September 2024 | Bellingham Alive Magazine | Feature

FA L L Arts Guide

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f you’re looking for culture and arts, you’re in the right place: from ceramics to ballet, galleries to circus performances, the North Sound has it all!

We’re lucky to be surrounded by incredible artists, performers, and craftspeople, and our community knows how to support them all with engaging functions and stunning exhibits.

The slower, more indoorsy seasons of fall and winter are a great time to reinvigorate our connection to the arts. We’ve got a great guide to get you started, with some of our favorite arts organizations and events—plus ways to get involved personally!

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Performing Arts Venues & Organizations Lincoln Theatre

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Photos Courtesy of The Lincoln Theatre

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he Lincoln Theatre has been a Mount Vernon gem since its opening day in April 1926, nearly a century ago. “[Our mission] is to entertain, inform, and inspire our diverse community through cinema, live performance, and educational programs while preserving the historic Lincoln Theatre,” says Damond Morris, the executive director of the Lincoln Theatre. The Lincoln’s calendar boasts live concerts of every genre, theatrical performances from local troupes like NITE Theatre (previously META Performing Arts) and Theatre Arts Guild (TAG), streamed opera and Broadway performances, comedy shows, new and classic films, and other special events.

Program Director Karl Freske was a cofounder at Bellingham’s Film is Truth 24 Times a Second video archive, which unfortunately closed in 2022 after approximately 25 years. After managing that collection of over 20,000 titles, it’s unsurprising that his interesting taste is reflected in his film series, which Morris says can revolve around interesting themes like “French holiday films or 1970s dystopian films.”

“Arts education is another area in which we excel,” says Morris. “Skagit Theatre Camp has been in operation since 2016, and we have now added a second theater camp, separating younger campers from teens. Forty campers spend two weeks learning how to create a theatrical production, dancing, acting, and singing.” Their two-year-old program, Lincoln Players Theater School, also runs classes in Fall, Winter, and Spring.

“The Lincoln works with the community to celebrate culture and connect the content on stage and screen to the mission of local organizations,” he says. This year, Lincoln Theatre worked with Ramon Rivera, who heads both the Mariachi and Folklorico and Latinos in Action programs at Mount Vernon High School, to scale his 2023 Cinco de Mayo concert up into the 2024 Cinco de Mayo Parade through Downtown Mount Vernon. Rivera’s students were integral parts of the process.

The Lincoln Theatre is also currently raising funds for its “Keep Cool” campaign. They’re aiming to update the HVAC system, double ADA seating in the theater, and add ADA lifts between the greenroom, backstage, and stage, plus an ADA bathroom and dressing room in the greenroom “We are halfway to our goal of $3.2 million for the improvements,” says Morris. “Everyone, onstage and off, will have access to the Lincoln.” 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon, 360.336.8955, lincolntheatre.org

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Candlelight Concert: A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings 7 p.m., September 13 Lincoln Theatre 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon

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“Arsenic and Old Lace” Presented by the Theatre Arts Guild September 27-October 13 Lincoln Theatre 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon

Skagit Drag - The Halloween Show 6 p.m., October 19 Lincoln Theatre 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon

“Legally Blonde The Musical” November 8-23 Presented by NITE Theatre Lincoln Theatre 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon

Skagit County

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he theatrical arts are alive and well in Skagit County thanks to organizations like the Theatre Arts Guild, NITE Theatre, Shakespeare Northwest, and the Anacortes Community Theatre. The Skagit Valley Academy of Dance in Mount Vernon, Fidalgo DanceWorks in Anacortes, and the Academy of Dance in Burlington provide all-ages dance education and recitals.

AGENDA At the crux of theater and music, the Pacific Northwest Opera weaves stories with their voices and high-value productions. Skagit boasts many music organizations, including the Skagit Symphony, Skagit Valley Chorale, Fidalgo Youth Symphony, Skagit Community Band, and various music departments at Skagit’s educational facilities. Catch live concerts not only at Lincoln Theatre and McIntyre Hall, but also at the Conway Muse in Conway and The Heart of Anacortes outdoor venue.

“Sweeney Todd” October 3-27 Anacortes Community Theatre 918 M. Ave, Anacortes

Lincoln Theatre Photo Courtesy of Northwest Youth Symphony Association

McIntyre Hall Performing Arts and Conference Center cIntyre Hall is the product in Mount Vernon. Throughout the two of a region-wide desire for decades of its operation, McIntyre Hall a premier performing arts has also received support from the City of center. Skagit Community Foundation says Mount Vernon, City of Burlington, Skagit that, in 1991, a small group of civic leaders County, the Western States Art Federation, in Anacortes arranged a fundraising concert the Washington State Arts Commission, to establish the first endowment for what and others. would become McIntyre Hall.

Notably, McIntyre Hall’s calendar of events In 2001, the Skagit Regional Public frequently features classical music concerts.

Facilities District was formed to oversee It’s considered the performance home of the creation and maintenance of McIntyre various community arts organizations like Hall. The building itself was built in Skagit Symphony, Skagit Valley Chorale, and 2004 on Skagit Valley College’s campus Pacific Northwest Opera (who specifies that

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Mcintyre Hall

“The Drop that Contained the Sea” September 14 Presented by Cantabile Chamber Choir Society, Kulshan Chorus,and Sno-King Chorale McIntyre Hall 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon

“EARTH” October 19 Presented by Skagit Symphony McIntyre Hall 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon

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Photo by Anne Godenham

“McIntyre Hall [is] an ideal venue for opera with superb acoustics and sight lines.”)

But don’t paint McIntyre Hall into a corner. Earlier this year, they featured touring performances like Lightwire Theatre’s “Dino-Light,” a show that utilizes luminous puppetry, “Yesterday & Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience,” and intercultural string duo CelloGayageum. Always read your program carefully, as McIntyre Hall often manages to secure a short amount of time before and after performances for talks or Q&A sessions with the performers. 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, 360.416.7727, mcintyrehall.org

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Whatcom County

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ounding up the performing arts scene in Whatcom County is no easy feat. Theatrically, troupes range from the experimental iDiOM Theater to the improv-centric Upfront Theatre, the young company at Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth, the inclusivity-minded Unsubdued Theatre Collective, to the “homegrown” Blaine Community Theater. The Claire Theatre hides inside Lynden’s iconic windmill. New Prospect Theatre is a venue that uses a fringe model— anyone who wants to put on a performance there can. They recently partnered with the Bellingham Theatre Guild, who’s been staging shows in Bellingham since 1929, to create a new performance series, BTG Satellites. And don’t forget about the young performers at Western Washington University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts!

The Bellingham Circus Guild keeps Bellingham’s subdued excitement simmering all year long with their imaginative, aweinspiring shows that combine theatrical storytelling and physical prowess. Shoestring

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” September 12-29 The Claire Theatre 655 Front St., Lynden “Pastoral” 3 p.m., September 22 Presented by Bellingham Chamber Music Society Hotel Leo 1224 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham “Cabaret” September 27-October 13 Bellingham Theatre Guild 1600 H St., Bellingham “Moving Forward” 3 p.m., September 29 Presented by the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham “The Unsubdued Revue 6: Yeehaw!”

October 3-5 & 10-12 Presented by Unsubdued Theatre Collective Sidepiece Studio at WinkWink 1302 Commercial St., Bellingham

Circus, UP UP UP Inc., and Cirque Cadia are all local circus troupes as well.

We’ve got classical music organizations like Bellingham Symphony Orchestra, Bellingham Chamber Music Society, North Cascades Community Orchestra, Whatcom Chorale, Bellingham Music Club, and more. We host many and varied music festivals throughout the year, including the Bellingham Festival of Music and, on the contemporary side, Northwest Tune-Up Festival. While large venues like Mount Baker Theatre (read more on p. 53) support prominent touring acts, our local contemporary music venues like The Wild Buffalo, The Shakedown, and The Blue Room stage musical acts for all tastes.

Bellingham Repertory Dance is Bellingham’s professional contemporary dance collective, and Opus Performing Arts School provides a “well-rounded education in dance” for “the serious dance student.” Kuntz and Company is a professional dance and theater that produces original work and provides dance classes for those with neurological disorders.

bellingham Bellingham circusCircus guild Guild

by Carolyn Watson PhotoPhoto

by Carolyn Watson

“Electric” 3 p.m., November 17 Hotel Leo 1224 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham “Americana” 3 p.m., November 24 Presented by the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn” November 29-December 15 The Claire Theatre 655 Front St., Lynden “The Liar” November 29-December 15 Bellingham Theatre Guild 1600 H St., Bellingham

Upfront theatre

Bellingham Theatre Guild Photo by Shannon Finn

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Photo by Jolene Hanson

Northwest Tune-Up Festival Photo by Heather Carter

Q&A with Mount Baker Theatre Could you please tell us about the mission of Mount Baker Theatre?

Mount Baker Theatre (MBT) is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to enriching the region’s culture through dynamic performances, arts education, inspiring engagement in the community, and stewardship of a national historic treasure. Located in the heart of downtown Bellingham’s Art District, MBT is the largest theatrical venue north of Seattle in Washington State. Since opening day in 1927, MBT has been dedicated to showcasing top touring performing arts events, as well as presenting communitydriven events and performances, to audiences in North Puget Sound and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

MBT has created a vibrant cultural hub that brings people together through the arts. By providing a diverse range of performances, educational programs, and community events, MBT aims to inspire and engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

As Mount Baker Theatre approaches its 100th birthday, what can you tell us about the importance of continuing the legacy of this historic venue?

Mount Baker Theatre is the only survivor of the five original movie palaces built in Whatcom County between 1914 and 1930.

The building, built in 1927, is a beautifully restored architectural treasure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As MBT approaches its 100th birthday, preserving this historic venue is essential for maintaining a link to our cultural heritage and continuing to provide a space for the community to experience the performing arts.

Mount Baker Theatre provides a wide range of live theater, music performances, comedy, and more. The 2024-2025 season is our most ambitious season yet, and it has something that will appeal to everyone's taste. The season includes six nationally-touring Broadway productions, family-friendly shows, concerts that span across genres from classical to an interactive sing-along, and visits from big-name stars like Alton Brown, Lyle Lovett, and Cary Elwes.

What would you like our readers to know about Mount Baker Theatre?

MBT has recently launched a newly designed website and state of the art ticketing software making it easier than ever for guests to learn about upcoming shows, purchase tickets, and stay informed about what's going on at MBT. Alongside the Main Stage shows, MBT has two unique series: Lookout Sessions Series and the Out of the Box Theatrical Series. The Lookout Sessions Series aims to highlight emerging artists and familiar favorites in a more intimate setting, while the Out of the Box Theatrical Series challenges traditional theater norms by showcasing unique and diverse voices.

Additionally, Mount Baker Theatre’s Wade Bennett King Education Series is open to schools and homeschoolers in Western Washington, providing children with the opportunity to engage with live theater and performers while learning about music, culture, geography, and more.

MBT has been igniting imaginations since 1927, and we plan to continue that mission for many generations to come. 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham, 360.734.6080, mountbakertheatre.com

Ben Folds Paper Airplane Request Tour 7:30 p.m., September 28 Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham

“The Land Has Spoken: Tales of Indigenous Horror” 7:30 p.m., October 18 Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham

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Mount Baker Theatre

Photo Courtesy of Mount Baker Theatre

What types of performances and events can people expect to see from you, in general and for the 2024-2025 season?

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jazz center of bellingham Photo by Steve Jones

Jazz Center of Bellingham

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ounded in 2016, the Jazz Center of Bellingham attracts regional, national, and international artists to inspire and enrich our community through jazz, a great American artform which they describe as “a celebration of humanity.”

Live jazz is a whole body experience. It’s beautiful to the ears, tantalizing to the mind, and enthralling to the heart, not to mention commanding to the body—we dare you not to tap your toes to the driving and inventive rhythmics. As such, jazz has proven somewhat irresistible to the locals, and three years ago the Jazz Center moved venues to double their seating. Their 115-seat shows at the Firehouse Arts & Events Center in Fairhaven are only gaining popularity.

“Over half our concerts in the past two seasons have been sold out,” say several representatives of the Jazz Center in a collaborative interview with Bellingham Alive.

“We’ve seen an increase in season ticket holders [and] an increase in a younger audience.”

The Jazz Center has also created educational and mentoring opportunities for aspiring musicians through their Summer Jazz Classes at Western Washington University and their Combo Classes, which run weekly from October-June. If you’ve been looking for a place to play jazz, they’ve got you covered. “[In the 2024-2025 season,] we will be presenting many regional artists (Kevin Woods, Dmitri Matheny, Marina Albero, Jose “Juicy” Gonzales, Brian Kirk, Ann Reynolds, Skerik) as well as several Canadian artists (Itamar Erez, Kelby MacNayr, Cory Weeds, Laila Biali, Mike Allen). For national and international artists, we will be hosting Jerry Weldon, Naomi Moon Siegel, Charlie Porter, Jared Hall, Jane Bunnett and Francesco Crosara,” the Jazz Center says.

Bellingham, jazcenterofbellingham.org

AGENDA Itama Erez Quartet 6:30 p.m., September 25 Presented by the Jazz Center of Bellingham Firehouse Arts & Events Center 1314 Harris Ave., Bellingham Naomi Moon Siegel Ensemble | Album Release: “Shatter It” 6:30, November 20 Presented by the Jazz Center of Bellingham Firehouse Arts & Events Center 1314 Harris Ave., Bellingham

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San Juan Islands

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he San Juan Islands are bursting with the performing arts. San Juan Community Theatre is a year-round organization with several facilities for its fully-staged productions, while Island Stage Left performs professional

theater free of charge, often outdoors and with simple production elements. The Actors Theater of Orcas Island considers itself an incubator who brings new people into the theater. The Orcas Center acts as a hub for all performing arts on the islands, including

touring shows, festivals, art exhibits, and The Orcas Dance Collective. The Salish Sea Ballet is a pre-professional ballet school in Friday Harbor. The Archipelago Collective strives to “bring world-class chamber music to San Juan Island.”

Get Involved! s Get on the floor at community dance events like the Celtic Arts Foundation’s September Contra Dance (Sept. 7 in Mount Vernon) or at one of the weekly Lindy at the Leo dances with B’Ham Hop. s Go to a show at the Upfront Theatre and be an integral part of their improv theatrics!

s Join a Bluegrass Jam or Stellar Sounds Session at Honey Moon Mead & Cider’s alley bar, or a Skagit Old-Time Jam if you like that classic sound. s Enjoy several days worth of performances at arts festivals like Imagine Arts and Music Festival (September 6–8), Lynden Music Festival (Oct. 9–13), and Bellingham Exit (Oct. 10–13).

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Ladies of Hip Hop | Black Dancing Bodies Project: “Speak My Mind” 5 p.m., September 21 Presented in collaboration with Woman in the Woods Productions Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Rd., Eastsound

San Juan Community theatre Photo Courtesy of San Juan Community Theatre

Visual Arts museums and education Whatcom Museum

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acific Northwest culture, arts, and history are preserved and illuminated at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, which aims to “serve as a bridge among diverse people, ideas, and traditions” with their exhibitions, collections, events, and educational programs.

“Really what we are thinking about through our mission is how we can bring art and local history to more people so that it brings them joy, wonder, and curiosity about their place in this world,” says Adrienne Dawson, the director of marketing and PR at the museum.

“Under the Inspiration Tree: Celebrating the Work of Thomas Wood” September 28-March 2 Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building 250 Flora St., Bellingham

Whatcom museum Photo by Dani Winters Photography

The museum has made classes and events a priority in 2024.

"We have a new program that launched this year called Access for All: Free First Friday,” says Dawson. “On Free First Fridays, we offer free events and activities throughout the day and evening, free admission, and extended hours until 9 p.m.” The museum plans to have different themes for each First Friday that tie into their concurrent exhibitions, with a fresh mix of artists, performers, and experts to lead workshops and activities.

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The Whatcom Museum has three buildings, two for exhibitions and one that houses the museum’s extensive photo archive collection: The Lightcatcher Building, The Old City Hall Building, and the newly renamed Old Fire Station No. 1 (previously the Syre Education Center). The Lightcatcher is home to the museum’s Family Interactive Gallery and their permanent “People of the Sea and Cedar” exhibit, which explores the art and cultures of the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. It was recently reinstalled under the guidance of the museum’s Indigenous Advisory Council with comprehensive updates and contemporary works from Coast Salish artists like Louie Gong and first-person experiences shared through films produced by Children of the Setting Sun Productions.

Later this month, the Whatcom Museum will present its newest exhibition, “Under the Inspiration Tree: Celebrating the Work of Thomas Wood,” a career retrospective of a beloved and influential local artist who passed away in 2022. Working closely with Wood’s widow Pamela Brownell and studio print assistant Mandy Turner, the museum brings together nearly 300 works on loan from private collectors across the region for the most comprehensive exhibition of the artist’s work to date. 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, 360.778.8930, whatcommuseum.org, @whatcom_museum on Instagram

Skagit County

Whatcom County

La Conner is the place to go for art museums in Skagit County: not only do they have the Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA), which showcases contemporary art from across the northwest in rotating shows, but there’s also the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, which runs exhibitions and educates visitors about all manner of fiber arts.

Obviously the Whatcom Museum is a fantastic first stop, but the art doesn’t end there! Up in Lynden, the Jansen Art Center (affectionately known as “the J”) offers a huge variety of classes in everything from Fine Arts to Jewelry, and beyond. They also run rotating exhibits highlighting work by a diverse range of artists; their quarterly juried exhibits are especially interesting.

PNW Quilt & Fiber Arts museum

Photo Courtesy of PNW Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum

Jansen art center

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

San Juan Islands Small as it is, San Juan Island makes space for art. Visitors to the San Juan Islands Museum of Art will find carefully curated exhibits and thoughtful educational programs that “spark reflection, discovery, inspiration, and connections.” And people looking to connect with art by doing will love the classes and events at Alchemy Art Center—they even offer free public art activities in the summer!

Alchemy Art center Photo by Katey Rissi

Jansen art center

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

Alchemy Art center

Photo by Katey Rissi

PNW Quilt & Fiber Arts museum

Photo by Mysti Willmon

Summer Juried Exhibit Until September 28 Jansen Art Center 321 Front St., Lynden

Peter Millet: “Built Forms” October 12-January 12 Museum of Northwest Art 121 S. First St., La Conner

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“Tsutakawa: Generations” Until September 16 San Juan Islands Museum of Art 540 Spring St., Friday Harbor

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Visual Arts & Galleries Photo Courtesy of Geheim Gallery

AGENDA Patie Savage & Sheila Simpson-Creps September 2-October 6 Chimera Gallery 211 Lopez Rd., Lopez Island Aaron Loveitt September 5-29 Smith & Vallee Gallery 5742 Gilkey Ave., Edison “Unraveling the Narrative” September 6-28 Allied Arts Gallery 1418 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham “Memories of a Suburban Ind'n | John Feodorov” September 25-December 7 Western Gallery at Western Washington University 516 High St., Bellingham “Head as Motif” September-October Meloy Gallery 301 W. Holly St., Ste. D.6 Downstairs, Bellingham Lori Vonderhorst October 3-27 The Flex Gallery at Smith & Vallee Gallery 5742 Gilkey Ave., Edison “Along Salish Shores” | Art’s Alive!

Invitational and Open Fine Arts Shows October 25-28 Presented by La Conner Arts Foundation Maple Hall 104 Commercial St., La Conner Anne Martin McCool November 1-30 Scott Milo Gallery 420 Commercial Ave., Anacortes “Drifting Dreamscapes” November 1-30 Allied Arts Gallery 1418 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham

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Geheim Gallery: Truly Contemporary eheim Gallery is described by some as the main contemporary art space in Bellingham, and has been providing a platform for regional modern-day artists since October 2020.

Artist Jason O’Rourke originally began the gallery with a business partner, but now runs the space solo, acting as director, curator, marketer, installation tech, and any other role an art gallery could need. He previously ran Piano Room Studio, a DIY music and art venue in the alley behind what used to be The Firefly Lounge on State Street. Both businesses were casualties of COVID-19, and closed around May of 2020.

“I wanted to re-do what we had, but I couldn’t find a space that would make sense for what we had going on. But then I found this space, and I was like, ‘This would be an incredible space for an art gallery,’” says O’Rourke. “In my opinion, there was nobody really showcasing contemporary art shows and functioning as a contemporary art gallery. I felt like we needed that as a city.”

Since their opening, Geheim has certainly filled the void.

“It’s not easy, but it’s been a good journey.

We’re having 12 exhibitions a year, so it’ll be almost 50 exhibitions since we opened,” says O’Rourke. Those 50 exhibitions have featured work from all walks of contemporary art—oil and acrylic paintings, of course, but also neon signs, airbrushed canvas, fine ceramics, woven tablecloths, and large paper-and-brass structures.

Geheim presents mostly solo shows, which allows an artist's voice to fully fill the gallery’s space and maximizes their exposure. Occasionally, they’ll also do split shows and welcome artists from farther out, like internationally-known New York artist Rachel Hayden, who had a show at Geheim in November of 2023. Read artist’s statements, explore exhibits of the past, and inquire about purchasing artwork on Geheim’s website.

Geheim aligns their exhibits’ opening nights with downtown Bellingham’s vibrant, late night First Fridays, which O’Rourke says “everyone loves” and results in the gallery being “pretty packed.” The rest of the time, the gallery is open Friday-Sunday. It’s located just off the bottom of Holly Street, around the corner from Camber and next door to Black Noise Records, making it the perfect arts addition to your weekend visits to downtown Bellingham. Don’t miss another of Geheim’s monthly rotating exhibits!

1228 Bay St., Bellingham, geheimgallery.com

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Photo Courtesy of Geheim Gallery

Photos by Anne Godenham

Skagit County If you’re looking for curated shows including artists from the North Sound and beyond, Perry and Carlson in downtown Mount Vernon and Smith & Vallee Gallery in Bow are can’t-miss stops. For

a more local focus, Mount Vernon’s LIDO Collective, the Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes, and the La Conner Seaside Gallery showcase and sell a range of work from local artists.

Perry and carlson

LIDO Collective

Whatcom County In Bellingham, The Meloy Gallery, Allied Arts of Whatcom County, and Cordata Gallery all host rotating shows, and Chuckanut Bay Gallery & Sculpture Garden features work from hundreds of artists and artisans. Whatcom Art Market is another wonderful place to find work from a diverse group of local artists. Make.Shift Art Space is an arts center in Bellingham that hosts art exhibitions, concerts, and more. Good Earth Pottery is a cornerstone of Whatcom’s ceramics community, having helped to shape both Fairhaven and Bellingham-at-large’s arts scene since 1969. Now owned by local artist Ann Marie Cooper, its gallery space is populated by work from over 40 artists. whatcom art market

Photo by Dani Winters Photography

San Juan Islands San Juan Island boasts two contemporary galleries, Arctic Raven Gallery and WaterWorks Gallery, as well as Paula West Pottery for ceramic art. And the other islands are artsy too: Lopez Island has Chimera Gallery, while Orcas Island has Crow Valley Gallery and Orcas Island Artworks, as well as Orcas Island Pottery. arctic raven gallery

Photo Courtesy of Arctic Raven Gallery

Artist Studio Tours in the North Sound s Whatcom Artist Studio

Tour, October 5–6 & 12–3, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. s Whatcom Artists of Clay and Kiln Studio Tour, December 7–8, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. s Lummi Island Artists’ Studio Tour, May 2025 (TBA) s The Wave Art Fest & Studio Tour, Spring/Summer 2025 (TBA) s San Juan Island Artist’s Studio Tour, June 2025 (TBA) s NW Art Beat Studio Tour, July 2025 (TBA) s Orcas Artist Studio Tour, August 2025 (TBA)

Orcas Pottery

Photo by Catherine Torres

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MUD Ceramics Studio

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eramics, pottery, clay, rehydrated rock dust.

Humanity has been mucking about with it since prehistory. Bellingham’s newest clay studio wants to get Everyday Joes back in touch with one of our most ancient past times—playing around in the MUD. Co-Founders Fie and Austin Danson moved to Bellingham five years ago from LA. They originally met in London, where they were pursuing their graduate degrees (Austin in Fine Arts, Fie in Theater). Austin has been “working and essentially living” in clay studios since he first fell in love with pottery at age 14, and introduced Fie to the world of ceramics.

“I remember the first time I walked into the studio he was working at. It reminded me of growing up in theater … being creative with people and working towards something that you're super passionate about. The ceramics studio kind of gave me the same feeling,” Fie says.

“Our mission really is to help art-making be a part of more people’s lives,” says Austin. “I think ceramics is so special because it can be a really easy access point … If you give a ball of clay to anyone, they're going to start pushing it, throwing it around … it’s so natural to do that.”

Photos by Kristen Boehm

MUD’s studio and aesthetic is clean, simplistic, and features high-contrast black and white. It’s not just a stylistic choice. Austin says he creates best in a peaceful space, and both Austin and Fie wanted to provide that environment for others. They also took inspiration from gallery spaces, where bright white walls serve to showcase art.

On the technical side, keeping the studio spick and span helps with safety. Clay contains silica, a necessary component for vitrification of the clay. When clay dries, the lightweight dust is easily inhalable, and silica can settle in the lungs and cause silicosis. Fie and Austin ask all their members and students to help keep the studio as dust-free as possible.

MUD is an open-access studio that offers both memberships and classes. Their current classes include three beginner-friendly options: a 12-week course that combines wheel throwing and handbuilding, and two 8-week courses that focus on each separately. One of MUD’s main goals is to onboard beginners and get them to a place of safety and confidence that is transferable to any clay studio. The studio is open 24 hours a day, so that members can work when it’s most convenient for them, and classes take place at various times to work with various schedules.

More specialized courses and workshops are on the way, including a “Creatures & Characters” course that will focus on character design with clay, a handbuilding class with a local tile maker, and a special one-evening “Date Night” class for folks who want to create a clay piece together but are short on time.

Look into joining MUD’s creative community on their website or on their social media (where they ask important questions like, “What’s your favorite mug?” and “Can you throw cream cheese on the wheel?”). 201 E. Champion St., Bellingham, 360.441.6133, mudceramics.org 62

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Film pickford film center

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Photo by Alyssa Pitcher

Children of the setting sun Photo Courtesy of Children of the Setting Sun

AGENDA 2024 Paddling Film Festival World Tour 4-6:30 p.m., September 29 Lucas Hicks Auditorium at New Prospect Theatre 207 Prospect St., Bellingham Orcas Island Film Festival October 16-20 Various locations on Orcas Island Bleedingham XIII October Presented by Bleedingham Horror Film Festival Pickford Film Center 1318 Bay St., Bellingham Doctober October 5-26 Pickford Film Center 1318 Bay St., Bellingham Friday Harbor Film Festival October 24-27 Various locations on San Juan Island

Sea View Theatre

Photo Courtesy of the Sea View Theatre

he definitive independent film experience in Whatcom County is to be had at Pickford Film Center, fondly known to locals as The Pickford. Since 1998, Pickford Film Center has aimed to offer programming that honors the past and welcomes the future of filmmaking, reaches a diverse audience with thought- and dialogueprovoking movies, and strengthens the community through the celebration of film.

The Pickford’s programming, which is refreshed weekly, features repertory, firstrun, and independent film. Their series and events are carefully designed to intrigue, educate, and delight Whatcom audiences. They have a summer rooftop series, their Third Eye Cinema series which aims to investigate what makes a cult classic, and Kid Pickford for young audiences. In July, they held screenings of the new documentary film, “Lynden,” which showcases the racial tension in Lynden in 2020, and followed it with a Q&A session with the co-directors, producer, and a film participant.

The Pickford is in the midst of expansion, with construction underway at their new sister location, Pickford on Grand. It’s about a block away from their Bay Street homebase, and will add three more screens to bring Pickford's total up to five. The extra room means more screenings, more events, and reaching more Whatcom cinephiles.

Children of the Setting Sun Productions is a local production company that creates, empowers, and amplifies Indigenous stories.

“Scha’nexw Elhtal’nexw Salmon People: Preserving a Way of Life” is a 64-minute documentary that recently premiered at the 35th Annual Bioneers Conference in Berkeley, California. As part of their Young Tribal Leaders Program, they produce the “Young and Indigenous” podcast. They also create shortform films, have filmed a pilot for a comingof-age TV drama, and aim to stimulate the community through their Setting Sun Institute think tank, campaigns, and gatherings.

As mentioned earlier, the Lincoln Theatre shows new and classic films, with special series curated by Program Director Karl Freske (keep an eye out to see if his Noirvember film series will be returning this year). On Orcas Island, head to Sea View Theatre for a handpicked selection of new-release films and special movie events.

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Jimmy Kitchens Carves out an Artistic Niche for Himself f you happened to be at the Whatcom apprentice. Kitchens started with furniture, County Home & Lifestyle Show in crafting ornate bed frames and other pieces April, you might have been lucky with nature-inspired accents, and he quickly enough to catch a live chainsaw-carving built up a business selling his work through demonstration where an artist created a hunting and fishing events. large wooden sculpture of a firefighter In 2015, Kitchens flew down to holding a child. That artist, Jimmy Kitchens, Skagit County to participate in a carving has become a bit of a local celebrity. competition put on by Loggerodeo, where Originally from Soldotna, Alaska, he carved a statue of a saddled salmon. He Kitchens began carving in his late twenties— was hooked: on the competition, on carving he’d been working in construction when a large statues, and on the Pacific Northwest. chainsaw-sculptor friend took him on as an He returned to Loggerodeo the following

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Photos by Jimmy Kitchens

year, carving Groot and Rocket from “Guardians of the Galaxy;” he also began branching out to comic cons and carving superheroes to share there.

Since moving to Whatcom County with his partner and their pup, Kitchens has carved everything from Bears and Bigfoot (in various tableaus, including holding a triple-scoop ice cream cone) to Michelangelo the Mutant Turtle and the Mandalorian. If you’re lucky, you just might see him at the next con!

Get Involved! s Support artists directly by shopping at artists markets year-round! Coming up, don’t miss Allied Arts’ Holiday Festival of the Arts, Nov. 22-Dec. 24. s Make.Shift Art Space is a do-it-all community arts center in Bellingham. Not only do they function as a gallery and music venue, they’ve got affordable art studios and band practice spaces, a community radio station, and tons of workshops you can check out.

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BellinghamAlive.com

s Join in for First Fridays, community events that happen throughout Whatcom, Skagit, and the San Juan Islands. On the first Friday of every month, galleries, studios, and artisans of all kinds will have their doors open late for you. s Shop locally for your art supplies! Tri-Dee Arts in Mount Vernon and Dakota Art Store in Bellingham are standing by, eager to help you find what you need for your next art project. Dakota also has a gallery in their adjacent space, and runs a community charity art show in the fall called “6x6.”

2024 - 2025 SEASON

Season On Sale Now

mcintyrehall.org

360.416.7727

On the Mount Vernon Campus of Skagit Valley College

2 5 0 1 E C o l l e g e Wa y, M o u n t Ve r n o n

MCINTYRE HALL PRESENTS Las Guaracheras Derek Gripper & Ballake Sissoko Berta Rojas The Brothers Four

Galumpha

Art of Human Architecture

COMMUNITY EVENTS Cantabile Chamber Choir Skagit Community Band Concert Season

North Cascades Concert Band

UMO Ensemble Red Tiger Tales

Socks In the Frying Pan

Northwest Youth Symphony Association

Dirk & Amelia Powell Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms

Taiko Project

Pacific Northwest Opera

On A Winter’s Night

Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka Lucy Kaplansky, Patty Larkin

Live From Laurel Canyon Songs & Stories of American Rock

Chamber Music Series

Concert Season Falstaff Rusalka

Skagit Symphony Concert Season

Skagit Valley Academy of Dance The Nutcracker

Skagit Valley Chorale Heralding Christmas Celebrating in Song

Skagit Valley College Cinderella Mariachi Festival

Theater Arts Guild Newsies

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