Holiday Window Contest Showcases Downtown District Creativity

 Business Spotlight, Contests, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News  No Responses »
Jan 022018
 

Mark Your Spot

Windows in Salem Ma are more than things to look through. During the December (and into January) holiday season they are canvases to look upon! For our annual Holiday Window Contest over 30 Downtown District merchants decorated their windows with scenes of the season. Creativity abounded. And our judges, as always, had a difficult time in narrowing the list down

Some award categories highlight good retail design – use of store products or display of a business’ services, use of lighting – or types of design, like painted windows. Again, this year, the Contest Legacy award is given to businesses who have demonstrated high quality windows across consecutive years, while the Contest Newcomer recognizes businesses with high quality displays who have not previously or regularly participated in the contest.

“We had some truly fantastic windows this year, as always,” said Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Executive Director. “We give the judges the freedom to create new award categories based on what they see each particular year – but even then, we ended up with more awards and more ties than ever!”

Best Overall: Mark Your Spot
Honorable Mention – Emporium 32 and The Happy Sunflower

Contest Legacy (demonstrating high quality year after year): The Coven’s Cottage and Pamplemousse

Contest Newcomer: Moody Interiors
Honorable Mention – Witch City Wicks and Waite & Peirce

Best Use of Product: Boston Woodturning
Honorable Mention – Partridge in a Bear Tree and Waters & Brown

Best Showcase of Service: Witch Pix and LightShed Photography

Best Use of Lighting: Mark Your Spot
Honorable Mention – Peabody Essex Museum Shop

Best Painted Windows: Brothers Taverna and Life Alive
Honorable Mention – SATV

Emporium 32

The Happy Sunflower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salem Main Streets congratulates the Holiday Window Contest winners, as well as every downtown merchant that was able to participate in this fun event.

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Horror Fest Creepily Seeps into Sept. PEM/PM Metal Macabaret

 Salem Event, Salem Festivals  No Responses »
Sep 192017
 

Now here is a scary good deal! Salem Horror Fest Opening Night Party at PEM/PM featuring Metal Macabaret will take place on the 3rd Friday of the month (that’s this Friday, Sept. 22nd at 6 pm) instead of the usual 3rd Thursday for PEM/PM.

Hauntingly inspired by the current Peabody Essex Museum Exhibition It’s Alive! Classic Horror and Sci-Fi Art from the Kirk Hammett Collection, PEM teamed up with Salem Horror Fest to make an event that will make you tingle all over, from head to toe and through your bones!

The Salem Horror Fest, if you have been locked away in a dungeon, underground somewhere, is a four-week festival of fear (9/21-10/15) here in the Halloween-capital of the world! Screenings, exhibits, parties, concerts, guests & more!

PEM/PM Activities

Creepily create your own horror poster, dance demonly to beats by DJ Zombi and live tunes by Scary Mary and the Audio Corsette. Carve out some time to check out works by locals featured in the Women in Horror expo and enjoy a feature performance by M Lamar.

And the highlight of the evening: you won’t want to miss the 9 pm screening of Night of the Living Dead to kick off the Salem Horror Fest (separate ticket required).

This is THE ultimate big bash opening to the Halloween season!  But while costumes and masks will abound on the streets of Salem during our month-long Haunted Happenings celebration, the Peabody Essex Museum asks that for this event you refrain from any full-face makeup or masks in the museum for security reasons.

As with all PEM/PM events, it will also feature after-hours access to the museum galleries, interactive and art-focused experiences, an informal atmosphere including live music or DJ performances, tailored culinary offerings and a cash bar.

The goal is to present to the community multiple opportunities to interact with artists and performers, tinkerers and thinkers.

Members, as well as college students & Salem residents (with ID) will be admitted free of charge. For nonmembers, there is a $12 fee.

The PEM is located at East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA. For more info, call 978-745-9500, or toll free 866-745-1876.

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The Public Salon to Engage Community & Cultivate Local Talent at Farmers’ Market

 Salem Event, Volunteer Opportunities  No Responses »
Jul 192017
 

 

Whether you have artistic talent or not, you’re invited to take part in a very interesting project-based workshop that will be conducted for 6 weeks on Salem’s Artists’ Row during the Thursday Farmers’ Market from 3 to 7 pm.

Mayor Kim Driscoll and the Public Art Commission have launched the Artist in Residence: Pilot Program at Artists’ Row with Claudia Paraschiv, (architect and owner of Studioful – Architecture, Community Art, and Neighborhood Design, and founder of the Salem Public Space Project).

Paraschiv explains, “The purpose of The Public Art Salon is to create beautiful, participatory, resident-led projects on an ongoing basis to inspire local communities. Practically, we make friends and create projects in public space that connect local people and places. People come together to design and build community-driven projects, cultivate local talent, and build productive relationships.”

For example, on a previous such project in Dorchester, she worked with the community to build a 50-foot bench over the course of 15 weeks. It is equipped with sounds activated when you sit, sections with indentations for flowers, and even a chess-board ready for play while waiting for the bus. That was the driving need for the bench as the existing bus shelter and bench at that time were tucked away, out of the bus driver’s sight, causing for many a missed passenger.

Why Do It During The Farmers’ Market?

The Artists’ Row tenants chose to hold it during the Farmers’ Market to draw the market crowds onto the Row. Paraschiv is hosting the Salon between Boston Woodturning and Ceramics by Sibel. Salons are held outdoors for maximum visibility and accessibility. Additionally, Farmers’ Markets are a great place to incubate new types of civic practice as well as new business ventures.

Paraschiv added “I hope participants will enjoy expressing themselves through their creations, and feel a sense of pride and ownership at having contributed to a collective public art piece. I also hope participants will learn new skills from crafts to what plants are best for pollinators, and how policy and legislation affects pollinators. Finally, I hope people will feel a sense of joy, wonder, and community.”

The Public Art Salon is a free, drop-in friendly event open to all age and skill levels. Kids are absolutely invited, however, it is very much an activity for all ages since residents help build tables, as well as craft artistic surfaces, and more.

Salem Farmers’ Markets are in session Thursdays now through October, from 3-7 pm in Derby Square.

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“Tidal Shift” and “Mural Slam” to be Featured in this Year’s Salem Arts Festival

 History, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping, SMS News, Volunteer Opportunities  1 Response »
May 292017
 

Art is good. Art is what you have at an arts fest. But the 9th annual Salem Arts Festival (to be held June 2-4th) is art and much, much more. This popular free family-friendly event will feature over 100 artists and performers, and includes a variety of art, music, dance, and theatre performances. Public activities include onsite art-making for all ages, local artisan vendors selling their creations, and a community-built public art installation.

One of the most anticipated events this year is “Tidal Shift,” a collaborative public art project led by artist and architect Claudia Paraschiv of Salem Public Space Project, featuring an installation of plastic bag jellyfish over Front Street. During the past few months, community groups and locals of all ages have created hundreds of jellyfish as part of an initiative to help educate the community about the negative impacts of plastic bag usage and the City of Salem’s upcoming plastic bag reduction. A brief celebration and presentation of the “Tidal Shift” project will be included in the Friday night reception at 6:35 p.m.

This year, the Salem Arts Festival also celebrates the second “Mural Slam” on Artists’ Row, organized by the City of Salem’s Public Art Commission and Public Art Planner Deborah Greel. Murals will be painted throughout the weekend by 10 selected artists and will be completed by the end of the festival.

In addition, the Festival marks the return of vendors to Artists’ Row, with both new and returning tenants for the 2017 season.

Festival Specifics

The Salem Arts Festival kicks off with an opening reception at Salem’s Old Town Hall on Friday, June 2nd at 6 p.m.  The free event allows visitors to enjoy beautiful art work while being entertained by renowned local and regional performers Lindsay Straw, Dingonek Street Band, and headliners Grupo Fantasia.

The Festival takes place at a variety of indoor and outdoor venues in downtown Salem. Primary locations include Old Town Hall, Derby Square, Front Street, and Artists’ Row.  A Juried Art Show will be held in Old Town Hall throughout the Festival, with an artisan street fair in the area around the building on Saturday and Sunday.  Live performances will take place on Derby Square, Artists’ Row, and Front Street.

The Salem Arts Festival is rain or shine event; in case of inclement weather, performances will be moved into Old Town Hall.  Full schedule and programs will be available on site during the Festival, as well as the Festival website (www.salemartsfestival.com).

“There’s been a tremendous amount of collaboration between so many local groups and individuals to continue to improve and expand the Festival every year.  I can’t wait to share the phenomenal energy and talent that will be on display this year,” says Kylie Sullivan, Executive Director of Salem Main Streets (SMS), the community non-profit organization coordinating the Festival.

The goal of the Salem Arts Festival is to promote all the arts in Salem and to provide the entire North Shore arts community with an opportunity to showcase their talents. The Festival is run in collaboration with Salem Main Streets by a team of dedicated volunteers, including media partner Creative Salem and representatives from the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem YMCA, Salem State University, The Phoenix School, Salem Food Tours, Salem Arts Association, and many more.

Speaking of dedicated volunteers, we are still looking for volunteers for the Salem Arts Festival!  If you would like to join our merry band during this year’s Festival, or if you’ve signed up for one slot but might be available for more, please sign up online at http://signup.com/go/lccZdGg. Even if you’re away the weekend of the Festival, we have some volunteer needs on the days leading up to the event!

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7 Monthly Reasons to Return to Salem

 Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping  1 Response »
May 172017
 

The Fleas are coming. The Fleas are coming. And that is a good thing for Salem as these are seven flea market dates that will take place in Derby Square & Artists’ Row this May-October!

You are invited to come on down to The Salem Flea and cruise the monthly markets which will feature vendors of vintage & up-cycled furniture & fashion. Walk among, touch, and ask questions about collectibles, antiques, architectural salvage; as well as jewelry, art, & handmade goods by local artisans.

That is what makes The Salem Flea so exciting and relevant. Local artisans will have the opportunity to “show their stuff” to you “their” local market of shoppers.

Consider it a win/win opportunity!

The current The Salem Flea vendor list (subject to change)

  • 8 By Design
  • 9 Wall Woodworking
  • Cruz Art Designs
  • The Chailfour Collection
  • The Cyprus Collection
  • Chick Art Works
  • Decades of Decor
  • Emma’s Wicked Attic
  • The Felt Fanatic
  • The House of Findings
  • Houseworking
  • The House of Champigny
  • Home Maker Collectibles
  • INplace
  • Little Shop of Karma
  • My Sweet Soap
  • Mayflower Vintage and Antiques
  • Moody Interiors
  • Nomad & Local
  • Notso Kitty
  • Prospect Hill Handmade
  • Restore Works
  • RM&Company
  • Salem Soapworks
  • We Have Issues

The Salem Flea is scheduled to take place, rain or shine, on May 20, June 17, July 15, Aug 19, Sept 16 in Derby Square with Halloween Markets in The Artists Row walkway October 14 and 28.

The Salem Flea is owned by RM & Company of Salem and produced in collaboration with the City of Salem

The market is free to attend and you can find more information at www.thesalemflea.com

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