SALEM — Make seed bombs, watch bees, make your own earrings and more at Artist’s Row Spring Market Day Launch Party in Salem on April 30 and May 1.
“The snow has melted, warm days are upon us, and the annual grand opening of Artist’s Row Market has arrived,” reads a City of Salem press release.
Here are some of the activities you might want to enjoy during the event. Public Artist in Residence Maia Mattson will give free workshops for all ages on both days from 12 to 4 p.m., teaching how to create native-seed bombs.
“These small, biodegradable balls made from air-dried clay and filled with a pollinator loving, native-seed mix are a fun way to support our local pollinators,” states the press release.
Mattson is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in botanical-plant installations. Her monthly workshops as Salem’s 2022 Public Artist in Residence will explore the many connections between nature, art, and human impact.
Moving on from plants to bees, Beverly Bees will have its observation hive on display to educate the audience on the importance of protecting the pollinators. Bees will also have experts answering “honeybee questions” for the visitors to learn about bees, beekeeping, bee removal, and “how to help save bees.”
Beverly Bees is located on Artist’s Row in Unit 2.
During the Artist’s Row Spring Market Day Launch Party, visitors will be able to watch them making handmade beeswax candles available for sale, as well as to buy local raw honey, beeswax lip balms, and lotions.
“Watch them make candles in hundreds of shapes and designs from pillars, tapers, votives, pumpkins, skulls, wolves, dragons, witches, zombies and more,” the city said.
Moving on from botanical and bee activities, ShinDig! will offer free “make-your-own-button workshops, a makers-grab-bag table, and their usual array of upcycled lovable oddities.” You will be able to buy upcycled, artist-embellished oddities, antiques, as well as patches, pins, and more at the expanded version of its shop at the Artist’s Row Spring Market Day Launch Party.
Shindig! is a small family-owned and operated shop dedicated to creating “cool things” with little waste. They create and collect fun and unique jewelry, art, and clothing.
The Chagall Performance Art Collaborative (Chagall PAC) that usually offers an eclectic array of handcrafted jewelry, fiber arts, poetry books, and painting will be hosting a variety of activities including earring-making and sound-painting workshops, an interactive poetry performance, and outdoor music.
Sadie Nadeau will host a free “make-your-own-earrings” beading workshop from 2 to 4 p.m., and at 4 p.m. Dennis Shafer will have a two-hour sound-painting workshop followed by an Interactive Poetry and Performance Workshop at CultureHouse Salem across the street from Old Town Hall starting at 6 p.m.
The Chagall Performance Art Collaborative (Chagall PAC) is a community of artists committed to collaborating across disciplines.
“We believe art is never the same in any given moment, but rather evolving and continually being shaped by the imaginations of those who come into contact with it,” states Chagall’s website.
In addition, the Lobster Shanty is now open from noon to midnight seven days a week for both dine-in and take out service, and the place now offers a new expanded menu.
Artist’s Row is in historic downtown Salem at 24 New Derby St., across from Old Town Hall and Derby Square. It was built as a marketplace, and it continues to be a thriving public pedestrian way. Artist’s Row offers four artists’ ‘stalls,’ a restaurant, and a public restroom.
The Artist’s Row Initiative is a seasonal program run by the City of Salem’s office of Arts & Culture that provides space for artists and artisans to build their audience. For more information, please visit: salem.com/artists-row
