by Salem Art Works (S.A.W.) in upstate Salem, N.Y., was founded by artist Anthony Cafritz in 2005 not only as an outdoor sculpture park, but also as an “art farm” — a space where creativity of all kinds is cultivated and nurtured.
As Anthony was a college classmate of mine (back in the 1980s), I’ve had the organization on my radar screen for many years, and when we were going to be in the area, I reached out and was very pleased that Anthony was willing to welcome us with a private tour of the results of his passion and creativity.
To serve its goals, S.A.W. offers opportunities to artists at all stages of their careers, including residencies for both emerging and established artists. They also offer classes for in a variety of subjects such as metal casting, ceramics, glass blowing, blacksmithing, welding, bladesmithing, stone carving, painting, printmaking, woodworking.
On its rural 119.4 acres, there are buildings and studios and plenty of open space for large-scale works to both be created and displayed. Hiking trails crisscross the grounds, leading up to fine vantage points and into the woods beyond in an area known as the Back 40. Guests are welcome to visit S.A.W., to hike the trails and experience the place for themselves.
Jen and I were fortunate to visit on a day that ended with open artist studios, so we were able to meet and talk with a number of artists about their work. It was inspiring to meet with young artists who were in residence over the summer, who were either exploring new mediums of expression or advancing further along their own journeys, bolstered by their S.A.W. experiences.
Both Jen and I were fascinated by a series of large-scale paintings by Zack Lobdell (in the cover photo of this post) that had such depth and inner mystery. We enjoyed chatting with him about his vision and process.
Resident artists often camp on the grounds or live in tiny houses that dot the landscape. S.A.W. also works with teens and youth, including in summer programs for families, and their full events calendar is packed with activities.
