What’s showing at Salem galleries, museums in May
This month, Salem’s galleries and museums will showcase stunning florals, share a wide range of perspectives and celebrate local photography.
Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday evening, May 2, the Salem Art Walk will bring artists and musicians to local businesses downtown.
Salem Art Association
600 Mission St. S.E.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 12 – 4 p.m.
Admission: Free
There will be a joint opening reception for this month’s shows on Friday, May 2, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., with a welcome and introduction from the artists starting at 6 p.m.
TENSION – Veiled & Revealed
Through June 28
A series of portrait paintings by Vancouver, Washington-based artist Andrea Lopez Chen will be on display this month. The portraits feature partially concealed faces.
“The act of masking raises questions—what do we choose to reveal, and what remains beneath the surface?” said a gallery statement.
The artist used a long stick with a brush attached, distancing herself from the painting at first before returning later to add finer details. The portraits are on display alongside mixed media paintings with collage, acrylic, spray paint and oil pastels.
ARTISTS IN DISCUSSION – Persistent Voices
Through June 28
An exhibition, “Six Artist’s Perspectives,” features work that explores “the complexity of being human, especially the social, political and personal experiences and ramifications of living as a female in our time,” according to a gallery description. It includes a variety of media, including painting and projection, and a variety of themes from bodily autonomy to mythology.
There will be a free discussion with the artists on Saturday, May 3, at 11 a.m. RSVP online.
IMAGINARY LANDSCAPES – A Selection
Through June 28
Painter Jennifer Gimzewski’s work will be on display at the art association this month. In an artist’s statement, she said she never works with a finished painting in mind. Gimzewski is originally from Scotland, and moved to Oregon in 2005, currently living in Aumsville.
“Using imaginary landscapes, I create my canvases in a way that is suggestive of a place and time but in reality is about the placing of colours next to and on top of one another in a way that speaks to me,” she said.
BEYOND THE SURFACE – Colorful Chronicles
Through June 28
Salem artist Eric Wuest will be displaying a selection of paintings from 1990 to today. Wuest’s work spans from drawing to painting to printmaking, and is known for his unique use of depth.
“His work often encourages viewers to look beyond the surface and discover new dimensions,” according to a gallery statement.
Wuest studied art at Chemeketa Community College and Western Oregon University. His work has been on display at the Oregon State Capitol and in galleries throughout the region.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES – Artist in Residence
Through May 30
May’s artist in residence, Eric Tautkus, will be working on new techniques this month at the gallery. He’ll be working on fresh florals and organic spring patterns, and will be open to visits throughout the month to talk about his work.
ART HISTORY LECTURE – Creativity in Revolutionary Times
May 14 at 6 p.m.
Philip Nickel, a longtime art history teacher at Sprague High School, will give a free lecture on the subject of creativity under revolutionary times.
The lecture focuses on rebellion against power through art, including Basquiat, Guerrilla Girls, at Abu Ghraib and more. Register for the free session online.
PORTRAITS AND SHORT FILMS – Favorite Things II
Through June 29
A portrait and short film series by Portland artist Jason Hill, “Favorite Things II,” asked artists to talk about their favorite item while in a studio.
“The results are an experiment with light and color to create magical portraits and filmed testimonials,” Hill said in an artist statement.
Elsinore Framing & Fine Art Gallery/Artists in Action
444 Ferry St. S.E.
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
LOCAL PHOTOS – Annual photography invitational
Through May 31
Fifteen local artists have submitted nearly 50 pieces for this year’s photography invitational at Elsinore Framing. The Artists in Action Gallery will also be featuring work by Dee Hendrix, a mixed media painter, and Jean Lea who works in acrylic and watercolor.
The opening reception for this month’s exhibitions will be from 5-8 p.m. during First Friday, May 2.
Willamette Heritage Center
1313 Mill St. S.E.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors over 65, $6 students and children ages 6-17. Passes available for checkout at the Salem Public Library. Free admission for Oregon Trail/SNAP/EBT card holders.
FASHION HISTORY – Corsets and Brassieres: How Undergarments Reflect Women’s Freedoms And Autonomy
Through June 27
A new pop-up exhibit shares a collection of undergarments, sewing supplies and photographs from Renska Swart, a 1920s Salem businesswoman.
“Follow the transition from the Victorian age into the modern age as seen from the lens of undergarments and fashion, and the social, political and economic changes that accompany it,” an exhibit description said.
HISTORY OF SPORTS – Let’s Play!
Through May 24
The museum exhibition features “forgotten sports memorabilia from the Mid-Willamette Valley’s past,” including vintage uniforms and a scoreboard of local team heroes, according to a museum statement.
“Sports foster teamwork, but they can also create a sense of community and belonging. This heritage invitational exhibition explores how Mid-Willamette Valley communities have come together through competition,” the statement said.
The exhibit includes artifacts from over a dozen museums and organizations throughout the region, including the Oregon State Hospital, Willamette University and the city of Salem Parks and Recreation Department.
Keizer Art Association
Keizer Cultural Center, 980 Chemawa Rd., Keizer
Hours: Tuesday 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Admission: Free
ALL THINGS FLORAL – Celebration of Flowers
Through June 4
This month, the Keizer Art Association is showcasing flowers in a wide range of media.
The gallery will also show the annual Keizer Iris Festival Contest, with the winner selected by the Keizer Chamber of Commerce. Local artists were asked to feature the “Idol,” an apricot and purple iris from Schreiner’s Gardens.
There will be a public reception from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, where the poster contest winner will be announced.
Level 2 Gallery – Salem Convention Center
200 Commercial St. S.E.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., or for appointment call 503-589-1700
Admission: Free
FATHERHOOD – New Energy
Through June 13
The Level 2 Gallery will feature work by Salem artists Shoki Tanabe and Adam Zeek. “New Energy” is the first collaborative exhibition by two lifelong friends. Tanabe works in acrylic, graphite and oil pastel on canvas or wood and Zeek carves wood panels.
The work is shaped by their experiences raising daughters, the artists said in a joint statement.
“Navigating new terrain and gazing upon new landscapes demands a new perspective through aging eyes. In moments of exhaustion, we tap into a new energy, harnessing our lived experiences as kids again,” they said.
Hallie Ford Museum of Art – Willamette University
700 State St.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 12 – 5 p.m.
Admission: $8 general, $5 for seniors. Free admission for children up to age 17, educators and students with ID and museum members. Free admission for all on Tuesdays. Passes available for checkout at the Salem Public Library.
STUDENT WORK – ALL OVER THIS PLACE!
Through May 17
The museum will feature work from seven seniors in Willamette University’s studio art program. The showcase includes paintings, sculptures and photography.
FACULTY WORK – Holden Head: A Day Goes By
Through May 17
Holden Head, a visiting assistant professor in sculpture at Willamette University, will have a solo exhibition in the museum starting this month. Head will discuss his work during a free gallery talk on Tuesday, May 6, at noon.
OREGON FORESTS – Nancy Floyd: For the Love of Trees
Through June 21
An exhibition opening at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art this month features recent work by Bend-based photographer and author Nancy Floyd.
The exhibit, “For the Love of Trees,” is a multi-year project exploring the bond between Oregonians and the forest, “including those who study trees, those who protect trees, those who make a living off trees, and those who see trees as part of their daily life,” according to a description.
Floyd was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2022 for the work, which brought her alongside forestry workers, into mills and on tree-planting trips.
Salem on the Edge
156 Liberty St. N.E.
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday 12 – 4 p.m.
Admission: Free
BRIGHT COLORS – Birds, blooms and b-sides
Through May 31
This month, Salem on the Edge is showcasing and selling Lisa Laser’s colorful hummingbird paintings. They’ll be on display alongside artist Dayna Collins’ work, “Curious Untamed Blooms,” a series of floral paintings.
UPDATE: This article was updated with the Salem Art Association’s new spring hours, which began May 7, and with information about Salem on the Edge’s May show.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
