EVENTS

“Salem Art Works is truly special. They want you to create art, sing your song, & share your spirit. I’m so grateful that I could be a part of sucha beautiful community of artists that nurtures self-expression. I had a great time performing with my band, My Pet Dragon, as we headlined SAWFest 2012.” – Reena Shah

Salem Art Works holds a number of events throughout the year. From studio visits with resident artists to a mid-summer music festival, we offer something for everyone. True to our mission, events include a mixture of contemporary visual and performing arts, representing both our regional and global communities.

Music by Diagenesis with Music From Salem

Date: May 30th

Time: 8:00 pm

Fee: Free

Salem Art Works is excited to once again be working with Music From Salem by hosting a classical music concert in our Barn 2 Gallery. The classical music duo Diagenesis will present new music for the unique combination of soprano and cello by Scott Ordway, Harold Meltzer, Mischa Salkind-Pearl, Igor Stravinsky, Harrison Birtwistle, and Matthew Whiteside.

Diagenesis was formed when Heather Barnes, soprano, and Jennifer Bewerse, cello, met in July 2010, during the soundSCAPE performance and the composition exchange in Maccagno, Italy. While walking between rehearsal locations and working together in a chamber ensemble, they formed a mutual artistic admiration and became fast friends. In their first years as an ensemble, Diagenesis has been able to commission and premiere many new works, perform in diverse venues from concert halls to community centers, travel to six states and two countries, and were recently recipients of the Myrna Loy Center Grants to Artists Award.

The Art of Acoustics

Date: May 31st

Time: 5:00 pm

Fee: Free

This 2013 Cello Seminar Workshop Performance will feature contemporary music for solo cellos played in and around Zac Ward’s latest piece, Sculpture for Two Cellos, located in SAW’s welding bay. The sculpture utilizes the art of acoustics to emphasize the vibrancy and movement of sound.

Inspiration for Sculpture for Two Cellos came about during the 2011 Music from Salem Cello Seminar Workshop Performance at Salem Art Works. One of Zac Ward’s works in progress, housed in the welding bay where the event took place, served as a surprising resonator for the cellists. In Zac’s own words: “During the performance I could hear my sculpture vibrate, morphing my ideas into this work… with the end goal of collaborating with MfS this year.” The concise construction of his piece is meant to capture the full sound potential and experience for the audience from the musicians. The fluidly waved composition and rounded edges operate as a structural amplifier. In the above video of Ward’s work in progress, you can experience a little of what musicians and audiences will see and hear within the finished piece.

Live Music & Pizza

Dates: June 8th, July 6th, August 3rd, August 31st

Time: 6:30 pm

Fee: $10

Each month we convert Barn 1 into a music cafe where we join regional musicians for an intimate evening of performance. Grab a slice of homemade pizza, baked on – site by SAW staff, then sit back and enjoy the sounds of homegrown music. June 8th will feature MaryLeigh Roohan, July 6th The Midnight Society, August 3rd Molly Durnin, and August 31st Josh Patrick Sheridan.

SAWFest: Salem Art Works Music Festival

Dates: July 20th

Time: Doors at 5:00 pm

Fee: $20; $5 for children 12 and under

Spend an evening enjoying a diverse lineup of musicians on SAW’s picturesque grounds. Our annual music festival continues for its 7th year this July, featuring bands The Rustic Overtones, Wild Adriatic, The Ballroom Thieves and Elijah & The Moon. Visit our SAWFest page for more details and to purchase tickets!

Self-Guided Studio Tour

Dates: July 6th & August 31st

Time: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Fee: Free

Visitors are invited to take a self-guided tour of artists’ studios and workspaces. Tour all or some of the SAW studios, meet current resident artists, and discuss their artistic process and thinking.