Student artist Justin Love will install a sculpture “Woman + Snake” in Congress Square Park this May thanks to a partnership between Friends of Congress Square Park (FoCSP) and Maine College of Art (MECA), and with the support of the Portland Public Art Committee. Standing at 8 feet and made of painted plywood, the piece is the second student installation in the Square in two years. Both FoCSP and MECA hope this is the start of a more regular display of student-made temporary public art pieces in 2019 and beyond.

According to the artist’s statement, “Woman + Snake” is “made in honor of the women from Love’s life who have found ways to flourish under heavy oppression.” The piece was made by Love while studying Studio Art and Sculpture in MECA’s graduate program.

Love moved to Portland from Jackson, Mississippi last June to study at MECA. The artist says having the opportunity for mentorship throughout the process has been invaluable. “The opportunity to have my work displayed for Portland to see is a huge gift,” said Love. “I know Portland to be a city that loves art, and being so heartily welcomed into that fold and celebrated has made me very grateful and happy. I’m appreciative of the Friends of Congress Square Park and MECA for the invaluable support they have provided along the way.”

“We’re committed to being a venue where both new and established artists can experiment feel welcome,” says Dela Murphy, Executive Director of Friends of Congress Square Park. “This program is a way to provide emerging artists with the support they need to bring their work into the public realm successfully, perhaps for the first time. Hopefully, seeing work like this in spaces we share will encourage other emerging artists, too. We’re grateful to MECA for making this possible.”

Joshua Reiman, Assistant Professor of the MFA in Studio Art and Sculpture at MECA, advises Love. “The Friends of Congress Square Park have been extremely generous in providing a public platform for visual culture by mentoring our students through the process of producing works in the park for the past two years,” says Reiman. “It is so rewarding to see young artists who are able to articulate their ideas out in public through the generosity of our neighbors in Congress Square Park. This experience for our students is invaluable, and we look forward to continuing this wonderful collaboration for years to come.”

Friends of Congress Square Park is the nonprofit place manager of Congress Square Park. Established in 2013, FoCSP seeks to build community and to create a vibrant public gathering place through community-led creative placemaking. FoCSP presents a season of more than 150 free public arts events from May through October of every year, offers public amenities like seating an free wifi, and engages volunteers in stewardship. They are celebrating their 5^thanniversary this season.

Founded in 1882, the Maine College of Art is the oldest arts educational institution in Maine. The school delivers a transformative learning experience within an intimate and demanding educational environment by preparing students in the areas of artistic excellence, creative entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.

An opening for “Woman + Snake” is planned in Congress Square Park during the First Friday Art Walk on May 3, 2019, from 4-8pm. That evening, the public can also enjoy the opening night festivities for FoCSP’s season, featuring a public dialogue on social justice topics hosted by MECA students at 4pm and a performance of “Are We Great Yet?” by Circus Ole at 6pm.

“Woman + Snake” will be on public view in Congress Square Park throughout the month of May.

Meet Gretta Buckley!

Friends of Congress Square Park has hired a seasonal Volunteer Coordinator, Gretta Buckley. Gretta brings a wealth of experience working with people of all ages- from infants to elders. Gardening and writing, media management and dance — she’s as eclectic as our programming.

Gretta will be working with us to recruit, train and place volunteers this season. If you’re interested in being a park steward or team volunteer, reach out to Gretta at volunteer (at) congresssquarepark.org!

We asked Gretta what she was looking forward to in her new role. She said, “I am really excited to gain the perspectives of a wide range of people and work with them to find ways to make a beautiful place even more inviting for all! I love to create space that has arms wide open, and volunteers are a foundation of creating that space. I’m humbled to be a part of that.”

As to favorite experiences in parks, she cherishes memories of rolling down a big hill of a local park in her home town with her sister. “Oh the freedom! Oh the grass stains!” she recalled.

Sitting in a park in Burlington, Vermont where the Farmers Market was hosted was another memory. “In the center of the park there was a fountain still empty of water from the winter. I sat with a bouquet of flowers and some delicious sugar snap peas and watched the flow of hundreds of people making their way through the farmers market in t-shirts and shorts despite the fact that it was only 60 degrees. It felt like everyone had come out to dawn their “I survived winter, it is now officially spring” badges. It felt like a celebration! Being able to sit alone and enjoy personal silence while being surrounded by a lot of happy people, just glad to be outside and flowing around others makes me smile.”

Meet Gretta in the Square from May through September. Or reach out to her here now to volunteer!

Update: Open Call for 2018 Season Closed January 31, 2018!

Great thanks to everyone who submitted an event idea for the 2018 In the Square season! The Open Call submission period ended January 31, 2018. Our team will review the entries and be in touch with folks who expressed interest in February 2018. Expect to hear about this season’s schedule in April!

If you have questions or would like to host an event of your own in Congress Square Park, please get in touch with our Executive Director, Dela Murphy, at dela@congresssquarepark.org.

For details on how the 2018 Open Call process worked, see our post below.

If you’re a performer, artist, teacher, or organization who has an idea, we want to hear from you!

Music, art interactions or instruction, theater, puppetry, sing-a-longs, civic engagement, history and heritage, films… what are you up to? We welcome your idea!

This is an incredible and unique opportunity to bring your artistic vision and talents into the public realm. As a high quality arts venue and generous public space, we strive to present a variety of events that speak both to the diverse creative expression alive in our city and to what resonates with our community’s aspirations for our shared spaces. Contribute to the activation of Congress Square Park and the vitality of Portland, Maine’s public art scene!

Your event idea can be one-time only, weekly activities, or something in between.

In 2018, we’d love to see submissions from newcomers to In the Square, especially those who are offering programming that reveals types of art, music or cultural practices that are not often seen in free public venues. We also welcome daytime programming that fosters engagement with the arts for kids, families and elders, and civic engagement for everyone.

Submissions will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Event discipline: Our goal is to present lots of different types of events & activities during our season.
• Target audience & engagement: We strive to reach varied audiences, increase engagement with the arts, and provide opportunities for discovery, play, expression, and interaction with others.
• Professionalism and ability to expand park users: We appreciate programming partners who can introduce their communities to our community through their own promotional channels.
• Mix of emerging and established artists: From first time performer to seasoned performer, our goal is to foster and support local artists at all stages of their careers.
• Events that expand what’s offered: We’re specifically interested in weekly or monthly daytime events for children/families and seniors, as well as one-time or event series that highlight civic engagement and innovation, cultural expressions from Portland’s immigrant groups, improv/comedy, puppetry, theater and interactive arts, including arts instruction.

Here’s how it works:

• We will accept submissions until midnight on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.
• Complete the form below to apply. Be prepared to provide a high-quality image for promotional use and
• In early February, our Audience Engagement Committee will review the submissions and select the line-up. You’ll hear from us then!
• Should you be selected, we’ll confirm timing, stipend details, marketing, and logistical needs.
• In the Square programming will be hosted in the park from May through October 2018.

By submitting an idea through this open call, you’re applying to be part of the regular In the Square programming through Friends of Congress Square Park. This means that, should you be selected, you would be eligible to receive a stipend, be part of FoCSP’s event promotions, and be covered under FoCSP’s permit and insurance. Should your event require amplified sound or other AV, note that FoCSP provides a technician, sound system, projector, and screen.

Congress Square Park is a public space. If you prefer not to be sponsored by FoCSP, you’re always welcome to apply for a permit directly from the City of Portland Event office at TVM@portlandmaine.gov.

The 2018 submission period ended January 31, 2018. Thanks for creating an inspired place with us!

Thank you for a great 2017 season!

Friends of Congress Square Park is dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and use of this important public space at the heart of Portland’s Arts District. We fulfill our mission through community-led creative placemaking, striving to meet our neighbor’s needs, aspirations and vision for the park.

In 2017, our In the Square season saw over 96 free public evening and weekend events hosted from May through October featuring live music, films, dance, theatre, yoga, circus, art interactions, and more. Plus, our weekly daytime activities happened again in 2017, featuring Tai Chi Chih/Qigong, Knitting, Crafternoons, and Games & Fun. Checkmates! chess brightened Saturday mornings, too.

We’re grateful to our many collaborators, including series partners like Portland Summer Films, West End Neighborhood Association, Portland Swing Project, and Portland Intown Contra Dance, and the many organizations and performers who brought their skills and diverse offerings to the Square. We have great appreciation for PM Salsa with Primo Cubano, Robin’s Zodiac Yoga, Portland Ovations, Pickwick Independent Press, Theater Ensemble of Color, Fenix Theatre Co., Make Music Portland, Waking Windows, Maine Academy of Music, Cast Aside Productions, Sparks Artist Collective, and the many, many others who brought us together with their art last season.

In addition to our programming, our colorful amenities and free Wi-Fi attracted visitors during other times of the day to read, eat, create, meet with friends, or relax in an urban oasis. Since its inception, FoCSP’s creative placemaking has drawn well over 80,000 estimated visitors to the park.

Our park stewards and volunteers generously gave their time and effort to ensure that the park stayed beautiful, safe, and lively throughout the whole season. More than 3,646 hours of volunteer time was invested last season.

Your generous contributions enabled us to present these free arts events & activities, as well as offer free WiFi, provide colorful public amenities, improve the plantings, and create a welcoming and beloved gathering place.

Funding for our 2017 season was also provided in part by critical investments by Diversified Communications, the Horizon Foundation, The Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, the Fisher Charitable Foundation, the Davis Family Foundation, the Maine Arts Commission, Old Bug Light Foundation, Davis Family Foundation, Elimina B. Sewall Foundation.

We couldn’t have had such a successful season without generous commitment from our performers and partners, stewards,  funders and sponsors, donors, audience members, and YOU – in all the ways you gave. We are so very appreciative to all of you!

See you in our 2018 season, which starts in May!

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