Home Is Where the Heart Is
Spend the day, and maybe a night, touring Albany's artistic points of interest, from galleries to public sculptures that dot the city's landscape. And while you're at it, try your hand at creating some art of your own!
Hands-on Get fired up and drop into Surefire Design, The Pottery Place. All materials are on hand to create your own work of pottery art, and a friendly staff is available to assist in the painting, glazing and firing process. Begin your pottery career at Calapooia Clay, a place for beginner and inexperienced potters to work on their skills or just have fun. Sign up in advance, classes are available. Take your sweetie or BFF to the Splatter Box on Montgomery Street. Situated inside a historic building, this unique hands-on (or paint-on!) studio lets you paint on the walls and canvas (or your friends) with non-toxic water-based paints. Splatter, dance and be happy. Book an appointment online. Facemasks are required upon entry.
Galleries Gallery Calapooia Take in many forms of art including fiber, jewelry, mized media original paintings and more at Gallery Calapooia on 1st Avenue, an artist cooperative and retail gallery in downtown Albany. The gallery is open 11 am to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or by appointment.
Public Sculpture Enjoy pieces of sculpture at various spots around town. A garden of abstract sculpture symbolizing Oregon geology rests in a park-like setting at the corner of First and Lyon in downtown Albany. Nearby at the historic Carnegie Library on 3rd and Ferry is a metal sculpture titled "Zeki," a lively piece appealing to children featuring the images of a dinosaur, giant blocks, and books. A marble sculpture of a young woman reading, known as "Young Lady With The Book That Has No End," sits outside the Main Library on 14th Ave S.E. At the intersection of 9th Avenue and Lyon Street, a large piece of art depicting the native Camas flower stands on the East side of Lyon near the path.
Art in Motion The Albany Historic Carousel & Museum is not just a carousel, but a whirlwind of sculpture in the form of horses, dragons, frogs and other assorted creatures. Visit the Carousel's new museum to see historic pieces of carousel art, then get a look at some of the painting and carving of animals in progress in the studio. Be sure to wear your mask!
