BIG EVENT: Celebrate PEM Prize Opening Day and the Salem Arts Fest (Free admission!)
When:
Saturday, Jun 08, 2024 10:00a -
4:00p
Saturday, Jun 08, 2024 10:00a -
4:00p
Where:
Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex Street
Salem, MA 01970
Admission:
FREE
Hosted by:
Categories:
Art, Good for Groups, Kid Friendly
Event website:
https://www.pem.org/events/free-admission-celebrate-the-pem-prize-opening-and-salem-arts-fest
Celebrate culture, creativity and community at PEM Prize Opening Day and the 16th annual Salem Arts Festival on Saturday, June 8!
At PEM, this event will celebrate the reveal of the finished Jingle sculptures by PEM Prize Awardee Marie Watt (Seneca Nation), created especially for PEM and built with the community. These sparkling large-scale works sing to us from the liminal space between sky and earth.
As part of this family-friendly event, you will have the opportunity to dance with the finished jingle sculptures and activate them through movement. Hear from Marie Watt about her work and inspiration, see a Jingle Dance performance by world champion dancer Acosia Red Elk (Umatilla Nation) and enjoy a themed brunch in the Atrium Café.
Outside the museum and throughout the downtown area, the Salem Arts Festival offers art making, dance performances, live music and more. Don’t miss the live mural slam on Artists’ Row!
Arts and culture are an integral part of day-to-day life in Salem, and this annual festival has become a source of pride and inspiration for the city. Join us as we support and celebrate the creative community in Salem.
PEM is proud to partner with Salem Main Streets and the Creative Collective.
The PEM Prize recognizes artists whose work explores the catalytic relationship between creativity and civic engagement. The museum has commissioned these works to honor Marie Watt, an interdisciplinary artist and PEM Prize recipient whose work draws together aspects of history, community engagement and Indigenous teachings.
Schedule
Brunch in the Atrium Café
10 am–4 pm
Interconnectedness Scavenger Hunt
10 am–4 pm
Pick up an all-ages clue sheet at our table in the Main Atrium and search for objects around the museum!
Once the museum closes, we encourage you to visit the Salem Arts Festival. Festival events run until 6 pm.
You can also check out our drop-in nature weaving activity on Essex Street, outside the museum’s Main Entrance.
Jingle Sculpture Activation
10–11 am, 2–4 pm | Main AtriumThe Thursday Poets
Help us bring this artwork to life! Together with the artist, Marie Watt (Seneca Nation), we welcome all of our visitors to touch the co-created sculpture and activate the jingles’ sound through embrace.
Jingle Dance Performance
11 am | Armory Park, across the street from PEM’s Main Entrance
1 pm | Main Atrium
Watch a Jingle Dance performed by ten-time world championship jingle dancer Acosia Red Elk (member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, Cayuse and Walla Walla, and Nez Perce and Colville).
Poetry Reading by The Thursday Poets
12-1 pm | Morse Auditorium Alcove
The Salem-based Thursday Poets share original works of ekphrasis – poetry that vividly describes a work of art – based on their experience with the jingle sculptures. Look for more of their poetry readings throughout downtown Salem during the arts festival.
