"Art on the Bricks" Draws Large Crowd, Showcases Local Talent in Debut Event

The first ever “Art on the Bricks” in Salem was a massive success! More than two dozen local artists banded together this past Friday, June 18, to showcase their passions for the community to see. There were many different types of pieces ranging from paintings to sculptures made from scrap metal. It really was a great experience for our community, and it was fascinating to see just how talented Washington County is.

Addison White, Art on the Bricks organizer and Administrative Assistant to the mayor, was overjoyed with the turnout, both from the artists and attendees.

“I couldn’t be happier with how this turned out,” began White. “The mayor and I were a little nervous because of the weather. People were even calling us on Monday saying, ‘are you guys going to go ahead and cancel it?’ Mayor Green looked at me and said, ‘it’s way too early. We’re not going to do anything just yet.’ It did end up raining a little; there were a few raindrops. But if anything, it was cooling.

“I’m just so happy,” she continued. “It has been really cool to see the community show up. I’ve been walking around to all of the booths, and they have all had great things to say. There’s really been no negativity, and I think it helps that nobody had to pay anything to participate. I told people on the phone leading up to this, ‘everything is free, and we will even provide tables and chairs.’ There was absolutely no cost for artists to participate, and I have to credit all of that to Mayor Green. He’s the one that decided we were not going to charge anyone.”

White went on to mention that this event was also very beneficial for businesses on the square such as El Maguey and Raquel’s. She also mentioned that there are more events like “Art on the Bricks” planned for the future, but exactly what they will entail still remains a secret.

“I can’t give any sneak peeks right now, but what I will say is that everything will remain community-based and local. If everything continues to go well, we would eventually like to do something like this each month. I am just super excited!”

"A huge thank you to all the amazing vendors who took part in Art on the Bricks," commented Mayor Justin Green. "Your talent and creativity made the event truly special... Thanks to everyone involved, the event was a success, and we're excited to do it again soon!"

The great success of Washington County’s first “Art on the Bricks” proved that creativity and community spirit are alive and well in Washington County. Despite a few raindrops, “Art on the Bricks” drew a wonderful crowd and gave local artists a free, welcoming platform to showcase their work. With strong support from Mayor Green and Addison White, the event not only celebrated art but also gave a boost to surrounding businesses. As hints of future events similar to “Art on the Bricks” begin to surface, one thing is clear: it has certainly laid a strong foundation for the future of community engagement in Washington County.

Enjoy plenty of photos from the event below!