Salem Art Association may be known for the Salem Art Fair, but they’ve been working on a new type of event that they hope will get more young professionals engaged in the art community. The event is called Art Fusion and on August 12, they’ll be putting a little more sunshine and an added bonus of barbecue into the mix.
“Because the weather will be nice, we wanted to extend the party outdoors where Manther will be performing at 8 p.m.,” says Meaghan McGraw, marketing coordinator for Salem Art Association, adding that Willamette Burger Company will be providing sliders for snacking on.
It’ll be a time to shed the stuffiness from the art community with a range of entertainment and food options. For one, McGraw is looking forward to the performance by Manther. The group is a Salem-based hip-hop group that consists of Mitch Morris, Kevan Hanson, Erich Mcvey and Daniel Jones. They’re known for their epic 5 minute rap odes like “Missin’ the Supersonics” and the heart felt plea to combine sexy time and math on “Nerdy Girl.” Both are available at Manther’s YouTube stream and their rhymes are as humorous as one might imagine based on the song names alone.
Meanwhile beer will be slung by Gilgamesh Brewing and glasses of vino from Duck Pond Cellars will be swirled and sipped, but the event is all-ages.
Where does the art come into this fusion, you may ask? The event will also play host to two street graffiti artists who will be painting on large canvases throughout the event.
“[Street graffiti] is a medium that has not been in the spotlight very much in Salem and I am excited to see how it will turn out,” McGraw says.
Art Fusion events have been known to draw between 150 and 250 attendees. This time it’ll be outside in Bush Park so there’s plenty of room for bumping elbows and gabbing with likeminded art (or beer) aficionados.
The admission is $5 for SAA members and $10 for non-members. After purchasing admission, non-members will be offered a free membership with their next purchase in the Bush Barn galleries and/or gift shop. Both wine and beer will cost $4 per glass, with sliders being served for $1 a piece.
GET IN THE KNOW
Art Fusion – August 12
Bush Barn Art Museum (and surrounding area in Bush Park)
Manther – www.youtube.com/MantherGroup
Salem Art Assocation – www.salemart.org
Correction: The printed version of this story incorrectly labels McGraw as marketing director for SAA. Her actual title is Marketing Coordinator.
