SAA Project Space, an experimental venue for artists to exhibit work and engage in creative dialogue, will open this Tuesday, July 1 at 233 Commercial Street NE in downtown Salem. The space is being loaned to the Salem Art Association rent-free by Angela Jones-Sherrard until the building is leased.
The first exhibition, Here and Now, will feature work by local artists including Jonathan Bucci, Kristin Kuhns, Cynthia Herron and Bonnie Hull, among others. The show will be on view through July 13. A reception for the artists will take place during the First Wednesday on July 2; that night Project Space will be open until 8pm.
In describing the genesis of Project Space, Kathleen Dinges Rice, SAA’s Community Arts Education Director, says “Recently our galleries were closed for seismic upgrades, so we began thinking about temporary downtown exhibit space. At the same time, participants in our Artist Services Program expressed a desire for a downtown gathering place and exhibit venue to serve the needs of professional artists. We started looking for vacant buildings and SAA Project Space grew from there.”
In describing the genesis of Project Space, Kathleen Dinges Rice, SAA’s Community Arts Education Director, says “Recently our galleries were closed for seismic upgrades, so we began thinking about temporary downtown exhibit space. At the same time, participants in our Artist Services Program expressed a desire for a downtown gathering place and exhibit venue to serve the needs of professional artists. We started looking for vacant buildings and SAA Project Space grew from there.”
Cara Baldwin, SAA’s Galleries Curator, adds “The purpose of SAA Project Space is to foster the growth of the local artist community. It’s a temporary, yet evolving space for conversation and experimentation.”
In addition to exhibits, SAA Project Space will be used for multiple arts purposes, such as installation, performance, work space, conversation, and cross media experimentation as long as the space is available to SAA.
Programs scheduled thus far include:
Tuesday Night Drawing – 7-9pm — informal, self-directed drawing in the company of others
Music – Tuesday, July 8, 7-9pm — Mike Nord (guitar and electronics) and Mark Powers (percussion) will be performing improvised duets.
SAA Project Space is located at 233 Commercial Street NE; hours are 12 to 6 pm Monday – Friday. For more information, visit www.salemart.org.
