Portland’s first elected mayor in 88 years has only been in office for a little more than a month, but he wasted no time in connecting with the city’s art leaders. On Wednesday night about three dozen people gathered at Space Gallery for a Meet the Mayor mixer organized by the Portland Arts & Cultural Alliance and Creative Portland.
The crowd mingled and talked as we waited for Mayor Michael Brennan to arrive. Once he was in the gallery, Jennifer Hutchins, who is executive director of both Portland Arts & Cultural Alliance and Creative Portland, ushered him to the front of the room so he could address the group.
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First Hutchins told us: “I’ll let you in a little secret: We tend to agree on a lot of the issues.”
She also mentioned Brennan’s recent, and unexpected, surgery to remove a cancerous tumor.
“His presence here tonight really says a lot,” Hutchins said.
Then Brennan took the microphone and told us he was still recovering from the surgery he had two and half weeks ago. He explained how the medical treatments first caused him to put on weight and then caused him to shed even more pounds.
“It’s a very tough way to lose weight,” Brennan joked. “I’d recommend some other strategies.”
His open, fun style set a convivial tone for the rest of the exchange.
“The city of Portland should be incredibly thankful we have the Maine College of Art to anchor the downtown,” Brennan said to great applause. “The future of Portland’s downtown is linked to the Maine College of Art.”
He then added that “a strong, prosperous downtown is critical to the future of Portland.”
The admiration went both ways. Before Brennan spoke, MECA President Don Tuski told me, “I think the fact he’s here so soon after his inauguration is wonderful. It’s important for Portland’s arts community. I think the creative economy can be part of the business community conversation.”
Brennan went on to criticize the No Child Left Behind federal education law. He said it’s created a generation of test takers, at the expense of developing critical thinking skills and creativity.
“It’s important for us as a community to say to artists, ‘we value you,”‘ Brennan said. “We shouldn’t say to artists, ‘Oh gee, isn’t that nice you have that talent. When are you going to do something productive? People who see themselves as artists are every bit as important as people like Joe Soley who see themselves as a businessman and a developer.”
Soley, who was one of the original developers of what we now call the Old Port, appeared to agree when the floor was opened for questions and comments.
“I think it’s more important to cultivate the spirit of a community than to cultivate the economic side,” Soley said.
Other audience members had specific questions for the mayor.
“Live music is kind of messy,” said Sam Pfeifle, who is a board member of the Portland Music Foundation. “One thing musicians feel is the town is constantly trying to sanitize the music scene. What is your philosophy … how do we allow for that messiness?”
In response, Brennan said, “I don’t think as a city we need to be in the business of sanitizing the music scene or making it less messy.”
He added that he has a deep appreciation for street musicians and the cultural spark they add to a city. Pfeifle and Brennan agreed to continue talking about the possibility of extending bar closing times to 2 a.m.
Director of the Portland Museum of Art Mark Bessire said the art community wants assurances it will be taken seriously by the city’s government.
“We’re part of the attraction for businesses and developers,” Bessire said. “But once businesses and developers come in we get set aside. We don’t have the clout or the influence to always be at the table.”
“I’ve been mayor for just about a month,” Brennan replied. “The one thing I can pledge to you is that we’ll create the table and you’ll be at the table. I don’t look at the arts … as something we just do during economically good times. That’s part of Portland’s brand. That’s what makes us unique.”
Heather Curtis, who is a member of the Occupy Maine encampment in Lincoln Park, wanted the mayor’s thoughts on the issues being raised by the international movement.
In response, Brennan said, “I think we owe a debt of gratitude to Occupy Portland and Occupy Wall Street, because I think highlighting income disparity … is an incredibly important conversation we need to have.”
He then said that at the end of his term he’ll measure his success based on whether or not the city has become more compassionate, more welcoming of diversity and more economically integrated.
Describing artists as rambunctious, independent and sometimes tending toward anarchy, photographer Arthur Fink wanted to know if the city would be open to exhibiting more art and hosting more performances in public buildings, as well as beginning city council meetings with a poetry reading.
“Given that the Press Herald is here tonight,” Brennan said with a nod to yours truly, “I won’t endorse anarchy. I may endorse rambunctiousness.”
He said he thought the idea of a poet opening each council meeting had merit.
After the meeting, independent curator Bruce Brown told me he liked what he heard.
“It seems like the door is open in the mayor’s office to discuss plans and actions,” Brown told me.
Staff Writer Avery Yale Kamila can be contacted at 791-6297 or at:
akamila@pressherald.com
Twitter: AveryYaleKamila
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