The InstigatorHere’s what’s happening in May for you to support Salem arts + entertainment + culture… and business!
May 2 and 16
The Willamette Master Chorus‘ Spring Concerts, Sacred Music at the Abbey, will bring you to the beloved site of Mount Angel Abbey — virtually. While the chorus cannot participate as a large group in this beautiful church, they were able to capture some incredible sounds in the beautiful acoustics at this beloved site. The concert will air at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 2 and May 16. Watch online at www.willamettemasterchorus.org.
Dayna J. Collins, “Turns of the Kaleidoscope” (30” x 40” Plaster, oil and cold wax on board, 2021.)
May 5 through 29
Salem on the Edge features artist Dayna J. Collins with “Turns of the Kaleidoscope” for the month of May.
Just as you turn a kaleidoscope and the colors and images change, my art and life has been an evolution of color and represents a rise out of darkness. Sixteen years ago and five years after entering recovery for addiction, I discovered I was an artist while taking a 12-week course on creative recovery. My first art was collage – on bowling pins. A whole new world opened for me and I knew I wanted to paint, explore texture, and experiment with putting bold colors together.
As an intuitive abstract painter, I work in multiple layers starting with plaster for texture, which I cover with bold, colorful swaths of oil paint mixed with cold wax. I scrape away, add more color, make marks and scratch until each piece of art emerges. Turns of the Kaleidoscope reflects my love of wild colors, my constant curiosity, playfulness and joyful spirit, and a smidge of my sassiness and irreverence to keep life interesting.
Salem on the Edge is located at 156 Liberty St. NE. Visit their website here for current hours. Learn more about Dayna in this story from the Press Play archive.
May 6
She’s Speaking, a new YouTube channel for women songwriters, is hosting In Celebration of All Mothers, a live online tribute to mothers and grandmothers on Facebook Live at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 6. The show will feature live performances by nine singer-songwriters from all over the USA, including Salem’s Kristen Grainger of Kristen Grainger & True North; plus Bre Gregg of Red Bird Soul; Beth Wood, Susan Gibson, Mai Bloomfield, Emily Aldridge of Tall Dark Whimsy, Natalie Jean, Karyn Ann, and Naomi Laviolette. While free, donations for the performances are gratefully accepted. No tickets or registration required. Donors who give $20 or more at the event will be automatically entered in a drawing for a gift card for an Andante Vineyards‘ tasting experience for four adults, valued at $150. Visit https://www.facebook.com/shesspeakingsongs for more information.
May 7
Deepwood Museum, 1116 Mission St. SE, hosts a floral-focused First Friday Fashions Pop-Up Exhibit 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 7. Peek inside the museum Solarium, off to the side of the front porch, to see a display of Mother’s Day items and flowers. While the Solarium will remain locked during the exhibit, people can observe through the glass. Please observe social distancing guidelines and limit the front porch to one party at a time. For more information, visit www.deepwoodmuseum.org.
The First Friday Art Walk takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 7, the monthly event encourages people to go downtown and visit a handful of local businesses to view art, shop, snack and more. There is also an opportunity for those who participate to win a raffle by completing a passport. Click here to learn more.
Through May 9
Willamette University presents Moving Forward • Screendance (Faith Morrison, Artistic Director) combines dance and cinema in a new visual language of movement that adapts to our changing tastes and modern challenges. Student choreographers join dance faculty in an evening of choreography exploring the process of moving through uncertain times. Join us for this all-online evening of venturous work and expanding media.
Watch the Moving Forward trailer here. Made for the screen. Watch anytime between April 30 and May 9. Shows will be broadcast live online using YouTube secured system. Click here to purchase tickets.
May 14-16, 21-23
The Verona Studio is wrapping their first virtual season with four off-beat and darkly humorous monologues by Tony Award- and Pulitzer award-winning writer John Patrick Shanley. “Four Short Plays From Rogues’ Gallery,” directed by Seth Allen, will be available by livestream 7 p.m. May 14-16 and May 21-23.
The line up includes:
- “Artificial Leg” performed by David Ballantyne about a homeowner who struggles to dispose of a prosthetic limb he discovered in the basement of his new townhome.
- “The Acupuncturist” performed by Gregory Jolivette about a patient who switches acupuncturists after their practitioner starts to believe he has magical powers.
- “Ditto“ performed by Kelli Jaecks about a journalist who dives headfirst into a blissful romance, leaving her fiancé behind, but when a friend reaches out with an unsettling discovery, she uncovers the strange truth about her new relationship.
- “The Clerical Line” performed by Seth Rue about a wealthy bachelor who collaborates with Burberry to create a wardrobe of priest’s clothing – a uniform he deems most reflective of his soul and status.
Tickets are $15 and available at https://www.showtix4u.com/events/VeronaStudio.
Through May 15
Got fines? Salem Public Library’s Food for Fines returns for its second year as a virtual program, continuing to benefit Marion Polk Food Share, Salem Public Library, and your community. For every $1 donated to Marion Polk Food Share, Salem Public Library will reduce library fines by $5. This applies to overdue fines only.
You can participate in just a few easy steps:
- Visit Marion Polk Food Share’s Food for Fines webpage and make a donation.
- Forward your email confirmation to SPLcirc@cityofsalem.net
- Include the library barcode number(s) for the account(s) to which we should apply the fine forgiveness.
- Receive a confirmation email from Salem Public Library detailing fines forgiven.
Check your fine situation in advance by logging into your account online or with the help of library staff at SPLcirc@cityofsalem.net or 503-588-6315.
May 8 through 15
Uncorked Live benefiting Family Building Blocks and “Keeping Children Safe and Families Together” goes online for the second year. The annual auction fundraiser has helped raise more than $4 million to prevent child abuse and neglect in Marion and Polk counties. Supporters can view the auction and bid online starting 12 p.m. May 8 through 8:30 p.m. May 15.
Additionally, for the first time ever, Uncorked Live presents a theme — “An Evening with the Roses” — for its livestream at 7:30 p.m. May 15. This event will be family-friendly, fun, and entertaining. Family Building Blocks is encouraging the community to celebrate the theme by dressing up as their favorite characters from the popular show Schitt’s Creek (available on Netflix.) There will be a costume contest held on social media where everyone can participate by posting photos dressed as their favorite characters on Instagram with #uncorkedliveauction or Facebook tagging @familybuildingblockssalem. Participants will be entered to win a YETI cooler with high-end goodies, Rose Apothecary gift bags, and more. Learn more and sign up to participate at https://familybuildingblocks.org/uncorkedlive
May 15
Join The Amazing Race: Salem For Refugees Edition, a family-friendly and Covid-safe fundraising adventure event taking place on May 15. Create a team of up to 6 people from your family or COVID bubble and raise support for Salem For Refugees by rallying friends and neighbors to sponsor your team. Teams will follow clues around town and complete activities while learning about our refugee neighbors and how we can continue to make our community a welcoming place. There are two options available for teams to choose from: a family/kid-friendly option or a competitive option. The race takes place Saturday, May 15, with staggered start times between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in downtown/central Salem. Registration is $50 per team (register by May 8). Sign up and learn more at https://salemforrefugees.org/race/
May 19 through 26
The Elsinore Theatre presents Preserving Her Story, a 95th-anniversary celebration featuring an auction May 19 through 26, with livestream entertainment, stories and more starting at 6 p.m. May 26. The event is free and the community is welcome to tune in for a fun way to support and preserve the Elsinore Theatre. Learn more at https://elsinoretheatre.com/annualfundraiser/
May 20
Ceili of the Valley Society presents Finding Your Roots, a free virtual genealogical workshop 7 p.m. Thursday, May 20. An introduction to genealogy, attendees will leave with an overview and a working understanding of some basics, be shown examples of things that can be discovered (and the places to discover them) and given tools to get started. Click here to register. This workshop is free, but donations are graciously accepted. CVS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Learn more at http://ceiliofthevalley.org/.
Through May 29
Salem Art Association hosts the Young Artists Showcase, featuring artwork by students in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties, May 1 through 29. Due to state restrictions, in person viewing is only open to participants and their families at this time. THere will be a virtual awards ceremony with tour beginning at 12 p.m. Saturday, May 15. Fore more information, visit www.salemart.org
See May Flowers — a Floral Art Exhibit featuring 10 local artists and 30 original works of art at the Elsinore Gallery, 444 Ferry St SE. There will be an opening reception scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. May 7 during the First Friday Salem Art Walk. View the work and more information here.
Plus…
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art remains open with reduced visitor capacity. Timed entry reservations are highly encouraged. To adhere to capacity restrictions, the museum requests limiting your visit to one hour. Walk-in entry may be accommodated based on availability and capacity. Museum capacity is up to 6 visitors per hour with final entry at 4 p.m. Masks and physical distancing are required.
Current exhibits include:
- Cayla Skillin-Brauchle: Locating (through May 15)
- Tangent: Senior Studio Art Majors 2021 (through May 15)
- Gold of the Caliphs: Medieval Islamic Coins from the Gary Leiser Collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art (through August 14)
- Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts Biennial: Part II (May 8 – August 14)
- In Dialogue: Diego Rivera (through March 31, 2022)
The museum is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Check the website here for the most current updates.
Carlee Wright
