COURTESY SALEM ARTWORKS
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
Salem Art Works
19 Cary Lane Salem , NY 12865
Just over the state line in Salem , New York , the revolutionary 119-acre artistic campus at Salem Art Works ( SAW ) is replete with awe-inspiring sculptures . Those who come to visit SAW ’ s Cary Hill Sculpture Park will find sculptures by both local and internationally-renowned artists , such as Mark di Suvero , Peter Lundberg , Coral Lambert , and Nam Lee , among others . The SAW campus is open from 9AM-7PM , and the Cary Hill Sculpture Park is easily accessible by car . Miles of trails snake through a series of wooded areas and spacious clearings throughout the SAW property . Visitors can take in the surrounding panoramic vistas while basking in the vibrant artistic energy that reverberates throughout the campus .
SAW was founded by Anthony Cafritz in 2005 . Cafritz is an accomplished
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sculptor and passionate advocate for the arts , and he has spent the past seventeen years working tirelessly to create an artistic haven where emerging and seasoned artists can find support and opportunity . The SAW campus features a glassblowing workshop , several sculpture workshops , multiple ceramic kilns , and over a dozen buildings that are used for a variety of fluid artistic purposes .
Over the past several years , Cafritz has worked closely with SAW ’ s team members , including SAW ’ s Executive Director , Pearl Cafritz , to develop a number of specialized arts residency programs . Their NY / VT artist residency program enables underserved artists from both sides of the state border to take full advantage of their facilities . In 2010 , SAW partnered with the Lake Constance Cultural Department in Salem , Germany to create an international artist residency exchange program . Up until 2019 , SAW and the Lake Constance Cultural
Departments took turns hosting groups of interdisciplinary artists , alternating on an annual basis between Salem , New York , and Salem , Germany . Although the program was temporarily suspended in 2020 , Anthony and Pearl Cafritz are thrilled for the exchange program to return to SAW this summer .
SAW also oversees an artistic program for local youth known as Salem Teen Arts , which helps young people develop their artistic skills while connecting with other similarly-minded people in a positive and encouraging setting . In addition , SAW hosts a wide range of cultural events , such as musical performances and art exhibitions , among others . Highlights from their upcoming season include their “ Music on the Hill ” events on June 11 and August 13 from 4-8PM , which feature live musical performances and food and craft beer from local vendors . SAW ’ s three-day “ Festival of Fire ,” will run from September 9 – September 11 .