From murals to yarn bombs, event celebrates street art

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Walter Silver/Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum Artist Kenny Scharf works on his mural on the Museum Place garage in May. Inspired by Salem's recent focus on public art, including Scharf's mural, the Peabody Essex Museum has planned a street art-themed event for tomorrow night. Walter Silver/Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum

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July 18, 2012

From murals to yarn bombs, event celebrates street art

BY BETHANY BRAY, STAFF WRITER The Salem News The Salem News Wed Jul 18, 2012, 04:30 AM EDT

SALEM — Looking to add a little whimsy to your Thursday night? Look no further than the Peabody Essex Museum.

Live music, food and street performers are all part of a museum event focusing on street and public art. The event, part of the museum’s evening party series, will run from 6:30 to 9:30 in the museum atrium.

The evening will include a screening of “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” a film on street art by British stencil artist Banksy, as well as a talk by Tom Daniel, Salem’s economic development manager, on the city’s recent public art initiatives.

Attendees will also be able to make some art themselves, from mural and graffiti projects to “yarn bombing” with artists from Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem. Yarn bombing, also known as guerrilla knitting, is a type of street art where knitters cover objects — from park benches or lampposts to a city bus in Mexico — with their handiwork.

Tomorrow’s event was inspired by the numerous public art initiatives in Salem, including a mural by artist Kenny Scharf on the Museum Place garage downtown, said Whitney Van Dyke, senior press officer at PEM.

The atmosphere should be laid-back, whimsical and playful.

“It’s just a different type of evening out,” she said.

The evening’s “street food” offerings will be provided by Scratch Kitchen in Salem. Admission is $5 for Salem residents and PEM members and $7 for nonmembers. For more information, visit www.pem.org.

Bethany Bray can be reached at bbray@salemnews.com and on Twitter @SalemNewsBB.