Fire, Paint & Fantasy

October 2–31, 2026

Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 11am – 4pm 

Opening Reception: October 2nd, 6pm-9pm 

1213 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225 

This October, Allied Arts of Whatcom County invites the community to experience Fire, Paint & Fantasy, a juried exhibition that explores the beauty of imagination through the lens of nature, mythology, and craftsmanship. The exhibition will be on view October 2–31, 2026, with a free Opening Reception on Friday, October 2, from 6:00–9:00 PM at Allied Arts, 1213 Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham.

For centuries, artists have looked to forests, folklore, and the natural world for inspiration. Fire, Paint & Fantasy continues that tradition, bringing together five regional artists whose work transforms familiar landscapes, plants, figures, and materials into places of wonder and discovery. Rather than escaping reality, these artists encourage viewers to see the magic already woven into the world around them.

The exhibition features paintings that blend portraiture with botanical symbolism, delicate handcrafted jewelry inspired by organic forms, richly detailed woodland illustrations, expressive figurative works, and dreamlike imagery that balances fantasy with lived experience. Although each artist works in a different medium, they share a remarkable attention to craftsmanship and a belief that storytelling can emerge through color, texture, pattern, and form.

Featured artists include Forrest Chel Hull, whose intricate woodburnings celebrate the hidden beauty of Pacific Northwest forests; Liz Cunningham, whose handcrafted jewelry reflects the elegance and complexity of the natural world; Mahsa Sakettabar, whose paintings weave themes of memory, culture, and symbolism into quiet moments of reflection; Matthew Crane, whose vibrant figurative paintings draw from mythology, identity, and imaginative storytelling; and Sierra James, whose expressive portraits bloom with botanical imagery and emotional depth.

Together, these artists remind us that wonder is not something reserved for fairy tales—it exists in forests, flowers, handcrafted objects, and the stories we continue to tell about ourselves and the world around us.

The exhibition and Opening Reception are free and open to the public. Artwork will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the exhibiting artists and Allied Arts’ nonprofit mission to coordinate, connect, and strengthen Whatcom County’s creative community.