The InstigatorHere’s a look at what’s happening in March in Salem, Oregon.
March 5
The First Friday Art Walk is so much more than just a walk. Taking place 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 5, the monthly event encourages people to go downtown and visit a handful of local businesses to view art, shop, snack and more. There is also an opportunity for those who participate to win a raffle by completing a passport. Learn more here.
Experience Deepwood’s monthly pop-up exhibit, First Friday Fashions! Take a look inside the Solarium (glass room off of home’s Front Porch) to see fashions and accessories on display at Deepwood Museum & Gardens, 1116 Mission St SE. Please limit Front Porch to one party at a time. For information, call 503-363-1825 or visit www.deepwoodmuseum.org/event-calendar/event/623/2021-03-05/
March 6 through 31
See something small during the Miniature Show at Elsinore Gallery, March 6 through 31. The Art in Miniature show has been a long-standing tradition at the Gallery. Last year, due to COVID restrictions, we were not able to host this annual favorite, so we’re planning this event for the Spring.
March 6
Salem Saturday Market opens early this year! Located at 865 Marion St NE from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays through October 30 and featuring more than 150 vendors providing handmade, handcrafted or homegrown products sharing the fresh bounty and local products from the Mid-Willamette Valley. Click here for more information.
March 8
Access and services at the Salem Public Library will increase beginning March 8. Read all the details on the Salem Public Library website: http://bit.ly/March8expand
March 9
Willamette Heritage Center’s online history speaker series “Zooming Back to History” continues with “Black Exclusion in Early Oregon: Some common questions answered and why it matters today” with Zachary Stocks, Oregon Black Pioneers. The high-profile police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor led to massive protests against police brutality in Oregon. But many have asked why Oregon, one of the whitest states in America, would have such a vocal response to racial injustice. By addressing frequently asked questions head-on, Zachary Stocks will reveal how the territory and state of Oregon created legal and social barriers which prevented Blacks from fully participating in society, and how Oregonians reinforced these barriers with violence and intimidation. The ripple effects of these early obstacles continue to manifest themselves in Oregon today through marginalization, white supremacy, and police violence.
Zachary Stocks is a public historian, museum professional, and the Executive Director of Oregon Black Pioneers, Oregon’s only statewide African American historical society. Zachary has a BA in History from the College of William & Mary and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Washington. Over the past 10 years, Zachary has interpreted early American experiences at Colonial Williamsburg, Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, Historical Seaport, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, and the Northwest African American Museum. Zachary lives and works in Astoria. The talk begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 9 on Zoom. Cost is $10. Click here to learn more about future events in the series and here to sign up.
March 10 to 28
Willamette University Theatre presents “A Bright New Boise” written by Samuel D. Hunter and directed by Jonathan Cole. Catch a livestream performance March 10-14 or a recorded broadcast March 19-28.
The Rapture has begun…in the break room of a Hobby Lobby in Idaho! Winner of the 2011 Obie Award for playwriting, Hunter brings a fresh voice to the stage, veering from laugh-out-loud comedy to deep introspection of beliefs in faith, business and family.
Performances take place Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12 general admission, $5 students, $10 seniors per show or buy a Flexpass 3-show pass for $27.(Other shows include The Cradle Will Rock and Moving Forward • Screendance in April.) Get your tickets now at https://willamette.edu/arts/theatre/purchase-tickets/index.html
March 12
March 13
The Céilí of the Valley will host its annual St. Patrick’s Walk-About, rain or shine. This physically distanced walk-about leaves promptly at 12 p.m. (so arrive at 11:30 a.m.) from the Riverfront Park Carousel. Leprechauns and all those Irish at heart are invited. Bring your friends and family. Dress up in your face mask and your most fun ‘green wear!’ Céilí of the Valley Society will provide face masks if you forget yours. Learn more here.
It’s a call to artists for Artists in Action’s April show “Spring Eternal.” This juried Art Exhibition, jointly produced by AiA and Elsinore Framing & Fine Art Gallery, is open to Oregon artists who create in all mediums and styles of visual art. Artists may enter up to three works until the deadline Saturday, March 13. Click here to learn more about submitting artwork. Selected artwork will be on exhibit in April at Elsinore Framing.
March 14
It’s Pi Day! (Throwback storytime to this tasty morsel…)
March 17
Ceili of the Valley presents a (virtual) St Patrick’s Concert featuring Portland Celtic Fusion band Beltaine! LIVE via Zoom on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at 8 p.m. Concert is free, but donations gracious accepted. CVS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Sign up for the Zoom link here: https://forms.gle/2BGoSr7wKWmbM53h6
The Elsinore Theatre Youth Talent Show deadline to submit is March 17. Singing, dancing, skits, spoken word, music, magic and more — they want to see the best performances from Salem-area youth. The talent show is open to youth age 5 to 18 years old in elementary, middle and high school and there will be first, second and third place winners in each of these categories, including cash prizes, gift cards and more. Click here to learn more information.
Plus…
Exhibit extended! Something’s Brewing — a World Beat Gallery exhibit exploring tea and coffee customs from around the world organized by Salem Multicultural Institute (SMI) in partnership with Friends of Deepwood (Deepwood Museum & Gardens) allows visitors to enjoy items from the museum’s collection while their facility remains closed. The Gallery, located in Pringle Park Plaza at 390 Liberty St SE (across from Marco Polo restaurant), is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, as well as Saturdays by appointment. Learn more in our Press Play story here.
Hallie Ford Museum of Art has reopened. Click here to learn more.
EDITED March 9, 2021: Salem Art Association’s Clay Ball gala has been postponed. More information coming soon.
Carlee Wright
