Salem Art Association

Salem Art Association Non-profit arts organization operating the Bush Barn Art Center and Annex, a Community Arts Education

Founded in 1919 in Salem, Oregon, the Salem Art Association (SAA) is a 501c3 non-profit arts organization serving the mid-Willamette Valley. SAA operates the Bush Barn Art Center, the Annex, the Bush House Museum, a Community Arts Education program, and the Salem Art Fair & Festival. The mission of the Salem Art Association is to actively engage the community in the appreciation of the arts throug

h contemporary art exhibitions and events, arts education for youth and adults, and the preservation and interpretation of our shared cultural heritage.

Experience the Salem Art Fair before the gates even open.The Opening Night Party of the 77th Anniversary Salem Art Fair ...
09/01/2026

Experience the Salem Art Fair before the gates even open.

The Opening Night Party of the 77th Anniversary Salem Art Fair & Festival is Thursday, September 10, and it’s one of the most special ways to begin Art Fair weekend. Enjoy an evening of live music, a delicious dinner, and time to dine and connect alongside the artists exhibiting at this year’s festival.

Live music will be provided by True North Duo, the award-winning Americana duo of Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel. Their bluegrass-infused sound, rich harmonies, exceptional songwriting, and engaging performances are the perfect soundtrack for an evening celebrating art and community.

Your ticket includes:

• Mediterranean dinner from La Jitana
• Two drink tickets featuring beer from Conversion Brewery and wine from Bryn Mawr Vineyards
• Live music from True North Duo
• An evening spent alongside exhibiting artists, friends, and fellow art lovers
• A beautiful setting at Bush’s Pasture Park

Last year’s Opening Night Party sold out, and tickets will not be available at the door.

September 9 is the last day to purchase your tickets. Don’t miss this special evening that brings the artists, music, food, and community together before the 77th Salem Art Fair officially begins.

🎟️ Tickets and more information visit: www.SalemArtFair.org
https://events.humanitix.com/opening-night-party-for-77th-annual-salem-art-fair-and-festival

77th Anniversary Salem Art Fair & Festival
September 11–13, 2026

Bush’s Pasture Park
600 Mission St. SE
Salem, OR 97302


Kristen Grainger & True North

VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDThe 77th Annual Salem Art Fair & Festival is September 11–13, 2026, and we need you to help make it hap...
09/01/2026

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The 77th Annual Salem Art Fair & Festival is September 11–13, 2026, and we need you to help make it happen.
Whether you can volunteer for one shift or join us all weekend, every hour makes a difference. We appreciate every hour you give to support the arts and our community. Your volunteer time helps support free art programming throughout the year.

Volunteer perks include:

• A free weekend pass to the Art Fair & Festival
• A commemorative SAFF volunteer T-shirt
• A free Salem Art Association annual membership
• Discounts at the SAA Gallery Gift Store and artist workshops
• The chance to support the arts and our community

Signing up is quick and easy. Choose a shift that works for you and be part of the team that keeps the Salem Art Fair & Festival running smoothly.

And this year’s T-shirt is something special.
This year’s commemorative design, Visitors Welcome, was created by local educators and artists Shoki and Sara Tanabe. Inspired by their Japanese-American heritage, the design draws on traditional Japanese woodblock and Notan techniques to celebrate Salem’s natural beauty through Cherry Blossoms, Roses, and White Oak.
Be part of the team that brings the Art Fair to life — and take home a special piece of this year’s celebration.

Sign up for your shift today and be part of the 77th Annual Salem Art Fair & Festival.

Sign up for your shift today and for more information visit: www.SalemArtFair.org/volunteer/

77th Anniversary Salem Art Fair & Festival
September 11–13, 2026

Bush's Pasture Park
600 Mission St. SE
Salem, OR 97302

Tomorrow, Sunday, August 30, is the final day of Living Studios’ “We Are All Sounds of Other Sounds.”Haven’t had a chanc...
08/29/2026

Tomorrow, Sunday, August 30, is the final day of Living Studios’ “We Are All Sounds of Other Sounds.”

Haven’t had a chance to experience the exhibition yet? There’s still time. We invite you to visit us before the exhibition comes down and experience the collective work of Living Studios’ artists and learn more about their artistic practices and community-based projects.

And if you can’t make it in before we de-install, we’re excited to share another opportunity to connect with Living Studios. Find us at the Salem Art Fair & Festival, September 11–13, at Cultural Community Booth #2 in Bush’s Pasture Park.

Living Studios, a program of Cornerstone Associates, Inc., is a progressive art studio and gallery supporting neurodiverse artists in their artistic practices through mentorship, encouragement, and meaningful opportunities to share their work. Artists at Living Studios are part of a creative community that fosters professional art opportunities, collaborations, and community-based projects.

Cornerstone’s Living Studios program creates vibrant, elegant, and daring social and cultural collaborations. Through engaging community interactions, the program supports artists with disabilities in growing their practices and contributing to the cultural and artistic vitality of our community.

In “We Are All Sounds of Other Sounds,” Living Studios highlights advocacy and community-based projects through archival objects and artifacts from collaborative projects including BirdWatchers, Project Easy Access, Voices From Home, and artistic contributions to Our Fairview.

Come see the exhibition before it’s gone. We’d love to have you visit us for one final day.

Admission is free, and all are welcome.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 p.m.

Bush Barn Art Center & Annex
600 Mission St SE
Salem, OR 97302

Learn more at: www.salemart.org/events
Living Studios Arts

Some things are meant to be seen, not just stored away. Don’t be like these sitting ducks — be prepared to be blown away...
08/28/2026

Some things are meant to be seen, not just stored away. Don’t be like these sitting ducks — be prepared to be blown away, and join us this weekend for the final weekend of “Kept: What We Ask of the Past.”

On view through August 30, 2026, at the A.N. Bush Gallery in the Bush Barn Art Center, “Kept” explores the stories held within overlooked objects and asks what they reveal about the past, what questions they raise about the present, and why we choose to keep them.

Storage is big business in the United States. Museums, historical societies, and even individuals often have more items in storage than on display. This thought-provoking exhibition brings some of those objects out of storage and into the spotlight.

The exhibition features objects from the collections of the Sandy Historical Society, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, the Lincoln County Historical Society, and the Gresham Historical Society. These vital community institutions, sustained by dedicated volunteers, inclusive programming, and generous supporters, made this exhibition possible through the sharing of their collections.

Come see “Kept” before it closes and these historical object return to storage in Museums across Oregon.

The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Bush Barn Art Center & Annex
600 Mission St. SE
Salem, OR 97302

Learn more at www.salemart.org/events

Thank you to: Oregon Historical Society .historicalsociety

Mark your calendar for the Opening Night Party of the 77th Anniversary Salem Art Fair & Festival on Thursday, September ...
08/26/2026

Mark your calendar for the Opening Night Party of the 77th Anniversary Salem Art Fair & Festival on Thursday, September 10, and join us for an unforgettable evening of live music, great food, and community.

This year's musical guests are True North Duo, the award-winning Americana duo of Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel. Known for their bluegrass-infused sound, exceptional songwriting, rich harmonies, and engaging live performances, True North Duo has earned national recognition from the USA Songwriting Competition, SXSW, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, MerleFest, and Wintergrass. Their music is the perfect way to kick off Art Fair weekend.

Your ticket includes a Mediterranean dinner from La Jitana, two drink tickets featuring beer from Conversion Brewery and wine from Bryn Mawr Vineyards, and the opportunity to gather with artists, friends, and fellow art lovers in the beautiful setting of Bush's Pasture Park.

Last year's Opening Night Party sold out, and tickets will not be available at the door. Reserve yours before September 9 to be part of this special evening celebrating the start of the 77th Anniversary Salem Art Fair & Festival.

Tickets and more information visit: www.SalemArtFair.org
77th Anniversary Salem Art Fair & Festival
September 11–13, 2026

Bush's Pasture Park
600 Mission St. SE
Salem, OR 97302

Kristen Grainger & True North

SAVE THE DATEIndigenous Northwest BiennialSeptember 4 – October 25, 2026A.N. Bush GalleryWe are proud to present the sec...
08/21/2026

SAVE THE DATE

Indigenous Northwest Biennial
September 4 – October 25, 2026
A.N. Bush Gallery

We are proud to present the second Indigenous Northwest Biennial, featuring the work of 16 Indigenous artists from across the Pacific Northwest, curated by Steph Littlebird.

Indigenous Northwest showcases notable Indigenous artists from the region who are creating traditional and contemporary artwork. This exhibition demonstrates the immense depth of talent emanating from local Native communities, which are often overlooked. Indigenous Northwest celebrates the contributions of Native artists who carry ancestral knowledge and traditions forward while challenging viewers to expand their perceptions of what Indigenous art can be through various mediums and materials.

“It is an honor to collaborate with Salem Art Association and bring Indigenous Northwest to life.”

Opening Reception
Friday, September 4, 2026
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Welcome and artist introductions at 6:00 p.m.

EXHIBITING ARTISTS
Amber K Ball, Don Bailey, Blood Poet, Leland Butler, Doug Burgess, Kitana Connelly, Lee Gavin, Leonard Harmon, April Holder, Anthony Hudson, Nakoosa Jack, Kanani Miyamoto, Chantele Rilatos, Joe Scott, Matthew Earl Williams, Shirod Younker

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING
Join us for artist and curator talks throughout the exhibition:

Artist Talk with Amber K Ball
Saturday, September 12
1:00–2:00 p.m.

Curator Talk with Steph Littlebird
Sunday, September 27
1:00–2:00 p.m.

Artist Talk with Leland Butler & Leonard Harmon
Saturday, October 17
1:00–2:00 p.m.

Mark your calendar and join us for the second Indigenous Northwest Biennial.

Bush Barn Art Center & Annex
600 Mission St. SE
Salem, OR 97302

Learn more at: https://salemart.org/events/indigenous-northwest-biennial/


.creations arts Matthew Earl Williams s
Steph Littlebird Art

LAST SUMMER YOGA IN THE PARK IS TONIGHTLooking for a peaceful way to spend your Thursday evening? Join us tonight, Thurs...
08/20/2026

LAST SUMMER YOGA IN THE PARK IS TONIGHT

Looking for a peaceful way to spend your Thursday evening? Join us tonight, Thursday, August 20, for our final Summer Yoga in the Park of the season.

From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., join Lorissa Addabbo of Common People Yoga & The Hot Loft for a 60-minute Vinyasa Flow class on the lawn behind the Bush Barn Art Center & Annex at Bush’s Pasture Park.

Never tried yoga before? This is a great place to start. Whether it’s your first yoga class or you have an established practice, all experience levels are welcome. Come move, breathe, and enjoy an hour of community and connection in the park.

Bring a yoga mat or blanket and water. Class begins promptly at 6:00 p.m.

This community class is free and donation-based, with donations supporting free arts programming in Salem.

Bush Barn Art Center & Annex
600 Mission St. SE
Salem, OR 97302

Come join us for the final Summer Yoga in the Park of the season. We’d love to see you there.


MEET THE ARTIST BEHIND THE 2026 SALEM ART FAIR POSTERWe are proud to announce Cheryl Brown as the featured poster artist...
08/20/2026

MEET THE ARTIST BEHIND THE 2026 SALEM ART FAIR POSTER

We are proud to announce Cheryl Brown as the featured poster artist for the 77th Annual Salem Art Fair & Festival!

Based in Edmonds, Washington, Cheryl is a mixed media artist whose vibrant collages celebrate the connection between nature, wildlife, and place. Her work brings together two of her greatest passions: birds and maps. From ravens soaring over the Pacific Northwest to hummingbirds perched on vintage maps, Cheryl’s art invites us to look at familiar landscapes in an entirely new way.

A self-described “map geek” and “bird nerd,” Cheryl draws inspiration from wildlife, geography, exploration, habitat, and the stories that places can tell. Through layers of color, texture, pattern, and vintage cartography, she creates pieces that are both visually striking and rich with meaning.

For 77 years, the Salem Art Fair & Festival has been a destination for art lovers throughout the Willamette Valley and beyond, connecting our community with artists and their work. We are thrilled to have Cheryl’s art be part of that tradition this year.

Come see Cheryl’s work in person at the Salem Art Fair & Festival, September 11–13 at Bush’s Pasture Park. And be sure to pick up your very own 2026 Salem Art Fair poster, celebrating 77 years of art, music, and community.

Get your tickets in advance at SalemArtFair.org.

We apologize, but the Bush Barn Art Center will be temporarily closed this afternoon, August 19, while the City of Salem...
08/19/2026

We apologize, but the Bush Barn Art Center will be temporarily closed this afternoon, August 19, while the City of Salem completes exterior painting of the building.

We apologize for the inconvenience to those wishing to visit the galleries today. We will reopen this evening at 6 p.m. for registered students attending:

Unpacking Our Past — Writing Workshop
with Marilyn Johnston

We will be open tomorrow as usual from 12–4 p.m.

Thank you for your understanding!

Find out more about current shows and upcoming event.

Join us Saturday, August 29, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Salem Art Association Art Barn for a special demonstrati...
08/19/2026

Join us Saturday, August 29, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Salem Art Association Art Barn for a special demonstration of Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Registration is required and space is limited.

Ikebana brings life to flowers and plant materials through thoughtful arrangements guided by artistic principles and philosophy. During this free demonstration, Linda Nishioka, a well-known Ikebana practitioner, certified instructor, and Vice President of the Ohara School of Ikebana Oregon Chapter, will demonstrate how to use local plant materials to create beautiful arrangements.

All are welcome to attend this free event. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

Hosted by Mission Street Parks Conservancy at the Bush Barn Art Center Annex.

Enter through the Bush Barn Art Center main entrance, then head over to the Annex. Come a few minutes early and enjoy the artwork in the galleries.

Class made possible by the Mission Street Parks Conservancy.

Bush Barn Art Center & Annex
600 Mission St. SE
Salem, OR 97302

Learn more at: www.salemart.org/events
Register: https://events.humanitix.com/ikebana-demonstration

Address

600 Mission Street SE
Salem, OR
97302

Opening Hours

Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

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