Bellingham Alive

Ted Gibson Retrospective: Photography, Children's Lunchboxes and more!
2025-06-06 18:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver)
Ted Gibson Retrospective:
Photography, Children’s Lunchboxes, and Dick & Jane Drawings
Exhibit dates: June 6 – July 26, 2025. Artwalk and Public Celebration: June 6, 6 – 8:30 PM
Dakota Art, 1322 Cornwall Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225
Regular Hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM
Facebook Event, Artist Website: https://www.tedgibson-art.org/
Contact:
Mary Jo Maute, Ted’s Life Partner & Bellingham Artist. mjmaute@gmail.com, (360) 224-4313
Alan Weydert, Dakota Art, aeweydert@gmail.com. (360) 676-8918
Documentarian and political artist, Ted Gibson’s (1944–2024) collection of histories of “ordinary people,” are being presented together for the first time at Dakota Art Gallery! Revealing Gibson’s lifetime of creative passion and profound insights, this retrospective exhibit includes 40 archival photographs showing the magic found on the highway, in quiet places and at special events, along with several series of works, most notably his Children’s Lunchboxes and a collection of drawings with apropos quotations called Dick and Jane in Retrospect which juxtapose trite Americana with scenes from the dark side of American Capitalism.

Waterfront Artist Studio - Artwalk
2025-06-06 18:00 - 21:00
Artist studio open for Artwalk.
Lots of great artists.

Shapeshifters Exhibit
2025-06-13 11:00 - 2025-09-15 17:00
The San Juan Islands Museum of Art Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary with Shapeshifters – An Exhibition of Contemporary Northwest Coast Native Art and Culture
The San Juan Islands Museum of Art is proud to present Shapeshifters – a major exhibition of contemporary Northwest Coast Native art, June 13 – September 15, 2025, www.SJIMA.org. The Museum is located at 540 Spring Street, Friday Harbor.

Summer Art & Dance Camp: Heros & Heroines 4th of July
2025-06-30 09:00 - 2025-07-03 16:00
Heroes and Heroines 4th of July – Art & Dance Camp #1: June 30-July 3, Mon- Thurs, Ages 7-12, $250 with Rachel Simpson for Art and Tara Reiter for Dance. Get a heroic mixture of Dance and Art in this full day, 4th of July themed camp! Join us on the last day for a Dance Performance and Art Show! Students Bring: Lunch, Water Bottle, Weather appropriate clothing, clean soled sneakers. Learn a full dance routine, lots of dance games and amazing art projects including:
-Super Hero Masks & Power Cuffs
-4th of July Art Games; Rocket Racers, Parachutes of Color, & Marble Paint Maze
-Paint & Draw Favorite Hero or Heroine
-Hero Shields Painted onto Canvas
-Spinning Paint Art
-Super Hero & Heroine Selfies
3 hours of Art and 3 hours of dance each day!
10:00am-12:45pm Art, Lunch 12:45-1:15pm, 1:15pm-4:00pm Dance, Ages 7 – 12.
Location: Unique Technique Dance, 3815 Bakerview Spur #1, Bellingham, WA 98225.
Webites: http://www.rachelswhimsicalart.com/ and https://www.uniquetechniquedance.com/

Paper Whale Presents: The Immersive Experience Project
2025-07-03 17:00 - 21:00
The Immersive Experience Project is a series of four pop-up art installations located within vacant storefronts in downtown Bellingham. Be transported to alternate realities meant to captivate your senses, like a glowing forest of neon fungi or a towering stack of old-school TVs.
The four exhibiting artists are: OctoEyes, Matt Remsbecher, Ms. Tide Walker, and Barrett Lizza. Come step inside their worlds for a limited time only!
This is a family-friendly event. The spaces will be open to the public during evening art walks on the first Friday of each month, May-July. In July, it will be on Thursday, July 3rd, because of the holiday on Friday.
Exhibit Locations:
Digital Extrusions | 1015 N. State St. (main street entrance)
The Age of Nostalgia | 1015 N. State St. (alley entrance)
Sylvan Passage | 1329 N. State St.
Luminous Growth | 215 Prospect St.
Paper Whale, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to cultivate a creative community and activate placemaking through multi-sensory events and public artworks. To learn more about this and other Paper Whale events, visit www.paper-whale.com.

Puzzles in Pigment
2025-07-05 11:00 - 2025-07-26 16:00
Exhibition run: July 3rd & 5th-26th
July 3rd Opening Reception: 6-9PM
Regular Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat, 11am – 4pm
At: 1213 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
AAoWC presents an exhibition celebrating the diverse language of abstract art through the work of four distinctive local artists. The show features Brett Sandström’s balanced compositions emphasizing mindfulness and simplicity alongside Jake Gombis’s large-format conversational paintings that explore both tangible and abstract relationships through pedestrian mediums. Visitors will also experience Lori VanEtta’s vibrant acrylic abstracts that breathe life into every space, and Marjie Miller’s encaustic pieces created using an ancient Greek technique of fused, melted wax. We regret that artist Mansur Ahmed cannot join us due to border travel limitations.

Summer Art & Dance Camp: Where the Wild Things Roam
2025-07-07 10:00 - 2025-07-11 16:00
Where the Wild Things Roam- Art & Dance Camp #2: July- 7-11 10am-4pm Mon-Fri Ages 5-8, $300 with Rachel Simpson for Art and Tara Reiter for Dance. Get a Wild Fun mixture of Dance and Art in this full day camp!! Join us on the last day for a Dance Performance and Art Show! Students Bring: Lunch, Water Bottle, Weather appropriate clothing, clean soled sneakers.
Learn a full dance routine, lots of dance games and amazing art projects including: Clay Foxes & Wild Cats, Watercolor Paints with Leaf Prints, 3/D Bunny or Mice in Mini-Tin-Beds-Wild Forrest & Fauna, Paint & Papercraft Art-Mushroom and Wee Bugs in 3/D Craft, Bright Painted Dots of Favorite Animals, Art Games with Nature.
3 hours of Art and 3 hours of dance each day!
10:00am-12:45pm Art, Lunch 12:45-1:15pm,1:15pm-4:00pm Dance. Ages 5 – 8.
Location: Unique Technique Dance, 3815 Bakerview Spur #1, Bellingham, WA 98225.
Websites: http://www.rachelswhimsicalart.com/ and https://www.uniquetechniquedance.com/

Modern Meets Primitive
2025-07-12 14:00 - 16:00
Cordata Gallery is proud to invite you to Modern Meets Primitive, an exhibition featuring the works by local artists Brian O’Neill, Richard Nash, and David Syre, whose works explore the meeting point between gestural expressions and timeless, elegant forms. The exhibition looks at how modern art can draw strength from the raw, instinctive, and ancient—reminding us that progress and tradition are not opposites, but parts of the same creative journey.
All artworks are available for acquisition, offering a chance to support local artists and to add to your collection.
Opening reception: July 12, 2-4pm
Open to public: July 12 – Aug 30
Tues-Sat, 11-4 and by appt

Modern Meets Primitive
2025-07-12 14:00 - 16:00
Cordata Gallery is proud to invite you to Modern Meets Primitive, an exhibition featuring the works by local artists Richard Nash, Brian O’Neill, and David Syre, whose works explore the meeting point between gestural expressions and timeless, elegant forms. The exhibition looks at how modern art can draw strength from the raw, instinctive, and ancient—reminding us that progress and tradition are not opposites, but parts of the same creative journey. All artworks are available for acquisition, offering a chance to support local artists and to add to your collection.

Reflections of the Land; Himalayan Paintings and Cascadian Basketry
2025-08-16 12:00 - 2025-09-27 17:00
‘Reflections of the Land; Himalayan Paintings and Cascadian Basketry’ and It’s About Time’s new Gallery Shop will open on Saturday August 16th, running through the end of September. On display will be seldom shown traditional and contemporary works by Nepalese artists from a private collection, alongside captivating baskets woven by members of the Basket Weavers of the Salish Sea.
The paintings embody the warmth and spirituality of Himalayan culture, ranging from intricate and colorful Thangka paintings of Deities to delightful depictions of Sherpa village life. Bringing traditional arts closer to home with a contemporary twist, visitors can explore the world of basketry through an assortment of intriguing functional and decorative baskets woven from materials found in our own Cascadian bioregion.
Opening Event! We’re throwing our Opening Event on Saturday August 16th from 1pm to 7pm, where visitors can hear about basket weaving styles and materials from the Weavers themselves, and learn more about the images and villages portrayed in the paintings.
After that, the show will run from August 16th through the end of September, open for viewing Thursdays through Saturdays from noon to 5pm.
Enjoy these unique offerings at It’s About Time Cultural Arts Center, conveniently located just off I-5, at 2013 Main Street, Ferndale, WA. More info at
https://www.facebook.com/ItsAboutTimeCulturalArtsCenter

Lummi Island Labor Day Art Tour 2025
2025-08-30 10:00 - 2025-08-31 17:00
More than 30 artists and craftspeople are offering their work at 14 locations around the island. Enjoy paintings, drawings, prints, note cards, jewelry, photography, sculpture, glass, woodwork, pottery, metalwork, stonework, quilts, clothing, knitwear, and more! To get to Lummi Island: Take I-5 exit 260, Go west on Slater Road to Haxton Way. Turn left on Haxton to the ferry dock at Gooseberry Point. Line up to take the Whatcom Chief ferry. The 8 minute ferry ride leaves at ten past every hour (plus extra trips as needed)
Preview on Facebook: Lummi Island Artists’ Studio Tour, and Instagram: lummi.island.art.studio.tour

Modern Meets Primitive
2025-09-02 11:00 - 2025-09-27 16:00
Due to the success of this exhibition which opened July 12th, we are extending it until September 27th!
Cordata Gallery is proud to invite you to Modern Meets Primitive, an exhibition featuring the works by local artists Richard Nash, Brian O’Neill, and David Syre, whose works explore the meeting point between gestural expressions and timeless, elegant forms. The exhibition looks at how modern art can draw strength from the raw, instinctive, and ancient—reminding us that progress and tradition are not opposites, but parts of the same creative journey. All artworks are available for acquisition, offering a chance to support local artists and to add to your collection.

Monochromatic Group Exhibition
2025-09-05 17:00 - 2025-09-10 21:00
oxel Gallery is proud to present Monochromatic, a striking group exhibition running from July 31 through September 10, 2025. Featuring black-and-white photography, grayscale paintings, and digital artworks, this show delves into the expressive potential of a restricted palette—where contrast, texture, and form take on heightened emotional resonance. For more information, please visit voxelgallery.com or follow @Voxelfineart on social media.

Whatcom Genealogical Society
2025-09-08 14:00 - 16:00
Whatcom Genealogical
Society 1st Fall Meeting-Sharing Summer research results and reintroducing ourselves and our interests. Did you have a research trip or family reunion this summer? Maybe you are new to our group, and you have some questions about research. This is a great meeting to start off the Fall. Visitors are welcome!
https://www.whatcom-gen-soc.org

Untethered Odyssey opening reception
2025-10-03 18:00 - 21:00
October 3 – November 1st
Opening Reception: October 3, 6pm-9pm
1213 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Untethered Odyssey invites viewers on a journey through diverse artistic landscapes where meticulous craft meets unbounded imagination. This compelling group exhibition celebrates the courage to venture beyond familiar territories, exploring the delicate balance between control and spontaneity across four distinctive artistic voices.
The exhibition features Liz Cunningham’s exquisite beaded jewelry, lovingly constructed one tiny bead at a time into contemporary wearable sculptures; Jeana Esser-Lang’s bold and whimsical compositions that take fearless liberties with color and space; Libby Sullivan’s mixed media collages where mysterious women encounter otherworldly powers amid fragments of found materials; and Rock Morris’s philosophy of “perfect imperfection,” creating works of intense layering and strong lines that emerge from his creative subconscious to embody nature’s raw beauty.
Allied Arts is a non-profit gallery, all proceeds from sales go towards supporting the arts in our community.
For more information visit www.alliedarts.org, call us at 360-676-8548 or email us at gallery@alliedarts.org.

Untethered Odyssey gallery exhibition
2025-10-04 11:00 - 2025-11-01 16:00
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 4pm
1213 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Untethered Odyssey invites viewers on a journey through diverse artistic landscapes where meticulous craft meets unbounded imagination. This compelling group exhibition celebrates the courage to venture beyond familiar territories, exploring the delicate balance between control and spontaneity across four distinctive artistic voices.
The exhibition features Liz Cunningham’s exquisite beaded jewelry, lovingly constructed one tiny bead at a time into contemporary wearable sculptures; Jeana Esser-Lang’s bold and whimsical compositions that take fearless liberties with color and space; Libby Sullivan’s mixed media collages where mysterious women encounter otherworldly powers amid fragments of found materials; and Rock Morris’s philosophy of “perfect imperfection,” creating works of intense layering and strong lines that emerge from his creative subconscious to embody nature’s raw beauty.
Allied Arts is a non-profit gallery, all proceeds from sales go towards supporting the arts in our community.
For more information visit www.alliedarts.org, call us at 360-676-8548 or email us at

PURE JOY - An exhibition of the works of Joy Olney
2025-10-11 14:00 - 16:00
Cordata Gallery is pleased to present PURE JOY, a solo
exhibition of local artist Joy Olney, celebrating the radiant
spirit that runs through her lifelong practice. Featuring a
selection of her favorite subjects (flowers, waterscapes, and portraits), the exhibition reflects the simple joy she finds in painting and the sense of peace her works convey.
Opening reception: Oct 11, 2-4pm
Open to public: Oct 11 – Dec 13, 2025
Tues-Sat, 11-4 and by appointment

Blaine Art Gallery Small Art, Big Impact Opening Reception
2025-10-11 16:00 - 19:00
The Blaine Art Gallery invites you to our inaugural juried show, Small Art, Big Impact, bringing artist works from all over the Western US. The Opening Reception is on 10/11/25, from 4pm – 7pm. Join us for art, conversation, and light refreshments.

Blessings of the Waters - James K. Papp Photography Exhibit
2025-10-16 09:30 - 2026-01-09 17:00
Blessings of the Waters: From Glacier to Sea Exhibit showcases Bellingham photographer James K. Papp’s stunning black and white images. From the Cascade Mountains to the Puget Sound, water is the connector between residents, tribes, farmers, fishers, municipalities, and industries, as well as nature’s flora and fauna. Informed by James K. Papp’s 40 years working in marine shipping and by countless hikes along the streams, lakes, and snowfields of the Evergreen State, this work highlights the increasing pressure on our precious water. We are called upon to care for and show gratitude to our shared waters in a deeper, even spiritual way for the benefit of generations to come.
Jansen Art Center, 321 Front Street, Lynden, WA
October 16, 2025 to January 9, 2026
Tuesdays through Saturdays
9:30a.m. to 5p.m.
https://www.inquirewithin.com/press-releases-2025/
lisa@inquirewithin.com

Artist Showcase Series
2025-10-25 13:00 - 16:00
Three Artists with Unique Connections To Each Other
Bellingham, October 2, 2025 – Chuckanut Bay Gallery and Sculpture Garden presents an amazing afternoon with three artists sharing not only their artwork but the stories that connect them. On Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 1PM to 4PM Bob Hogan, Jan Griggs and Rick Griggs will be a part of the Artist Showcase Series including live painting demonstrations.
The Artists
• Jan Griggs – an abstract artist, originally from Spokane. “I love painting abstracts. Colors, shapes, lights and darks can be arranged and re-arranged to create the feeling and emotion coming from within the artist.”
• Bob Hogan – a regional artist who lives in Anacortes, WA. “The beautiful San Juan Islands provide me with limitless inspiration. My style explores local color while incorporating a slight contemporary edge to landscapes, wildlife and the iconic regional beauty.”
• Rick Griggs – creates live edge tables and wall art. “I blend wood and stone with a sense of architecture, style and imagination to create each work so its natural beauty and qualities flourish. Each piece is an experience in tactile and visual beauty!”
The Stories
• Rick and Bob worked together in broadcasting before evolving into artists.
• Jan and Rick have been a team for more than forty years.
• Bob illustrated the bestselling children’s book, Tortoise from Anacortes, which happens to be written by his wife, Claudia.
Quote
“Chuckanut Bay Gallery is honored to have these three incredibly talented artists and friends showing their art! We are so excited to share their phenomenal work with you. Come in and be dazzled!”
Media Contact: Jill Jameson 360-734-4885, chuckanutbaygallery@gmail.com

Wintering Exhibition Opening
2025-11-06 18:00 - 21:00
This winter, Voxel Gallery presents Wintering—a women-driven exhibition that celebrates the mystery and beauty of the winter solstice through landscape and abstract paintings. Opening reception November 6, 2025, from 6-9PM, 312 West Champion Street, Bellingham www.voxelgallery.com

Lummi Island Holiday Art Tour
2025-11-08 10:00 - 2025-11-09 17:00
Lummi Island Holiday Art Tour 2025
November 8th and 9th – 10am to 5pm
More than 14 artists and craftspeople are offering their work at 7 locations around the island. Enjoy paintings, drawings, prints, notecards, jewelry, photography, sculpture, glass, woodwork, pottery, metalwork, stonework, quilts, clothing, knitwear, and more!
Maps are available online at lummi-island.com or pick up a copy in The Islander, one block south of the ferry dock .The featured artist is Meredith Moench, One Earth Studio. Meredith’s current focus is watercolor. Preview the art tour artists on Instagram at lummi.island.art.studio.tour and Facebook at Lummi Island Art Studio Tour.
To get to Lummi Island: Take I-5 exit 260, go west on Slater Road to Haxton Way. Turn left on Haxton to the ferry dock at Gooseberry Point. Line up to take the Whatcom Chief ferry. The 8-minute ferry ride leaves at ten past every hour (plus extra trips as needed)

Shop Small Holiday Makers Market
2025-11-29 12:00 - 2025-11-30 18:00, 2025-12-20 10:00 - 2025-12-21 18:00
Get into the festive spirit and discover unique, locally made gifts while supporting talented artisans at our Shop Small Holiday Makers Market! Join us November 29–30 and December 20–21, 2025 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal (355 Harris Ave, Bellingham, WA).
Open Saturday from 12–6 PM and Sunday from 10 AM–5 PM, the market features 50 local makers offering everything from handcrafted soaps and sustainable goods to tasty treats, cozy textiles, candles, and jewelry.
Food trucks Dane Good and WTF will have hot beverages, baked goods and delicious dishes available to order.
Each weekend brings a new lineup of vendors, so stop by in both November and December for a fresh selection of gifts. Free and open to the public, this festive, holiday-decorated market is the perfect way to shop small and celebrate the season in the heart of Historic Fairhaven.

Coffee& Canvas
2025-12-07 11:00 - 13:00
Come paint and let the creativity flow while sipping on Bellingham’s finest coffee.

Winter Paint & Sip
2025-12-23 16:00 - 18:00
Join Semiahmoo Resort for a winter-inspired Paint & Sip on Tuesday, December 23, from 4–6 PM. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just picking up a brush for fun, you’ll create your own winter masterpiece with step-by-step guidance from our instructor. No experience needed, just a little imagination and a love for the season.
All supplies are provided, and tasty food and drink upgrades will be available to keep the creativity (and cocktails) flowing.

Peregrination - Solo Exhibition by Susan Van Gundy
2026-01-02 18:00 - 2026-01-31 21:00
BELLINGHAM, WA — Voxel Gallery is pleased to announce Peregrination, a solo exhibition by Bellingham-based abstract painter Susan Van Gundy, opening Friday, January 2, 2026, at 312 West Champion in downtown Bellingham. The public is invited to attend the opening reception from 6:00–9:00 PM.

David Syre: Mind and Method at Work
2026-01-18 14:00 - 16:00
Cordata Gallery is pleased to invite you to ‘David Syre: Mind and Method at Work’, an exhibition focused on the wide range of techniques that make David Syre such a unique artist. From his earliest drawings to his most recent paintings, this exhibition is the first opportunity to experience works from years of experimentation all in one place. ‘Mind and Method at Work’ is more than a title—it is the living process behind David Syre’s entire artistic journey and we invite you to be part of it.

Puzzle Hustle
2026-01-23 18:00 - 2026-03-06 19:30
Join us for a night of fun where teams of up to four
people will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the
same jigsaw puzzle — the three fastest teams win prizes!
Pre-registration is required.
DAY/DATES: Fridays / January 23 or March 6
TIME: 6:00-7:30 pm
AGES: All ages
LOCATION: Bloedel Donovan Community Building
COST: $30 per team per date (maximum 4 people per
team, only 1 member registers for the team)
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/bellingham/activity/search?locale=en-US&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=puzzle&viewMode=list
