Art on Exhibit: September 2024

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Here's what's on exhibit in Salem's art scene this month...

HALLIE FORD MUSEUM OF ART

Featuring works by Pacific Northwest and Native American artists and a diverse collection of traditional European, American and Asian art, and antique artifacts. 700 State St | 503-370-6855, willamette.edu/arts/hfma

Through November 16, 2024

Gary Westford: Lifeline — Salem artist Gary Westford is a narrative painter and conceptual artist who explores environmental, social justice, and amendment rights issues in his work. In this body of work, the moon plays a significant role as a compositional and metaphorical component of the narratives that Gary constructs; social and/or political events unfold under harvest, silver, blue, and full moons. 

The Artist's Eye: Selections from the Gary Westford Collection — "I used to tell my students to collect what you love. My collecting sensibility has a very wide sweep, because I have spent a lifetime looking at, thinking about, and loving art in its many forms. In addition, there is the notion I have that collecting art honors its cultural past, as well as the countless artists who [over the centuries] addressed the important issues of their time."

Opening September 28

Indie Folk: New Art and Sounds from the Pacific Northwest features an intergenerational array of 17 notable artists from throughout the region. A playlist of Indie Folk music selected by Portland’s Mississippi Records accompanies the exhibition, filling the galleries with the sound of the Pacific Northwest. 

EVENT — Free lecture with exhibition curator Melissa E. Feldman, 5 p.m. Sept 28, at Paulus Lecture Hall, Willamette University College of Law, 245 Winter St SE. 

LEVEL 2 GALLERY

A changing exhibit of work by artists of the region curated by the Oregon Artists Series Foundation.  Second Floor at Salem Convention Center | 503-589-1700, oregonartistsseries.com 

Through September 30

Don Bailey: America Replated — “I have re-contextualized the often static, sometimes staged portraits with layers of color, traditional native design and landscapes real and imagined. I aim to give the portraits of our ancestors a timelessness and, in the spirit of whil-xolik (story-telling), invite the viewers of my work to consider the lives of people who have never vanished.”

ART HALL @ SPL

Featuring the Salem Reads Art Exhibit each February and rotating exhibits curated by the Oregon Artists Series Foundation throughout the rest of the year. 585 Liberty St SE

Through September 30

Don Bailey: Whil-xolik (Tell Me a Story) — A companion to Don’s work on exhibit at Level 2. “In each painting, you might see images from 19th and early 20th century photographs of Native Americans, references to the work of other artists, buildings and landscapes I’ve known and imagined, and objects familiar and strange.”  

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 both for purchase and in rotating exhibits. 156 Liberty St. NE. salemontheedge.com — NOTE: Salem on the Edge is closing it’s gallery on Sept 28 permanently.

September 4 through 28

David George Andersen: Word Play — Salem artist David George Andersen (1960-2017) created politically charged, irreverent mixed media assemblages that address the many hypocrisies of modern American life.

SALEM ART ASSOCIATION

The Salem Art Association (SAA) aims to actively engage the community in the appreciation of the arts through contemporary art exhibits and events, and arts education for youth and adults. Bush Barn Art Center & Annex, 600 Mission St. SE | 503-581‑2228, salemart.org

Through September 29, 2024

Somos Oaxaca: Portraits of Life, Art and Livelihoods — A black-and-white photography project of portraits of artisans and workers who decided to stay in their homeland of Oaxaca, Mexico, with their families and the culture they love instead of migrating northward in search of the American Dream. Among those photographed are weavers, sculptors, feather artists, mezcal producers and curanderas—talented, hardworking people who take great pride in what they do to earn a living.

September 4 – 30, 2024 

Artist in Residence: Carlee Wright — During her SAA artist residency, Carlee will be deconstructing, cataloging and creating with textile waste a project she is calling ‘Wasted,’ an artful reclamation, a play on words, and a commentary on fast fashion. 

September 6 – 29, 2024 

El Nahual: Carlos Marquez — A nahual is a man that can change shape at will into any creatures he chooses…A nahual is a man of knowledge and discipline. Like a nahual I have chosen to live on the path of knowledge, spirituality and enlightenment. These titles are directly connected to my conception of art. My art is always evolving, may it be the skill, the style, or the quality of my work. As an artist I am always changing spiritually, mentally, and physically, like El Nahual. As a nahual I have carried out my life as an artist with learning…”

September 6 – October 27, 2024

Indigenous Northwest: Inaugural Biennial — A showcase of 16 notable Indigenous artists from the region who are creating traditional and contemporary artwork. “This exhibition demonstrates the immense depth of talent emanating from local Native communities, which are often overlooked. Indigenous Northwest celebrates the contributions of Native artists who carry ancestral knowledge and traditions forward while challenging viewers to expand their perceptions of what Indigenous art can be through various mediums and materials.” — Steph Littlebird, Curator

September 6 – October 27, 2024

The Call to Adventure: Samuel Hoskins — “The Call to Adventure is an exploration of travel and discovery, both external and internal. It plays with the idea that paintings, much like humans, can act as vessels for higher truths and profound ideas. Through my personal experiences and expressions, I aim to reveal archetypal truths that are not easily contained within words. This show is a call to adventure, an invitation to embrace the uncertainty and possibilities of the liminal space. It is a journey through the landscapes of the mind and soul, where every painting serves as a guidepost, urging us to let go of our fears and step into the unknown with hope and courage.

EVENT — Reception 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept 6 with welcome/introductions at 6 p.m.

ARTISTS IN ACTION GALLERY

An artist co-operative featuring 23 artists that shares a space with Elsinore Framing at 444 Ferry St SE | AiAArtGallery.org

September 6-30

CC Willow — Motivated by the fluidity and nourishing essence of water, CC Willow uses it as a metaphor for human growth and evolution…The choice of medium is dictated by the emotional cadence she wishes to convey. Watercolors, with their ethereal quality, evoke serenity or whimsy, while oils and acrylics lean towards boldness and ruggedness. Each stroke, each photograph, is a step towards healing—capturing the essence of moments, reflecting personal growth, and embracing the soothing power of nature's hues.

Yannie Álvarez — A bilingual Mexican-American artist and recent graduate of Western Oregon University with her BFA in Art and Design, Yannie enjoys the solitude and creativity that comes with creating art and the peace she feels when the world gets too loud and painting hushes it.  Majority of her work consists of colorful pop-art-influenced acrylic paintings but balances this aspect by creating minimalistic digital art. 

EVENT — Opening Reception: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept 6 with awards presentation at 6 p.m.

GALLERY 444

Inside Elsinore Framing at 444 Ferry St SE | elsinoregallery.com

September 6-27

In Vino Veritas — In Wine, There is Truth

EVENT — Reception: 5 to 8 p.m. Sept 6

WILLAMETTE HERITAGE CENTER

14 historic structures house permanent and changing exhibits, a research library and archive, a textile learning center, and rentable event spaces over a five-acre campus, which also has retail shops, art galleries, artist studios, and offices. 1313 Mill St SE | 503-585-7012, willametteheritage.org

Through December 21, 2024

History in Rubble: Salem’s Lost Buildings — Despite preservation efforts, some of the most iconic landmarks from Salem’s past have become victims of the wrecking ball. This exhibit features the rubble and saved remnants of many of Salem’s lost buildings. Discover how Salem’s skyline has changed over time and how preserving historic structures can make a difference to our community’s economics, livability, and sustainability

WORLD BEAT GALLERY

The World Beat Gallery gives local cultural communities a space to share their heritage: the stories told and items exhibited come directly from members of our community. 390 Liberty St SE | 503-581-2004, salemmulticultural.org

September 3-24

Jesus Escobar: A Pop-Up Art Exhibit — Jesus Escobar is a Salem, Oregon-based artist known for his dynamic paintings and evocative street photography. Born to Guatemalan parents who sought a better life in the United States, Jesus's multicultural background and experiences have profoundly shaped his artistic journey. His early exposure to the world of paint, thanks to his father's profession as an exterior painter for mobile homes, ignited a passion for artistic expression that has only grown over the years.