Salem Art Association has perfected the formula to bring art nightlife to the Salem Canvas. The 4th Art Fusion event, Friday, January 13th, brings an evening of art, music, and culture as well as Gilgamesh Brewing beer, Eola Hills Winery and Adam’s Rib and Smokehouse pork sliders.
SAA is reaching out to the community trying to reach the 21-to-40-year demographic. “Art Fusion is working,” said Meaghan McGraw, Marketing Coordinator for Salem Art Association. “We wanted to attract the young professional; we have given them a place to mingle and socialize. This is our fourth event, and we are hovering at around 200 people per event,” said McGraw.
Art Fusion events have been a bit of an experiment, and this next event is a back-to-the-basics with affordable food and drinks and a lower cover charge. “In the past we have had sampling and a higher cover charge, or membership discounts; we are listening to our audience and making this very basic with low cover and affordable food available,” said McGraw. “We really have been broadening our horizons by inviting other members of our community to be involved in SAA. A lot of younger artists who want to have a voice are becoming involved; we are going in new directions and doing some creative thinking along with marketing. We are being more inclusive, looking at ways we can keep doing what we are doing well, and how we can expand on that. It’s SAA’s responsibility to reach out into the community.”
SAA is seeing a younger demographic coming through the contemporary galleries’ doors on a daily basis. Said McGraw, “We have seen a surge of younger members. As members they become more involved and more interested in what we do. I think just in the smaller scheme of things, we have seen a huge spike in renewals from the younger demographic. That is exciting that people saw value and decided to renew.”
Art Fusion promises to bring delight to the ear and the eye. Sara Masser with “Dulcinea Designs” will bring unique jewelry to the event. “Growing up, I always saw my creative abilities being confined to the musical area,” said Masser. A little over a year ago Masser took a glass tile jewelry-making class. “Since then I’ve changed, morphed and enhanced my designs into a line that I am truly proud of. Using glass tiles, images and the newest additions of beads, I create jewelry that is a representation of the life around me and my own personal style.”
Boy Eats Drum Machine of Portland will entertain guests with his exciting and contemporary one-man show of saxophone, drum machines, turntables and more. The one-man band is an artist–outlaw. Portland-bred turntablist Job Regal is a versatile vocalist and musician. Regal started recording under the name Boy Eats Drum machine in 2001 and has been performing ever since. BEDM has performed throughout the west coast, including performance art, as he moves effortlessly from sax to drum to DJ station. Though BEDM has his fingers on the sample button, his sound remains distinctively organic.
SAA is partnering with DesignOpine, a local group of architects in the Salem community art project – a Cranium-style drawing project. Cover charge is free for SAA members and $5 for nonmembers, who will also receive a free membership with their cover charge. Be one of the first 20 people through the door and receive a swag bag filled with SAA merchandise and a piece of handmade jewelry by Dulcinea Designs.
Salem Art Association Art Fusion
January 13th from 6 -9 p.m. at the Bush Barn Art Center, 600 Mission St. SE Salem.
Beer and wine will sell for $4/$5 per glass and pulled pork sliders sell for $2 each. A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to the Salem Art Association (SAA) Galleries program.
