Art On Exhibit this October in Salem

Explore art & culture in Salem this October 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 November 16

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."

Through December 21

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. Click here for the playlist of music.

Becoming Peter Voulkos: Works from the 1950s showcases twelve works by the legendary ceramicist Peter Voulkos, focusing on his early career in the 1950s when he became nationally recognized as a master of wheel-thrown functional stoneware. The exhibition culminates with a single piece exemplifying Voulkos’ revolutionary shift which pushed ceramics into the broader conversation taking place in contemporary art during the mid-20th century.

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

Through January 2025

Souvenirs of Imaginary Places: Photographs by Randall Tosh — Salem photographer Randall Tosh has been exploring antique photographic processes for most of his photographic career. He is interested in the inherently uncanny property of images produced by these old processes, which seem to recontextualize objects, people, and landscapes into an idyllic nineteenth-century past. Randall’s interest in antique processes extends to antique photographic equipment as well, and he uses an array of antique lenses to produce his work.  

“My images are an amalgam of digital and analogue photography. I use an iPhone for the initial captures, then process the images to make them look like photographs made over 150 years ago. From these processed captures, I then make digitally enlarged negatives which I use to make contact prints (the negative must be the same size as the final image. During the first half-century of photography, enlargements were not possible). These images are salt prints, which was the earliest positive/negative photographic process invented by Fox Talbot, as a direct consequence of his inept drawing abilities. The process uses only kosher salt and silver nitrate to produce light sensitive paper, gold chloride to tone the prints for permanency, and sodium thiosulphate to fix the prints. It is a lovely, finicky process . . . .”

Randall was a practicing attorney in Oregon for many years, specializing in municipal law. He served as Salem’s City Attorney from 2003-2014.  

Opening Reception — 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct 10. Free but RSVP required. Click here to RSVP.

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 presents curated rotating exhibits featuring regional artists.

Through January 2025

Souvenirs of Imaginary Places: Photographs by Randall Tosh — A companion to the exhibition at Level 2   Gallery at the Salem Convention Center.

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 October 27 

Indigenous Northwest showcases 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.

Curator Talk — Deepen your knowledge of contemporary Native art as curator Steph Littlebird takes you on a personal tour through this inaugural exhibition, 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct 3 at the Bush Barn Art Center & Annex. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.

Samuel Hoskins: The Call to Adventure — “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.”

October 4 – 27

seen | JULIO MARIN ALEMAN — “This is a story about our need for human connection. This body of work is about being seen. 

Queer people have been told time and time again that we cannot exist, we cannot love, and yet our need to connect and simply be acknowledged persists. Like many subcultures and marginalized communities, when we see each other out in the world, we catch eyes and say so much with a single glance. Maybe it’s full of insecurities, fear of rejection, or curiosity. Perhaps it’s the acknowledgement that, “I see you and you see me”, connecting us for a single second. Maybe it’s a look that leads to something else: lustful, courageous, boldly holding eye contact to see what comes next.”

Cosmic Horror and Other Nightmares | Jesús Santillanes — “My art dives deep into the creepy and unsettling, drawing from a mix of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. Growing up in the 1980s, I was captivated by the iconic horror movies and fantastical comics of the time—films like The Thing and Alien, and the wild, imaginative worlds of 80s comics. These influences have really shaped the way I approach my art.”

Opening Reception — 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 4. Welcome and artist 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

Through October 26

26th annual Paint & Write the Town — Artists in Action's perennial and popular signature summertime “en plein air” art event brings together visual artists and members of the Mid-Vallery Poetry Society to create their interpretation of local outdoor sites in their chosen medium, or writing.

This year’s sites included Deepwood Gardens, Adelman Peony Gardens, Aumsville Ponds, Sebright Gardens, Ankeny Hill Nature Center & National Wildlife Refuge, Rhoten Farm, Misner Century Farm, Riverview Park Independence, Baskett Slough, Ankeny Vineyard, Chemeketa Cellars and True North Orchards.

Awards are presented for First, Second and Third Place, as well as Best Representation of Location, Honorable Mentions, People’s Choice Award-Art and People's Choice Award-Poetry.

Opening Night Reception — 5 to 8 p.m. Oct 4. Awards presentation at 6 p.m. 

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

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

Arts Events —

Find exhibitions, demonstrations and activities that highlight the rich artistic talent of the region at the Westminster Festival of Fine Art Oct 10-13. 

This year's featured artist is Jesus Escobar, 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.

The festival kicks off 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, October 10 with a wine reception featuring music by Gail Gage Jazz. 

From 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, there will be an open discussion and Q&A with featured artist Jesus Escobar plus artists from the community. 

The free event is open 7 to 9 p.m. Oct 10, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct 11 and 12, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oct 13 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3737 Liberty Road S

Take in a Free Gallery Talk with exhibition curator Melissa E. Feldman, 12:30 p.m. Oct 1 at Hallie Ford Museum of Art.

Curator Talk — Deepen your knowledge of contemporary Native art as curator Steph Littlebird takes you on a personal tour through this inaugural exhibition, 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct 3 at the Bush Barn Art Center & Annex. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Steph Littlebird is an artist, author, curator and enrolled member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes. She is best known for her nationally recognized exhibition This IS Kalapuyan Land and her work as a children’s book illustrator. Steph currently lives and works in the Pacific Northwest. RSVP here.

Head downtown for the First Friday Art Walk, 5 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. It's a free, leisurely opportunity to explore the heart of Salem and discover new shops, artwork, crafters and more. Pick up a raffle passport from any of the participating businesses and collect stamps from a number of locations, ten turn in your completed passport to enter a raffle to win a prize (usually a basket overflowing with items from all the participating businesses). Watch for details at facebook.com/SalemArtWalk

Artists in Action Opening Night Reception for the 26th annual Paint & Write the Town exhibit, 5 to 8 p.m. Oct 4, at AiA Gallery inside Elsinore Gallery, with an awards presentation at 6 p.m. 

Salem Art Association Opening reception for seen | Julio Marin Aleman and Cosmic Horror and Other Nightmares | Jesús Santillanes, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct 4 at SAA’s Bush Bart Art Center. Welcome and artist introductions at 6 p.m.

Opening Reception for Souvenirs of Imaginary Places: Photographs by Randall Tosh, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct 10 at Level 2 Gallery at Salem Convention Center. Free but RSVP required. Click here to RSVP.

There will be a Free Gallery Talk with docent, 12:30 p.m. Oct 15 (recurring Nov 5 and Dec 3), at Hallie Ford Museum of Art.