Trail Conservancy presents nine Tempo artworks for Butler Trail; commissioners urge more artist support

Trail Conservancy staff gave the Arts Commission a detailed update on the Tempo on the Trail public‑art installations scheduled around Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, and commissioners pressed for more time and support for emerging artists.

Jaime Castillo, manager for Art in Public Places, introduced the briefing, and Charlotte Tonzer, chief projects officer with the Trail Conservancy, described the partner role and the installation progress: "We launched the open call for qualifications in August... The Butler Trail Arts and Culture Committee selected 9 artists and 2 alternates, pending final designs," Tonzer said, walking commissioners through each site-specific project.

The nine projects include Seth Prestwood’s large painted underpass mural "Passages," a tensile sculpture called "Sunclips" by Enfold Collective, the reflective-panel sequence "Wing Trace" by Jasna Boudard, TJ Lemanski’s carbonized-concrete "Cenotaphs," Victoria Marquez’s mural "Reverie Under Arch," JC King’s "Ghost Harps" wind‑activated instruments, Vibe Knows’s "All Boats Bloom," Jamal Hussein’s lighting intervention "New Light," and a 65-by-65-foot quilted fabric shelter "Kazemi" by Priscilla Lustig and Steph Cromwellc.

Commissioners voiced support for the artworks but raised concerns that Tempo’s compressed timeline (selection in late October to final designs in mid‑November) can leave emerging artists in reactive problem‑solving mode during installation. Commissioner Schmalbach said the program should include more scaffolding and points of contact for artists new to public art; Tonzer and Jaime Castillo acknowledged those concerns and said Trail Conservancy and AIPP staff will review timelines and supports for future rounds.

Staff announced a public opening celebration for the installations at the Waterfront Intake Building on April 11 and encouraged public attendance. The commission thanked the Trail Conservancy and AIPP staff for shepherding the works and requested follow-up on artist support measures before the next Tempo cycle.