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Welcome to AVA’s monthly calendar of events. Take a peek and plan your stay-cation or your next visit to our region. The city’s most notable annual events include historic home tours, outdoor summer concerts and movies under the stars, and the Northwest Art and Air Festival.
*Note for event organizers: If you’d like to have your event listed on the AVA calendar, head over to our contact page and submit your event to us.
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art’s guided Tuesday Gallery Talks explore the exhibition at 12:30 p.m. on March 5, 12, and on April 2, 9 and 16, and are free and open to the public. A special Tuesday Gallery Talk will be held on March 19 at 12:30 p.m. with exhibition curator Jonathan Bucci.
“Singular Visions probes the dissolving cultural divisions in contemporary art, specifically the historic separation of self-taught and formally educated artists,” says exhibition curator Jonathan Bucci. “It showcases the distinct artistic voices of self-taught artists—artists who are driven to communicate through the creative impulse that is at the core of our humanity.”
The exhibition includes the work of 29 artists, each offering a unique lens into how they see the world, from personal life experiences to the communities in which they work and live. Alongside artists well-known in the contemporary art world such as James Castle, Louisiana Bendolph and James Lavadour, are works by lesser-known artists like Gregory Blackstock, Russell Childers, Burlon Craig and Royal Robertson.
“Singular Visions” also highlights the recent museum acquisitions created by contemporary artists working with Living Studios, a studio program for neurodivergent artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Living Studios is based in Corvallis and the museum is pleased to highlight and raise awareness of their newest studio in downtown Salem.
Living Studios director Bruce Burris says, “We believe the defining mark of a human being, that phenomenon which provides both purpose and pleasure, is our inherent human need to contribute to our community in a meaningful way. Artists working with Living Studios are encouraged to contribute to their community through their own inspired efforts.”
Living Studios artists featured in the exhibition include Kris Askew, Laura Bruyere, Matt Conklin, Patrick Hackleman, Ben Kelly, Greg Persons, Amy Turner, and Bonnie Wald, Linda Bach and Ruth Van Order. In addition, a collaborative artwork created by Living Studio artists titled “Walker, after Judith Scott” is on view in the museum lobby.
Complimentary collaborative events with HFMA and Living Studios
On Wednesday, February 28 and Saturday, March 2, from 1 to 3 p.m., visitors can join in the all-abilities art-making workshop, or just drop in with Jill R Baker, artist-in-residence at Living Studios and art faculty at Linn-Benton Community College, and Salem-based artist, Paul Meuse. Reservations are not required. For additional information, please contact Burris at bburris@cornerstoneassoc.org.
On Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m., Burris will discuss his own work and his work with neurodivergent artists at the Paulus Lecture Hall at the Willamette University College of Law at 245 Winter St. As part of the evening, attendees are invited to join in a participatory performance by Living Studios artist Pierre Pyke entitled “Unfold Your Book, Hold Each Page.”
18 years and counting for Oregon’s longest-running Blues Jam. Join Froggy’s Blues Jam aka Church of Eternal Suds in the Atrium at Calapooia Brewing every Sunday from 3-6 PM for a fun evening of live music, Tasty licks, tasty food, the best beer, and surprise cocktails! Bring your instrument of choice, jump right in, and jam with the band!
All ages are welcome! You can even bring your dog!
Free.
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art’s guided Tuesday Gallery Talks explore the exhibition at 12:30 p.m. on March 5, 12, and on April 2, 9 and 16, and are free and open to the public. A special Tuesday Gallery Talk will be held on March 19 at 12:30 p.m. with exhibition curator Jonathan Bucci.
“Singular Visions probes the dissolving cultural divisions in contemporary art, specifically the historic separation of self-taught and formally educated artists,” says exhibition curator Jonathan Bucci. “It showcases the distinct artistic voices of self-taught artists—artists who are driven to communicate through the creative impulse that is at the core of our humanity.”
The exhibition includes the work of 29 artists, each offering a unique lens into how they see the world, from personal life experiences to the communities in which they work and live. Alongside artists well-known in the contemporary art world such as James Castle, Louisiana Bendolph and James Lavadour, are works by lesser-known artists like Gregory Blackstock, Russell Childers, Burlon Craig and Royal Robertson.
“Singular Visions” also highlights the recent museum acquisitions created by contemporary artists working with Living Studios, a studio program for neurodivergent artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Living Studios is based in Corvallis and the museum is pleased to highlight and raise awareness of their newest studio in downtown Salem.
Living Studios director Bruce Burris says, “We believe the defining mark of a human being, that phenomenon which provides both purpose and pleasure, is our inherent human need to contribute to our community in a meaningful way. Artists working with Living Studios are encouraged to contribute to their community through their own inspired efforts.”
Living Studios artists featured in the exhibition include Kris Askew, Laura Bruyere, Matt Conklin, Patrick Hackleman, Ben Kelly, Greg Persons, Amy Turner, and Bonnie Wald, Linda Bach and Ruth Van Order. In addition, a collaborative artwork created by Living Studio artists titled “Walker, after Judith Scott” is on view in the museum lobby.
Complimentary collaborative events with HFMA and Living Studios
On Wednesday, February 28 and Saturday, March 2, from 1 to 3 p.m., visitors can join in the all-abilities art-making workshop, or just drop in with Jill R Baker, artist-in-residence at Living Studios and art faculty at Linn-Benton Community College, and Salem-based artist, Paul Meuse. Reservations are not required. For additional information, please contact Burris at bburris@cornerstoneassoc.org.
On Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m., Burris will discuss his own work and his work with neurodivergent artists at the Paulus Lecture Hall at the Willamette University College of Law at 245 Winter St. As part of the evening, attendees are invited to join in a participatory performance by Living Studios artist Pierre Pyke entitled “Unfold Your Book, Hold Each Page.”
18 years and counting for Oregon’s longest-running Blues Jam. Join Froggy’s Blues Jam aka Church of Eternal Suds in the Atrium at Calapooia Brewing every Sunday from 3-6 PM for a fun evening of live music, Tasty licks, tasty food, the best beer, and surprise cocktails! Bring your instrument of choice, jump right in, and jam with the band!
All ages are welcome! You can even bring your dog!
Free.
18 years and counting for Oregon’s longest-running Blues Jam. Join Froggy’s Blues Jam aka Church of Eternal Suds in the Atrium at Calapooia Brewing every Sunday from 3-6 PM for a fun evening of live music, Tasty licks, tasty food, the best beer, and surprise cocktails! Bring your instrument of choice, jump right in, and jam with the band!
All ages are welcome! You can even bring your dog!
Free.
18 years and counting for Oregon’s longest-running Blues Jam. Join Froggy’s Blues Jam aka Church of Eternal Suds in the Atrium at Calapooia Brewing every Sunday from 3-6 PM for a fun evening of live music, Tasty licks, tasty food, the best beer, and surprise cocktails! Bring your instrument of choice, jump right in, and jam with the band!
All ages are welcome! You can even bring your dog!
Free.
Head to Wine Crush for a weekend of Food, Wine, Music, and Fun! Wine Crush will turn its back parking lot into ground zero for Crush Festival 2024!
Saturday, May 11
The fun starts at 2 pm when 6 wineries will be offering complimentary tastes of their new releases. There is no charge from 2-5 pm so settle in, sip wine and enjoy the food from the outside grill.
At 5:00 things get turned up a notch when the After Five Party begins! Sit back, and enjoy your dinner while you listen to a fantastic live band!
Dinner is served from 5 pm to 7 pm and includes two drinks (beer or wine) and an insulated steel tumbler! See details below for more info and to buy tickets.
IMPORTANT DETAILS: Wine Crush will remain open during Crush Fest for those craving pizza and conversation.
Crush Fest attendees will enter the event through the back door.
The After Parties are $25 per person.
Tickets must be purchased before the event online. There is a limit of 100 people for each party. Tickets are non-refundable.
Buy Tickets
Mosey over to Wine Crush for a weekend of Food, Wine, Music, and Fun! The event will be held at the back parking lot of Wine Crush.
The fun starts at 1 pm on Sunday, May 12 with 6 wineries serving complimentary tastes. The grill will be fired up with food served outside under the tent. From 1 pm to 4 pm no ticket is needed to enjoy the wineries, food and music. So head around back, grab a drink and something to eat and listen as two amazing artists take the stage: Billy Lanham with Ron Green! You don’t want to miss this treat!
The After Four Party starts at, well, 4. You’ll be entertained by a local band while you enjoy your dinner (served 4pm to 6pm), two drinks, and a stainless steel tumbler for one price. See details below for more info and to buy tickets.
IMPORTANT DETAILS: Wine Crush will remain open during Crush Fest for those craving pizza and conversation.
Crush Fest attendees will enter the event through the back door. The After Parties are $25 per person and include food, two drinks, and a steel tumbler.
Tickets must be purchased before the event online. There is a limit of 100 people for each party. Tickets are non-refundable.
Buy Tickets
18 years and counting for Oregon’s longest-running Blues Jam. Join Froggy’s Blues Jam aka Church of Eternal Suds in the Atrium at Calapooia Brewing every Sunday from 3-6 PM for a fun evening of live music, Tasty licks, tasty food, the best beer, and surprise cocktails! Bring your instrument of choice, jump right in, and jam with the band!
All ages are welcome! You can even bring your dog!
Free.
18 years and counting for Oregon’s longest-running Blues Jam. Join Froggy’s Blues Jam aka Church of Eternal Suds in the Atrium at Calapooia Brewing every Sunday from 3-6 PM for a fun evening of live music, Tasty licks, tasty food, the best beer, and surprise cocktails! Bring your instrument of choice, jump right in, and jam with the band!
All ages are welcome! You can even bring your dog!
Free.
