Visitors of the Salem Civic Center next year will find a new piece of public art inspired by one of the Willamette Valley’s most recognizable native trees.
Oregon artist Michael Boonstra is creating a large steel installation based on the region’s Oregon white oaks. The artwork will be placed in the Civic Center’s open-air central atrium as part of the building’s ongoing seismic retrofit and renovation.
The Civic Center has been closed during construction since July 2025, with city staff and services temporarily relocated. The building is expected to reopen in early 2027 with seismic improvements, updated building systems and greater accessibility.
Bringing Oregon White Oaks "Indoors"
Boonstra’s installation will consist of two steel panels, each measuring 7 feet tall and 24 feet wide. The artist will use a water jet to cut a pattern of small openings into the steel, creating an image that allows light to pass through.
Each panel will be mounted about two inches away from the concrete wall. As daylight moves through the atrium, the perforations and space behind the panels will add dimension to the work.
The material will also continue to change after installation. Exposure to the open air will create a rust-colored patina, giving the steel more character and variation over time.
The imagery draws from Oregon white oaks, which are native to the Willamette Valley and have long been part of the region’s natural landscape. The finished design will connect that landscape with the Civic Center’s architecture and the changes being made to prepare the building for its next chapter.
An Oregon Artist With Regional Connections
Boonstra is a Eugene-based artist and an instructor at Oregon State University, where he serves as sculpture coordinator and co-founded the Creative Field Work program.
His work is already represented in several Oregon collections, including the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the City of Portland, Oregon State University-Cascades, the OSU School of Forestry and Umpqua Community College. He has also participated in artist residencies throughout the West.
The Salem Public Art Commission selected Boonstra’s design from 24 proposals. Eight artists were interviewed before the commission chose the Oregon white oak concept.
Public Art as Part of the Renovation
The installation will cost $130,000 and is funded through the larger Civic Center construction project. Salem dedicates one-half of 1% of eligible public-building construction costs to public art. Similar funding has supported artwork at the Salem Public Library and Salem Police Department headquarters.
The voter-approved 2022 Safety and Livability Bond included $39.4 million for seismic work, accessibility upgrades and system improvements at the Civic Center.
Once the building reopens, Boonstra’s installation will give visitors another reason to pause in the atrium. Its scale will make it difficult to miss, while its oak-inspired details will bring a familiar piece of the Willamette Valley landscape into one of Salem’s central public spaces.
Official Reporting and Source Links
Civic Center Seismic upgrades - City of Salem
Salem Public Art Collection - City of Salem