Consider an Art Adventure in the State Capital – A day without art is like a day without sunshine

I recently took my own advice and went on another art adventure. Salem has many options for an afternoon filled with art. I started at the Bush Barn Art Center. The historic complex of buildings includes gardens, a home that is now a museum (tours available), and a barn that has served as an art center since 1965.

The center has several galleries. One in front of the entrance beside the gift shop, another in an annex, and a third space upstairs above the main entrance. I was blown away by the diversity of art that was both skillful and thought provoking. The artists in the front gallery, Andrea Lopez and Eric Wuest, could not be more different painters. Lopez’s work combines painting with collage, creating abstract and colorful works as well as small quirky portraits. Wuest’s textural paintings evoke sunny beaches and peaceful natural scenes. In the annex, painter Jennifer Gimzewski offers many large, figural pieces. The work is bright and mysterious. Upstairs, six artists, Jite Agbro, Mary Cross, Tatiana Garmendia, Mnemosyne McKay, and Sarah Petruziello tackle the thought-provoking subject of women’s rights and representation. The work in this show uses materials as wide ranging as aprons, bronze cast vintage hats, shadows, film, and a taped column of medical books to create evocative images. Fair warning, this show covers mature subjects and may not be appropriate for small children.

The Hallie Ford Museum of Art was established in 1998 on the campus of Willamette University. It is so delightful I find myself regretting I hadn’t visited sooner. The first floor is currently showing works by graduating seniors from Willamette University as well as an impressive selection of northwest artists such as Henk Pander, Lucinda Parker, C.S.Price (starting 6/14), and Carl Hall to name a few. Upstairs you will find a small but engaging collection of ancient artifacts, a handful of prominent artists work such as Alex Katz, David Hockney, and Wayne Thiebaud, and a fantastic collection of Indigenous art. I particularly enjoyed the baskets, masks, and weaving. The displays mix work by present day artists such as Rick Bartow, Brenda Mallory, and Theresa Parker with work that is over 100 years old. It serves as a reminder that the art and traditions of these cultures are vibrant and continue to evolve.

There are many more art galleries to explore in Salem such as Elsinore Framing and Fine Art, Salem on the Edge, and Willamette Art Center so make a day of it. Bush Barn Art Center is open Wed-Sat 12-4 with free admission and the Hallie Ford Museum is open Tue-Sat 12-5 with a $5.00 admission for non-members. I hope you will consider the short trip to Salem to enjoy the quality art they have to offer.

As always, support the arts in your community. A day without art is like a day without sunshine!

Amy Mower is a local artist and lifelong Beaverton resident. She is passionate about the future of the arts in our community.