, distrust, inequity and diversity.
What do you like to make? I like to make dinner! I’m trying Asian cooking, inspired by my kids.
What’s your favorite art book or book about art? I think Ann Hamilton’s O N E E V E R Y O N E. She has created multiple books of portraits of everyday folks who came out and wanted to participate in a project of hers. They are wonderful books of imagery of people.
Sandy Shapiro-Hurt
Heartland: The rocks by the ocean surrounded by cliffs and trees.
Home: In nature.
Dayjob: Fundraising.
Dream job: Production designer for Cirque De Soleil.
Hobby: Deep diving into metaphysical spirituality.
Claim to Fame: A certain famous actor passed out in my closet during a film shoot. Otherwise, and less spicey, I wrote a children’s book called Sylvia Rose and the Cherry Tree.
Why public art? Public art unexpectedly changes peoples’ frequencies. You can be walking along down the street, see art and it moves your dial.
What do you like to make? Throw pillows! I love how easy it is to change the vibe of the room. And I just love textiles.
If you could create any artwork in the history of the world, what would it be? Something mysterious that creates awe and wonder. Like Easter Island. Something that humans could not figure out.
What do you want to tell people about public art? We need it more than ever. People are disconnected from beauty and life outside their phones. Art is an important reminder that there are things other than digital content to be inspired by.
Alice Spencer
Heartland: Rangeley, or western Maine lakes. But the Heath of England is where I think my old soul is from.
Home: Portland.
Why TEMPOart? I started TEMPO in 2012 in part to create community in Portland. It’s one of the most important things we as citizens can do, to reinforce the life of our city.
If you could come back as an artist who? I would come back as Philip Taaffe. His vision amplifies my vision and moves my work. I’m dazzled by the iconography of his work.
Why Portland? I’m grateful for Portland. If you have a vision for something you can make it happen here. If there’s something you are passionate about, just go for it. There aren’t many people way ahead of you in this city, just an open sky for making interesting things happen.
Dick Spencer
Heartland: Kennebago Lake.
Home: Bowdoin St.
Dayjob: Lawyer.
Dream job: Teaching children how to fish. I just got my fishing guide’s license.
Claim to Fame/Proudest Accomplishment: Founding Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust and Portland Trails.
Why public art? Alice.
Why TEMPOart? Alice again, but also what really hits me is creating or sponsoring something that causes shared, spontaneous joy among people who encounter it.
If you could come back as an artist who would you be and why? I would come back as myself and I would be an outdoor sculptor. I think my thing would be welding. Big steel pieces. They would have to be lighthearted and joyful which is kind of contrary to that medium, but I would work on that.
If you come back as a piece of art what would you be? I would come back as the Bean in Chicago.
What inspires you? When are you most inspired? I’m most inspired when I’m sitting in my canoe on Kennebago Lake and it’s absolutely calm and the sun is setting and I see a rise in the lake and I cast towards it and I see a giant trout and it takes my line and I know there is a god.
What do you like to make? I’m not much of a maker. One of my favorite things is to figure out a solution to a problem. And suddenly, it makes sense to do it in a particular way, like creating the piece that fits the puzzle and solves the problem.
Sharon Townshend
Dayjob/Dreamjob: Artist. I don’t consider it a job, but more of a calling. It’s who you are and not what you do.
Hobby: I love to garden. Both flowers and vegetables. Nothing in particular.
Why public art? Public art is accessible. When you go to a museum, you have to pay to get in, and you can’t touch anything. As a sculptor I would put a label on my work that says, “Okay to touch.” Museums or galleries don’t like that. With public art, there’s an opportunity to engage with art on a more personal level, even to touch it. The ownership of the art is by the public, even if it’s temporary. The public feels that ownership.
If you could come back as an artist who would you be and why? I just love Louise Bourqeois and her very devilish approach to things. She wasn’t necessarily famous right away which is true of a lot of female artists. I just admire her work and her punk, her pluck.
If you come back as a piece of art what would you be? One of mine. If I could be reincarnated, it would be as a tree. It’s my avatar. That’s how I dress for every Halloween party.
Laura Zorch McDermit
Heartland: The mountains of Wyoming.
Home: Pittsburgh.
Dayjob: Art.
Dream job: Art!
Hobby: Traveling.
Claim to Fame: Food blogger.
Why public art? I love being with artwork. It’s really impactful for everyone to have access to public art, to joyful spaces, and places of contemplation. Adding joy and whimsy to people’s lives is really important.
Why TEMPOart? Having artwork be temporary and ephemeral is exciting because it can speak directly to a moment in time.
If you could come back as an artist who? My instinct is Corita Kent, an amazing pop artist but I hesitate because she was a nun! She was with the Order of the Immaculate Heart, a teaching Order. In the 60s she asked her students to reimagine their learning environment. Their replies became what is now known as Immaculate Heart College Art Department Rules. But aside from all that, her work was just awesome. She was a better pop artist than Andy Warhol ever was.
What inspires you? What inspires me in work and in life is finding and creating moments of joy.
What do you like to make? Cakes! My favorite is this really good vegan chocolate cake.
What do you like to do outside? I love to walk. I’m a huge fan of walking. And I love to go to the ocean now, it’s my favorite thing. It’s so amazing and healing.
What do you want to tell people about public art? It is for you. I always tell people when they question why this is important, “Imagine your world without artwork in it.” People forget how much value it adds to our experience of our place, and our overall well-being as a human, to be with artwork.
