Why does the downtown Salem, Oregon community put such high value on art in public spaces? We'll let some prominent members of our arts community tell you: “Public art helps to define a sense of place. Public art highlights the unique character of a community… It promotes beauty, wonder, dialogue, and it stimulates an awareness of the arts today, while creating a legacy for tomorrow.” -Nancy Lindburg Oregon Arts Commission (OAC) member “… It gives texture to the community. There are many people who travel each day looking at the same things…having a piece of art will stop them, give them pause to reflect.” -Mary Lou Zeek, Salem Public Art Commission and owner of the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery “The value of art in our public spaces and City buildings and parks could fill pages,” -Salem's Mayor Anna Peterson Salem's visual and performing arts community is active throughout the year and nowhere is this more apparent than in downtown Salem, Oregon. There are beautiful works of art for anyone to appreciate throughout the downtown area such as the Hallie Ford Museum of Art's permanent collection displayed in our lobby or Oregon Artists Series' 5th Annual Exhibit, “Sculpture Now!' in our outdoor plaza. Much of the credit for our thriving arts community goes to the volunteers in the Salem Public Art Commission like Mary Lou Zeek. Her gallery on State Street features work from some of the most talented artists from the local, regional and national communities. One of the paintings from the gallery, Face the Public , is prominently featured in our Pringle Creek room on the second floor. She has worked tirelessly on public art projects through the years and her gallery (along with with 15 businesses and public venues) is currently presenting 'The Door Show', a contemporary art show throughout Salem's historic downtown featuring creatively-infused standard wooden doors through May 31, 2013. There have been numerous public art projects here in downtown Salem such as the recent “Before I Die” wall global public art project. Just last summer, the Salem Chamber Orchestra brought Play Me, I'm Yours to Salem, Oregon, an public art exhibit with 11 street pianos distributed across the streets of Salem and Keizer. The pianos were decorated by Salem-based nonprofits and placed in public locations. British artist Luke Jerram has presented this interactive public art project all over the world, and Salem was the first city in the Pacific Northwest to present the project: Article Source: Making Art Public in Salem – Taking different routes to become part of Salem's public landscape
