Salem selects five semi-finalists for 400-plus public art project
Salem Public Art Commission approves boot donation and selects five project finalists. Acting Chair Hannah Gathman presided over the January 27 remote meeting, during which the commission unanimously approved a bronzed-boot donation from Public Artist in Residence Sarah Gurin for Artist's Row
Public Art Commission · Meeting of January 27, 2026
Salem Public Art Commission approves boot donation and selects five project finalists. Acting Chair Hannah Gathman presided over the January 27 remote meeting, during which the commission unanimously approved a bronzed-boot donation from Public Artist in Residence Sarah Gurin for Artist's Row display. The commission also unanimously advanced five artists, Falcon Laina, Mark Favorman, Nora Valdez, Roark Congdon, and Thomas Berger, to the concept-development stage of the 400+ public art project, allocating up to $5,000 in funding for proposal development.
The commission identified approximately $1,200 in available funds to support muralist Hels Gibson's mural project, scheduled to begin in late May.
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Source: the Public Art Commission meeting of January 27, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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