Salem exhibit attracts over 40 photos, art pieces

SALEM ? Over 40 photographs, drawings, and paintings will be on exhibit Friday from 6-9 p.m., and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Salem Crew Public Library.

The artwork will all be available for sale via a silent auction, with certain pieces selected for a live auction on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The exhibit and auction are a fund-raiser for the Salem Crew Library, and are part of the Salem Old Settlers Reunion, which runs Friday through Sunday.

In addition to the artwork, there will be a silent auction for baked goods, as well as the annual quilt exhibit.

?Since the Crew Public Library opened five years ago, in conjunction with the library board, we have held a general silent auction as a fund-raiser at the Old Settlers? Reunion, said Mary Hoyer, president of the Salem Crew Public Library. ?Last year, for the first time, we decided instead to highlight the work of the many very creative artists and photographers in our area. It was so successful that we are repeating ?Camera and Canvas? again this year.

?We appreciate the generosity of our contributors in allowing us to share their work with the public, and encourage people to visit the exhibit to see for themselves the talent of these artists,? Hoyer added.

People?s Choice awards will be part of the exhibit ? visitors to the exhibit are encouraged to vote for their favorite in each category. The awards will be announced at 4:00 p.m.; the silent auction will continue until 4:30.

As a special feature, selected art pieces will be sold at a live ?Sotheby?s style? auction, conducted by John Kuhens. The live auction will begin at 3:30 p.m.

In addition to the artwork, there will be a silent auction for baked goods. Connie Weatherman, president of the Salem Crew Library Board, said, ?We had to keep the baked goods category, even with this new emphasis on artwork the competition for these items, for example, a yummy chocolate-chip cheesecake, is just too fierce.?

All proceeds from the auctions will go to support the Salem Crew Public Library and the Friends of the Salem Crew Public Library.

For additional information, or to submit a last-minute piece of work, contact Jim Dean at jjdean53@gmail.com or (319) 217-1924.