Immerse Yourself in Art this Summer

Take a seat for Art House Theater Day, a celebration of independent cinema featuring a day of films, movie trivia, and big-screen discoveries. The lineup ranges from cult classics and documentaries to international favorites, giving film lovers plenty of reasons to settle in and stay awhile. July 30 at Salem Cinema. salemcinema.com 

Explore the stories, ideas, and artists behind Handmade Revolution: Craft in the Pacific Northwest during a free gallery talk led by curator Jonathan Bucci. 12:30 p.m. Jul 21 & Aug 18 at Hallie Ford Museum of Art. hfma.willamette.edu

Go Downtown for the First Friday Art Walk to explore creativity and support local businesses, 5 to 8 p.m. on the First Friday each month. See the map of who is participating at salemartwalk.com

Check out the Art Lover’s Tour of the Bush House Museum. Beyond the standard, this special experience focuses on the Bush family art collection. Limited to a small group, it offers a rare chance to dive deeper into the stories behind the works on display. 1:30 p.m. Jul 12. bushhousemuseum.org.  UPDATE — JUNE 30 — Bush House Museum tours have been suspended and events postponed. Part of the house is being painted and thus will be closed through August.

Gather your neighbors, dream up a design, and apply to create a Community Street Painting, a program which invites neighborhoods to transform streets and intersections with art. From flowers and wildlife to geometric designs, these paintings serve as landmarks that bring people together around a shared project. Click here to learn more.

PS: Explore art in downtown Salem using the map below

How many artworks can you find?

…and while you are downtown, pop in to Stefani Gallery, Salem on the Edge, and Elsinore Framing for more art. Click here to see what’s on exhibit this summer. 

This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 28 (Summer 2026)

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Author: The Instigator