Murals Cross Generations at Reed Opera House

The relationship between art, history and the people of the Mid-Willamette Valley is old and established, yet vibrant and alive. At the center of downtown Salem history is the Reed Opera House, and sonewhere around the Reed each day is an artist named Kev Kohler, armed with a paint brush and inspiration.

Artist Kev Kohler painting elevator doors at the historic reed Opera House Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - The spirit of art is alive and well in Oregon`s capitol city, according to Dallas, Oregon artist Kev Kohler. He`s been staying busy in recent months by completing a number of murals at the Reed Opera House in downtown Salem. The historic Reed dates back to 1870, and Kohler`s work when complete will represent many generations of people who have passed through the building`s halls.

Kohler says his love of painting dates back to an early age, `Oh yeah I`ve been a professional artist since I was ten years old. That was the first paying job that I did, and it was a sign."

His current work is part of a grand plan of Reed Opera House Owner Roger Yost. He commissioned Kohler to bring to life images that brighten a person`s day.

`It`s the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries all rolled into one. You know sometimes you have to wait thirty seconds or so at the elevator door and we wanted it to be an interesting wait. We felt that the artwork Kevin Kohler has helped create for us here will basically, bring a little more joy to the passengers."

Alphonse Mucha`s work from more than a century ago inspires much of what you see going on here, says Kev Kohler, `He was from the 1880`s or 1890`s, I guess he was a poster artist and he did a poster of Sara Bernhard"

He says the spirit of Mucha`s work crosses and even connects generations. The women depicted in his most recent work are described by some as turn-of-the-century, by others as timeless, `People like the hair styles and the clothing, they`re sort of reminiscent of that, but not so defined that they couldn`t be today`s. `

Rebecca Maitland has been helping out at the Reed for the last two years, assisting artists and keeping the spirit of Salem`s art community moving, `The underground that he is working on right now is kind of reminiscent of imagination and unexplained mysteries of the earth, so they`re kind of mystical women."

Maitland says there is more to come at the Reed Opera House. As Kohler wraps up one elevator door painting, he has already sketched the next. His work is part of a bigger picture that clearly shows the details of a thriving art community in Oregon`s Mid-Willamette Valley.

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