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Bands and benefits, comedic collaboration and art opportunities

Margaret Bikman's weekly column

By Margaret Bikman CDN Contributor

Community Powered Radio

For two years, I’ve been one of the many volunteers at KMRE 102.3 FM. The station is an independent, non-commercial, nonprofit, community radio station, and it’s pretty much an all-volunteer effort, hence its subtitle, “Community Powered.”

On Saturday, Feb. 5, folks 21 and older can enjoy some local music at The Shakedown while also helping support the station. Featuring performances from three local artists, all proceeds will go toward expanding KMRE’s operations. It’s the station’s goal to continue to amplify community voices, support local artists with airplay, and provide opportunities for local musicians to perform in-studio and be featured in on-air interviews.

Performers include The Unknowns, Nathaniel Talbot and Fossil Fire. Doors open at 7 p.m., and music starts at 7:30 p.m. I’ll be there, along with others on the dedicated KMRE volunteer crew, and you can learn more about the station (maybe even learn how to volunteer!).

Ticket purchase is for will-call; no electronic or paper tickets will be issued. To redeem, present valid ID and have all members of your party with you at entry. Find out more at www.shakedownbellingham.com

A Night of Theater and Comedy

Also at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, members of Western Washington University’s Student Theatre Productions, Dead Parrot Society, Plays 4 Us, Comedians of Western, and Viking Comedy Hour will put on a night of theater and comedy, open to the public. Tickets to “Dead Viking Theatre Standup 4 Us” are $4 and can be purchased at the door (cash and Venmo accepted). Face masks will be required, along with proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test upon entry. Donations are encouraged. All funds and donations from this event will go toward all clubs involved and will be used to buy supplies to repaint the Old Main Theatre stage. For details, go to their Facebook event.

Up Close & Personal

Heads up: Whatcom Museum’s exhibit at the Lightcatcher building, “Up Close & Personal: The Body in Contemporary Art,” from the collection of Driek and Michael Zirinsky, closes Feb. 27. Curated by Amy Chaloupka, the exhibit showing at 250 Flora St. examines questions about the body through the expressive lens of 60 artists. It poses the question of how the pandemic has affected our collective consciousness, since sharing life “in person” has been limited for the past two years.

In conjunction with this exhibit, the museum hosts “Artist x Artists,” at Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St., through April 10. The portraits are drawn from the museum’s permanent collection and present a variety of expressive gazes, each one giving hints toward the ways artists convey and construct the creative persona of the artist.

Additionally, there are also opportunities for docent- and curator-led tours for Whatcom Museum exhibits to gain more insight on the works. Find out more at www.whatcommuseum.org.


Plant Based: Call for Entries

Are you an artist who likes growing things? Consider entering the Jansen Art Center’s upcoming exhibit of paintings, drawings, prints, photography, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, glass, basketry, sculpture, mixed media and book arts that will run March 3 through April 8 at the creative hub in downtown Lynden.

For “Plant Based,” artists are invited to submit as many as five pieces of work for consideration that reflect the theme of plant-based — subjects of nature, botany, flora, or pieces made from organic materials and those which incorporate plant matter in the process. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 7. For details and questions, call (360) 354-3600 or go to www.jansenartcenter.org.

Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival: Call For Entries

In the same vein, Allied Arts of Whatcom County is seeking entries for the Whatcom Cultural Arts Festival to be held March 11-12 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, with opportunities for online events. The festival is a multimedia exploration of our cultural backgrounds and creative community. Participants are asked to create artwork, performances or food that is inspired by their cultural training and background. These include fine art, craft, song, dance, storytelling and any other creative endeavor.

The event is co-sponsored by the Port of Bellingham, Native Arts Collective, the Historic Fairhaven Association, and Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism Bureau. Participants of all skill levels working in all mediums are encouraged to apply by Feb. 11. For details, call (360) 676-8548 or go to www.alliedarts.org.

All event dates and protocols are subject to change pending the most up-to-date COVID-19 information. 

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