
About Outside the Box
Member and area artists are encouraged to think ‘Outside the Box’ and create fantastic embellished boxes for a AiA’s annual fundraising auction. Its a festive showcase of creativity, held during the Salem Art Fair & Festival in July.
In 2020 the Salem Art Association made the fair a virtual one. AiA took our event to the internet as well and held a successful online auction. The virtual-ness continues for 2021, with both Outside the Box and the Salem Art Fair being conducted online. This year’s virtual events should be even better, with collective knowledge gained. We do hope to get back to the park in the future.
Artists and Bidders: Watch this space for specific details on the 2021 event.
Box Art, Galleries
One-of-a-kind, weird and quirky boxes are what the public has come to expect and appreciate at this event. Mediums and techniques include, but are not limited to, carved wood, assemblages, metalwork, fiber arts, glass / tile / ceramics and paint. Artists graciously donate their box creations and sale proceeds directly support AiA to help our artist community continue to thrive.
Better World (Auction Site)
AiA conducts its auctions online using Better World which is a non-profit organization that offers online fundraising tools to other non-profit orgs free of charge. The site provides a secure, easy way to place bids.
Salem Art Fair & Festival
The Salem Art Association is the organizer of the Salem Art Fair & Festival which has been held the third weekend in July for more than 70 years.
Runaway Art & Craft Studio
For last year’s event, Runaway Art & Craft Studio, 4675 Commercial St SE, Salem, graciously displayed the boxes in their shop window during the auction and provided a place where local winning bidders could pick up them up. Runaway offers supplies and instruction in papercrafting, mixed media, memory arts, scrapbooking and related creative activities.