We believe that one of downtown Salem's best kept secrets is our growing cultural arts scene. Just take a stroll around the downtown Salem, Oregon area and you will find that it is rich with history and creativity. We take great pride in our local artistic venues - public art exhibits, beautiful galleries, top notch theatre, music and dance performances. The nearby galleries and museums such as the Hallie Ford Museum of Art and the Salem Art Association's Bush Barn Art Center are a must see and feature an exceptional array of work. As part of our commitment to support public art and Oregon artists in our community, The Salem Convention Center is a big supporter of The Oregon Artist Series, an exhibition that introduces Oregon art to thousands of hotel guests, conference attendees, Salem residents and many others who might otherwise not be familiar with the art of our region. Works from this series are on exhibit throughout our building and include the magnificent sculptures in our courtyard. As enthusiastic supporters of the arts & cultural movement, we were thrilled when the City of Salem's Public Art Commission announced the installation of two new murals in downtown Salem this summer! Artist Damien Gilley will begin work on the 'Mirror Maze' mural on the short, rounded wall in the alley between Commercial and Liberty Streets NE. The 560 square foot mural will be unveiled on July 5, 2017 as part of the First Wednesday event. 'Mirror Maze' by Damien Gilley is highly influenced by the architecture and glass panels in the immediate vicinity along with the the unique shape of glass ceiling structure. This bold graphic solution represents the urban experience, abstracted into multiple temporal references, multiplied into a refracting and reflecting pattern. Artist Blaine Fontana will begin his 'Waldo Stewards' mural on the Chemeketa Parkade's east stairwell on July 10. This 1,819 square foot mural will wrap the parkade stairwell and will be finished the week of July 24th. 'Waldo Stewards' by Blaine Fontana honors Salem's own Waldo Park, the smallest redwood park in the world. The redwood tree encompasses the canvas of the stairwell and includes Pileated Woodpeckers, which are often hidden and rarely seen. By featuring the woodpeckers, the artist's intent to conceptually mirror the discovery of this mural and add an energetic narrative to the concept. The work also features pop graphics to symbolize the pinecones leaving the tree for growth and development. 'We are thrilled to have two new mural projects starting in downtown Salem,' says Rick Yurk, Chair of the Salem Public Art Commission. 'Both artists, Damien Gilley and Blaine Fontana, are highly regarded with regional, national, and international reputations.' During your next visit to Downtown Salem, we hope you will take some time to explore and experience for yourself, the talented artists who make up our vibrant and active arts community. Learn more about the two murals.
