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

Join us for a Heritage Talk with journalist and author Elizabeth Mehren on Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 p.m...
10/08/2026

Join us for a Heritage Talk with journalist and author Elizabeth Mehren on Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. at the Bush House Museum.

Elizabeth Mehren will share stories of immigrants to Oregon from around the world and the meaningful objects they brought with them as they built new lives in Oregon.

Mehren is the author of I Lived to Tell the World, featuring thirteen inspiring profiles of survivors of war, genocide, and other atrocities who went on to build new lives in Oregon. Through interviews and oral histories, Mehren explores stories of loss, resilience, displacement, and starting over.

Mehren is a Portland-based writer, editor, and educator. A former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, she has also worked at The Washington Post and taught at Boston University. I Lived to Tell the World is her fifth book and was selected in 2025 as the adult title for the Oregon Center for the Book.

Space is limited to 25 guests. Please register by Friday, November 13 at 4:00 p.m. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

General admission: $20 SAA, SAA members $18 Students, and $10 for sudents.

Ticket fees support the work of the Bush House Museum. Limited free tickets are available to help make this program accessible to all. Contact [email protected] for a promo code.

While visiting, be sure to see The Immigrant Story: I Lived to Tell the World, an exhibition featuring photographs by Jim Lommasson, on view in the America Waldo Bogle Gallery at Bush House Museum through December 19, 2026.

Register today to reserve your spot.
https://events.humanitix.com/heritage-talk-elizabeth-mehren
Or visit www.bushhousemuseum.org

Bush House Museum Bush House Museum Oregon Historical Society

Join us for an Artist Talk with Leland Butler and Leonard D. Harmon on Saturday, October 17 at 1:00 p.m.This FREE event ...
10/07/2026

Join us for an Artist Talk with Leland Butler and Leonard D. Harmon on Saturday, October 17 at 1:00 p.m.

This FREE event is open to the public and offers an opportunity to hear directly from the artists about the stories, ideas, experiences, and creative practices behind their work.

Presented in conjunction with "Indigenous Northwest Biennial", curated by Steph Littlebird on view now through October 25, 2026, in the A.N. Bush Gallery, the conversation offers a closer look at the work of two exhibiting artists and the perspectives that shape their artistic practices.

Leland Butler (Grand Ronde/Siletz/Yurok) uses photography to explore relationships between people, place, identity, and memory. His thoughtful compositions invite viewers to slow down, look closely, and consider the stories held within an image.

Leonard D. Harmon draws from ancestral influences, personal experiences, and a wide range of artistic mediums to tell new stories and place history into perspective. His work brings traditional cultural influences into contemporary artistic forms, reflecting his experiences and continued connection to tribal traditions.

Indigenous Northwest Biennial celebrates the depth and diversity of Indigenous artists from the Pacific Northwest, highlighting both traditional and contemporary practices that carry ancestral knowledge forward while expanding perceptions of Indigenous art through a wide range of mediums and materials.

RSVPs are not required, but we encourage you to RSVP so we can prepare the space with the appropriate number of chairs. Let us know you are coming at www.SalemArt.org

Artist Talk with Leland Butler and Leonard D. Harmon
Saturday, October 17, 2026
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public

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

"Indigenous Northwest Biennial" will be on view through October 25, 2026.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public





Steph Littlebird Art

Come experience And There Was Evening, and There Was Morning, a new exhibition by artist Taylor Manoles, on view now thr...
10/06/2026

Come experience And There Was Evening, and There Was Morning, a new exhibition by artist Taylor Manoles, on view now through October 25, 2026, in the Camas Gallery at the Bush Barn Art Center.

The show invites you to slow down and immerse yourself in the landscape, nature, and waterways we call home. The scale of the paintings draws you into each scene, creating a sense of being present within these quiet moments of light, reflection, stillness, and movement. Visit the Camas Gallery, spend some time with these paintings, and allow yourself to slow down, take in the landscapes, and discover the beauty held in the in-between moments.

Manoles’ deeply personal connection to the outdoors is at the heart of her practice. Her paintings celebrate the beauty and goodness found in creation while exploring the quiet moments that invite us to pause, wonder, and reflect. In the artist’s words, “And there was evening, and there was morning. These words mark the beginning of a rhythm—the first ordering of light and darkness, ending and beginning, rest and renewal.” She describes her work as dwelling “in the in-between spaces,” where we are invited to consider the rhythm of the world around us and our place within a story that began long before us and continues beyond us.

Read more: salemart.org/events

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

"And There Was Evening, and There Was Morning" will be on view through October 25, 2026.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public

FINAL CALL FOR ARTISTS: Comic Arts & Manga Exhibition. The Salem Art Association invites artists ages 8–18 to submit ori...
10/03/2026

FINAL CALL FOR ARTISTS: Comic Arts & Manga Exhibition. The Salem Art Association invites artists ages 8–18 to submit original artwork for the Comic Arts & Manga Exhibition, on view in the Annex Gallery November 6–December 23, 2026. Digital submissions are due by Friday, October 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

We’re looking for original works inspired by manga, comics, cartoons, and pop art. We encourage bold colors, imaginative storytelling, and creative expression.
Fan art submissions are welcome, provided they are reinterpreted through the artist’s own creative style and demonstrate originality and personal expression. Fan art submissions are welcome for this exhibition. However, all works must be
reinterpreted through the artist’s own creative style and approach. No AI artwork.
This is a juried exhibition, with artwork selected based on originality, craftsmanship, and overall presentation. There is no fee to apply.

Important Dates:
• October 9, 2026 — Selected artists will be announced
• Last week of October — Artwork drop-off for selected artists
• November 6–December 23, 2026 — Exhibition on view

READY TO SUBMIT?
For complete details, entry guidelines, and submission requirements, visit:
https://salemart.org/call-for-artists/

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

THE WORK WE MAKEOctober 2–25, 2026 | Annex GalleryJoin us for the opening reception Friday, October 2, from 5:30–7:30 p....
10/01/2026

THE WORK WE MAKE
October 2–25, 2026 | Annex Gallery

Join us for the opening reception Friday, October 2, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., with a welcome and artist introductions at 6:00 p.m.

The Work We Make features work by five artists who participated in Salem Art Association’s Artists-in-Residence Program throughout 2026: Yanely Rivas Maldonado, LYLAC, Jessica Rehfield, Meg Rowe, and Rachel Wood.

Working across printmaking, painting, sewing, embroidery, and fiber, each artist brings a distinct perspective to the exhibition.

Yanely Rivas Maldonado explores ancestry, spirituality, and our relationship with water and the natural world through printmaking.

LYLAC and Jessica Rehfield’s collaborative work, Q***r Nature, considers gender, identity, and the ways queerness and variation are reflected in the natural world through flowers, fabric, and color.

Meg Rowe uses reclaimed textiles, fiber, and hand stitching to create The Record, an evolving archive of words and phrases identified as “unacceptable” for use by federal agencies. The project considers craft as a form of reclamation and resistance.

Rachel Wood’s paintings explore simplified geometric forms and loosely imagined landscapes, combining bright color palettes with the energy of clear skies, sunsets, and the beach.

Each year, Salem Art Association supports artists through time in the SAA Studio, exhibition, and professional development opportunities.

Join us October 2 to meet the artists, learn more about the AIR Program, and celebrate the work created through their residencies. Applications for the 2027 Artists in Residence Program are currently being accepted. Learn more and apply at www.salemart.org

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

"The Work We Make" will be on view October 2–25, 2026.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public


Jessica Rehfield .art Wood .rowe.12

Join us for an opening reception on Friday, October 2, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., with a welcome and artist introductions at 6...
09/30/2026

Join us for an opening reception on Friday, October 2, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., with a welcome and artist introductions at 6:00 p.m., as we celebrate the opening of two new exhibitions at the Bush Barn Art Center & Annex.

In the Focus Gallery, "Words to My Story" by James Hockenhull explores human consciousness, perception, and our instinct to find meaning in ambiguous images. Drawing inspiration from art brut, kids’ drawings, Bay Area funk, surrealism, and other quirky art, Hockenhull creates work that invites viewers to construct their own narratives.

In the Annex Gallery, "The Work We Make" is a group exhibition featuring Yanely Rivas Maldonado, Meg Rowe, Rachel Wood, Jessica Rehfield, and LYLAC. The exhibition showcases work by artists who have participated in Salem Art Association’s Artists in Residence Program throughout 2026, working across printmaking, painting, sewing, embroidery, and fiber.

Read more at https://salemart.org/events-exhibitions/

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

Both exhibitions will be on view October 2–25, 2026.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public


Hockenhull Jessica Rehfield .art Wood .rowe.12

TODAY: Curator Talk With Steph LittlebirdSunday, September 27 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Free And Open To The PublicJoin cur...
09/27/2026

TODAY: Curator Talk With Steph Littlebird
Sunday, September 27 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Free And Open To The Public

Join curator Steph Littlebird this afternoon for a personal tour of Salem Art Association’s Indigenous Northwest Biennial. Learn more about contemporary Native art and curatorial insights into the artists, ideas, and creative practices represented in the exhibition.

Steph Littlebird is an artist, author, curator, and enrolled member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes. She is best known for her nationally recognized exhibition This IS Kalapuyan Land and her work as a children’s book illustrator. Steph currently lives and works in the Pacific Northwest.
The Indigenous Northwest Biennial is on view September 4–October 25, 2026, in the A.N. Bush Gallery. The exhibition celebrates the depth and diversity of Indigenous artists from throughout the Pacific Northwest, highlighting traditional and contemporary practices and a wide range of mediums and materials.

Join us this Sunday for an opportunity to experience the exhibition through the perspective of its curator.

Read more about Indigenous Northwest Biennial: https://salemart.org/events/indigenous-northwest-biennial/

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

Steph Littlebird Art

09/27/2026

TODAY: Curator Talk With Steph Littlebird
Sunday, September 27 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Free And Open To The Public

Join curator Steph Littlebird this afternoon for a personal tour of Salem Art Association’s Indigenous Northwest Biennial. Learn more about contemporary Native art and curatorial insights into the artists, ideas, and creative practices represented in the exhibition.

Steph Littlebird is an artist, author, curator, and enrolled member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes. She is best known for her nationally recognized exhibition This IS Kalapuyan Land and her work as a children’s book illustrator. Steph currently lives and works in the Pacific Northwest.
The Indigenous Northwest Biennial is on view September 4–October 25, 2026, in the A.N. Bush Gallery. The exhibition celebrates the depth and diversity of Indigenous artists from throughout the Pacific Northwest, highlighting traditional and contemporary practices and a wide range of mediums and materials.

Join us this Sunday for an opportunity to experience the exhibition through the perspective of its curator.

Read more about Indigenous Northwest Biennial: https://salemart.org/events/indigenous-northwest-biennial/

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

Steph Littlebird Art

Sunday, September 27 is the final day to visit Aislinn Adams’ “Botanical Treasures of Silver Falls.”Join us from noon to...
09/27/2026

Sunday, September 27 is the final day to visit Aislinn Adams’ “Botanical Treasures of Silver Falls.”

Join us from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Bush Barn Art Center Focus for one last opportunity to experience Aislinn's collection of botanical artwork inspired by the native plants of Silver Falls State Park and the Pacific Northwest.

Aislinn’s “Botanical Treasures of Silver Falls” project began in 2015 with a commission to illustrate 30 native plants growing in Silver Falls State Park. The collection continues to grow, and prints from the project are now on permanent display at Silver Falls South Lodge.

Aislinn’s work encourages us to slow down, look closely, and notice the beauty of the plants around us. Her botanical illustrations reflect her passion for native plants and her desire to inspire others to appreciate and protect them.

Originally from Ireland, Aislinn has called Salem, Oregon, home since 2000. Her background in visual communications, graphic design, horticulture, and botanical illustration has shaped her artistic practice.

Free and open to the public.
Final Day Sunday, September 27
12:00 p.m – 4:00 p.m.

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

Read more at salemart.org/events/botanical-treasures-of-silver-falls-aislinn-adams/

Aislinn Adams

2027 Artist-in-Residence Applications Now Open!Salem Art Association is now accepting applications for the 2027 Artist-i...
09/24/2026

2027 Artist-in-Residence Applications Now Open!

Salem Art Association is now accepting applications for the 2027 Artist-in-Residence Program.

The SAA Artist-in-Residence program provides dedicated studio space for artists to experiment, develop new work, connect with the community, and explore new ideas. The program is open to artists at all stages of their careers.

The residency includes:
• Dedicated studio space for developing and creating new work
• The opportunity to open the studio to the public and engage with visitors during the residency, as appropriate to the artist’s practice
• Professional development support
• Opportunities for collaboration and community engagement
• A one-month solo exhibition in SAA’s Focus Gallery

The Artist-in-Residence program offers artists a space to create while providing opportunities to connect with the community and share their creative process.

Learn more and apply:
https://salemart.org/call-for-artists/

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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