Salem Springs to Life with Art
Mayor Dominick Pangallo and the City of Salem’s Public Art Commission are pleased to announce a multitude of unique art installations and experiences coming to Salem this Spring! Visitors can see exciting new sculpture installations, walk inside a giant working pin hole camera, and explore immigrant stories through art with Salem’s new Public Artist in Residence Julia Csekö!
On view from April 15th 2024 – April 10th 2025 along the Leslie’s Retreat Walking Path, the City welcomes five new sculptures as part of its 4th annual Rotating Sculpture Garden. Works on display include: David Adilman & Thomas Berger’s Burdened Man; Josie Dellenbaugh’s Balancing Act – Expectations; Joseph Gray’s The Portal; Philip Marshall’s Bath in Orange; and David Skora’s Think Tank.
During April school vacation week, Salem artist and resident Patricia Scialo welcomes visitors to her Pinhole Camera exhibition at Old Town Hall. Learn how the first cameras were built (circa 1820), dive into the world of early photography, and explore the exciting intersection of art and science! This interactive experience will showcase a walk-in camera, build-your-own pinhole camera craft sessions, and more! Free and fun for all ages! Join us at Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Sq. Monday, April, 15th from 12 – 2pm; Tue., Wed., & Thur., April 16th - 18th from 1 – 4pm; & Fri., April 19, from 10am – 2pm.
From there, pop over to Artists’ Row, 24 New Derby St., to see David Jaramillo’s new permeant art installation Our Lady of Reflection. Formed from a lightning struck tree and standing approximately 11 feet tall, Our Lady of Reflection is a beacon of hope and inspiration. “The Lady is a reflection of the Native American spirit, to bring forth both past and present, reflecting the Sun bringing forth the Universe around you….Our Lady of Reflection brings inspiration to all cultures of Salem. Those who visit her will learn of the Americas, and the diversity of cultures that call this place home,” says Jaramillo when asked about his work.
In May Artists’ Row will also welcome Julia Csekö as Salem’s 2024 Public Artist in Residence (PAiR) on Artists’ Row. Csekö will hold regular open studio hours from May to December on Artists’ Row, 24 New Derby St, Salem MA and will present her participatory public art installation, Transcending Borders - Immigrant Experiences and Dreams, between June and September 2024. The PAiR studio on Artists’ Row will serve as a community gathering point for sharing and celebrating immigration stories. Additionally, Csekö will curate storytelling events and family-friendly workshops throughout her residency.
Transcending Borders features over 2,000 brightly colored ribbons with the phrase "YOU ARE WELCOME HERE" in twelve languages commonly spoken by immigrant populations in greater Boston. The piece is inspired by the Brazilian custom of tying ribbons with wishes around the fence of the historic Church of Senhor do Bonfim in Salvador, Bahia. The project uses innovative QR codes and a mailbox to encourage public engagement and sharing of immigration stories. It includes an augmented reality feature that connects participants to organizations supporting immigrant and refugee rights. The residency will culminate with an exhibition at Old Town Hall in January 2025. Follow Julia on Instagram @SalemPAiR to see what she is up to and learn more!
In the Artists words:
“The Salem Public Artist Residency offers the space, time, and funding to develop a new body of work, by intertwining elements of my personal story with the stories of the multiple immigrant populations of greater Boston. The residency studio, located at the lively Artist Row, will be used as a place to welcome the general public to participate in storytelling and sharing of immigration experiences. This residency is a unique opportunity to create public participatory art that sparks conversations to destigmatize immigrant populations in North America. I am excited to experiment with materials and ideas that are connected to my Brazilian culture, such as the colorful ribbons featured in the Transcending Borders public installation. Come visit, take a ribbon, and tell a story.“
About the Artist, Julia Csekö
Born in Colorado to Brazilian parents on self-exile during the Brazilian military dictatorship, Csekö grew up in Rio, Brazil. She holds an MFA from SMFA at Tufts and a BFA from the Federal University of Rio, UFRJ. In 24’ Csekö is an SMFA @ Tufts Travelling Fellow, an AiR at the Boston Center for the Arts, and the City of Salem Public Artist in Residency. In 23’ Csekö’s work was acquired by the Tufts Art Galleries Permanent Collection and she was a Collective Futures Tufts Art Galleries Warhol Foundation Grantee, JArts Be The Change Awardee, Randolph, and Newton LCC Grantee, and a Somerville LCC Ambassador. In 22’ Cseko was a Somerville LCC grantee, a CTV MassCreative Fellow, and a Somerville Museum Community Curator. She was also invited as an AIR at Sculpture Space, upstate NY. In addition, she has public murals on view commissioned by the Downtown Boston BID, and by the Stonybrook Neighborhood Association. In 2018 Csekö was invited as an AiR at the A4A MassMoCA.
Her passion for organizing dates back to her BFA at the Federal University of Rio UFRJ, when Csekö participated in negotiations demanding an increase from 0.3 to 1% of Brazilian national funds be allocated to arts and culture. She was also a member of a committee in conversation with representatives of the Brazilian Ministry of Culture.
All projects are facilitated and funded by the City of Salem’s Arts & Culture Program in partnership with the Salem Public Art Commission.
About Artists’ Row
Artists’ Row is at the heart of the City, centrally located in historic downtown Salem at 24 New Derby St., across from Old Town Hall and Derby Square. It was originally built as a marketplace and continues to be a thriving public plaza and pedestrian way. Artists’ Row consists of four artist ‘stalls’, one of which is dedicated to the City’s Public Artist in Residence, a restaurant, and a public restroom and The Artists’ Row Initiative is a seasonal program run by the City of Salem’s office of Arts & Culture that provides space for artists and artisans looking to build their audience and/or business through daily engagement with residents and visitors to Salem. Learn more at: https://www.salemma.gov/artists-row
About the Salem Public Art Commission
The Salem Public Art Commission (PAC) is committed to enriching and enlivening the urban environment through showcasing and commissioning innovative and transformative works of art in all media and modalities. With a focus on local artists, especially those historically underrepresented, and a global perspective of the art scene, PAC seeks to foster greater community awareness of and interaction with the arts, enhance the scope of Salem’s public art collection, and celebrate diversity in all its forms. The PAC feels Public Art in Salem should contribute to the community’s identity as the cultural hub of the North Shore and a center for creativity; foster community pride, ownership, and a sense of belonging; and enhance the quality of Salem’s built environment. Our goal is to nurture diversity and creativity and enhance the quality of life for all. Learn more at https://www.salemma.gov/public-art-commission. Follow us on FB & Instagram @SalemArtsCulture.
98 Washington St., 2nd Floor | Salem, MA 01970