Erma Hayman House

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.

03/23/2026

Join us at the Erma Hayman House on Saturday, April 4, 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.

03/20/2026

Don’t miss your chance to experience “American Contradictions” one last time! Join us for the closing reception at the on March 26, 2026, from 5–7 p.m..

Since opening in August 2025, this powerful exhibition has invited visitors to reflect on the complexities of the American experiment including its promises, tensions, and lived realities.

Whether you’ve visited before or are seeing “American Contradictions” for the first time, this closing reception is an opportunity to reflect, connect with the artists, and add your voice to an evolving American story.

Free and open to all.



Photography by Wytske Van Keulen.

03/19/2026

Join us at for a thoughtful conversation about community, civic spaces, and the power of everyday action!

📅 Friday, March 27, 2026
🕐 1:00–2:00 PM
📍 Idaho State Museum (610 Julia Davis Dr.)

What does it mean to shape the future of our communities?

Whether you’re advocating on the front lines, supporting others behind the scenes, or simply showing up, each of us has a role to play.

Designed with Gen Z audiences in mind (but open to all!), this conversation brings together representatives from , , and the Erma Hayman House to explore how local civic spaces uplift the stories of everyday civic heroes, and how our own stories can help us engage, belong, and contribute.

You’ll also learn about Civic Season, a national initiative that takes place annually between Juneteenth and July 4, and how Boise-based partners are bringing it to life through collaborative programs like “Civic Bites & Historic Sites.”

This event is free and open to the public.

03/18/2026

Idaho artist Margaret Pope’s untitled artwork, constructed from found barbed wire and colored embroidery thread, explores the tension between American ideals of rugged individualism and experiences of interdependence and collective action.

By transforming barbed wire, a material historically used to divide, enclose, and control, into a more fluid, interconnected form, Pope reimagines boundaries not as fixed barriers but as sites of connection, negotiation, and shared experience.

Pope is one of eight local artists featured in the exhibition “American Contradictions,” part of the City of Boise’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026. The exhibition also continues the Boise Visual Chronicle (BVC), a project that commissions new artworks every two years for the City’s public art collection.

Join us on March 26, 2026, from 5–7 p.m. for the closing reception of “American Contradictions.” Whether you’ve visited before or are seeing the exhibition for the first time, we invite you to reflect, connect, and add your voice to the evolving American story. This event is free and open to all.

Learn more and plan your visit at ermahaymanhouse.org.

03/16/2026

✨ Calling all Idaho artists! ✨

We invite you to submit qualifications for an opportunity to design and fabricate artwork for the Erma Hayman House sunroom ceiling located at 617 Ash Street in Boise’s historic River Street neighborhood.

One selected artist or team will receive $15,000 to collaborate with community members to design and deliver artwork that reflects the history and spirit of the site, connects to the existing hanging system, and creates a sense of visual vibrancy.

📝 Information Session: Thursday, April 2, at 12 p.m. (MT) via ZOOM
🙋Questions/Clarifications: Via email by Monday, April 13, at 5 p.m. (MT)
📩 Application Deadline: Thursday, April 16, at 1 p.m. (MT)

This opportunity is open to Idaho artists at least 18 years of age. Strong preference will be given to artists or teams not currently on contract with Boise Arts & History or represented in the City of Boise’s Public Art Collection.

Apply at boiseartsandhistory.org/Opportunities.

03/03/2026

Meet five women redefining leadership in Idaho today.

Join us on Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. at JUMP for the second in a five-part series commemorating America 250 with “Living Legacies & Changemakers: Idaho Women Rewriting the Blueprint.”

This free panel discussion features Idaho women shattering traditional norms and paving the way for transformative change in industries once dominated by conventional models.

We’re thrilled to highlight Robin Collins, one of the incredible voices joining this year’s panel!

Robin Collins serves as the Community Development Director and Building Official for the City of Caldwell. In this role, she oversees city planning, zoning, building safety, code compliance, parking compliance, economic development, and Community Development Block Grant programs.

Robin has nearly 40 years of experience in local government, serving in a wide range of leadership and technical roles, while also teaching and serving on many local, state, and national professional boards and commissions.

Robin went to college for construction technology but expanded her career opportunities by attending the University of Oklahoma for Economic Development. Robin holds numerous professional certifications, including Residential and Commercial Building Inspector, Residential and Commercial Plans Examiner, Fire Plans Examiner, Zoning Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer and Administrator, Building Code Specialist, Building Code Official, Building Official, and Professional Community and Economic Developer.

Outside of work, Robin enjoys giving back to the community and spending time with her husband and family, including her six children and their significant others, two granddaughters, and her goofy boxer dog.

This event is free with pre-registration required. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided.

For a full schedule of city-sponsored America 250 events, visit cityofboise.org/America250 or the link in our bio.

Photograph courtesy Robin Collins.

03/02/2026

Meet five women redefining leadership in Idaho today.

Join us on Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. at JUMP for the second in a five-part series commemorating America 250 with “Living Legacies & Changemakers: Idaho Women Rewriting the Blueprint.”

This free panel discussion features Idaho women shattering traditional norms and paving the way for transformative change in industries once dominated by conventional models.

We’re thrilled to highlight Kathy Griesmyer, one of the incredible voices joining this year’s panel!

Kathy Griesmyer serves as the Director of Policy & Government Affairs for the City of Boise. In her role, she represents the city in the state legislature and Congress, advocating for Boise residents’ needs and city priorities, including access to affordable housing, support for the city’s climate and clean energy goals, transportation access, and community inclusion.

Previously, Kathy served as Policy Director and chief lobbyist with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Idaho where she advocated for ACLU’s legislative priorities at the statehouse, including smart criminal justice reform, equal rights for all LGBTQ Idahoans, and housing access. In addition to her lobbying work, Kathy also led successful campaigns to defeat anti immigrant policies at the local level and educate voters through a statewide civic engagement “Let People Vote” initiative.

Kathy holds degrees in Spanish and International Studies from the University of Oregon and is the proud daughter and granddaughter of Mexican farmworkers. She currently lives in Boise with her husband and their son.

This event is free with pre-registration required. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided.

For a full schedule of city-sponsored America 250 events, visit cityofboise.org/America250 or the link in our bio.

Photograph courtesy Kathy Griesmyer.