Erma Hayman House

08/31/2026

✨ARTIST TALK✨

Join artist Chris Binion and curator Jacque Crist for a special talk presented in conjunction with the current exhibition, “Love Language,” featuring Chris’s artwork.

This moderated conversation invites Chris and Jacque to reflect the ideas, experiences, and influences that have shaped Chris’s artistic practice and Jacque’s long standing engagement with artists and their work.

Together, they will explore the ways relationships between artists, curators, and communities can inform creative practices.

📍Erma Hayman House (617 Ash St.)
📆 September 10, 2026
⏰ Doors open at 5:30 p.m, talk starts at 6 p.m.
💸 Free and open to all

Learn more at ermahaymanhouse.org



Image: Chris Binion (center) at the opening of Love Language in April 2026. Photo by Wytske Van Keulen.

08/10/2026

CALL FOR ARTISTS — Warp & Weft Exhibition

We invite you to apply for the opportunity to participate in “Warp & Weft,” an exhibition of fiber arts at the Erma Hayman House.

Inspired by Erma Hayman’s experience as a seamstress, this exhibition highlights the creativity and ingenuity found in textile practices across cultures, exploring how artists use fiber-based media to shape identity, preserve tradition, and imagine new possibilities.

Artists may submit up to three existing artworks for consideration. Submissions will be reviewed and selected by a panel.

Selected artists will receive a $350 stipend and will have the opportunity to offer their work for sale to the public.

“Warp & Weft” will be on view from January–September 2027.

⏰ Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 30 at 1 p.m. (MT)
🙋 Questions/Clarifications: Submit questions by email by Tuesday, September 15 at 5 p.m. (MT)
📩 Learn more and apply: boiseartsandhistory.org/Opportunities

06/12/2026

05/21/2026

Join us at the Erma Hayman House on Saturday, June 6, from 4-6 p.m. for a delicious afternoon honoring the diverse food traditions that shaped Boise’s River Street neighborhood.

This special gathering features a prix fixe menu created and curated by Chef Kevin Huelsmann of KIN, inspired by the River Street Center Cookbook, a compilation of former River Street resident recipes and culinary customs.

📒 Originally compiled in the early 1970s as a fundraising effort by the River Street Neighborhood Center by Mrs. Dorothy Buckner, the River Street Center Cookbook offers a flavorful glimpse into the spirit and character of this historic neighborhood. Beautifully illustrated by Ria Campbell and Carolyn Perry, it remains a testament to a vibrant community and is available to explore in the Marge Ewing Room on the third floor of the Downtown Boise Library.

Chef Kevin’s menu brings these historic recipes into the present, reimagining tradition with fresh, seasonal ingredients!

Celebrate Boise’s shared history through a meal rich in memory and meaning.

🎟️ Tickets are $45 and include a three-course prix fixe meal and drinks. Gluten-free and vegan options are available.

Seating is limited—reserve your spot at the table today! Register at the link in bio or at ermahaymanhouse.org.

04/29/2026

Join us at the Erma Hayman House on Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a day of creativity, history, and hands-on fun!

Youth Day is all about young voices, big ideas, and making connections through storytelling and exploration.

This FREE event is open to all ages. No registration required, and all supplies are provided.

Learn more and plan your visit at ermahaymanhouse.org.



Photograph by

04/21/2026

04/09/2026

For 43 consecutive years, Boise artist Chris Binion has created a painting each Valentine’s Day for his husband, John Roberts. What began as a private gesture of affection has grown into a lifelong ritual — an annual act of devotion and artistic reflection.

Shown publicly for the first time, this collection of paintings forms an intimate archive of a shared life shaped by love, aging, cultural change, and the evolving landscape of gay rights in America.

Love Language is an art exhibition by the Boise City Department of Arts & History on view exclusively at the Erma Hayman House (617 Ash St. Boise) April - December 2026.

Produced by Kristen Hill

Filmed and edited by Zach Voss

1988 Boise footage provided by Robert Eller

04/07/2026

For 43 consecutive years, Boise artist Chris Binion has created a painting each Valentine’s Day for his husband, John Roberts. What began as a private gesture of affection has grown into a lifelong ritual—an annual act of devotion and artistic reflection.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, April 10, from 6–8 p.m. at the . Free and open to all.

“Love Language” will be on view exclusively at the Erma Hayman House (617 Ash Street, Boise) through December 2026.

Learn more and plan your visit at ermahaymanhouse.org.

04/03/2026

We’re thrilled to announce our next exhibition, “Love Language,” featuring paintings by Boise artist Chris Binion.

For 43 consecutive years, Binion has created a painting each Valentine’s Day for his husband, John Roberts. What began as a private gesture of affection has grown into a lifelong ritual—an annual act of devotion and artistic reflection.

Now shown publicly for the first time, this collection forms an intimate archive of a shared life shaped by love, aging, cultural change, and the evolving landscape of gay rights in America. Together, these works invite us to consider how personal relationships can inspire broader social change, especially when recognition and protection are not always guaranteed.

In the spirit of the America 250 theme, “Unfinished Revolutions,” this exhibition honors love as an ongoing act of authenticity, resilience, and quiet activism.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, April 10, from 6–8 p.m. at the . Free and open to all.

“Love Language” will be on view exclusively at the Erma Hayman House (617 Ash Street, Boise) through December 2026.

Learn more and plan your visit at ermahaymanhouse.org.



Images: Valentine 2015 by Chris Binion; Chris Binion and John Roberts in 1994. Photograph by Jim Talbot. Chris Binion and John Roberts in 2026. Photograph by Wytske Van Keulen.