NURTURE LOCAL CREATIVITY
SUPPORT KEIZER ART ASSOCIATION
We are a local, non-profit 501(c)(3), Art Association that serves the city of Keizer, Oregon and adjacent communities. Your donation to KAA is tax deductible under 501(c)(3) rules for non-profit organizations.
Our continued participation in the community is dependent on individual, business, organization, and professional support. We are 100% volunteer staffed; no one at KAA receives any compensation. Art instructors are paid from the fees charged for classes.
We do have expenses; rent, maintenance, office supplies, utilities, Internet, insurance, bookkeeping, cleaning, shows, etc. These expenses are paid from Donations, Sponsorships, Memberships, Students, Show Participants, and our small Art Shop (Gallery K) sales.
We are also increasing community involvment by offering online and "Art on the Go" classes.
KAA would really appreciate your Donation, Sponsorship, or Membership.
Thank You Very Much
Donate
Donate Online:
Or print this Donation Form and return it to Keizer Art Association with your donation.
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:
- Monthly art education for children and adults of all skills and abilities from hobby to professional artists through unique art classes taught by professional, award winning artists and instructors.
- Display and Promotion of local original artwork through monthly art shows featured in our Enid Joy Mount Gallery.
- A marketplace for original artwork and products available at our Gallery “K”
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:
- Make a cash donation.
- Become a member (individual or corporate.)
- Make an in-kind donation of goods or service.
- Sponsor a single or multiple class scholarship.
- Teach an original art class as a paid instructor.
- Purchase original artwork in our gallery or in our gift shop.
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 - Karen Aiello 
Member-at-Large – 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.
