Hi I’m Donna Dodson and I’m Andy Moerlein. We’re The Myth Makers.
We are standing in front of Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People).
Thank you so much TEMPOart and Portland for bringing us here!
This piece does not have a bad picture. Thousands of instagram people, if you have not gotten your picture taken, please come by.
We are so proud to be a part of Portland’s topography
Dear public art lovers,
We have an incredible opportunity to extend Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People), a stunning 20-foot bamboo sculpture by artists The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, through June 2026—but we need your help. A generous donor has offered to match the first $5,000 in donations toward this goal, which means your contribution can have twice the impact!
Dancing for Joy has brought joy to thousands along Back Cove Trail, transforming our landscape and creating a gathering place that celebrates nature and creativity. With your support, we’ll continue offering free, public events around the sculpture – from hands-on workshops to family days and storytelling events in partnership with organizations like Portland Trails and Maine Audubon.
Your donation will help keep this magnificent artwork in Portland for another year. Together, let’s raise $10,000 by December 31, 2024!
To give, visit tempoartmaine.org/donate —and remember, every dollar you give will be matched!
Thank you for making Portland a more vibrant, creative community.
Did you know? Public art needs care and maintenance—even temporary works! Yesterday, artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein of The Myth Makers made some adjustments to one of the necks of Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People), the stunning 26-foot great egrets installed on Back Cove.
Public art like this isn’t just beautiful—it’s a symbol of creativity, community, and connection. We love hearing from so many of you who’ve said, “We hope it’s not going anywhere!” Your enthusiasm fuels projects like this and keeps Portland a hub for incredible public art.
Stay tuned… we have some exciting news about the birds coming soon! 🕊✨
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!
