Thanks to Amy Paradyz for covering Catalyst 2024, a wonderful evening supporting public art!
The birds are coming.
Amy Paradyz, Portland Press Herald
That was the key message of TempoArt’s Catalyst fundraiser
We are pleased to announce TEMPOart’s 2024-2025 temporary public art commission, Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People). Created by internationally renowned artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein of The Myth Makers, Dancing for Joy will be a large installation situated on Back Cove Trail and Park in Portland, ME for up to two years beginning June 2024.
A community “opening” for “Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People)” is planned for 5-6 p.m. June 13, with performances by Alejandro Graciano Music (rain date June 14).
Great Egrets are flamboyant and vivid. Each spring they grow extravagant plumes and leap with abandon to attract and impress a mate. They are remarkable birds that develop adoring relationships, gently sharing all nesting and child care duties.
This work will be a meeting place, a place for children to play in and run through. A glittering silver white and nearly 20 feet tall, it will be a beacon, visible from many views along the Back Cove trail.
Dancing for Joy is designed for all ages. The doorways are a variety of sizes. Which entry suits you? Can you dance your best show off prance through the display of the Dancing Great Egrets?
This installation is dedicated to the freedom to marry who you love. These sculptures celebrate the will of the people to democratically transform society. In 2012 Maine became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a popular vote.
Learn more about “Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People)”!
TEMPOart is thrilled to announce our 2024 commission, Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People), by The Myth Makers, landing on Back Cove Trail in June 2024. On our blog, we will be sharing progress updates as these artists create this new piece just for Portland, ME, as well as background on how this piece came to be. You can learn about the history of the Back Cove Trail site here, and read on to hear from the artists what in spired them to create Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People) for our community. We can’t wait to see you at the Community Opening on June 13 5-6pm!
Excerpts from The Myth Maker’s project proposal (the full proposal is available below):
“During our site visit to the Back Cove Trail and Park, we noticed several bird species lingering in the water and on the shores of the cove that border the inlet to Casco Bay such as Cattle Egret, Great Egret and Double-crested Cormorants. While doing further research, we took great delight in learning more about the festive display of feathers by the Great Egret in the mating dance.
We know many families begin their relationship with Maine by summering there, then they find themselves falling in love with Maine, and eventually moving there and calling it home. Our proposed sculpture will feature two monumental great egrets performing their distinctive mating dance on the shores of the Back Cove. This duet symbolizes the local bird life of the cove and the way people move in and out of and connect to this special place.
Great Egrets are flamboyant and vivid. Each spring they grow extravagant plumes and leap with abandon to attract and impress a mate. They are remarkable birds that develop adoring relationships, gently sharing all nesting and child care duties.
This work will be a meeting place, a place for children to play in and run through. A glittering silver white and nearly 20 feet tall, it will be a beacon, visible from many views along the Back Cove trail.
Dancing for Joy is designed for all ages. The doorways are a variety of sizes. Which entry suits you? Can you dance your best show off prance through the display of the Dancing Great Egrets?
This installation is dedicated to the freedom to marry who you love. These sculptures celebrate the will of the people to democratically transform society. In 2012 Maine became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a popular vote.
We will pre-build off site our two lightweight bamboo sculptures with natural materials, wire ties, repurposed and reused materials. Each sculpture is attached to a wood base made out of pressure treated lumber. Our methods are suitable for all seasons, strong and resilient in all types of weather and will stand up to public curiosity and interaction as designed. We will transport the two sculptures to the site and anchor them into the ground using a combination of earth anchors and gravel ballast that will fill the two wood bases. Once in the park we will augment the tall sculptures with wings that will be punctuated by arched doorways, creating an open but architecturally enclosing space that will invite playful interaction for all ages.”
You can read the full proposal from The Myth Makers below, along with their CV and previous project examples.
Thank you for attending our amazing Catalyst fundraiser to support our 2024 temporary public art commission to be installed on Back Cove Trail and Park from June 2024 – June 2025 – Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People) by The Myth Makers! We had an amazing time meeting and mingling with you all over delicious food and beverage at Après in Portland, ME. For those that missed the event we wanted to share the program details and a link to the presentation. Follow the links to learn more about Dancing for Joy!
Announcing Dancing for Joy
Presentation by The Myth Makers
Performances by
Holly Taylor, Liz Mulkey, Kristen Stake, & Hannah Wasielewski
Choreography by Holly Taylor in collaboration with dancers
Media Partners
Portland Media Center, Amy Paradyz at Portland Press Herald, Munjoy Hill News, David Wade
Check out this wonderful feature in Portland Press Herald’s Society Notebook by Amy Paradyz and first look photos by David Wade below!
Design
Better Yet Design, Loquat, Anna Siegel
Join us tonight for our Catalyst Fundraiser to support our 2024 temporary public art commission to be installed on Back Cove Trail and Park from June 2024 – June 2025 – Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People) by The Myth Makers!
Meet and mingle with artists and local arts and community enthusiasts over delicious food and beverage at Après in Portland, ME. This creative gathering will include:
General Admission tickets are $50. Host Committee tickets are $125 for individuals and $250 for couples and will be listed in our invitation and program. All attendees will receive one drink ticket and hors d’oeuvres. If you’ve already purchased tickets, thank you! We will have your name on the list at the door.
Tickets are still available online and will be for sale at the door.
It is never too late to support us as a host…
and thankfully these people agree!
Alison Leavitt
Jean Principe
Nat Thompson
Kristina Powell
Andrea Hanson
Join us at our upcoming Catalyst Fundraiser to support our 2024 temporary public art commission to be installed on Back Cove Trail and Park from June 2024 – June 2025 – Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People) by The Myth Makers!
Meet and mingle with artists and local arts and community enthusiasts over delicious food and beverage at Après in Portland, ME. This creative gathering will include:
General Admission tickets are $50. Host Committee tickets are $125 for individuals and $250 for couples and will be listed in our invitation and program. All attendees will receive one drink ticket and hors d’oeuvres.
Tickets are limited and selling fast!
TEMPOart is thrilled to partner with the Cultural Alliance of Maine for Cultural Advocacy Day this year. On Tuesday March 5, we will join our peers in the arts and culture sector to highlight how cultural activity has a ripple effect, benefiting all Maine communities. Registration is still available, and the program includes talks and performances by many amazing Maine based artists and cultural organizers. Hope to see you there!
Join us at our upcoming Catalyst Fundraiser to support our 2024 temporary public art commission to be installed on Back Cove Trail and Park from June 2024 – June 2025 – “Dancing for Joy” by The Myth Makers!
Meet and mingle with artists and local arts and community enthusiasts over delicious food and beverage at Après in Portland, ME while learning about the project and how you can get involved.
General Admission tickets are $50. Host Committee tickets are $125 for individuals and $250 for couples and will be listed in our invitation and program. All attendees will receive one drink ticket and hors d’oeuvres.
Tickets are limited and selling fast!
Join our growing list of public art supporters for this special evening! Even if you are unable to attend, we’d love for you to join us as a host.
Meg & Rob Adams
Charlton & Noni Ames
Trisha Bauman
Christine Beneman
Steve Bither
Victoria Bonebakker
Braden Buehler
Barbara & Bill Burgess
Tom & Kate Chappell
Gregg Lipton & Sara Crisp
David & Jil Eaton
Taffy Field
Anna Ginn
Lauren & Aron Glennon
Betsy Griffin
Alison Hildreth
Mary Allen Lindemann & James Hoban
Jamie Johnston
Patrick & Janice Kelly
Alison Gibbs & Loren Kessell
Angus & Cricket King
Pandora & David LaCasse
Sue & Tom Lambe
Judy Glickman Lauder
E. Kent Gordon & Jess Lauren Lipton
Lin Lisberger
Roger Berle & Lesley Macvane
Jessica Muise & Brendan Mahoney
Dick McIntosh
Nanci Kahn & Steve Melchiskey
Marjorie Moore
Margaret Morfit
Marian Morgan
Charlotte B Phillips
Lissa Hunter & Kirby Pilcher
Darcy & Matthew Poor
Sue & Malcolm Rogers
Frank & Susan Ruch
John Ryan & Jenny Scheu
Ellen Seidman
Lynn & Jim Shaffer
Alice & Dick Spencer
Dodo & Paul Stevens
David & Ann Swardlick
Caroline Teschke
Cy Hagge & Jessica Tomlinson
Sharon Townshend
Abigail & Barry Wark
Complimentary Catalyst tickets are one of the many benefits of sponsoring TEMPOart. Enliven Portland’s cultural landscape with public art and engage with thousands of residents, visitors, and our vibrant community through TEMPOart’s mission. Opportunities to sponsor artist tickets are available.
Reach out to Interim Executive Director Jessica Muise at manager [ at ] tempoartmaine.org and learn more on our website.
Thank you to our latest sponsor, Gorham Savings Bank!
Based in Portland Maine, TEMPOart commissions and supports temporary public art that sparks dialogue, builds community and inspires our collective imagination.
TEMPOart is now working on a strategic plan for 2025, and seeking input to inform the planning process. The following survey is open to anyone interested in arts in Maine. Thank you in advance for your time and valuable input! Please only fill out one survey per person. Here is the link to the survey.
On February 15, 2024 TEMPOart participated in a dynamic discussion at the University of Southern Maine (USM), where collaboration was the focal point. Faculty and staff from USM’s Art Department, along with representatives from leading arts organizations across Greater Portland, came together to envision the future of visual arts at the university. Led by professors Hannah Barnes and Kelly Hrenko, the gathering aimed to chart a path towards increased community engagement, innovative curricular offerings, and signature programs within the Art Department.
One exciting development on the horizon is the upcoming opening of the Crewe Center for the Arts, scheduled for fall 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will feature an art gallery, sculpture garden, and visual arts studio, serving as a hub for creativity and expression. With the addition of the Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 Center for Book Arts, the Crewe Center promises to be a dynamic space for artistic exploration and collaboration.
During the discussion at USM, participants brainstormed ideas for community engagement initiatives at the Crewe Center. From collaborative art exhibitions to workshops and artist-in-residency programs, the possibilities are endless. As TEMPOart looks ahead, it is committed to forging partnerships with educational and cultural institutions like USM to expand access to the arts and create enriching experiences for people of all ages. As the campus expands, there are more opportunities for public art installations on the grounds. When TEMPOart commissions and hosts artists, we share that resource with USM’s faculty and students.
TEMPOart’s involvement in the conversation at USM underscores its dedication to fostering collaboration, creativity, and community engagement. By harnessing the power of public art and forging meaningful partnerships, TEMPOart continues to inspire individuals, provoke thought, and transform public spaces into vibrant canvases of expression. As we look towards the future, let us embrace the vision of TEMPOart and continue to dream big together.
