Donna Orlyk offers a decade of her journals in the Great Gallery at the Historic Salem Court House. The journals include daily notes and a drawing for each day of the year, a bird, identified in Latin and English. Interactive, viewers are invited to turn the pages of the journals and browse further. The presentation, a courageous retrospective of one’s life in language and art, opens Friday, June 6- June 27, Saturdays from 11-3 :00 P.M.

     The day I visited the pages opened onto the Whooping Crane, Great Horned Owl, Bald eagle, Nashville  Warbler, Turkey Vulture, Golden Hooded Tanager, American Redstart, Red-Lored Parrot, Bewick’s Wren, Black Headed Gulls and a stunning drawing of the Great Egret (Ardea alba). Hundreds more colored pencil renderings and notes fill the pages.

      The activities recorded are familiar: walks, family interactions, lists of things for which she is grateful: a good car, nice weather, the gym and health. Many menus are cited but no recipes: chicken soup with egg noodles, tilapia, squash, apple crisp and rhubarb marguerites. The reader is a heartbeat away from identifying with Donna Orlyk’s days and appreciations. Her discipline to record her interest and daily activity is uncommon, rare.

      Visitors are encouraged to bring reading glasses (as required) to browse through the books dating from 2017 to the present. Framed drawings on the walls are included in a silent auction. Bidding starts at 65$ ; closes June 27.

      One may take colored pencils and record original entries in the Northwest room where a table and chair encourage art or text to be created. Illustrations  of birds are available to copy.

       Donna Orlyk has lived in Salem since 1980. She has invested in supporting the community on many fronts. Here, she shares her passion and  personal life while inviting others to take a stab at drawing and writing their story.

Admission is free.

Submitted by Gerry Cuite