Salem Artist Exhibits at Hallie Ford

Recycling may be popular as environmental issues take precedence in politics and social activism, but some artists find a unique way to reuse everyday products. Using cardboard, paper, and other found materials, Salem artist D.E. May creates mixed media pieces. May, a nationally recognized artist, will have his art on display at Hallie Ford Museum of Art’s Print Study Center through December 21.

The small exhibition will showcase notebooks and mixed media works organized by artist D.E. May and Willamette University art history student Alisa Alexander. His show, “The Artist as Archivist,” displays approximately two dozen works taken from May’s local and regional collections.

His work shows many varied associations, sometimes obvious and others elusive and ethereal. May’s art includes refined abstractions, intimate sketchbooks, templates, and architectural models. Several large ephemera installations are also included in the exhibit, which is art that isn’t meant to be preserved.

Admission into the galleries is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and students. Tuesday is free admission day. For more information call (503) 370-6855.

Glass art displayed at Lawrence Gallery

Artists work with a variety of materials, many of which are messy but favorably predictable. However, working with fire is the only way to mold and create shapes out of glass. Tim Chinlina’s glass-blown sculptures will be featured in the December show at Lawrence Gallery in Sheridan.

Unlike other sculptors who work with clay or other touchable mediums, glass blowers work near temperatures of up to 2000 degrees. Glass at these temperatures is as malleable as any other medium and Chilina’s glass art is blown into vases, abstract bowls, and other vessels. His pieces are both traditional and abstract, showcasing color and pattern. Chilina, a Portland-based artist, will offer these fine art pieces as well as glass oil lamps at the Sheridan gallery throughout the entire month.

Also featured at Lawrence during December is mixed media artist Carrie Kaufman, whose art is represented in collages. She uses small forms that build on one another. Her pieces also focus on color and intricacy to display complex images.

A reception for Chilina and Kaufman will be held on December 7 from 2-4 p.m. For more information, call Lawrence Gallery at (503) 843-3633.

Coffee house hosts contemporary art

Sitting in comfortable chairs and clutching steaming cups, coffee shop patrons take in their surrounding environment. Coffee House Café, located in downtown Salem, will display throughout the month of December a collection of local art for its patrons to peruse while sipping their favorite beverages.

Presented by syn503.com, the show, entitled "Meet Ultra Contemporary," will open on December 1 with an artist’s reception. The evening will offer an opportunity to meet the artists, sip samples of wine selections from Cristom Vineyards and listen to the folksy blues of musician Matt Zeltzer. The show, which runs through December 31, will feature works of regional artists worth $400 or less.

This collection of regional contemporary art displays the paintings, mixed media and photography of Ellie Winds, Erise Woner, Jami Moffett, John Diss, J. Slattum, Melannie Sutherland, Stephanie Jacobs, Nekon, River Hawkins, Stahler, Uncommon Valor, Andrea Ikeda, Scott Rohlfs and more. Their pieces consist of images that tell stories, offer political, social or economic commentary and give insight into the artistic vision of the piece.

For more information, call (503) 798-0771 or visit syn503.com