Uncategorized – Page 34 – Salem Main Streets

PEM Inspired Gifts

Aug 242013

Gifts are a token of affection, an expression of friendship, or a transfer of goods in business with no expectation of return. And gifts are also the theme of this year’s Salem Arts Association “PEM Inspirational” show, The Gift, Sept. 6-29. The subject this year is Peabody Essex Museum’s Fabergé Revealed exhibition.

This is the 7th year that SAA members and non members have been asked to create art derived from a PEM exhibit. Last year, the Salem Arts Association presented Off the Top of Your Head, inspired by the Peabody Essex Museum’s Hats: An Anthology of Stephen Jones. Visitors were delighted with over 45 pieces, some of which included real milliner’s hats!

This year the questions posed to artists were:

What is the definition of a gift?
What is the meaning of a gift?
Could artists create a “gift” with interpretations in various media.

No doubt there will be plenty of inspiration from which to draw.

At the Peabody Essex Museum’s Fabergé Revealed show, you will see some amazing gifts there that were created for the aristocracy. Fabergé is synonymous with refined craftsmanship, jeweled luxury and the Russian imperial family. This exhibition explores the ideas of luxury, innovation, entrepreneurship and imperial patronage while providing insight into Peter Carl Fabergé’s life, business and legacy.

The Peabody Essex Museum will share (as a gift) its 181 Essex Street space to SAA for this exhibition. The curator of Fabergé Revealed, Dean Lahikainen, the Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of American Decorative Art for the Peabody Essex Museum, will judge the 7th “PEM Inspirational” show.

Viewings will be Thurs- Sun. from noon-6pm. For more details, visit salemartsassociation.org or contact: 978-745-4850.

The Point is About Salem

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Aug 092013

We hope residents and visitors alike have been enjoying our Salem Ma Heritage Days celebration. There is a great deal of planning, investment of volunteer time and resources involved to pull it off. Variety of events is a key factor. And Sunday we have another dimension in events called “Get to The Point: Neighborhood Narratives” which is an installation by Salem Public Space Project (SPSP) showcasing memories experienced by Point residents in their neighborhood.

SPSP will accomplish this through an interactive installation featuring stories and postcards of the Point; they will be set up in front of the Derby Square bookstore on Essex Street from 10am – 4:30pm on Sunday.

Salem Public Space Project pictures & postcard

Best way to describe the project is to do it in their own words.

“How do you get to know a place? Often it happens without your realization, and soon you know it like the back of your hand.

Other times, knowing a place takes effort, but there are tools to help: maps, photos, descriptions, signs, GPS, phone apps, your own eyes, and the friendly residents you may encounter.

The members of the Salem Public Space Project seek to know the public spaces of Salem with the help of all these tools, and especially residents. SPSP will document, gather, organize and analyze input to curate the Past Stories, Present Narratives and Future Possibilities of Salem’s Public Spaces – which are, in fact, Salem itself.”

To know the past is to better understand the present and the future. Take a look at their Facebook page and website for more info.

Come Celebrate Heritage Days

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Jul 252013

Festival time approaches! No not Haunted Happenings. That celebration of Halloween is reserved for October. Right now we in Salem need look no further than August and Heritage Days (Aug. 1-11 in various places throughout Salem).

“Heritage Days has been a tradition in Salem for over 50 years and this year we have 11 days of fun-filled events for kids of all ages,” announced Mayor Driscoll recently. “I would like to thank all of the event organizers for their commitment to ensuring that this long-standing community celebration continues.”

And we at Salem MainStreets echo that praise for local businesses and attractions.

For example, new this year is a Bridge & Back 10K Road Race, sponsored by Tavern in the Square, with all proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem. Also new is the Ladies Night Out Run, where flowers await runners at the red carpet finish line and mouthwatering fine chocolates, hors d’oeuvres, and wine will also be available.

For those that are craft enthusiasts, the Salem Collective of Artists and Musicians will offer a free button and card making workshop at Artist Row.

The Salem Council on Aging will also host activities exclusively for seniors including an ice cream social, a wellness fair, a picnic at Winter Island, and a dinner dance.

Among the consistent big crowd drawing events are the Best Pizza Competition where over a half dozen local eateries offer samples, and on another night the Ice Scream Bowl features just as many ice cream establishments & restaurants offering something cool and sweet. Both events on the Salem Common.

And don’t forget the Essex Street Fair. This street festival has fun items for all ages, with something for everyone. Crafts, jewelry, paintings, stained glass, and more will be featured along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall on Saturday & Sunday.

Truthfully there are too many activities to list in this blog. A complete schedule of Heritage Days events can be found on www.salem.com in the Events Calendar section.

Window Boxes Flower All Over Salem

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Jul 152013

What is one of the first things you see when looking at houses in Salem Ma? Shutters? Doors? Windows? Mostly likely it is a colorful window box. Salem is well known for this lively bit of exterior appendage to our structures. And to encourage as well as honor those who go the extra mile to dress up the city, Salem has been holding an annual Window Box Competition since 1993.

This year the Salem Beautification Committee, The Salem Garden Club, and Mayor Kimberly Driscoll are inviting all of you residents to once again help beautify the city and show off your gardening talents. Registrations are required by Friday, July 26.

Ellen Talkowsky, Special Projects Coordinator for the City’s Department of Public Services, tells Salem MainStreets “We have a residential and a business category plus a ‘new entry’ category for participants who have not entered the competition before. Winners receive an award certificate, prize ribbons to put on their window boxes and a framed picture of their award winning box.”

Judging takes place July 27-29 with the Awards Ceremony & Reception to take place on a day during Heritage Days. Interested participants should call 978-619-5676 or email etalkowsky@salem.com by putting “Window Box” in the subject line. Include your name, street address and telephone number in the email.

1000 And Counting

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Jul 112013

Not to blow our own horn, but something notable happened this past weekend to Salem MainStreets. We crossed the 1000 followers mark on our Twitter account.

Now, as a matter of procedure our followers are thanked within a week of when they join up, but it is a “milestone” that we thought should be mentioned to our blog readers as well.

We are honored that so many people in Salem, the North Shore, Boston area and from around the world turn to us for information about Salem Ma. This city has a wonderful and diverse menu of activities, events, stores and attractions to serve up. Salem MainStreets has as its goal to “spread the word” about our downtown district. And this growing following (we nearly doubled over the last six months) validates our efforts.

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