Explore art & culture in Salem this April through these exhibits (and events).
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. Hallie Ford Museum, 700 State St, is open 12 to 5 p.m. Tues — Sat. Cost to explore is free for children, students 18+ and educators (with school id); $8 adults, $5 seniors, and free for everyone on Tuesdays. For more information, visit willamette.edu/arts/hfma, or call 503-370-6855.
Through June 21, 2025
Nancy Floyd: For the Love of Trees features recent work by this award-winning Bend, Oregon photographer and author. In 2022, Floyd was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to embark on a multi-year project exploring the unique bond that Oregonians have with the forest and trees, including those who study trees, those who protect trees, those who make a living off trees, and those who see trees as part of their daily life. In the process, she has interviewed key stakeholders in the timber and forestry business; followed workers into the forest as they cut or studied trees; visited mills and shadowed those who work there; and accompanied workers at tree farms as they planted and nurtured trees. The exhibition will feature a range of work from the past two years.
April 19 to May 17
ALL OVER THIS PLACE! — Each spring, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art features the work of senior studio art majors at Willamette University. Characterized by a wide variety of styles and approaches, the exhibition includes work in a range of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and installation art.
Holden Head: A Day Goes By — Each spring, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art pairs its annual senior studio art majors’ exhibition with a small solo exhibition of recent work by one of the permanent, adjunct, or visiting faculty members in the art department. The purpose of the exhibition is to demonstrate the continuing connections and relationships among student and faculty research. This year’s faculty member is Holden Head (American, born 1990), a visiting assistant professor in sculpture.
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: oregonartistsseries.com
Level 2 Gallery
Through June 13, 2025
New Energy: New Work by M. Shoki Tanabe and Adam Zeek — Shoki Tanabe and Adam Zeek were born on different continents, Shoki in Tokyo and Adam in Oregon, but both grew up in Salem, and graduated from South Salem High School in 2002. Now the lifelong friends are collaborating on their first joint exhibition featuring paintings in acrylic, graphite, and oil pastel on canvas or wood by Shoki and carved wood panels by Adam.
“My work has always turned its gaze inward, compelled more by the shadowy elements that coalesce to create and define my identity (or perceived identity), than by my interpretation and filtration of external events slipping through the often-sticky membrane of ego. It can be challenging to step confidently through a landscape obscured by itself. . . . In the last few years I have . . . turned my gaze refreshingly outward. I’ve been shown a new lens, and it reveals illumination in the simplest ideas, the smallest forms. There is a new layer being pronounced in my topography, and it is informed by new patterns I’m noticing in familiar things.” —Shoki Tanabe.
“Crafting with wood has been my passion throughout my adult life, but it was only three years ago that I dove into the art of wood carving. I had the privilege of learning the basics under the guidance of master carver Monica Setziol, and since then, I’ve drawn inspiration from nature and learned experience. For me, carving is more than a craft; it’s a space for reflection—a meditative practice that helps me clear my mind and explore new perspectives.” — Adam Zeek.
ART HALL @ SALEM PUBLIC LIBRARY
A year-round gallery space under the guidance of the Salem Public Art Commission.
Through June 13, 2025
New Energy: New Work by M. Shoki Tanabe and Adam Zeek — A companion to the exhibition at Level 2 Gallery at the Salem Convention Center.
SALEM ON THE EDGE
From fine art by established and up-and-coming artists to graffiti artists, Salem on the Edge features work by PNW artists in a wide variety of media for purchase. Stop in and visit at 156 Liberty St. NE. Info: salemontheedge.com
April
Living Landscapes features artists who explore the ever-changing relationship between humans and the natural world, celebrating resilience, adaptation, and the beauty of Oregon's shifting and fragile ecosystems. See work by Jennifer Foran, Elizabeth Bahnmiller-Brown, Keith Van Norman and Anna Davis, this exhibition invites viewers to engage with nature through art—not as passive observers, but as active participants in the unfolding story of our environment.
From vivid depictions of forests and waterways to intricate explorations of ecological patterns and our own internal landscapes, each piece in this show is a meditation on our connection to the land. Rather than focusing on crisis and loss, Living Landscapes embraces a sense of hope, opportunity, and joy, reminding us that change—like nature itself—is both inevitable and full of possibility. Join us throughout April for artist and science talks, poetry readings, and other community discussions that deepen our dialogue with the world around us.
Opening Reception: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 4
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 April 26
The Cherry City of the World features works by local, represented artists, capturing the beauty of Salem as it blooms.
Young Artists' Showcase celebrates the talent and creativity of K-12 students from Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. Whether in public, private, or homeschool settings, students are invited to submit their artwork for this wonderful opportunity to be part of a vibrant creative community.
Art Teachers Showcase | after hours features work from local K-12 art teachers in a variety of media and all sorts of subjects. “We are connected by our dedication to teaching the children in our community about (and how to create) art, and also by our commitment to art making as an enriching lifelong practice.”
April 4 to 30
The Silver Lining | Heidi Preuss Grew is a two-time Oregon Arts Commission Artist Fellowship recipient. Encounters on any given day have always provided inspiration — fleeting moments in time especially so. Instead of responding with a drawing or a figure modeled in clay, the physicality of those moments (when I could gather them) are presented for closer inspection by the viewer. These fragments converge toward a description with potency. They often surprised me with joy and hope. The Silver Lining exhibition features work gathered and created in the last five years.
April Artist-In-Residence | Kelly Taylor — “Hi, my name is Kelly Taylor, and I’m fascinated with oil paint. Please come visit me while I work in the studio and around the park in April. I’ll do my best to leave a note at the studio when I’m working out in the park to let you know where to find me. Let’s make April a month to get to know one another!”
STEFANI ART GALLERY
Showcasing modern, contemporary, and abstract art from local and internationally recognized artists. We offer original artworks, fine art photographs, and limited-edition prints for collectors at every level. Art should be accessible to all, and we’re here to help you find the perfect pieces for your space. Stefani Art Gallery, 305 Court St NE | stefaniartgallery.com
Through May 23, 2025
Crossing Boundaries: Tierra y Esperanza (Land and Hope) — A compelling documentary-style photographic series by internationally recognized Salem photographer Richard Stefani (1933-2022), Crossing Boundaries: Tierra y Esperanza (Land and Hope) immerses viewers in the lives of Mexican farmworkers in Woodburn, Oregon, over 24 hours during the summer of 1965.
Experience a transformative glimpse into 1965 through evocative black-and-white photographs that chronicle the grit, hope, and resilience of Mexican farm workers in Woodburn, Oregon. Crossing Boundaries: Tierra y Esperanza (Land and Hope) captures a single day of relentless labor and quiet defiance, illuminating a dual journey across physical and cultural frontiers. Blending English and Spanish, the exhibition title underscores the workers’ profound ties to the land they cultivate and the enduring optimism that fuels their struggle.
Originally displayed to fierce community backlash, these images laid bare the racial and economic injustices that many preferred to ignore. Today, they stand as a resonant testament to the spirit of migrant workers who balanced hardship with aspiration, forging ahead despite exploitation, discrimination, and the demands of an unfamiliar world. Step into this powerful documentation of migration, survival, and unity—and reflect on the shared human pursuit of justice and a better tomorrow.
SAVE THE DATE — The gallery will officially celebrate its Grand Opening, 5 to 8 p.m. April 4
ARTISTS IN ACTION GALLERY
An artist co-operative featuring 22 artists that share a space with Elsinore Framing at 444 Ferry St SE | AiAArtGallery.org
April 4 to 26
Special feature of the work of co-op members Lorraine Dye, pastel, and Susan Grace Branch, acrylic and jewelry.
Award-winning artist Lorraine Dye describes her work with pastels, stating that she uses them not by choice, but because they were passed down from her mother-in-law, a talented artist. She learned about pastels after taking her first painting class in 2005. “It was then I suddenly realized something had been missing in my life. Painting makes me feel energized, creative and happy…it’s that simple!” “I am basically a self-taught artist, with some occasional classes taken over time. An artist needs to continually experiment, grow, and learn through each painting. Pastels are appreciated for their vibrant colors and the ability to use multiple layers to create additional colors.”
Susan Grace Branch — “It is my desire to bring elemental ideas from nature and from dreamscapes and transform them into creative objects that engage the observer and help them see the world around them in a deeper more meaningful way.” Susan has work in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia, The Western Australian Art Gallery, Art Gallery of WA, Perth, Western Australia, W.A.I.T, Bentley, Western Australia, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA, Private Collections U.K. Germany, Australia, and USA. Her work is most recently represented in Galleries, Markets and Fairs in Australia and USA including, Westminster Art Festival, 2023 Salem, Oregon, Metal Arts Gift Show 2023, McMinnville, The Gallery at Ten Oaks, McMinnville, Oregon, Johne Stromme and Friends Gallery, McMinnville, Oregon, Tubac Center of the Arts Member’s’ Open 2018 & 2019, Tubac Center of the Arts Gallery Shop 2018 to present.
Opening Reception: 5 to 8 p.m. April 4
GALLERY 444
At Gallery 444, located within Elsinore Framing at 444 Ferry St. SE. Info: 503-581-4642, elsinoregallery.com
April
AiA Spring Invitational Show
Opening Reception: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 4
BUSH HOUSE MUSEUM
Through June 29, 2025
Favorite Things II | Jason Hill — Favorite Things is a portrait and short film series depicting regional artists with items that are precious to them. Developed by Portland filmmaker and photographer Jason Hill, this work documents a collaboration wherein artists were instructed to share and speak about a favorite item in a studio setting. The results are an experiment with light and color to create magical portraits and filmed testimonials.
GRETCHEN SCHUETTE ART GALLERY
The gallery is located in building 3 on the Chemeketa Community College campus at 4000 Lancaster Dr. NE. For more information and open hours, call 503-399-2533. Learn more here.
April 2 to 30
Eddie Melendrez: Our Struggle to be Seen in the In-Between Space | Paintings of a People History Painted Out — Eddie Melendrez is a self-trained Chicano artist from Ontario, Oregon. His work is centered around serving people and listening to many different voices. Through images of community leaders and people within these communities he offers the viewer a message of strength.
Closing Reception: 12 p.m. April 30
Artist Talk: 1 p.m. April 30
Cultural Exhibits
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 May 24, 2025
Let’s Play is a look at sports in the Mid-Willamette Valley through the lens of historical artifacts and photos.
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
Through April 5, 2025
Mythical: Legendary Creatures from Around the World — Enter the realm of mermaids, dragons, and other mythical creatures from around the world. From the lochs of Scotland to the shores of Sri Lanka, mythical creatures abound in oral and written traditions. While the incarnations, names and stories vary, they all underscore humanity's methods of explaining that which escapes our comprehension. The similarities of these creatures across time and continents make us think twice about the unknown!