Old Port Square Mural Installation

I chose Morse code for its connection to Portland’s maritime history and its ability to function as both language and abstract art. In my original proposal, the code communicated geographic coordinates for the Old Port and Portland. Following feedback from Old Port Square’s head of PR, I developed a revised proposal that placed the community’s shared experiences at the center of the narrative. As the concept evolved, Morse code became less about identifying a location and more about referencing that maritime history through an unfolding exchange.

The installation begins with an unknown person initiating communication with the Old Port. That person checks in with the Old Port at different points in its history, creating a narrative that moves through the community’s hardships and resilience. At the end of the installation, the Old Port responds with a motto. Visitors scan each letter on successive groupings of stairs, building the response letter by letter until the complete word is revealed at the final grouping on the Union Street side.

Morse code also offered a visual solution for the stair risers. Its dots and dashes could create a rhythmic design pattern across the narrow surfaces, bringing movement and meaning to the stairs. The work could read as abstract art to someone passing through, while revealing written messages to those who chose to engage more closely.

At each stage, I walked representatives from Old Port Square, TEMPOart, and Old Port Square’s public relations team through how the work would look and how visitors would interact with it. These conversations helped identify what was not translating clearly, allowing me to refine the imagery, messaging, and experience in response to stakeholder feedback. TEMPOart coordinated production and installation with the printing and installation team.