Salem Art Association

HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE ARTS TO EXPAND CREATIVITY, IMPROVE LIVES, AND FOSTER A MORE VIBRANT AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY.

FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS, THE SALEM ART ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN PRESENTING THE ANNUAL SALEM ART FAIR & FESTIVAL AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE REGION'S CULTURAL CALENDAR. THE EVENT DRAWS BETWEEN 15,000 AND 25,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR. THE SALEM ART FAIR & FESTIVAL WAS STARTED IN 1949 AND IS NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST ART FAIRS IN OREGON AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS, IT FEATURES APPROXIMATELY 200 ARTISTS, LIVE MUSIC, THEATRE AND DANCE ON MULTIPLE STAGES, A WINE AND BEER COURT, A VARIETY OF FOOD BOOTHS, A CHILDREN'S AREA, A PLANT SALE, AND MUCH MORE. THE SALEM ART FAIR AND FESTIVAL IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO A RANGE OF ARTISTIC MEDIUMS THAT APPEAL TO BOTH COMMITTED AND CASUAL ART LOVERS AND COLLECTORS.

THE HISTORIC BUSH HOUSE MUSEUM IS PRESERVED AND INTERPRETED TO EXPLORE THE LIVES AND LEGACY OF SALEM'S BUSH FAMILY, THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF SALEM, AND THE HISTORY AND DIVERSITY OF EARLY OREGON. THE ROOMS ARE FURNISHED WITH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE BUSH FAMILY'S ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS TO SHOW WHAT THE HOUSE LOOKED LIKE AROUND 1913. THE HOUSE WAS MODERN WHEN IT WAS BUILT, WITH GAS LIGHTING, INDOOR PLUMBING, AND A CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM; AS THE HOME OF A WEALTHY FAMILY, IT DOESN'T REFLECT THE LIFESTYLE OF MOST OREGONIANS LIVING IN THAT ERA. SALEM ART ASSOCIATION HAS STARTED THE PROCESS OF RE-EXAMINING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASAHEL BUSH WHOSE RACIST RHETORIC AND SUPPORT OF EXCLUSIONARY GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES STILL IMPACTS NATIVE AMERICANS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TODAY AND FINDING WAYS TO DE-EMPHASIZE HIS INDIVIDUAL STORY WHILE CREATING SPACE FOR THE STORIES OF SALEM'S DIVERSE EARLY COMMUNITIES.

LOCATED IN HISTORIC BUSH'S PASTURE PARK, THE BUSH BARN ART CENTER FEATURES THREE GALLERIES, A GIFT GALLERY, AND A PERMANENT COLLECTION. THE A.N. BUSH GALLERY PRESENTS MAJOR INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITIONS OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS. THE FOCUS GALLERY OFFERS A MORE INTIMATE SETTING SHOWCASING SMALL ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS AS WELL AS EXHIBITIONS HIGHLIGHTING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE CAMAS GALLERY PROVIDES REGIONAL ARTISTS SEEKING GALLERY REPRESENTATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT WITH THE VENUE AND SERVICES THEY NEED TO THRIVE PROFESSIONALLY. OUR EXHIBITIONS FEATURE FINE ART AND CRAFTS BY ARTISTS LIVING OR WORKING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND BEYOND. THE BUSH BARN ART CENTER PROVIDES ENRICHING ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES FOR VIEWERS OF ALL AGES, FOSTERING A LIFE-LONG APPRECIATION FOR VISUAL ART. EXHIBITIONS ARE ALWAYS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

THE SALEM ART ASSOCIATION'S COMMUNITY ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM AIMS TO SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF DYNAMIC LOCAL ARTS PROJECTS. MOST NOTABLY, CAE ENGAGES THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. WITH THE 2016 RENOVATIONS OF THE ANNEX AND AT THE BUSH BARN ART CENTER CAE PROGRAMMING HAS EXPANDED. THE NEWLY RENOVATED BUSH BARN ANNEX NOW SERVES AS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR SAA'S CAE PROGRAM AND FEATURES A DEDICATED STUDIO SPACE FOR A YEAR-ROUND ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM, AND A MAIN SPACE FOR ART WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITIONS, CLASSES AND OTHER PROGRAMMING.