Salem Art Association January Exhibitions, Announcements and Events

Quand je mourrai, je veux aller a Paris (Detail) by Frank Barnett

January 17-February 22

Curios & Curiosities: Interpreting the Natural and Cultural Worlds

Sponsored by Spirit Mountain Casino

This group exhibition represents a partnership between the Salem Art Association’s Bush Barn Art Center, the Bush House Museum and the Mount Angel Abbey. In the Art Center’s Alcove Gallery, cultural artifacts and natural history specimens from the Abbey Museum—via an unprecedented loan—will be assembled in vitrines and glass-faced cabinets to re-create the content and style of an authentic Cabinet of Curiosities.

The second part of the exhibition will be mounted in the main area of the A.N. Bush Gallery and will consist of recent work by several contemporary artists working in a variety of mediums, each of whom interpret the historical legacy of the Cabinets of Curiosity in unique and thought-provoking ways. Exhibiting artists will include Frank Miller, Dave Nichols, Sandra Nichols, Tim Timmerman, Craig Goodworth, Cara Thompson, Kathryn Cellerini Moore, James Brandon O’Shea, David Cohen, Frank Barnett and Brian Collier.

Artwork by Sara Swanberg

January 17-February 22 | Rivers: New Work by Sara Swanberg

Sponsored by Michele J. Patterson

The Rivers Series of wood and clay sculptures offers a story of many years of Sara’s experiences coming together late in life. For a number of years she exhibited primitive-style masks, shields and fetishes in Salem, McMinnville and Portland. She later became fascinated with wood carving and mentored with Leroy Setziol for several months, learning about the use of specific tools, and the qualities of many varieties of wood.

Two years ago she saw a photo in National Geographic Magazine of some highly unusual cave pearls discovered in the ancient underground of Vietnam. As Sara stared at the photo, it all clicked: the clay-ball rivers flowing with the beautiful exotic grain found in so many varieties of wood from around the world. Her work in wood and clay is directly inspired by these experiences.

The Vine Walker

By Cameron Kaseberg

January 17-February 22 | Cameron Kaseberg: Rental-Sales Program Featured Artist

Sponsored by Collier Law

Using images he has captured with a camera, as well as those collected in print matter, Cameron layers images, one at a time, using the paper-to-paper transfer process. This process of layering builds the final image, from back to front. Sometimes the images are composed in his mind in advance and sometimes the images evolve during the process, taking on a life of their own. Some pieces go beyond the transfer process and are finished with acrylics and graphite, highlighting and enhancing important elements of the scene.

sandra “sloy” & dave “nic” nichols

Tuesday, January 7 | 10 am | Artist Talk: nic and sloy

As artists exhibiting work in the upcoming Curios & Curiosities exhibition at the Bush Barn Art Center, dave “nic” and sandra “sloy” nichols have created fresh interpretations of time-honored and even archaic myths, practices and memorials. Using materials such as bones, cloth, ceramic figurines and cardboard, their art combines timeless and cutting-edge aesthetic values. The artists will discuss their studio practices and how they continue exploring new dimensions of meaning in their artwork.

A meeting of the SAA Gallery Guides will follow the lecture. To learn more about this volunteer docent group, call Nikki Freepons at 503-588-2748.

Artwork by David Cohen

Friday, January 17 | 5:30-6:30 pm
Curator Talk: Cabinets of Curiosity: The Art of Artifacts

Cabinets of Curiosities, also known as a wunderkammern or “Wonder Rooms” were carefully arranged collections of items from the natural and cultural worlds. The practice of displaying these items became popular during the Renaissance and culminated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the amalgamation of private curiosity collections into many of the museums we know today, including the British Museum, the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian.

Learn how this unusual tradition has influenced and inspired generations of artists and how it continues today at the Mount Angel Abbey Museum. Presented by Catherine Alexander, Bush Barn Art Center Gallery Director, and Brother Andre Love, Mt. Angel Abbey Museum Curator.

SAA patron Larry Stuart enjoys a Fine Art Friday event at the Bush Barn Art Center

Friday, January 17 | 6:30-7:30 pm| Fine Art Friday Exhibit Reception

Celebrate three new exhibitions at the Bush Barn Art Center: Curios & Curiosities: Interpreting the Natural and Cultural Worlds (A.N. Bush Gallery); Rivers: New Work by Sara Swanberg (Focus Gallery); and Cameron Kaseberg: Rental-Sales Program Featured Artist (Camas Gallery). Enjoy wine, appetizers and casual conversation with the exhibiting artists.

Bush House Museum Winter Schedule

The Bush House Museum will not be open for tours in January or February to enable staff to complete ongoing restoration and maintenance projects. The Museum will reopen for guided tours on Saturday, March 1, with enhanced interpretive and educational programming.

Erich McVey poses as Jay Gatsby

for the 2014 Clay Ball

15^th Annual Clay Ball Advance Tickets Now Available Online

Through February 16: $80.00 | February 17-19: $95.00

Join artists and patrons on Saturday, February 22, 2014 for a glittering evening of art, wine, food and music to benefit the Salem Art Association’s programs. Now in its 15th year, Clay Ball is one of Salem’s most anticipated events, gathering approximately 500 art appreciators each year. This year’s theme, Get Up & Gatsby, is inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s celebrated novel, The Great Gatsby, as well as the 2013 Baz Luhrmann film by the same name. Attire that keeps with the theme is encouraged. Please visit www.SalemArt.org for additional information and to purchase tickets.

Artists Marketplace 2013

Salem Art Fair & Festival

65^th Annual Salem Art Fair & Festival Applications Available Online

Artist applications for the 65th Annual Salem Art Fair & Festival are now available online (www.zapplication.org). Other applications, including musical performers, food booths, the David A. Cohen Kids’ Court and the Cultural Corridor are available at www.SalemArt.org.

Ranked in the top 20 among more than 1,400 festivals nationwide by the Art Fair Sourcebook, the Salem Art Fair & Festival is the primary fundraiser for the Salem Art Association and attracts roughly 35,000 individuals per year. This year’s Salem Art Fair & Festival will take place from July 18-20, 2014 in historic Bush’s Pasture Park.

Mobil-Homes

Andrew Myers, Project Space 2013

Project Space 2014 Call for Artists Available

Salem Art Association seeks artists to participate in Project Space – a dynamic temporary (June to August 2014) contemporary art venue in downtown Salem, Oregon that will offer juried exhibits by regional artists, studio space, as well as performances, installations and events that encourage community dialogue. Project Space is designed to bring out the experimental, the creative, the unexpected, the large, the small, the moveable and moving. The full prospectus is available at www.SalemArt.org.

SAA Volunteers Ann Shaffer (L) and Cathy Effmann (R) with SAA staff member Monica Moyano

Gallery Volunteer Opportunities

The volunteer opportunities listed require no experience unless otherwise stated and take place in team-oriented settings with direction provided by SAA staff.

Fine Art Friday Greeter | Friday, January 17 | 5:15-7:15 pm

Welcome visitors to our exhibit reception at the Bush Barn Art Center and serve as a gallery greeter in the A.N. Bush Gallery. Contact Catherine Alexander at 503-581-2228 x302 to sign up for this volunteer shift.