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Banner to mark Burchfield’s ‘Golden Year’

The centennial celebration of artist Charles E. Burchfield’s “Golden Year” kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday in downtown Salem with the unveiling of a 70-foot long banner highlighting the works of the young man who drew inspiration from the city he called home.

According to published accounts regarding his personal journals, Burchfield himself referred to 1917 as his “Golden Year” due to the number of paintings he produced in that time period and the creativity they projected. He was in the town where he grew up and everywhere he looked, he saw images that came to life on his watercolor canvas.

The fenced-in vacant space next to the former Butler Museum of American Art in the 400 block of East State Street, located on the south side between Broadway and Lundy, will serve as the backdrop for the mural unveiling. The event will include a talk by Burchfield Homestead Museum Director Janis Yereb on the internationally-known watercolorist and his work during the “Golden Year.” Burchfield’s boyhood home museum is located at 867 E. Fourth St.

A chain link fence that’s been blocking off the building demolition site on East State Street for two years is coming down and new posts are being installed with wood across where the mural will be hung, improving the view for both residents and visitors traveling through downtown.

Mike Mancuso, executive director of the Salem Area Sustainable Opportunity Development Center, will briefly speak about a potential plan for the site possibly up to the corner of Broadway, which he said still includes the formation of a children’s learning center for STEM education covering pre-K through 12th grade. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

Salem Public Library Director Brad Stephens is also slated to talk about the library’s original Burchfield collection and the latest renovation of the library to improve the main level.

Prior to the outdoor celebration, the Burchfield Homestead Society will hold its annual meeting at 2 p.m. at the law offices of Fred Naragon, 248 E. State St., featuring Butech Bliss Executive Vice President Jock Buta as the speaker. According to the meeting announcement, Buta will provide details about the new banner being hung for this year’s theme, which is “Golden Years of Charles E. Burchfield.” The annual meeting will include a $10 admission which serves as this year’s dues for membership in the society.

The “Golden Year” of 2017 for the Burchfield Homestead Society will include a weekend celebration Aug. 18-20 featuring an evening with some Burchfield descendants, a pre-show dinner and a performance of “Burchfield’s Homecoming,” an original play written by the late Dick Wootten, who helped found the society and served as president for many years. The play starring Bill Finley and directed by Jeanne Elser will be performed at the Salem Community Theater at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 and 2 p.m. Aug. 20.

The Burchfield museum and garden will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from May 6 through Dec. 17. Other events this year will include Arts in the Park on June 3 with the Salem Public Library, the third annual Artisan Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 16 with guest artist Christopher Leeper, Arts for Children on Aug. 13 with sculptor Jennifer Welch and the fourth annual Trains and Trees event from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 18-19.

Also this year, LiB’s Market on East State Street downtown will offer a commemorative “Golden Year” coffee mug for sale all summer and the Salem Beautification Committee will have “sunflowers” appearing throughout the downtown.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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