Keizer Art Association

About KAA

Who We Are

Keizer Art Association is a local, non-profit 501(c)(3), Art Association that serves the city of Keizer, Oregon and adjacent communities providing:

All of these services are available at 980 Chemawa Rd. N, Keizer, Oregon.

Not everyone is an artist...but everyone can support local artists and art education by donating to Keizer Art Association! (Online Donation ) AND…you get to take a tax deduction because we are a 501(c)(3) organization! We will send you the tax donation form when we receive your donation. Get yours today!

Keizer Art Association was incorporated in 1977 by three founding volunteer members; Don Walton, Marge Bowder and Enid Joy Mount. Enid Joy Mount, a local teacher, was very determined that children have a chance to experience and create art. She helped them find clay in the natural environment (located under horsetail plants) and then make objects they could wood-fire with her help. We remain 100% volunteer! (Only the art instructors are paid!)

OUR MISSION

“The Keizer Art Association is organized to encourage the creation, understanding, and appreciation of arts in the community; to gather objects of art for display and interpretation; provide a marketplace for selling art, and to have as a final goal, the participation of members of the community as part of the total art education process.”

YOU can be an Art Supporter!

Thanks to the generosity of the community and Enid Joy Mount’s family and artistic grants, our organization continues to provide excellent artistic services with our monthly art shows; art classes and gift shop. YOU can help by:







Contact Information

Address:   980 Chemawa Road NE, Keizer, OR 97303

Telephone:   503-390-3010

Email:   

GALLERY HOURS: TUES 3 pm - 7 pm, WED – FRI 1 pm – 5 pm, SAT 11 am – 3 pm.

LENDING LIBRARY – Free to members.

KEIZER ART ASSOCIATION and ENID JOY MOUNT GALLERY are located in the Keizer Heritage Center at 980 Chemawa Rd., NE, Keizer, OR 97303, 503-390-3010. Open 3 – 7 pm, Tuesdays, 1 -5 pm Wednesdays; Thursdays and Fridays; 11 am – 3 pm, Saturdays.







Board of Directors

Chairperson and Grant Writer - Lore Christopher Lore Christopher is responsible for public outreach and funding. She is currently our Facebook and Grants Administrator. Lore has been a supporter of the creative community her entire adult life. She is also the Chair of the City of Keizer Public Art Commission who works closely with Keizer Art Association on public arts projects. The latest one is the “Valley Treasures” Mural located on Chemawa Rd at the Keizer Florist building. Lore is the former Mayor of Keizer, Or. Her educational background includes a BA in Human Resource Management from George Fox University and a MPA from Portland State University.

Secretary and Education Chair - Carol Harris Carol Harris has been KAA Secretary and Education Council Chair since 2005 and is responsible for hiring instructors to teach classes and developing the art program. She takes classes and teaches Colored Pencil at KAA. Carol was born in Baker, Oregon, went to OSU and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Art, a Master's Degree in Education at WOU, and then settled in Salem to teach elementary school for 31 years. During 40 years of marriage to Keith, they skied in the winter and sailed in the summer. She lives in the country west of Salem and grows hay for horses, and is a 4-H Horse Leader and Polk Country 4-H Horse Superintendent. Interests are family, art, traveling, gardening, horses, dogs, volunteering, and best of all -- playing with grandkids Ben (7) and Addilyn (5).

Gallery Host Coordinator and Statesman - Karen Saleen Karen Saleen is a retired educator and colored pencil artist. In her spare time she works at her art, takes classes in colored pencil and mentors high school students interested in developing their colored pencil skills. Occasionally, she teaches classes in colored pencil drawing, hosts in the KAA Gallery and shows her artwork. She is currently the Vice President in the Oregon Chapter of the Colored Pencil Society of America and sits of the Board of the Keizer Art Association.

Vice President, Membership, Newsletter, and KEIZERtimes - Cheryl Manhire Cheryl Mohr Manhire first came to the Keizer Art Association when she began taking colored pencil classes many years ago. She has been a board member serving as membership and newsletter chair. She retired in 2004 after spending 25 years working as a counselor/administrator in the addiction treatment field. She lives with her husband, Dick, in a condo in south Salem. They have two children, Cara and Marshall, and four grandchildren.

Treasurer, Gallery K Gift Shop, Members' Wall, and Office Manager - Julie Thoreson Julie is a native of California who came to Oregon to marry her now husband of 37 years. She has no formal art training, just a love of art ingrained in her by her creative and talented parents. “Being on the board of directors of Keizer Art Association is an honor and privilege I take seriously. The promotion of art in the community is an important part of what KAA does by teaching different form of art and providing a venue for artists to display their creations.” As a member of KAA, Julie looks forward to many more years of involvement in the art world.

Librarian - Vicky Vickery Vicky Vickery moved to Oregon about forty years ago. She grew up in southern California, graduating from Pasadena City College with an Associate Degree in Art, and from Cal State Fullerton with a B.A. in Art History. She worked as a school librarian in Mt. Angel. Upon retirement, she got back into art through the classes at Keizer Art Association. “It is great to get back into art myself, but also to help promote the arts in the community through the KAA.”

Webmaster, Historian - Bob Curtis Bob was introduced to the creative arts when he began painting landscapes in oils many years ago. Wood carving and watercolor painting replaced his interest in oil painting and have become the focus of Bob’s artistic activity for the last eight years. As an active member of KAA, Bob can be found hosting the KAA Gallery one day a week. Bob also serves on KAA committees as needed. Bob is also an active member of the Capitol Woodcarvers where he currently serves as a board member. He is working to improve the acceptance of woodcarving as an “art”. He is also a member of “Wild Over Watercolor” (WOW), a dedicated group of watercolor artists from the Willamette Valley.

Member-at-Large - Yita Harris Yita Harris was born in Santiago, Chile. She came to the USA as an exchange student to California fifty years ago. Graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA and University of Portland where she earned her Masters in Bilingual education. She worked as a bilingual school teacher in the Canby School District. Upon retirement, she moved to Salem with her husband, Roger. She is the mother of Steve, Katherine, and Cristina and a grandmother of six. In the Salem area she found a wonderful group of artists at the Keizer Art Association by taking colored pencil classes. “It was love at first sight”. “I am honored to be part of such a special group and looking forward to grow and learn from them”.

Member-at-Large - Terry Dempsey (Terry is temporarily on leave from the Board) Terry has a post-baccalaureate certificate in Interior Design and Interior Architecture from UC Berkeley. He has remodeled 20 of his own houses in California, Oregon and Idaho over the past 40 years and works with clients for design, space planning, color consulting, hanging art and all aspects of interior design.

In addition to working with KAA, Terry fosters dogs through Marion County Dog Services and has provided safe haven for 36 dogs while they await a permanent home. He recently adopted an eight-year-old Boston Terrier, Connor. As soon as Connor settles in, they will be eager to resume hosting and spoiling dogs in need of a temporary home.

Member-at-Large – Bev Wittler Bev Wittler

Bev moved to Salem in 1976 from Iowa. She has 40 yrs of teaching experience in Special Education and as an Autism Specialist. In her free time she worked in creating fabric art, beading, painting, and drawing. After retiring she was looking for a new interest. She came to KAA for a color pencil class. At KAA she found a fun, creative, and diverse group of talented artists.







Location

The Keizer Art Association is located in the Keizer Cultural Center. 980 Chemawa Rd. N.E., Keizer, OR 97303

Classroom

Our well lit and large classroom is located adjacent to the gallery. Students are encouraged to visit the Gallery for inspiration. There is seating for 24 along with numerous work surfaces. The Art Library is situated in the classroom so that students have easy access. One wall of the classroom has members' art displayed. The room also has a wall of windows and a small kitchen with coffee and tea available.

Gallery

Our art gallery is equipped with a professional hanging system and lighting designed to best show off art. A portion of one wall is reserved for the "Artist of the Month", a KAA member who is recognized for their artistic expression and contributions to KAA. The gallery hosts monthly themed shows throughout the year along with an artist's reception to kick-off each month. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Art Library

The library is located in the classroom and it contains a wide variety of art related books including acrylic, oil, and watercolor painting as well as colored pencil. and charcoal drawing. The library is free to use for KAA members.

Gallery "K" (sales)

KAA members may use the Gallery "K" facility located in the Gallery to sell their art. Items for sale range in type from paintings, drawings, cards, jewelry, publications, and more.







Non-discrimination Statement

Keizer Art Association does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

Keizer Art Association remains firmly dedicated to the fundamental principles of inclusion and diversity, and to racial justice as an inalienable human right.

© Copyright 2023 Keizer Art Association