Everyone remembers their first Time-Based Art Festival (TBA). I know I do. It has punctuated significant moments in my life over the last decade that I’ve been living in the Pacific Northwest. As the autumn equinox creeps closer on the calendar, my anticipation starts to set in. For me, TBA often not only distinctly marks the beginning of the end of summer, but the start of a week-plus-long intensive experience in seeing some of the most stimulating, fun, and challenging performances in present-day contemporary art.
The TBA, unlike most festivals—or, let’s be honest, most art-focused events—has always felt refreshingly approachable. It brings together an amalgamation of contemporary performance artists, activists, musicians, dancers, and creatives in our very own city. Something about which Portlanders can certainly be proud. Not only is TBA held at one of the foremost art institutions in the city, the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), but the event also brings a certain energy to town in its diverse exposé of progressive performance work that taps into the similarly varied arts landscape of the Pacific Northwest. The expansive overview of contemporary art that is TBA has taken place every year since 2003. Even during 2020, the festival persevered, streaming many of the would-be in-person performances online over three weeks. Taking cues from last year’s adaptive approach by going mostly virtual, TBA:21 will have events happening both online and in person. Also similar to last year, there is a strong focus on artists and activists from and around the Pacific Northwest. This year, and like years before it, PICA emphasizes highlighting and working with BIPOC artists within the local community as well as nationally and internationally.
TBA typically spans ten days—this year, it is a little longer than two weeks—in September and activates numerous venues throughout the city, from parks and theaters to galleries and public spaces. There will be more opportunities for in-person performances with COVID-19 precautions in place. All attendees will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. Most of these performances will be held at PICA’s still newish Northeast home, but some performances will take audience members outside and throughout the city, sometimes locations not being released until several hours before the event. Sadly, this year’s TBA won’t feature the often-characteristic-end-of-performance-decompression-nightlife that we’ve come to know and love over the years, but hopefully, next year will be another story. Regardless, I’m eager to jump on some streams and finally see some performances in person in the coming weeks! As, in years past, I expect TBA to bring a much-needed jolt of energy to the city that kicks Portland into gear right before fall. If you haven’t been yet, and especially if you are a newcomer, this year is the perfect time to check it out. Between the flexibility of the “Pay What You Can” Pass and the online streaming, there is a lot available. Even when there isn’t a performance taking place, there are so many lectures and panels that keep the festival’s momentum going from day to evening.
Here’s a look at some in-person events I’m excited about; a subsequent piece will focus on digital events. Tickets for these events are available through the purchase of a pay-what-you-can Festival pass.