Gallery re-opens with completed renovation

Hallie Ford Museum hosts a full schedule of shows throughout the year, from traditional to modern. The visiting exhibits often feature prominent Northwest artists. However, it's one of the permanent collections housed in the renovated Mark and Janeth Sponenburgh Gallery.

Filled with a plethora of European, Asian, African and American art, the gallery opens March 5th, after three months of closure.

The collection is now presented in historical sequence, beginning with ancient art. To enhance the artwork within, the gallery now has new walls, display cases, improved lighting, and a color scheme, and annotated labels to differentiate between the the regions and time periods of the art.

Spanning 4,500 years, the collection is assembled to introduce visitors "to major themes and styles in Western and Eastern art history that are meant to be studied, savored, and enjoyed" according to Willamette University's Office of Marketing Communications.

Reinstallation of the gallery was an effort funded in part by grants from the City of Salem's Transient Occupancy Tax funds and the Oregon Arts Commission.

A free family activity day, led by education curator Elizabeth Garrison, will celebrate the re-opening on March 7, from 12-4 p.m. The event will be held in the lobby of the museum. Included activities are art projects based on pieces in the museum in effort to help families explore the exhibition.

Non-Traditional art class offerings

In addition to more conventional art classes, like painting and watercolor, Silverton Art Association offers a few outside-the-box art courses this March. Wearable art, doll making, and a holistic yoga art class are on the schedule.

On March 3, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tsipora Claudia Berman of Silver Falls Yoga Studio teaches "Moving Art: Yoga Dance as an Artistic Resources." The class is meant to introduce movement as a means of artistic inspiration, which can manifest in writing and mixed media art.

Cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members.

Berman also teaches a doll making class on March 10, from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Using all natural materials, participants can make 6 in. Waldorf dolls to keep or pass on as gifts.

All materials are included, but participants can bring embellishments. Cost is $30 for members, $35 for non-members.

Verdene McGuide of 'Beads and More' will instruct a class titled, "Beads, Beads, Beads!" on March 7 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. as a means to construct wearable art. Students learn how to weave a double strand bracelet and earrings of pressed glass. The cost is $40, which includes beads.

All classes are held at the art association's Park House located at Coolidge-McClaine City Park in Silverton.

Lunaria hosts its second annual invitational

It's all gone to the birds. Well, technically it is just all about art that features birds. Silverton's Lunaria Gallery opens its doors during the month of March for their second annual invitational.

Wishing to to make their visitors believe that spring is indeed around the corner, the theme of this year's event is titled, "For the Birds." Every Lunaria member has a piece of art in the show that in some way depicts birds.

The gallery, in its 14th year, boasts a membership of 25 artists. A special guest of each member is invited to participate in the show as well.

On March 6, the gallery hosts its gala opening, where art lovers can meet the artists while viewing the participants' work.

The show can be viewed any time during Lunaria's daily gallery hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.