Caregivers

September 4–26, 2026

Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 11am – 4pm 

Opening Reception: September 4th, 6pm-9pm 

1213 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225 

At some point in our lives, nearly all of us experience what it means to give care, receive care, or witness someone we love navigate change. Caregivers creates space to reflect on those moments—the relationships we hold onto, the memories we preserve, and the quiet acts of compassion that often happen outside of view.

Visitors will encounter the sculptural work of Francie Allen, whose five life-size figures transform Allied Arts’ new multi-use room into an intimate environment for reflection and storytelling. Installed alongside the community stage, Allen’s sculptures create a setting where visual art and personal narrative meet. During the exhibition, Allen will share selections from her memoir, bringing voice and lived experience into conversation with the work.

Continuing into Artist Alley, viewers will experience paintings by Margot Clemens and Ann Chaikin. Presented in a more intimate gallery setting, their works offer personal reflections on memory, relationships, and the spaces and moments that shape our connections with others.

More than an exhibition, Caregivers is an opportunity for conversation. Through sculpture, painting, and personal storytelling, the artists remind us that caregiving is not only about loss or responsibility—it is also about love, resilience, presence, and the connections that remain.

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 strengthen Whatcom County’s creative community.

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

Take Shape

August 7–29, 2026

Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 11am – 4pm 

Opening Reception: August 7th, 6pm-9pm 

1213 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225 

Allied Arts of Whatcom County invites the community to experience Take Shape, a group exhibition featuring regional artists working across painting, sketching, printmaking, ceramics, fiber, and mixed media. The exhibition will be on view August 7–29, 2026, with a free Opening Reception on Friday, August 7 from 6:00–9:00 PM at Allied Arts, 1213 Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham.

Take Shape explores the many ways artists transform ideas, observations, and materials into meaningful works of art. From expressive lines and layered surfaces to handmade vessels and sculptural forms, the exhibition highlights the relationship between an artist’s vision and the process of creating.

Featured artists include Frank Frazee, whose paintings and sketches capture landscapes, color, and personal observations through expressive mark-making; Jay Heller, whose bold linocuts celebrate architecture, perspective, and the intricate details found in familiar places; Buttercup Nyberg, whose ceramic works reflect connections between nature, function, and artistic expression; and S. Cowan-Quan, whose mixed media sculptures combine fiber, natural materials, and handmade forms to create imaginative characters and narratives. 

Together, these artists invite visitors to slow down and appreciate the textures, details, and stories that emerge when ideas are given physical form.

As Allied Arts continues to expand opportunities for artists and audiences alike, Take Shape reflects the organization’s commitment to showcasing a wide range of creative voices while connecting our community through art.

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

For more information visit www.alliedarts.org or contact us at 360-676-8548 or gallery@alliedarts.org.