Paint, Write & Create during June, July & August;
Exhibit, Reception in October
Paint the Town is a popular summertime event. Artists of all skill levels working in any medium meet to create art “en plein air” that is interpretive of one or more of the scheduled locations in historic, scenic and downtown locations. Sometimes, poets of the Mid-Valley Poetry Society join in to write prose inspired by the site. On the first Wednesday in October, a juried exhibit with cash awards is held at Salem’s Elsinore Gallery.
Gary Meacham en Plein Air 
Baskett Butte by Jens Lerback
Paint the Town / Write the Town in 2020
The AiA tradition continues in 2020 with a few tweaks for social distancing. This year, because of the pandemic, we have a paint/write-from-home option: If any writers or artists are uncomfortable being in public, they may choose to write, paint or create at home or at a nearby site where they feel safe. Participants may take a photo at the site to use as a reference.
Everyone is welcome to participate. You do not need to be an AiA member. You may begin painting / writing / creating now according to the schedule and locations. The entry fee (up to 3 pieces) will be $25 for artists and $10 for writers.
Call to Artists & Writers
Official Call to Artists for Paint the Town / Write the Town
The above link will take you to the official Call for Artists which is hosted on the ArtCall.org site and has all the pertinent details. Between July 1 and September 16, you will be able to register / pay / submit images to be considered for the the juried exhibition. See below for more info on ArtCall.
Schedule & Locations
| Meetup Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| June 6 | 10-4:00 | Salem’s Riverfront Park |
| June 13 | 10-4:00 | Laura Kruss’ Garden in West Salem (private garden) |
| June 20 | 10-4:00 | Misner Family Farm in Crabtree, Oregon |
| June 27 | 10-4:00 | Union Bridge from Wallace Marine Park |
| July 8 | 1:00–Sunset | Deepwood Estate/Gardens |
| July 12 | 1:00-5:00 | Capitol Grounds – UPDATED Day & Time |
| July 19 | 10-4:00 | Bush Park |
| July 26 | 10-4:00 | Eola Hills Winery |
| August 1 | 10-4:00 | Dewey Whitton in Ankeny Hills (private garden) |
| August 9 | 11-5:00 | Cubanismo Vineyards |
| August 15 | 10-4:00 | Minto Island Growers |
| August 22 | 10-4:00 | Willamette Heritage Center (the Mill) |
October Exhibit
Elsinore Framing and Fine Art Gallery, 444 Ferry St. will host the exhibit of plein-air artwork and written works in October. The artist reception is scheduled for the first Wednesday, October 7, 2020.
About ArtCall
The Paint the Town / Write the Town Call to Artists will be managed thru ArtCall. ArtCall.org is a distinctly separate site from the AiA website and requires registering for an ArtCall account to participate. You only need to register once; then simply log in for all future AiA calls. ArtCall provides you with an easy way submit your art and entry fee and provides us with an effective way to manage all aspects of the call. So, if you participated in last year’s Something Red or Spring Reign 2020, you will simply need to log in to the ArtCall.org site. If you forgot your password you can reset it. First-timers need to register.