News and Notes

Your Support Brings Public Art to Life!

This year has been one of incredible growth and transformation at TEMPOart, thanks to the Portland community and supporters like you. Together, we’ve commissioned Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People), a beautiful installation that has sparked dialogue, built community, and inspired our collective imagination. This installation will be enjoyed by over 250,000 visitors each year.

This installation is just one example of what’s possible with your support. Looking ahead, TEMPOart is preparing for an exciting new chapter—a long-term plan, a transition to a full-time Executive Director, and a fresh installation at City Hall Plaza in 2025! These milestones reflect our commitment to keeping public art accessible and engaging for everyone.

As we approach 2025, we invite you to be a part of our mission. Every donation helps us bring art to more spaces and more people, enriching our community with creativity, dialogue, and joy.

Ready to support the future of public art in Portland?

P.S. We can’t wait to see you at one of our 2025 events. City Hall Plaza—here we come!

A message from Posey/Pamela Moulton, about the next location for TEMPOart commissioned public art piece known as the beloved PINKIES!

Hello PINKIE FRIENDS!
Come help me welcome the PINKIES to  Freeport where they will live for the next year in front of Town hall! I have dedicated the last three months to the continued evolution of the beloved Pinkies!
They are now fully winterized and more charming and colorful than ever before!
I am excited for everyone to see how they have evolved- 
Naturally, if you have any pink clothing DO COME DRESSED IN PINK! I am bringing all my pink wearable creations to share! 
WHERE:  The event will begin in front of Town hall at 30 Main Street in Freeport 
WHEN:  Friday October 11th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm
The party will continue at the Oyster Bar across the street-
I hope you can make it!
xo Posey/pamela

We are thrilled to share this feature of “Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People)” created by The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein.

The collaboration between Dodson and Moerlein is born from a mutual love of the wild. Dodson takes inspiration from the mysterious nature of birds that spark her imagination. Moerlein takes inspiration from events in the natural world that leave visual marks and strike a narrative chord in the artist.

Although monumental in scale, these ephemeral works are temporary in nature. Made from natural materials, they are site specific, and respond to their local audience. Meaning to only last 3-5 years, they appear, fade, and disappear, adding a chapter to the life stories in their communities.

On September 24, TEMPOart participated in the biennial Creative Portland Arts & Culture Summit, a dynamic convening of Portland’s arts community. This year’s summit, part of Creative Portland’s ongoing cultural planning process, addressed the city’s strategic priorities, including branding Portland as a creative hub.

TEMPOart Board Member Sue Lambe shared insights from her experience managing a 200+ piece public art collection in Austin, Texas. Her perspective underscored the importance of strategic planning and resource investment to sustain and expand public art programs that reflect and enhance a city’s unique identity.

Interim Executive Director Jess Muise contributed to the conversation by asking, “What is needed to support what’s next for public art?” This thought-provoking question invited participants to reflect on how Portland can foster innovative and sustainable public art initiatives amid the city’s rapid growth.

The Arts & Culture Summit gathered a vibrant mix of artists, arts leaders, administrators, entrepreneurs, and more to collaborate on nurturing the creative economy. With public art at the forefront of conversations, TEMPOart is excited to continue contributing to this vision, ensuring that public art remains a cornerstone of Portland’s cultural growth.

As Portland grows, so does the potential to elevate the role of art in our public spaces. At TEMPOart, we are proud to be part of the ongoing dialogue shaping the city’s creative future.

TEMPOart Founder Alice Spencer and Interim Executive Director celebrated 10 years of Side x Side, one of TEMPOart’s education program partners at their fabulous ART Deck-O gala! It was truly a spectacular evening with 200 supporters, classroom teachers, art teachers, specialists, artists, community leaders, friends, and family – all gathering to elevate the arts!

The party was an inspiring reminder of the power of our community. Together, we can bring arts-integrated learning to youth and professional development to teachers for another ten years! Artist Pamela “Posey” Moulton commissioned by TEMPOart in 2022, led a creative art making activity leading attendees to adorn themselves with whimsical hats, fascinators, jewelry and more made with reclaimed and recycled materials.

An exciting matching challenge is underway! Thanks to a generous donor, every dollar given to Side x Side by Friday, September 27 at midnight will be matched–up to $6,000! Double the impact of your gift here: https://sidexsideme.com/give/donate-using-our-secure-payment-portal/

Thanks for considering supporting one of TEMPOart’s key program partners, Side x Side!

Enjoy this ART Deck-O photo gallery by Peter Logue.

On a balmy evening in Portland, the COBALT Bioregional Learning Journey began with a send-off dinner that set the tone for a profound exploration of place and connection. Hosted by the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine, the event also launched the History of Back Cove Lecture Series, delving deep into the stories that shaped this land and the ongoing narratives that continue to unfold.

At the heart of this event was a striking new addition to the landscape: TEMPOart’s temporary public art sculpture, “Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People).” This sculpture is more than just a piece of art—it is a vibrant layer in the evolving story of Back Cove, bridging the past and present, inviting viewers to connect with the land, water, and air of this remarkable bioregion in new ways. The artwork embodies the essence of what COBALT is all about: Co-Creating a Deeper Sense of Place.

Instead of asking the simple question, “What is this place?” the COBALT Team and its 30 passionate Fellows invite us to explore something more profound: “Who is this place?” Through a process of discovery, they encourage participants to form a relationship with the land, air, and water, fostering a new kind of stewardship built on respect, care, and deep understanding.

TEMPOart is thrilled to be a part of the broader conversation around our relationship to place through our partnership with COBALT. Stay tuned for more details on the next installment in this lecture series.

Recently, the Portland Press Herald published an article discussing a graffiti tag, “the bee,” that has appeared in various locations across the city. As an organization dedicated to supporting public art, TEMPOart values the role that creative expression plays in our community. However, we believe that public art must be created with respect for private property and in accordance with the legal frameworks established by the City of Portland.

At TEMPOart, we do not condone illegal graffiti or any form of vandalism. Public art has the power to engage, inspire, and bring communities together, but it must be done in a way that aligns with our shared values and respects both public and private spaces.

We invite artists and community members to join the conversation about the future of public art in Portland. If you’re passionate about contributing to the city’s cultural landscape, we encourage you to explore opportunities for creating legal, city-sanctioned artworks. The City of Portland offers a number of programs and initiatives to support local artists.

Let’s work together to keep Portland’s public art scene vibrant and respectful!

The Cosmos will endure, but Carousel Cosmos on Portland’s Western Promenade, in partnership with TEMPOart, was always intended as a TEMPO-rary public art installation.

All seven of these carved animal benches will remain on Portland’s Western Promenade until November 8th of 2024. Before that time, I hope to arrange loving new homes for each future-former carousel animal — profiled below.

Future homes for these animal benches must be indoors. They are made of carefully joined, carved and painted Ash wood. Ash is a fantastically dense, tough and durable hardwood, native to Maine. Traditionally it’s been used to make axe handles and baseball bats. Unfortunately, it is not weather-resistant in the long-term.

As temporary art installations become more popular, the question more often arises:

What does one do with temporary art, after?

In order to make the most of the budget and timeline for Carousel Cosmos, as well as to minimize the carbon footprint of its materials, I made these animals from a tough, renewable, and abundant native hardwood.

As indoor seating, with minimal maintenance, nothing would prevent them for lasting indefinitely — even in the busiest of public spaces.

Can you or your organization provide a loving indoor home to a carousel animal that once roamed here?

If so, please get in touch.

Chris Miller — [email protected]

We’re excited to share a special treat for all art lovers and creative minds! Local illustrator Victoria Gordon has designed a beautiful, free downloadable coloring page inspired by our monumental bamboo sculpture, Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People).

Now, you can bring the magic of this installation to life with your own colors. Whether you’re young or young at heart, this coloring page is a perfect way to connect with the joy and creativity that Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People) embodies.

Download your copy today, and don’t forget to share your masterpieces with us by tagging @tempoartmaine and @dancingforjoyportland on Instagram with #dancingforjoy. We can’t wait to see your vibrant creations!

About Victoria Gordon

Victoria Gordon is a multidisciplinary creative based in Biddeford. She brings a sharp eye, insatiable curiosity, a collaborative spirit, and out-of-the-box thinking to eye-catching illustrations, standout graphic design, memorable branding, or captivating photography.

Learn more about her work and offerings at her website.

On Sunday, July 21st, families flocked to the Back Cove Trail for an afternoon of excitement and exploration at the Birds of Back Cove Scavenger Hunt hosted with partner Portland Trails. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., kids and parents alike had a blast searching high and low for scavenger hunt items while keeping an eye out for the many bird species that call the area home.

Children had the chance to craft their own bird feeders, measure their “wingspans,” and even meet a youth bird expert who shared fascinating insights about our feathered friends.

Miss the event? Host your own exploration and use this free downloadable guide from Portland Trails!

The event kicked off and concluded at the stunning new “Dancing for Joy” installation, providing a beautiful backdrop for the day’s activities. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the Back Cove Trail was alive with laughter and learning. It was a perfect day to connect with nature and each other, and we can’t wait to do it all again!

See you at the next adventure on the Back Cove Trail!