Salem Arts Festival Gets “Real” for Submissions Applications

 Contests, History, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Workshops  No Responses »
May 052015
 
image4-ACCEPTED

Work by Denny Tentindo, 2014 Festival

Attention!  Visual artists considering “showing” their works at the 7th annual Salem Arts Festival (June 5-7) in the juried gallery should take note of a big change in the submission process. Rather than electronic submissions of work as has been conducted in the past, the Festival is moving to an on-site review of works the weekend before the Festival (May 29 – June 1).

According to Kylie Sullivan, Executive Director of Salem Main Streets, which oversees the Festival, this new process “will hopefully better serve the artists by letting their work speak for itself.  Using electronic images in the past has been so problematic – colors can appear differently on different screens and printers, the impact of 3-D work is often lost in a 2-D format, and inevitably, an unfair advantage is given to the individuals who are better at presenting their work digitally. Members of the festival committee have been advocating for this type of jury process for several years, and we’re excited that we finally have the capacity this year to make the change.”

Over 5,000 people attended last year’s family-friendly Festival which transformed downtown Salem, MA into an opportunity for the arts community to showcase a wide range of talents: painting, photography, sculpture, dance, music, writing, film, new media, performance, theatre, poetry, and more!

Artists this year may submit up to 3 pieces; at least two of which must be for sale. Dates/times for drop off at Old Town Hall (32 Derby Sq.) will be May 29 from 5-8pm and May 30 from 9am-noon.

Hung artwork may not exceed 36″ in any direction (including frame) and must be wired to hang – no sawtooth hangers. Larger artwork must have an easel or a stand. While installations are welcome, be mindful that Salem’s historic spaces come with some limitations.  Accepted work will be presented at Old Town Hall during the Salem Arts Festival (June 5 through June 7).

For full details of requirements and regulations, please see the admission form.

This special exhibit is to be judged and juried for prizes by a panel comprised of individuals from the Salem arts community and beyond. Jurors will made up of regional artists representing diverse media, including Karen Ristuben, Bob Packert, and Denny Tentindo.

The Salem Arts Festival is organized by Salem Main Streets and a collaboration of Salem organizations which provide support for the festival, including the City of Salem, Salem State University Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem Arts Association and Creative Salem.

SALEM303 Salem_Arts_Fest_Logo_Final

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Dig Out the Delorean, Peabody-Essex Museum Party Reliving the 1980s

 Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Workshops  No Responses »
Apr 122015
 

Back to Future“Are you telling me that you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?” one of hundreds of quotes that filled the 1980s that still may pop up today. So it’s no surprise that PEM/PM after-hours party for April is a look back to the art, fashion, music, etc. of that decade.

Of course there are bigger quotes such as “I am your father” and “May the Force be with you” from Star Wars. Dozens must be coming to mind right now. Lots of memorable movie quotes and song lines. Lots of memories.

Remember Fuzzy Navels, Pina Colada and Tequila Sunrise?

For this month’s party, April 16 from 6-9 pm, the Peabody Essex Museum team suggests you let your inner Madonna or Boy George come to life with glam makeovers by experts from Salem’s Rouge Cosmetics. Try your hand at designing Flashdance inspired sweatshirts, or create your own friendship bracelets.

The-Breakfast-Club1For those brave enough, there is a photo booth to show off your creativity.

Speaking of creativity, there will also be a Graffiti Wall, express yourself.

As always, the Atrium will be the base for a lively dance party as this time DJ Amphibious spins the greatest hits of the ’80s on vinyl. There will be a small plates menu from the Hawthorne hotel. You’ll also get a taste of signature ’80s cocktails served up by the talented staff of the Hawthorne.

The concept of the 3rd Thursday of the month PEM/PM parties is to have fun, learn a little, and of course provide visitors a chance to explore all of the museum’s galleries after hours.

Test yourself: the following are the 10 top-grossing films of the decade according to Wikipedia. BUT don’t click the link just yet. See if you can guess the order!

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
2. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
3. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
4. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
6. Batman (1989)
7. Ghostbusters (1984)
8. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
9. Back to the Future (1985)
10. Return of the Jedi (1983)

No admission charge for PEM members, Salem residents and Salem State students with an ID. Otherwise there is a $10 fee for non-members, payable at the door. For more details, go to pem.org or call 866-745-1876.

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Paranormal Convention to Manifest Itself at Hawthorne Hotel

 History, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Workshops  No Responses »
Apr 082015
 

Do you sense something in the air? Some level of seismic activity of a paranormal nature? You would be tuning in to Salem Con, the first ever celebrity-filled paranormal convention, to be held in Salem Ma, April 10-12 at the Hawthorne Hotel.

Mass Ghost Hunters Paranormal Society, a Gloucester-based historical preservation and paranormal event group has established the weekend. Salem Con will be filled with celebrities, lectures and vendors. Paranormal and historical enthusiasts are welcomed.

Marc Arvilla, Founder/Lead Investigator explains “We decided to call it Salem Con because that’s exactly what it is. Yes it’s a paranormal conference, yes most folks involved are in the paranormal field, but this is also about Salem’s history, culture, and the true stories of the people that shaped this area.”

For example, among the speakers, Jeff Belanger hosts the New England Legends series on PBS and John Zaffis is the director of the Paranormal Research Society of New England.

Arvilla continues “Our goal for this conference is to teach people about the history of Salem, the history of paranormal investigating, and that they can have fun while doing it. If someone can walk away from this event learning something new it will be a success.”

The weekend begins with a “Celebrity VIP Party” on Friday April 10th from 8 pm to midnight at Nathaniel’s in the Hawthorne. Guests will mingle with their favorite celebrities and hear some of their “behind the scenes” stories.

And, who will be there on April 11th?

  • 9 am JOHN TOBIN -“Exploring the Psychology of the Paranormal” with Chris DiCesare & Joe Chin
  • 10 am JEFF BELANGER– “The Witches Warty Nose”
  • 11 am BRIAN CANO – “‪#‎Paralosophy‬”
  • 12 pm DUSTIN PARI – “The Bigger Questions”
  • 1 pm JOHN ZAFFIS – “Q & A with John Zaffis”
  • 2 pm TIM WEISBERG – “Maybe Ghosts WEREN’T People Too…Alternate Theories of the Paranormal”
  • 3 pm SCOTT GRUENWALD – “God Ate My Lunch”
  • 3:45pm MICHAEL DIAMOND – “Moving Forward

All lectures will take place in the Hawthorne’s Library Room.

“The Hawthorne Hotel seemed like the best choice for this event,” reveals Avilla. “The hotel has such a rich history and is central to everything there is to explore in Salem. When we approached Thomas MacDonald, the sales director at the Hawthorne, with the idea of a paranormal conference he offered his full support. Plus there is that ‘rumor’ that the hotel is haunted…”

Speaking of haunted, Gone Haunting will sponsor a “Celebrity Ghost Hunt” Saturday at 8pm. Location not yet revealed.

And what is a convention without vendors? The Hawthorne Ballroom will house the vendor area:

Official Banner Salem Con 2015Deadly Grounds Coffee
Gone Haunting Apparel
The Generic Black Shirt Paranormal Group
Parahunter
Paranormal Warehouse
Brian J. Cano
John Zaffis
Dustin Pari
Jeff Belanger
Tim Weisberg
Scott Gruenwald
Christopher DiCesare
DTM Wicked Radio
Frank Cinelli
Paranormal For Paws
Gettysburg Ghost Gals
MGHPS
Rosalyn Bown
Salt City Paranormal
East Ghost Paranormal
S.T.U.R.S/Rise Up New Hampshire
Spirits of New England
White Light Research
Rome Investigators of the Paranormal
The Mechanical Meow
Paranormal Reactions
Author Joni Mayhan & Paranormal Xpeditions
The Mountain Gypsies
Rise Up Paranormal
Mirror Magazine
Dark Side Ink
Psychic Medium Coryelle Kramer
Raven Shoppe/Gotham Paranormal
Brooke’s Nook
Dawn Slocum
Black Cat Tours
Witch Tees

The weekend concludes with a Sunday morning breakfast at the Hawthorne where Mass Ghost Hunters Paranormal Society invites people to share some stories, revelations, even a “sighting” or two if anything happened from the previous night.

Sounds like an interesting effort to connect the dots between the paranormal and the history of Salem, while at the same time giving you the opportunity to have an entertaining & educational experience. For ticket and other information, go to http://www.mghparanormal.com/ or write to mghparanormal@gmail.com.

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Express Yourself at Salem Arts Festival

 Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News, Volunteer Opportunities  No Responses »
Apr 072015
 

While a work of art can be subject to interpretation by people who see it… people must indeed see it first. If you are a local artist, the 2015 Salem Arts Festival is the perfect way to attract an audience; over 5000 visitors attended last year’s festival. As a local artist, you have been invited to submit for consideration your work for the Festival which takes place June 5-7, 2015. But, deadline for submission is April 10th.

The Salem Arts Festival is looking for art and performance for the sophisticated art patron as well as for the art novice including interactive events for children. It will engage participants of diverse backgrounds and ages by reaching out to current art patrons, local students, and the community at large.

All events take place in downtown Salem, within walking distance of each other and of public transportation.

The 2015 Salem Arts Festival will consist of:

  • a gallery of juried artists’ work in Old Town Hall;
  • outdoor stage venues for performance and dance at Derby Square and Artists’ Row;
  • a juried street fair on Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and Derby Square;
  • a collaborative public arts project – Front Yard Street Art.

For applications or other info go to www.salemartsfestival.com or contact Kylie Sullivan at kylie@salemmainstreets.org or call 978-744-0004, ext. 15

The Salem Arts Festival is organized by Salem Main Streets and a collaboration of Salem organizations that provide for the festival, including Creative Salem, Salem Arts Association, Salem State University’s Center for Creative and Performing Arts, and the Peabody Essex Museum. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Salem Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

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Salem Arts Festival Fundraiser— Celebrate Our Growth!

 Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News, Volunteer Opportunities  No Responses »
Apr 042015
 

Fundraiser 4A work of art is oft times a labor of love, so very true when it comes to the annual Salem Arts Festival. It takes time, planning, volunteers and your support to mount this fabulous popular free event which features over 60 artists and performers, and includes a variety of art, music, dance, and poetry performances. The Festival is set for June 5-7, 2015 and you are invited to join us for the Second Annual Salem Arts Festival Fundraiser this Thursday, April 9, 7:30-10:30 pm, for a night of local food, fashion, drink, dancing, and fun to support the Salem Arts Festival. Location will be at Old Town Hall at 32 Derby Square.

“The need for financial support is critical for the success of the festival, which doubled in size last year and welcomed over 5,000 attendees,” explains Kylie Sullivan, Manager of Salem Main Streets (SMS), the community non-profit organization which started the Festival. “We are committed to keeping the festival free and open to the public, but that means we need to raise some substantial funds.”

She adds, “Last year’s fundraiser was such an incredible party; it was the perfect way to introduce the renewed energy behind the Salem Arts Festival .”

We think this year’s fundraiser will kick off things on a high note as well.

The opening act will be Multiple Guys with Noise Machines, a group of teenage musicians that’s an offshoot of North Shore Jazz Project All Stars –  – hooray for young musicians!

Party band, The Ward Eights will be returning again this year to get you on the dance floor.

Fundraiser 1Local boutiques will be participating in an onsite Fashion Show, including J. Mode, Ocean Chic Boutique, Addicted Fashions, The Boutique, and more! Make up will be provided by Rouge Cosmetics.

Food will be provided by The Lobster Shanty, Flying Saucer Pizza Company, the Hawthorne Hotel, Front Street Coffeehouse, and more to be announced soon.

The event will also include a number of great raffle prizes!

Tickets are $25 per person with a cash bar; proceeds directly benefit the Salem Arts Festival. Purchase by calling 978-744-0004 x15, visit 265 Essex Street (Salem MainStreets office), or go online.

Fundraiser 2The Salem Arts Festival is conducted as a collaboration of Salem Main Streets and a team of dedicated volunteers, including representatives from Creative Salem, Salem State University, the Peabody Essex Museum, and others.

The Salem Arts Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Salem Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Last year this fundraising event sold out – so get your tickets early, get ready to dance and feel like a real patron of the arts!

(In fact, if you’re interested in sponsoring the Salem Arts Festival Find out more at http://salemartsfestival.com/sponsorship/ ).

(All pictures courtesy of Social Palates)

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