Our Fairview

Please join me on Sunday, MAY 3rd! Dardinelle Troen @ditroen and I @marnelucas are facilitating a community workshop for the @ourfairviewproject at the Astoria Armory with Jeff Daly. FREE. All ages, open to the public, ADA accessible. •12pm: Molly’s Room Ribbon cutting ceremony; a sensory space for those with neurological differences. •Film Screening - “Where’s Molly”, looped, ongoing. All participants will receive the documentary, “Where’s Molly” DVD to take home. •12pm-3pm: Workshops, Participation, and Sharing stations. Consisting of both structured rituals and open spaces for participants to create, reflect, and share. ‘Our Fairview… is a project by @bruceburris.art and @jillrbaker with Paul Meuse, to honor the legacies and stories of those Oregonians who lived or worked at the now defunct institution Fairview Training Center. This endeavor is supported by a grant via @the_ocf While these institutional living spaces are now closed, this recent history needs to be remembered. What do you remember about Fairview? Come join us and share your thoughts, record a story, make art, enjoy the new sensory space “Molly’s Room”. Together we honor, heal, and grow as a community!

The front page of “The Astorian” newspaper with a thorough and thoughtful article by Aislin Tweety on the launch of “Molly’s Room”, a dedicated sensory room at the Astoria Armory community space to provide respite for those with neurological differences. Astoria resident Jeff Daly’ made a documentary film “Where’s Molly” about his sister who lived at Fairview Training Center from age 3 until she was able to move to a group home as an adult. The ‘Entwined’ event on Sunday, May 3 is facilitated by Dardinelle Troen (Astoria) @ditroen and Marne Lucas (Portland) @marnelucas , who are inviting the public to share their experiences about Fairview or other institutional settings, in immersive, free, participatory arts workshops, an art exhibition, and informational activities. The event at @astoriaarmory is free, open to the public, drop in, all ages, and ADA accessible. The ‘Entwined’ event on May 3 is part of ‘Our Fairview...’ @ourfairviewproject a project by Corvallis based artists Bruce Burris @bruceburris.art and Jill Baker @jillrbaker with Paul Meuse, who have invited creatives and the public to honor and celebrate the legacy and memories of those who lived at the institutional home, Fairview Training Center from 1908-2000 in Salem OR. The institution has been closed for 25 years, and many Oregonians still hold memories of these places, having lived in them, had family members there, or worked in such institutions. This recent history needs to be remembered, and awareness of the stories and memories of those who spent time at Fairview is important. The aim is to promote dialogue on how we can honor our communities and better serve the needs of those with neurological differences in the future.

Ben Gardner, Fairview’s Mission Statement, 2026. Ben Gardner’s drawing is based on the 1993 revised mission statement published in an Oregon Department of Human Resources pamphlet titled, “Fairview Training Center: History in the Making.” You can find more projects related to Fairview’s Mission Statement on our website (link in our bio)

Thank you Hipfish Monthly for the write up about our upcoming event! ‘Entwined: Legacy and Memories’ 
Facilitated by Dardinelle Troen and Marne Lucas, as part of Our Fairview… Date: May 3, 2026 Sunday 
Time: 12-3 pm Events: Workshops, film screening, launch of Molly’s Room Location: Astoria Armory Community + Events Space 1636 Exchange St, Astoria, OR 97103 Tel. (503) 440-4605 Open to the public, all ages. Free. All materials provided. ADA accessible.
 ‘Entwined’ is an immersive community arts event designed to honor the residents and history of Fairview Training Center. This event will provide a dedicated space for individuals to connect with and process the legacy of the Fairview residents through creative expression and healing rituals. Weaving together art, writing, and ritual, to foster an environment for closure, healing, and empowerment. @marnelucas @ditroen

Living Studios of Cornerstone Associates was commissioned to create a plaque for the soon to be dedicated, “Molly’s Room” at the Astoria Armory. In honor of Molly Daly, who was sent to Fairview Training Center at the age of 3 and spent most of her life there, Molly’s Room will be a sensory break room for anyone who feels overwhelmed or anxious, and needs a calming environment to regulate and re-integrate. As Molly’s brother Jeff explains, “sometimes what people need most isn’t a solution or an answer… it’s a space. A space to breathe, to feel safe, and to heal.” Our Fairview is grateful to be collaborating with Jeff Daly, Marne Lucas, and Dardinelle Troen for ‘Entwined,’ Community Reflections on the Fairview Training Center”, a community gathering at the Astoria Armory on Sunday, May 3, when Molly’s Room will officially open as a sensory break room. Jeff Daly will offer a screening of his film, Where’s Molly: A True Story of Those Lost and Found, and Marne Lucas and Dardinelle Troen will lead creative workshops around remembrance and reflection. @vie_mort_doula @marnelucas @livingstudiosart @bruceburris.art @jillrbaker @astoriaarmory @ocf #creativeheightsinitiative #ourfairview #fairviewtrainingcenter #wheresmolly #mollysroom

Opening next week! Thursday 3/19 4-7 PM @corvallisartswalk Performed readings 5:30 - 6:30 O brighter than the mourning star Bruce Burris March 16 - April 10 Living Studios Gallery at Cornerstone 1445 SE Crystal Lake Dr, Corvallis Bruce Burris’s practice is grounded in community building, inclusion, and celebrating the contributions of neurodiverse artists. O brighter than the mourning star features recent drawings and mixed media works by Burris, with an evening of performed readings and participatory works from the community based programs Burris leads, including Living Studios of Cornerstone Associates and Our Fairview…. 📜Sarah Wolf Newlands will read her essay, “Shoes, Scores, and Maps: Tools for a Regenerative Future” based on a 1993 mission statement from Fairview Training Center. ✂️Everyone is invited to participate in a community performance of Pierre Pyke’s “Unfold Your Book, Hold Each Page” 📋And more! @bruceburris @sarahwolfnewlands @ourfairviewproject #livingstudiosgallery

On Friday, we installed a few excerpts and pieces from the Our Fairview…project so far (with the incredible assistance of @wouartgalleries team!) at Western Oregon University’s Hamersly Library Third Floor Galleries. Exhibition Dates - March 6 - May 3 Western Oregon University Hamersly Library - Third Floor Galleries 525 Monmouth Ave N Monmouth, OR Please join us on Friday March 6, from 5-7 pm for a reception, along with @livingstudiosarts , whose Reflections From a Goldmine, features recent work by artists affiliated with Living Studios Salem. This project is supported with a Creative Heights Initiative Grant from the Oregon Community Foundation. @the_ocf @bruceburris.art @jillrbaker #creativeheightsinitiative #developmentaldisabilitiesawarenessmonth #livingstudios #fairviewtrainingcenter #ourfairview #disabilityjustice #ocf

We are excited to announce our next exhibition at Western Oregon University's Hamersly Library Third Floor Galleries. Please join us on Friday March 6, from 5-7 pm for an opening reception of Reflections From a Goldmine, featuring recent work by artists affiliated with Living Studios Salem. Exhibition Dates - March 6 - May 3 You will also be able to see work by Living Studios for "Our Fairview...", also exhibiting in the Third Floor Galleries. @ourfairviewproject @wouartgalleries @cornerstoneassociatesinc

Using the 1993 “Fairview Mission Statement” as a prompt, artist Sarah Wolf Newlands presents three sketches: Shoes, Scores, and Maps, to “offer ideas that prioritize human connection, creativity, and well-being after Fairview. The shoe, the map, and the score are tools to help chart a way forward after Fairview, out of structured exclusion and toward generative collaboration and community. These ideas center mutuality, creativity, and individual well-being, in contrast to the medical model that confined and isolated people in institutions like Fairview. The goal of this work is to prioritize affirmative and creative ideation as an indispensable tool to explore possibilities.” Sarah Wolf Newlands, Shoes, Scores, and Maps: Tools for a Regenerative Future, September 2025. Read the full essay and follow the project on our website (link in bio). #ourfairview @ocf @sarahwolfnewlands #artswriting #creativeheightsinitiative #performanceart #disabilityarts #fairviewtrainingcenter

Grateful for the many meaningful conversations we had over the weekend at the Salem Art Fair and Festival and to all who shared their personal connections to Fairview Training Center and allowed us to share the project. We met people who had family members who were sent to live at Fairview, many people who worked at Fairview, adults who, as teenagers, explored the grounds after Fairview closed, a teacher who works at the school in the former Possible Building on the former Fairview site, people who lived right across from Fairview and people who have seen the changes to the land and the site in the years since the institution closed, and many people who were interested in following the project over the next year. Thanks @marnelucas @ditroen @cornerstoneassociatesinc @livingstudiosarts and to artist Paul Meuse for your help and support! @bruceburris.art @jillrbaker #creativeheightsinitiative #disabilityarts #fairviewtrainingcenter #disabilityjustice

Our Fairview will be at the Salem Art Fair and Festival September 12 - 14 at Bush’s Pasture Park. Visit us at booth CU7, along with @livingstudiosarts , to learn more about the project (and Living Studios!), participate in imagining better futures, and share memories of Fairview Training Center, or just talk with us! The Salem Art Fair and Festival features artists, community organizations, and 3 days of live performance, demonstrations, food and drink, and activities for all ages. Visit SalemArtFair.org for more information. FREE ADMISSION for SNAP and Oregon Health Plan beneficiaries, just show your card at the gate. @ourfairview @cornerstoneassociatesinc @salem.art.association @the_ocf #creativeheightsinitiative #disabilityarts

My deepest gratitude for the opportunity to serve the ‘Our Fairview…’ project in creating arts programming to honor the legacies of those who lived at Fairview Training Center (1906-2000). The Salem, OR complex housed occupants with developmental disabilities, often for entire lifetimes. ‘Our Fairview…’ is a project by @bruceburris.art and @jillrbaker with archivist Paul Meuse, that honors and celebrates these peoples memories, as well as those who worked there. The recent ‘Entwined’ event was open to all, and encouraged dialogue about FTC, share stories, address grief, and enjoy beauty through creativity. My co-facilitators ColesieTharp @colesie.tharp and Dardinelle Troen @ditroen brought their brilliant, compassionate approaches to storytelling; I’m so fortunate to work alongside them! Shown here are collages made by participants, a changing collaborative altar made with natural materials, and a grief ritual activity with beach stones and a vessel of water for setting intentions and cleanse emotions. Healing is an act of resilience and resistance, everyone deserves to have a chance to share their memories and experiences, towards creating a healthy future. Dardinelle and I designed small keepsake ceramic tokens for participants to with prompts to meditate on and spark discussion about the people at FTC and our community. In the past few month I’ve been invited alongside Bruce and Jill to speak with John Griffiths’ “Disability Justice” program on KBOO, and with Hannah Krafcik for @artswatch about this meaningful community engagement. This project has taught me so much about the complicated history of how our society treated those who had neurological differences. It is an ongoing conversation that requires attention, legislation, community effort, and love. I look forward to continuing to serve my community in the near future as part of ‘Our Fairview…’! Special thanks to: @pdxartscollective for workshop space, @monographbookwerks for beautiful books for my workshop, and above all @the_ocf for supporting @ourfairviewproject XO ML