The InstigatorHello, November! Here’s a look at what’s happening in the month ahead —
November 3 through 27
Salem On the Edge Art Gallery hosts a featured artist and a guest artist this month.
The featured artist is M. Shoki Tanabe, with his exhibit “Memorandum.” You have decided to enter into the very old tradition of looking at art on the walls of a public gallery. Traditions can be pretty tricky, especially when they seem to happen for their own sake. The one you participate in currently will generally yield the affirmation that it is good, and worth continuing, I think…if for no other reason than to show that we still need to create and commune, despite that which might engender discrepancy and leave us feeling disconnected according to the vagaries of navigating modern society.
And the guest artist is Paul Meuse. Paul was raised in Medford, OR, where he spent a considerable part of his childhood drawing and painting. His academic background is in political science and public policy, receiving a B.A. in Politics from Willamette University and a M.P.P. from Oregon State University. As a self-taught artist, Paul returned to art in 2013, concentrating on portraiture and pop art. His work over the past two years has moved from pop realism to abstraction, with a focus on creativity of process and use of materials.
Shoki and Paul will be in the gallery from 5 to 8 p.m. November 5 during the First Friday Art Walk.
Salem on the Edge is located at 156 Liberty St NE. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Learn more at www.salemontheedge.com
“Dream Horizon,” mixed media/collage by Heather M. Taylor as part of the Snail Mail Art Show at Ernie & Gray
November 3 through 28
See the Snail Mail Art Show: Landscapes & Seascapes at Ernie & Gray, 329 State St. The local arts and craft gallery has partnered with the Salem Snail Mail Art Swap for this all-artist community show featuring postcard-size art pieces in a variety of mediums that interpret our surroundings – mountains, valleys, bodies of water, fields, forests, coasts, and more. Each participant is sent one of the art pieces by mail after the close of the show… a true snail mail art swap! The opening artists’ reception is during the First Friday Art Walk 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 5. Learn more at https://www.ernieandgray.com/
Through November
Hallie Ford Museum of Art features a number of rotating exhibits throughout the year. Here’s what’s happening now —
Time In Place: Northwest Art From The Permanent Collection | This exhibition explores concepts of place as expressed in Northwest art over the past 150 years. Combining social, political, and environmental themes alongside individual interpretations of the Northwest landscape, the exhibition looks at how our sense of place develops through time and relationship with the land.
Claudia Cave: Interiors and Interiority | Corvallis, Oregon artist Claudia Cave (American, born 1951) grew up in Salem and earned art degrees at Western Oregon University and the University of Idaho. Her drawings and paintings range widely in subject matter, from spiky female figures to zooming canines and occasional cats to smoothly excavated landscape forms.
In Dialogue: Diego Rivera | Diego Rivera’s painting “La ofrenda” (1931) forms the centerpiece for the museum’s newest “In Dialogue” exhibition. This ongoing series of small exhibitions pairs loans of artworks by major international artists with artworks from the museum’s permanent collection.
Hallie Ford Museum of Art is located at 700 State St. It is open 12 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To enter the museum, Willamette University requires visitors to provide proof of vaccination, show valid ID and wear an appropriate mask. Cost to visit is $3 to $6 (Tuesday is free for everyone). For more details please click here.
Through November 13
Salem Art Association features Ofrenda, a community altar embracing elements of the Día de los Muertos traditions in Mexico. The exhibition explores death as an ever-present part of life and creates an atmosphere for all to remember our ancestors and the lives of those loved. The public is encouraged to bring in photos or objects to include on the altar any time the galleries are open. The Bush Barn Art Center & Annex are open 12 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Masks and social distancing are required. Learn more at https://salemart.org/
Through November 30
See Patricia Young’s Abstract Landscapes during the month of November at Roy John Designer Goldsmith, 315 Court St NE. “I’ve been taking a new direction with my painting, using palette knives to achieve a more abstract painting technique. I will have many smaller paintings in this show and some larger paintings also using palette knife painting, all focusing on color, value, composition and texture.” There will be an Opening Reception during the First Friday Art Walk 5 to 7 p.m. November 5.
Wednesdays through Saturdays
Deepwood Museum & Garden, 1116 Mission St. SE, has resumed its full museum home tour schedule. Tours will be at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Masks are required; a maximum of 6 people per tour is permitted. If you have a preferred tour time, call 503-363-1825 ahead of time to reserve a space. For groups of four people or more, pre-reservations are required. Contact the number above or e-mail melanie@deepwoodmuseum.org. Learn more at www.DeepwoodMuseum.org
Through mid-November, a mourning display is on exhibit throughout the home. It features a wide array of items that show examples of what Victorians wore or used in their extensive time spent mourning. The attire went far beyond just wearing a black dress, but included parasols, jewelry, hats and more. Queen Victoria set the tone for mourning customs after her beloved husband, Prince Albert, passed away in 1861.
November 4
The Salem Poetry Project continues virtually. Each week includes a featured reader followed by the Infamous Open Mic: 3 poems or five minutes whichever is first. The featured reader begins at 7 p.m. with the open mic directly following. For more information, and the Zoom link for the event, contact Marc Janssen at https://www.facebook.com/SalemPoetryProject/
The November 4th featured reader is John Witte. John’s poems have appeared widely, in publications such as The New Yorker, Paris Review, Kenyon Review, and American Poetry Review, and been included in The Norton Introduction to Literature, among several anthologies. The recipient of two writing fellowships from the NEA, a residency at the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, and numerous other grants and awards, he lives with his family in Eugene, where he taught, until recently, at the University of Oregon.
Catch the Off-Broadway hit comedy Men Are From Mars – Women Are From Venus LIVE! 8 p.m. Thursday, November 4 at the Elsinore Theatre. This one-man fusion of theatre and stand-up, and is a light-hearted theatrical comedy based on the New York Times #1 best-selling book of the last decade by John Gray. Click here for tickets.
Every Thursday
Questions about Facts Trivia is now happening every Thursday! Join New York Times best-selling author Kelly Williams Brown at 7 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month at The Best Goose, and at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays at Divine Distillers. For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/QuestionsAboutFacts
Join the Community Drum Circle at BeeHive Station Food Pod with a basic drum lesson 5:30 to 6 p.m. followed by a casual community drum circle 6 to 7:30 with Cherry City Rhythms Drum Circle. Don’t own a drum? That’s ok! They have extras they are happy to share. Note: Venue parking is extremely limited. Anyone participating in drumming is expected to park in the lot adjacent to the Beehive station or across the street at Safeway.
November 5
Browse. Explore. Shop. Sip. Celebrate. The First Friday Art Walk aims to promote local business, emerging artists and engagement with our downtown community. Taking place from 5 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, it is a free, leisurely opportunity to explore the heart of Salem and discover new shops, artwork, crafters and more. Each month includes a variety of different businesses offering specials, art to view, activities and more. Reinforcing the encouragement of participation, each month also includes a raffle. To take part, pick up a passport from any of the participating businesses. Collect stamps from 12 of the businesses/locations. Then turn in your completed passport to be entered in a raffle for a chance to win a prize (usually a basket overflowing with items from all the participating businesses). Find all the details at facebook.com/SalemArtWalk
November 5 through 27
See the Capital Calligrapher’s Guild 2021 Show at Gallery 444 inside Elsinore Gallery. If you love letters, you’ll love the creativity and unique styles represented in this show. There will be an opening reception 5 to 8 p.m. November 5 during First Friday Art walk.
Fridays and Saturdays
Take in Tim King’s Salem Ghost Tours 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in downtown Salem. Although Tim is no longer with us, his haunted history tour lives on this season. If you would like to learn Salem’s macabre secrets, meet at Capitol Steps on Court St. Tickets are $20 per person. Pre-sale available online, or pay in person, cash or square. Click here to purchase tickets. For safety, bring a mask. Dress for the weather. Flashlights and cameras are encouraged. For information, contact Austin @ 503-498-0550 with general questions.
November 6
Windowsill hosts Bright Spot, a pop-up featuring some of their favorite local artists and makers such as @ecomillennials @carazuri @ruffedgeco @jennyfairlight @cloverfalldesigns and more. Windowsill is located at 4910 Turner Rd. SE and the pop-up is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 7
Professor of Piano at the University of Oregon, Alexandre Dossin returns to St. Paul’s to play a solo piano recital on the nine-foot Yamaha grand 4 p.m. Sunday, November 7. A specialist in the music of Franz Liszt, Dossin will perform the monumental “Sonata in B Minor.” This 30-minute continuous composition is one of the most awe-inspiring and technically demanding pieces in piano literature. Completing the program, the inspiring Vallée d’Obermann, a spiritual journey and an ode to nature, based on the early romantic book by Senancour. The concert is free and open to the public, however, donations to the St. Paul’s Music Guild are gratefully accepted. The concert will be heard in person at St. Paul’s with masks required or it can be heard live-streamed on the St. Paul’s YouTube channel or at www.stpaulsoregon.org.
November 9
Lord & Schryver Conservancy presents Jennifer Jewell, “Gardening Under Western Skies: The Beauty and Meaning of Knowing our Places,” 7 p.m. November 9. Jennifer is the host of the national weekly public radio program Cultivating Place and the author of two gardening books. In her talk, Jennifer will explore how gardens/gardeners are powerful agents and spaces for positive change in our world, helping to address challenges such as climate change, habitat loss, and individual and communal health and being. The free talk takes place in the Dye House at Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St. SE. Guests are invited to stay for casual post-lecture reception. Masks and social distancing are required. RSVP to Pam Wasson at pam@lordschryver.org by November 1.
November 10
The Elsinore Film Series presents Jurassic Park (1993) 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 10. A pragmatic paleontologist touring an almost complete theme park on an island in Central America is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park’s cloned dinosaurs to run loose. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Written by Michael Crichton(novel) and David Koepp(screenplay). Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and more. Tickets are $10 each. Kids 12 and younger free with paid adult (limit 2 children per paid ticket). Learn more and purchase tickets here.
November 11 through December 24
Native Salem is an exhibition addressing the history and culture of the original Kalapuyans at Chemeketa Village, the original native peoples of what became Salem, Oregon. The exhibit images and text look at settler changes to the name and character of the town and how the Chemeketans adapted to the new American culture. Additionally, the exhibit documents challenges that Native peoples continue to face in the region from federal and state authorities in the recent past and present.
A show of ‘Small Wonders’ created for the gift-giving season in mind. The perfect, unique gift for that special someone. Pastels, collages, paintings, and photography in petite sizes from artists Nancy Eng, Katy Vigeland and Deanna White.
An Opening Night Reception for both Native Salem and Small Wonders takes place 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 12. The Bush Barn Art Center & Annex are open 12 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Masks and social distancing are required. Learn more at https://salemart.org/
November 12
Put on your dancing shoes (or just listen to the live music) at the 2nd Friday Ceili Mor November 12 at the VFW Hall, 630 Hood St NE. No partner or experience is needed for this social dance hosted by the Ceili of the Society and featuring live music by Teresa Baker, Chad Southwell and possibly a mystery guest and dances called by Bruce Kenny. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a lesson at 7:15 and the ceili at 8. Note: Masks and proof of full vaccination or negative Covid test within 72 hours of event are required. Cost is $10. Learn more at ceiliofthevalley.org
November 12 and 13
The Annual Holiday Bazaar returns to the Willamette Humane Society Thrift Store, 548 High St NE, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. November 12 and 13. Find holiday-themed items, such as tree decorations and lawn ornaments, gifts, jewelry, housewares and more. In years past, savvy shoppers have crowded around the front door of the Thrift Store on the first day of the Holiday Bazaar, hoping to find treasures before others do, but as stock is replenished throughout both day,s the opportunity to find something special is plentiful. The Holiday Bazaar is the thrift store’s most important fundraising opportunity of the year. Find out more at whs4pets.org.
November 12 through 14
Salem Theatre Network presents All Together Now!, a global event celebrating local theater. The show is a revue of songs from MTI’s beloved catalog of musicals including Annie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Come From Away, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, Guys and Dolls, Hairspray, Into the Woods, Les Misérables, Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, My Fair Lady, Once on This Island, Rent, Waitress and many more.
The cast of Salem’s All Together Now! features seasoned performers from the region including Mason Brittan, Sarah Hansen, Janeen Hilbrink, Kimberly Kelley, Annie Marges, Sarah Mutineli, Stacia Purdie, Allison Reid, Sierra Reynolds and Mandi Thompson and is directed by Kent Wilson, director of band, choir and theater arts at Salem Academy Christian Schools, joined by choreographer Geri Lynn Greeno.
The show takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov 12 and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 at Salem’s Historic Grand Theater. Tickets are $25 and available at enlightenedtheatrics.vbotickets.com/events.
November 14
Take part in The Fanciest 5K Ever! The annual run that encourages you to dress up in your fanciest duds with your fanciest buds to raise money for local sex-trafficking survivors served by Safety Compass Oregon is happening 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sunday, November 1 at 300 Glen Creek Rd NW. Learn more and sign up at https://www.thefanciest5kever.com/
Watch the 17th annual Willamette Master Chorus Veterans Concert 3 p.m. Sunday, November 14. The chorus will perform patriotic, remembrance, and music of gratitude. A special thank you to veterans, along with appreciation to firefighters who helped us through the devastating fires of September 2020 will be offered, as well as acknowledgement of those who sacrificed so much on September 11, 2001. The free concert is being held virtually and can be watched at https://www.youtube.com/c/willamettemasterchorus
November 17
The Elsinore Film Series presents E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 17. A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return to his home world. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote and more. Tickets are $10 each. Kids 12 and younger free with paid adult (limit 2 children per paid ticket). Learn more and purchase tickets here.
November 19
James Ehnes Plays Mozart with the Oregon Symphony 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 19 in Smith Auditorium at Willamette University. One of the most in-demand violinists on the international stage, Grammy Award winner James Ehnes stars in a program of drama and romance. Rounding out the concert is Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, which portrays the timeless love story with memorable melodies and lush harmonies. Click here for tickets.
Project Chamber Music: Willamette Valley returns to the Elsinore Theatre, celebrating five years of extraordinary, dynamic chamber music in Salem, and steadfast support for the Salem-Keizer Public School orchestra programs. The Aeolus Quartet will return to the stage, alongside world-class performers and Co-Artistic Directors of Chamber Music Northwest Soovin Kim, violin, and Gloria Chien, piano. Purchase tickets here. Project Chamber Music donates ticket sale proceeds to provide private instrumental lessons for local students for whom the cost would be otherwise prohibitive. Learn more at https://www.pcmwv.org/
Head out on an Owl Prowl 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 19 at Minto-Brown Island Park. The night will start with an owl pellet dissection followed by a supervised walk in the full moonlight listening and watching for our resident owls. The event takes place rain or shine so be sure to dress for the weather. Pre-registration required. Do so at egov.cityofsalem.net/ParksRec/Activity Got questions? Call 503-588-6261.
November 20
The Willamette Art Center’s annual Empty Bowls fundraising sale benefitting Marion Polk Food Share returns 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 20, in Cascade Hall at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. This one-day sale features handcrafted pottery, wood-turned bowls and wood-carved crafts from local artisans. This year’s sale will feature the namesake empty bowls, as well as ceramic planters, dishes, vases, mugs and cups, luminaries, platters, pitchers and other handmade pottery. The Capitol Woodcarvers have contributed hand-carved spoons and the Willamette Valley Woodturners are donating beautiful turned wood bowls to the sale. The sale has been moved to Cascade Hall at the Oregon State Fairgrounds to provide more space for social distancing. COVID protocols and sanitation will be in place, and shoppers should come prepared with masks.
November 24
The Elsinore Film Series presents The Princess Bride (1987) 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 24. While home sick in bed, a young boy’s grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love. Directed by Rob Reiner. Written by William Goldman. Starring Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright and more. Tickets are $10 each. Kids 12 and younger free with paid adult (limit 2 children per paid ticket). Learn more and purchase tickets here.
November 28
Catch a concert. Camerata Musica takes place at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, November 28 at UU Church, on the corner of Cordon Road and Center St. Sarah Kwok, violin; Nancy Ives, cello; and Susan Smith will perform Piano trios by Beethoven, Ravel, and Arensky. Masks and proof of vaccination are required. Admission is Free
Carlee Wright
