Carlee WrightTake a moment to step out of today’s fast-paced scroll to pause for Slow Art Day, April 11, at the Salem Public Library.
The global event, founded on a simple mission to help people discover the joy of looking at and loving art, was introduced to Salem in 2025 by Susan Napack, a local artist and commissioner for the Salem Public Art Commission (SPAC). She learned about Slow Art Day through her book club while reading All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley.
For Susan, the event aligns with a broader goal: increasing awareness and engagement with Salem’s public art collection.
“The collection belongs to the people of Salem,” she said, noting that many residents are unaware of the artwork housed in public spaces, including the library. “This is their art.”
Slow Art Day offers a way to connect with the collection without requiring prior knowledge or expertise. Participants are invited to spend time with three works from the Salem Public Art Collection, viewing each for 10 minutes before joining a group conversation.
This year features work by Salem artists Bonnie Hull, Eileen Cotter Howell, and Carol Hausser, who will be present to answer questions and share insight into their process. To support a more intentional viewing experience, the works will be moved from the library walls to easels in Anderson Room A, creating a quieter, more focused space for looking.
Susan said the format is designed to make art more approachable, particularly for those who may feel uncertain about how to engage with it.
“People often think there’s a right way to look at art or a meaning they’re supposed to understand,” she said. “This gives them permission to just look and respond to what they see.”
That response can take many forms. Participants may notice color or composition, draw personal connections, or reflect on how the work makes them feel. There is no expectation to arrive at a single interpretation.
Even spending an extended period of time with one piece can be a new experience. During last year’s event, participants began to notice details they had initially overlooked and found connections between works, said Susan.
“It’s about slowing down,” she added. “Giving yourself time to really see what’s in front of you.”
Attendance in its first year was modest, but organizers see Slow Art Day as part of a broader effort to raise awareness of Salem’s public art and create opportunities for community engagement. Susan plans to continue outreach through neighborhood association presentations to further connect residents with the collection.
For those unsure whether the event is for them, Susan emphasized that prior art experience is not necessary.
“There’s no test at the end,” she said. “It’s just about taking the time to look.”
Slow Art Day doesn’t ask much. Just an hour, a little curiosity, and a willingness to pause.
Slow Art Day
When: 11 a.m. April 11, 2026 (meet at 10:50 a.m.)
Where: Anderson Room A at Salem Public Library
Cost: Free and open to the public
READ ON —
Check out these past stories from Press Play Salem about Public Art
- Public Art is ‘Good Cents’
- Read All About It: Salem Library gets new public art
- Exploring Salem’s Public Art: Tom Hardy’s Birds
- Exploring Salem’s Public Art: The Cremains Memorial
Author: Carlee Wright
Carlee Wright is a community instigator with a grand love for Salem and notably fashionable shoes (Hello, John Fluevog!) who turns waste into wearable art in her "spare" time.
Sarah Evans
