May 192015
 

R & PUnconventional gatherings for creative minds is the best description thus far for what transpires in Salem Ma on the 3rd Thursday of each month when the Peabody/Essex Museum kicks open its doors to a party of entertainment & engagement (PEM/PM) beginning at 6pm. Coming up March 21st the event is simply called Run & Play. But believe us, there’s nothing simple about it.

Run with your imagination and play with what you find. Possibilities are limitless

Channel your inner child with the help of Project Adventure, Marbles: The Brain Store and the Salem YMCA. Play a game of foursquare and compete in a relay challenge,  join Salem’s Wicked Running Club for its weekly No Rest for the Wicked 5K Fun Run, and then kick back and listen to music with a cool beverage.

As another example of imagination and playing with what you find, consider Stickwork artist Patrick Dougherty, who will be on hand for a meet & greet. What is Stickwork? It is something that has come to Salem.  Listen to the thoughts of Dougherty leading up to the local project at the Crowninshield-Bentley House located at 126 Essex Street.

As always, cash bar and small plates by Hawthorne Hotel.

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.Run & Play

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May 172015
 

Tattoo 4What is going on in Derby Square? What are those people doing to the sidewalk? And why are they having a good time? Those people are volunteers assisting artist Liz LaManche who is creating a public art installation titled “Salem’s Connected World.”

From her blog LaManche explains “City of Salem is commissioning a Connected By Sea companion piece as a temporary installation for their summer arts festival season, to be painted on the pedestrian brick walks of Derby Square around the Old Town Hall and down through Artists’ Row.”

Art interpreted & rendered in the form of a tattoo!Tattoo 3

She continues, “It will highlight Salem’s seafaring history, cultural inputs and world connections, informed by the fantastic collection in the Peabody Essex Museum, where I’ve learned a tremendous amount over the years from their Native American and Asian trade goods collections.”

The schedule for the installation is as follows:

  • Layout of artwork taking place May 15-21
  • Inking in to happen May 21-30
  • Both phases can use people of varying skill levels
  • Layout can have people holding and moving things,
  • Inking needs people comfortable handling a brush, but can be either making good lines or inking in defined areas.

Tattoo 1In discussing the first day, LaManche remarked, “Excellent day kicking off tattoo project in Salem!! Half the ground prepped, placement decisions decided, volunteers found and met, a fantastic bunch of people up here with a desire to make cool stuff!”

For more info on the project, check out this Creative Salem feature story.

Intrigued? Interested? To join the volunteers, contact Deborah Greel, the Public Art Planner for the City of Salem at dgreel@salem.com or call 978-619-5681. “Salem’s Connected World” is funded by the City of Salem in association with the Public Art Commission.

(All pictures courtesy of John Andrews at Social Palates Photography)

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May 102015
 

Mom flowersWhether you live in Salem Ma or in a neighboring community, or just happen to be here on Mother’s Day, there is an extra special treat you can give MOM. Besides the candy, flowers and breakfast / brunch / lunch at one of our many fine eateries, you can present her with a tour of the city, courtesy of The Salem Trolley  which is offering a $5 discount to Moms on May 10th.

Moms are invited to sit back and relax on the 1-hour narrative tour through the streets of historic Salem, Ma. Oh, you may have driven through Salem and “seen” the sights, but now mom and you will discover & uncover history as you learn through fact, humor and even questions.

Weather forecast calls for a partly sunny day with temperature in low 80s, no rain and occasional 14 m/p/h breeze. Lovely day for a trolley ride.

Mom trolleyThe eight mile ride through Salem takes you past the Charter Street Burial Ground, the House of the Seven Gables, Witch Dungeon Museum, Salem Witch Museum, the historic waterfront area and other locations. Among those is Chestnut Street, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful streets in America.

Mom DayOne of the nice little extras about the Trolley is that you may get off and on at any of the 13 stops throughout the day and view Salem at your leisure, thus using the trolley as an almost personal shuttle service for you & mom on Mother’s Day!

Tours operate from 10am-5pm and begin at the National Park Service Visitors Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem. Convenient parking can be found across from the Visitors Center at 1 New Liberty Street.

To order tickets on-line click here or call 978-744-5469.

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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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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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