The InstigatorHere’s a look at what’s happening this May in Salem, Oregon. Be sure to scroll down for activities happening all month long, plus those recurring on a weekly basis. So. Much. To. Do.
May 4
May the Fourth Be With You! Elsinore Theatre hosts a screening of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 7 p.m. May 4 at Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE. $10; 2 kids age 12 and younger are free with paid admission. Plus, Star Wars Oregon
Ken Hamlett presents A Drunken Night Out, a standup, storytelling and improvised comedy show, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at The BAD Space. Cost: $11.30. Click here for tickets.
May 5
The First Friday Art Walk aims to promote local businesses, emerging artists and engagement with our downtown community. Taking place from 5 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, it is a free, leisurely opportunity to explore the heart of Salem and discover new shops, artwork, crafters and more. Each month includes a variety of businesses offering specials, art to view, activities and more. Reinforcing the encouragement of participation, there is also a raffle. To take part, pick up a passport from any of the participating businesses and collect stamps from a number of locations. Then turn in your completed passport to enter a raffle to win a prize (usually a basket overflowing with items from all the participating businesses). Find all the details at facebook.com/SalemArtWalk. Sign up to The Playlist for a highlight of what’s happening for the Art Walk.
Friday Night Art Session: Watercolor Quilts — Artist Katie Gilmour walks you through how to draw, transfer and watercolor your designs in a supportive and inclusive environment. Open to all experience levels age 16 and older. Contact Ernie & Gray to sign up at hello@ernieandgray.com or 971-720-1279. Space is limited.
When: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 5
Where: Uptown Insurance, 349 State Street (just a few doors down from Ernie & Gray)
Cost: $55 (all supplies included)
Take in a night of comedy with Simon Gibson, Michael Markus and Tina Hogstrom, 7 p.m. Friday, May 5, at The BAD Space, 2544 19th St SE. Cost: $11.30. Click here for tickets.
Foodies rejoice! Taco Crawl Salem returns on May 5 to downtown. It’s a Cinco de Mayo taco adventure, or challenge, depending on how you look at it, with one ultimate goal: eat tacos. The official start is 6 p.m. but…you never know. Find all the participating restaurants (and get your Press Play Salem printable Taco Passport) here.
First Friday at Bjornson hosts Mario’s Taqueria 4 to 7 p.m. May 5. Walk-ins welcomed, or book a reservation so they know you’re coming. Note: Glass and bottle pours only after 5 p.m.
Electric Baguette Improv Comedy is an all-ages improv by Infinity Room’s house team. They take your suggestions and turn them into a one-of-a-kind show never to be seen again — each one is a unique experience.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 5 and 19
Where: Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St SE
Cost: $10 in advance; $12 at the door. Click here May 5 for tickets | Click here for May 19 tickets.
May 5 & 6
Find more than 10,000 plants at the Marion County Master Gardener Plant Sale. Watch live demonstrations. Get gardening tips. And shop annuals, perennials, natives, vegetables, beneficials, herbs, shrubs, trees, pollinators, fuchsias and more. Plus there is free potting service for plants and pots bought at the event. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 5 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 6 in Columbia Hall at Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St NE. marioncomga.org
May 5-7
Enlightened Theatrics presents Could You Hug A Cactus? Based on a collection of whimsical poems by Phillip Van Wagoner, Could You Hug A Cactus? is a musical revue that follows a group of kids as they come together to create a show that’s bursting with poems and creativity. One by one, they each share their imaginative creations, until a nervous performer panics and refuses to contribute a poem. Can the cast help him shed self-doubt and ignite a creative spark? Book by Jessica Penzias. Music and Lyrics by Denver Casado.
The show takes place 7:30 p.m. May 5 and 6 and 2 p.m. May 7 at Salem’s Grand Theatre, 187 High St NE. For more information and tickets, visit enlightenedtheatrics.org
May 6
Celebrate traditional crafts at the 38th Annual Sheep to Shawl Festival where you can experience living history, heritage craft demonstrations, live music, kids’ activities and more. It’s an interactive, hands-on day of fun for the whole family. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Satuarday, May 6 at Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St SE. Free.
The 2023 Mrs Oregon America and Miss Oregon for America Strong Pageant — Even the stars can’t outshine Oregon’s most beautiful and empowered women in their campaign for the crown and a chance to represent Oregon at The Mrs America and Miss for America Strong Pageants in Las Vegas, NV in August 2023.
When: 5:30 p.m. May 6
Where: Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE
Cost: $29 to $89. Click here for tickets.
The Underground Market is happening from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at Blast Off Vintage. You will find a variety of local, handmade and skilled services (like tarot and massage) at this eclectic market.
Mike Recine — A regular on the cultural phenomenon The Adam Friedland Show, Mike Recine is your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian. In Mike’s sixteen-year standup career, he has performed on Conan, the Just for Laughs Festival, had a half-hour special on Comedy Central and has toured with some of comedy’s biggest stars, including Nick Mullen, Colin Jost, Sam Morril, and Dan Soder. Mike has been seen on HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay and Showtime’s Flatbush Misdemeanors. Mike just taped an hour-long special to be released this summer and his podcast, Out for Smokes, has grown a strong listenership in only a year.
When: Two shows: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. May 6
Where: Infinity Room
Cost: $20 in advance; $25 on day of show. Click here for tickets.
Age: 18 and older for 7 p.m./ 21 and older for 9 p.m.
Check out the Spring Food Fair 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at LifeSource Natural Foods. The whole store is on sale 20% off during this customer appreciation sale. Plus, there will be demos, samples and community groups on site to help you learn more about where your food comes from. LifeSource is a small, independent, full-service grocery store and appreciates you shopping local.
Take in a night of live music with WyWolf, The Vardaman Ensemble and Sadgasm, 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at The BAD Space, 2544 19th St SE. Cost: $11.30. Clic, k here for tickets.
May 7
Kid Entrepreneur Craft Fair showcases 10 kids and their handmade items. Support a young businessperson’s dreams! Bring Cash as many of the kids don’t have ways to process credit card payments.
When: 12 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7
Where: CreativiTee & rofe designs, 110 Commercial St NE
Learn more here.
Scholarship Benefit Concert featuring student ensembles, 2:30 p.m. May 7, at Salem Public Library’s Loucks Auditorium. Click here for info.
Step in time at A Practically Perfect in Every Way Tea with Mary who will delight guests with song and entertainment, as well as guide the little ones through a craft activity and of course, carousel rides.
When: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at Salem’s Riverfront Carousel
Cost: $35 per person. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and that adult must also have a paid admission. Children age 2 and younger are free.
Support North Salem High School Band at An Evening of Jazz 2023 where there will be live music, dancing, live and silent auctions and dinner. Proceeds support NSHS Band programs. The fun takes place 5 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at Salem Convention Center
Camerata Musica presents Scholar Benefit Concert featuring student ensembles.
When: 2:30 p.m. May 7
Where: Salem Public Library Loucks Auditorium
Cost: Free
May 11
Zooming Back to History features Scott Nadelson Mining the Gaps: How a Fiction Writer Re-Imagines History. Hear from award-winning author Scott Nadelson as he shares his motivation and approaches to writing about historical subjects in fiction.
Scott Nadelson is the author of a novel, a memoir, and six collections of short fiction, most recently While It Lasts, recipient of the Donald L. Jordan Prize for Literary Excellence. His work has won an Oregon Book Award, the Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award, and the Reform Judaism Fiction Prize and has been published in venues such as Ploughshares, New England Review, Oregon Humanities, The Writer’s Chronicle and The Best American Short Stories. He teaches at Willamette University, where he holds the Hallie Brown Ford Chair in Writing, and in the Rainier Writing Workshop MFA Program at Pacific Lutheran University.
When: 7 p.m. May 11
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: $15. Click here to register.
There will be a poetry presentation in collaboration with the Salem Poetry Project as part of Susan Napack’s exhibit Memory Project Part 2: Shreds, An Installation of Transformed Personal Ephemera 7 p.m. May 11 at Bush Barn Art Center.
May 12
Celebrate spring by getting out to dance at the Second Friday Ceili. Ceili of the Valley Society welcomes musicians Geraldine Murray, Kate Gregory & Nancy Conescu and caller Sam Keator for this no-experience, no partner needed event. Even if you are not a dancer, you can do it. But really, the music alone is worth it! Doors open at 7 p.m. followed by a short dance lesson and live music from 8 to 11. All dances are taught before the live music begins. The motto of every dance is to have fun, so wear comfortable shoes, bring some water and try out something new.
When: 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 12
Where: VFW Hall, 630 Hood St NE
Cost: $10; $5 student, $30 family
After a few years’ hiatus, On Your Feet Friday! returns on the second Friday of the month in downtown Salem. A partnership between Willamette Valley Road Runners and Salem Main Street Association, On Your Feet Friday! encourages people to get active and have fun while exploring downtown Salem in a scavenger hunt-like walk/run. Each month features different checkpoints. Click here for our Press Play Story
When: Starts at 5:45 May 12 (recurring June 9, July 14 and August 11)
Where: Salem Convention Center sculpture garden
Catch the action of Salem Capitals Basketball 7:30 p.m. Friday May 12 vs Wenatchee Bighorns at The Salem Armory, 2310 17th St NE. Doors open one hour before tip-off. Cost: $6 to $30. Click here for tickets.
Guitarist Orvil Ivie: Mostly instrumental variety, Latin, Contemporary Jazz and classic rock music, 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Stomp Tasting Room, 5475 River Rd S. Limited Seating. Please call ahead to make a reservation 503-364-3085.
Black Glass Tasting — Whether we want to admit it or not, subconsciously, we make decisions about wine by the way it looks and by its name. By tasting wine in black glasses, we are reminded that all wine shares a common origin in the fruit. This is a great way to reboot your palate and refine what you’re looking forward to in a wine.
When: 6 p.m. May 12
Where: Bryn Mawr Vineyards, 5935 Bethel Heights Rd NW
Cost: $75, includes wine education and a blind tasting of 5 wines. Click here for tickets.
Chapel Hart: Glory Days Tour — Chapel Hart has found a way to gift wrap their Mississippi roots & Louisiana spice and share it with listeners around the world. With special guests Rosevelt and Ryan Necci & The Buffalo Gospel.
When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 12
Where: Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE
Cost: $30 to $125. Click here for tickets.
Classical Gershwin with the Oregon Symphony — Steeped in jazz, blues, and ragtime, Gershwin’s Concerto in F Major is a quintessentially American take on the classical concerto, making it the perfect vehicle for the dynamic pianist Aaron Diehl. Shostakovich’s brooding, deeply personal Tenth Symphony pursues great extremes in emotion and orchestral color, from wistful wind solos to menacing marches.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12
Where: Smith Auditorium at Willamette University
Click here for tickets.
Mother’s Day Yoga at CreativiTee — Celebrate the empowering, loving women in your life with a one-hour yoga class. From sisters, aunts and grandmothers, to step-mothers, mothers-in-law, friends and mentors, motherly love and support can come from all kinds of people in your life, and you are invited to share your love of yoga with them. Class includes a one-hour flow practice led by Catherine Albertini, and a limited-release yoga tank designed by CreativiTee’s owner, Roanna. After class, have wine and treats while you shop. Space is limited.
When: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 12
Where: CreativiTee & rofe designs, 110 Commercial St NE
Cost: $42 individual; $79 Individual + friend (includes class, tank, drink, snacks and private shopping) Click here to purchase.
Stand-up Comedy at a Thrift Store — Five stand-up comedians will perform in a unique setting—a vintage thrift store—so you can be entertained while taking in the quirky, retro atmosphere of the store. Everyone who attends the show will receive 10% discount on their next visit to the store, giving you the perfect opportunity to browse and shop the store’s eclectic collection of vintage treasures. The show features Michael Marcus, Eleanore Ryan, Juan Denmark, Marietje Haurprich and Drew Wilson-McGrath.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12
Where: Vintage Flow Northwest, 156 Front ST NE, Suite 140
Cost: $10. Click here for tickets.
Opening Reception for exhibits by Susan Napack, Annegret Disterheft and Patricia Vázquez, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Salem Art Association’s Bush Barn Art Center.
Through May 13
Pentacle Theatre presents Rabbit Hole, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama written by David Lindsay-Abaire exploring grief, family, forgiveness and love, 7:30 p.m. May 4-6, 11-13 and 2 p.m. May 7.
Becca and Howie Corbett, along with their son, Danny, have a happy life until unspeakable loss strikes their family. After tragedy strikes, Becca and Howie face a grief that threatens to tear them apart. With the help of each other and family, Becca and Howie learn how to move forward in their new lives. Rabbit Hole charts their bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest of places and for a path that will lead them back into the light of day.
May 13
Delgani IV: Shadow and Light — Delgani completes its season with three quartets that showcase the vibrant color and dynamic contrast of the string quartet. Jennifer Higdon’s In the Shadow of the Mountain (2020), opens the program. Mozart’s Dissonance Quartet gained its moniker with its haunting slow introduction, disorienting the listener with its slippery harmony. Ravel’s String Quartet, famous for its lush melodies and the unique (and incredibly catchy) pizzicato textures of its second movement, closes the program.
When: 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13
Where: Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5090 Center St NE.
Cost: $28. $5 student. Age 12 and younger is free. Click here for tickets.
Rob Schneider: I Have Issues Tour — Rob Schneider is an accomplished actor, comedian, screenwriter and director. A stand-up comic and veteran of the award-winning NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, Schneider has gone on to a successful career in films, television and continues his word-wide standup tour.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 13
Where: Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE
Cost: $47 to $147. More on day of show. Click here for tickets.
Drag artists Saint Syndrome and Nicole Onoscopi bring you live vocals and piano, mixed with comedy and storytelling. It’s a spectacular night of drag, music and comedy. Full kitchen and bar menu available before and during the show. Masks are appreciated but not required.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13
Where: Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St SE
Cost: $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Click here for tickets.
Age: 16 and older
JFK Unplugged is a benefit for Arnold’s medical GoFundMe campaign. 100% of the door fee and the proceeds from beer sales will be donated to the GoFundMe fundraiser for Arnold’s medical costs. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at The BAD Space, 2544 19th St SE. Cost: $21.69. Click here for tickets.
Salem Parks Foundation hosts Take a Walk in the Park — Take a two-mile walk, stopping at the four stations and collecting passport stamps as you go…and get a cookie at the end. Completed passports will be entered into a drawing for prizes.
When: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13
Where: Starts at Riverfront Park Pavilion or at Wallace Marine Park (west side of the Union Street Railroad Bridge)
Cost: Free but donations are accepted.
May 14
Catch the action of Salem Capitals Basketball 3 p.m. Sunday, May 14 vs Vancouver Volcanoes at The Salem Armory, 2310 17th St NE. Doors open one hour before tip-off. Cost: $6 to $30. Click here for tickets.
Mother’s Day Comedy with Susan Rice & Eliza Butler — One of the first Portland comedians ever, Susan Rice celebrates her 40th year as a professional stand-up this year. She started in 1983 and quickly found herself working with comics like Jerry Seinfeld, Paula Poundstone, Bob Saget, and more legendary names. Her time in Los Angeles bought her television credits on Comedy Central, Showtime On the Road, Evening at the Improv, CBS and ABC. She has never stopped performing, and in 2021 Rice became a producer when she mounted the first neighborhood Comedy Festival in North Portland: The St. Johns Comedy Fest, which brought a much-needed laugh to her hard-hit area and allowed her show off the wonderful, talented comedians that reside in the Pacific NW.
Eliza Butler is a Portland-based standup comedian and writer from the high desert of New Mexico. She captivates audiences with her upbeat storytelling style. When she isn’t on stage, she’s gawking at the beauty of the PNW and losing mind games to her cats. She co-hosts Bangerz Comedy weekly and Sorry Not Sorry monthly in Portland.
When: 7 p.m. May 14
Where: Infinity Room
Cost: $15 in advance/$20 at the door. Click here for tickets.
Age: All ages welcome
Capital Futbol Club’s female league Athletica hosts its season opener vs Lane United FC 2 p.m. Sunday, May 14 at McCulloch Stadium. Tickets are $10 adult; $5 youth. Click here to purchase.
Wine and Watercolors: Mother’s Day Bouquet — Instructor Elisa Mack invites you to explore your creative side and enjoy local wine, too. In this workshop, you will paint a floral arrangement and make it uniquely yours. No experience necessary, artists of all levels are welcomed and encouraged. All materials, instruction, and hors d’oeuvres are included in price. Wine is NOT included in the cost. Wine tasting and/ or bottles of wine to be purchased separately.
When: 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 14
Where: Chemeketa Cellars, Northwest Wine Studies Center, 215 Doaks Ferry Road NW
Cost: $40 (wine, beer, cider, non-alcoholic drinks and charcuterie platters can be purchased separately in the tasting room) Click here to register.
Bring MOM to the Pops for Salem Pops Orchestra’s signature mix of popular and light classical music. The show will include The Sound of Music, Grease, Strike Up the Band and more, 3 p.m. May 14, at East Salem Community Center, 1850 45th Ave NE. Cost: $20; $10 students. Free for children younger than 6. Click here for tickets.
May 16
Watercolors Made Easy: Tulip Barn — Learn how to paint watercolors in a step-by-step class with Elizabeth of Western Rose Studios while painting this barn with colorful tulips. No drawing or painting experience is needed. A line drawing of the barn will be already on the watercolor paper and students only need to paint with watercolors. All materials supplied, but if you have your own paintbrushes, you’re welcome to bring them. Refrain from wearing anything light-colored, just in case any paint splatters.
When: 6 to 8 p.m. May 16
Where: CreativiTee & rofe designs, 110 Commercial St NE
Cost: $40. Click here for tickets.
Educators Night — K-12 teachers and principals are welcome to learn more about SAA programs, chat with other teachers, enjoy some light refreshments and take time to enjoy some art. Complimentary SAA memberships available to teachers and principals who attend, which includes free entry to the 2023 Salem Art Fair & Festival (July 21-23), discounts on art and gifts and more. Drop in anytime between 4 to 7 p.m. May 16 at Bush Barn Art Center. Pre-registration appreciated.
May 16 & 23
AmeriTitle Idol Gives Back! with a night of live music – by you – 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 (benefiting Marion Polk Food Share) and 23 (benefiting Darian’s Gift) at Half Penny. Doors open at 6 p.m. Cost: $10 Cover, all proceeds go to the select charity for that evening.
May 18
Trey Kennedy: Grow Up — Trey Kennedy is a born and raised Oklahoman who never expected to enter the entertainment industry. While attending college at Oklahoma State University, Trey found fame on the mobile app Vine, amassing more than 2.5 million followers. He was a top creator on the app for more than three years and, through this experience, discovered a passion for entertainment.
Trey has continued his social media success on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok where he has a combined 12+ million followers. He currently has a podcast titled “Correct Opinions” and just concluded a sold-out comedy tour selling out cities across the United States. Trey’s self-produced comedy special “Are You For Real?” can now be streamed on YouTube. He hopes to continue creating fun and relatable content in order to deliver some joy where it’s needed and help people find some common ground through comedy.
When: 9:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18
Where: Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE
Cost: $29 to $150. More on day of show. Click here for tickets.
May 19
Electric Baguette Improv Comedy is an all-ages improv by Infinity Room’s house team. They take your suggestions and turn them into one-of-a-kind show never to be seen again — each one is a unique experience.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, May 5 and 19
Where: Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St SE
Cost: $10 in advance; $12 at the door. Click here May 5 for tickets | Click here for May 19 tickets.
Sorry Not Sorry — Sorry Not Sorry is a standup showcase featuring women, LGBTIQIA+ and POC comics, hosted by hilarious Portland comedians Julia Corral, Eliza Butler and Marietje Hauprich.
When: 9:30 p.m. May 19
Where: Infinity Room
Cost $15 in advance/ $20 at the door. Click here for tickets.
Age: 21 and older.
Night of A Thousand Lights featuring Delgani String Quartet — Chemeketa Community College is pleased to present a new concert series: A Night of a Thousand Lights. This series will be a special intimate series of world-class musicians held at the Chemeketa Auditorium surrounded by more than a thousand lights and candles. About Delgani — Considered “the state’s finest chamber ensemble” by Oregon Arts Watch, the Delgani String Quartet presents performances of both classic and contemporary repertoire in intimate concert settings. The quartet curates their own subscription series in Portland, Salem, Corvallis and Eugene while regularly appearing as guest artists throughout the state. Delgani has also performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC and at Charles University in Prague. The musicians of Delgani are violinists Anthea Kreston and Jannie Wei, violist Kimberlee Uwate, and cellist Eric Alterman. They have performed throughout the United States and internationally.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 19
Where: Chemeketa Community College Theatre Auditorium, 4000 Lancaster Dr NE Building 6
Cost: $15 to $25. Click here for tickets.
Take in a night of heavy tunes with Lojia, Pitch Black Mass, and Crimson Guardian, 8 p.m. Friday, May 19, at The BAD Space, 2544 19th St SE. Cost: $13.38. Click here for tickets.
May 19-21
Read on! Stock up on books and more at the Friends of the Salem Public Library Spring book sale, an annual fundraising event that helps provide additional resources to the library. A wide variety of genres, from children’s to nonfiction, classic lit to popular fiction and more. Sunday is bag day where you can fill a (provided) bag for one low price. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 19 and 20 and 1 to 4:30 p.m. May 21 in Anderson Rooms A&B at the Salem Public Library, 585 Liberty St SE.
May 20
Spring Half-Day Meditation Retreat — Deeply relaxing 4-hr immersive experience to decompress your nervous system, free your mind, and tap into your heart. All experience levels welcome!
When: 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20
Where: Resonance Yoga Collective, 129 Commercial St NE
Cost: $249. Click here for more info and to sign up.
Info: Contact Jessica Amos at souldocent@gmail.com or www.staywithyourself.com/classes
Traveling Wheelz hosts Glow Night Open Skate on Saturday, May 20 at 1444 Liberty St SE. Three sessions — 1 to 3 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Bring your own skates or rent some for $5. Festive attire is encouraged! Keep an eye on travelingwheelz.com for more info.
Take in a night of killer rock and roll 8 p.m. Saturday, May 20 at Westside Station when Eric Lovre releases his new album “Twlight Dream.” The Bad Places will open the show. No cover. 21 and older.
To Die Elsewhere “Under Gods” EP Release Show with What’s Wrong & Sunwell — 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20 at Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St SE. Cost: $15 in advance; $18 at the door. Click here for tickets.
Gallery Talk with Artist Susan Napack — Susan will talk about her show, Memory Project Part 2: Shreds, An Installation of Transformed Personal Ephemera, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. May 20, at Bush Barn Art Center.
Rasa Clay Works: A New Idea Won’t Kill You — “By engaging in art, we bring forth creative constructions. These ideas once formed and shared can reverberate continually; taking on a life of their own. Like children from the creative’s core, they affect the culture and confront and nurture the community at large. Art becomes a means for more connection, not less. For understanding – not division; and perhaps most importantly – livelihood.”
As part of SAA’s Queer Artists Series: 2SLGBTQIAP in Focus, hear from artists Ri (she/her) and Renee (she/her) of Rasa Clay Works on their creative process followed by Q&A with the audience, 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20 at Bush Barn Art Center.
May 21
Take part in the Teddy Bear Toss at the Athletico season opener. In partnership with Timbers Army Capital City Company and McNary High School, Capital FC Atletico is collecting stuffed animals to be donated to the Liberty House, the Children’s Advocacy Center serving Marion and Polk countries.
On Sunday, May 21, bring a new or gently used stuffed animal to be thrown on the field during Atletico’s opening match. All of the toys donated will go to helping a child affected by child abuse. Kickoff is 2 p.m. May 21st at the Capital FC Complex. Tickets are on sale now at cfcatletico.com/tickets
May 24
May 25
Laugh out loud with a night of comedy featuring Jes Anderson, Sam Whitely and James Hartenfeld, 8 p.m. Thursday, May 25 at The Bad Space, 2572 19th St SE. Doors open at 7 p.m. Age 21 and older. Cost: $10 at the door.
May 26
Traveling Wheelz hosts an Adult (18 and older) Open Skate on 9 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 26 at The Mad House, 1335 Madison St NE. Cost is $15 per person. Bring your own skates or rent some for $5. Keep an eye on travelingwheelz.com for more info.
May 26-28
Memorial Weekend at Redhawk Vineyard features discounts on wine plus live music from 1 to 4 p.m. each day.
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 26-28. Music from 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Redhawk Vineyard & Winery, 2995 Michigan City Ave NW
May 27
Salem Orchestra hosts A Night of the Red Carpet Adult Prom Benefit on Saturday, May 27. Details coming soon.
May 27-28
Traveling Wheelz hosts Open Skate on Saturday, May 27 at The Mad House, 1335 Madison St NE. Two sessions — 4 to 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 10 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Bring your own skates or rent some for $5. Keep an eye on travelingwheelz.com for more info.
There’s a Memorial Day Celebration happening 12 to 6 p.m. May 27 and 28 at Cubanisimo. Pura Vida will perform 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Son de Cuba will perform 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and The El Vaquero food truck will be serving up noms.
May 28
Catch the action of Salem Capitals Basketball 3 p.m. Sunday, May 28 vs Seattle Superhawks at The Salem Armory, 2310 17th St NE. Doors open one hour before tip-off. Cost: $6 to $30. Click here for tickets.
May 30
Nothing screams a good time like getting sweaty on a Tuesday night, especially with Drednoks, Cellblock 3 and Contortion at Blast Off Vintage. Doors open at 7 p.m. $10. All Ages welcome.
May 31
Yoga + Libations Salem — Celebrating the places and spaces that make Salem awesome, one yoga class at a time, 6 to 7 p.m. May 31. Take in a 60-minute, all-levels, yoga class led by local yoga instructor, Mikki Trowbridge at historic Mission Mill in downtown Salem in collaboration with Taproot’s Old Mill Cafe. Class is outdoors and weather permitting. Suggested donation of $5-$10 per yogi for practice. Click here to register and for more details.
WEEKLY RECURRING EVENTS
Sundays
Family Clay Sunday welcomes one and all to create simple hand-built projects. There’s fun for everyone at this affordable family activity, which is $5 per person and free for kids 3 or younger. Paint your bisque-fired pieces, make a new project and enjoy spending creative time with your Family. Drop in between 1 and 4 p.m. May 7, 14, 21, 28
All month long
Stop and smell the flowers. Adelman Peony Gardens are open for public viewing 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 15. Stroll through two acres of display gardens admiring peonies in a rainbow of colors, shapes and sizes. A picturesque, peaceful escape, it’s a popular destination for garden enthusiasts, nature lovers and those looking for an Instagram-worthy photo experience. In addition to the stunning flowers, the garden offers educational resources, a showroom of peony blooms on display and a picnic area. Adelman Peony Gardens are located at 5690 Brooklake Road NE
ON EXHIBIT
HALLIE FORD
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art is Oregon’s third-largest art museum. It features works by Pacific Northwest and Native American artists, a diverse collection of traditional European, American and Asian art, as well as artifacts that date from antiquity. Frequently changing exhibitions include lectures, special events, tours, artist demonstrations and educational opportunities for children and adults. The museum is located at 700 State Street and is open 12 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Cost to explore is $6, $4 for seniors and $3 for educators and students 18 and older. Admission is free for everyone on Tuesdays. For more information, visit willamette.edu/arts/hfma, or call 503-370-6855.
Through May 20
Each spring, the museum pairs the annual senior studio art majors exhibition with a small solo exhibition of recent work by one of the faculty members in the art department at Willamette University. The purpose of the exhibitions is to demonstrate the continuing connection and relationship between student and faculty research.
Character Development: Senior Studio Art Majors 2023 — This year’s senior art students include Jonathan Bury (Chesapeake Beach, MD), Jzo Haigerty (Portland), Cate Leach (Tucson, AZ), Emily A. Lipp (Orinda, CA), Claire Elizabeth Monahan (Salem), Laurel Schmidt (Salem) and Parker Sullivan Jones (Salem).
Ranran Fan: 上天入地 Ends of the Earth — Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Ranran Fan, who teaches 4D art and photography in the Willamette University Art Department, is a device-maker and an artist who works in photography, installation, and performance. She is an award-winning artist whose work has been exhibited internationally.
May 6 through August 12
Jim Hibbard: Back in View — Jim Hibbard (American, 1936-2022) was an important Northwest artist who, after a 30-year career of exhibiting and teaching in Portland, established a new home and studio in Guanajuato, Mexico, where he continued to work productively almost until his death in 2022. This focused survey exhibition makes his Mexican work available to American audiences for the first time as well as revisits work from his earlier Portland years.
LEVEL 2 GALLERY
Level 2 Gallery at the Salem Convention Center is curated by the Oregon Artists Series Foundation. Located on the second floor of the center, it features changing exhibits of work by established and emerging artists of the region. The Gallery is accessible Monday through Friday during regular business hours, during special events or by appointment by calling 503-589-1700. Info: www.oregonartistsseries.com
Through June 23
Jon Colburn: Dreams — Jon Colburn’s life and art are rooted equally in his native Oregon and in his extensive travels over almost five decades.
Jon was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1934. After spending a year at Portland State College, he received a full scholarship to attend and then graduated from the (Portland) Museum Art School with a major in painting in 1961. In 1966, he was awarded a D.A.A.D (German Academic Exchange Service) Fellowship to study painting at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts in Germany. Returning to the United States in 1967, he lived in New York City for 14 years, working in the studio of noted illustrator James McMullen, then moved back to Paris. He returned to Portland, “a city that’s in my blood”, in 1994, where he lived until he moved to Salem in 2007, where he still lives and paints daily.
Sixty years into his explorations, Colburn still seeks expression and style that goes beyond just the love of painting to find a view of the world through its realities and dreams.
ART HALL @ Salem Public Library
A year-round gallery space under the guidance of the Salem Public Art Commission, the Art Hall at the Salem Public Library features the Salem Reads Art Exhibit each February as part of Salem Reads: One Book, One Community. During the rest of the year, the Oregon Artists Series Foundation will present curated rotating exhibits featuring regional artists.
Through June 23
Jon Colburn: Dreams — View recent work by Salem artist Jon Colburn. This show is a companion to Jon’s work on display at Level 2 at Salem Convention Center.
SALEM ART ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1919, the Salem Art Association aims to engage the community in the appreciation of the arts through contemporary art exhibitions and events, arts education for youth and adults, and the preservation and interpretation of our shared cultural heritage. Events and exhibits are located in the Bush Barn Art Center & Annex at 600 Mission St. SE. Visit the center 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There is no charge to visit, but donations are accepted. Info: 503-581-2228 or visit salemart.org.
May 2 through 30
Artist in Residence | Jessica Rehfield — In preparation for a series of large, new paintings, Jessica will create studies using experimentation with oil stick, paint and pastel in combination with other dry media on paper and/or loose, cut pieces of canvas and may include collage referencing her own collection of photos that feature elements from nature including seaweed, stones, the moon, palm and other tropical trees and plants with representation of queer bodies, featuring her wife’s nude body to explore and offer reflection on the beauty of trans bodies. The public is invited to a Brown Bag Talk to be scheduled.
May 5 through June 4
Susan Napack | Memory Project Part 2: The Shred Show — An Installation of Transformed Personal Ephemera. “There are those of us who are packrats, we squirrel away every bit of evidence that we have lived. We hang on to letters from friends, pictures from school, notebooks and journals that contain intimate jottings, keepsakes and mementos that contain memories of experiences that shaped who we are. And for artists, who see everyday ephemera as fodder for art, fighting the hoarding impulse is a tug-of-war. Then we age, and wonder what will become of the trove that we cherish. It is time to do something with all this stuff. Shelves are bursting with binders and notebooks and boxes of carefully archived documents and artifacts that chronicle my connection to the memories of the past. Now that I am well into my sixth decade I feel an urgency to address it all, yet it is difficult to let it go and still maintain the memories that shaped me.”
Susan Napack is a multi-disciplinary artist who moved to Oregon in 2016 partially to be closer to family, but really for the gorgeous Pacific Northwest. Wherever she has lived and worked, Susan has been involved with the art community. In Salem she has found a welcoming community where she has exhibited at High Street Gallery, Bush Barn and Annex, Salem on The Edge Gallery and during Open Studios at The Mill where she has a studio. Susan’s background in marketing communications as a graphic designer and art director at Time Inc. comes in handy in her effort to share and promote the riches of art and culture that Salem has to offer. In addition to her involvement with Lord & Schryver Conservancy and Grant Neighborhood Association, she has a seat on the Salem Public Art Commission.
May 11 through June 24
Annegret Disterheft | Under the Surface: A Retrospective — A native of Germany where she received her teaching degree in the early 1960s, Annegret taught public school for 16 years. After coming to the United States, she realized her longtime dream of studying art. She received her B.A. in Art from Western Oregon State College (now Western Oregon University) and her BFA from Marylhurst University. In the past 40 years, she has shown in more than 140 exhibitions. Most of them were group exhibits, with some of the jurors being curators of major museums. Her artwork has been accepted in national and international competitions. (Reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12)
Patricia Vázquez | Random Acts of Decommodification — Random Acts of Decommodification continues the exploration the artist has done in past projects based on the question: What is the value of an artwork when it is taken outside the systems that assign it a commodity status? For this exhibition, the artist offers 12 newly created artworks (paintings and drawings) to Salem residents in exchange for services or experiences offered to someone else. (Reception: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12)
SALEM ON THE EDGE
From fine art, up-and-coming artists, graffiti muralists and more, Salem on the Edge features work by PNW artists in a variety of media for purchase and in rotating exhibits. Stop in and visit at 156 Liberty St. NE. Info: salemontheedge.com.
May 3 to 27
Explore paintings by featured artist Heather Jacks. “I paint from memory, starting with no preconceived notion of what the work will become. I listen to my intuition and let the surfaces emerge. My thoughts are often of the patinas that arise with age, the gradual change in the color and texture and structure of all things over time. The Oregon landscapes, seascapes and cloudscapes have been an immense inspiration.” And work by guest designer Jordan K. Walker, who uses his studies and photographic reference gathered in the wild to compose immersive paintings. He strives to communicate the power and beauty of his subjects through the use of dynamic compositions, expressive brushstrokes, and unexpected color contrasts.
More Art
At Gallery 444, located within Elsinore Framing at 444 Ferry St. SE, see The Essence of Spring Art Show, a collaboration with Artists In Action featuring works that conceptualize spring and/or its essence, during April and the May Flowers Invitational during May. Info: 503-581-4642, elsinoregallery.com
At The Governor’s Cup Coffee Roasters, 471 Court St NE, the first solo art show of Salem-based artist Basooo, aka Peter DeGroot, graces the walls through June 30. Basooo makes music and art. “Art is therapy, and I am my own therapist. I think I do a pretty good job considering what I have to work with.” Info: basooo.art
Carlee Wright
