On a rare Thursday off of work, my date and I had come to the Jansen Art Center to look at the exhibits currently on display throughout the multi-storied art space in downtown Lynden. As an added bonus, we ended up getting treated to an intimate concert by musicians Etsuko Tomeda and Terhi Broersma.
Technically, the top-tier pianists were rehearsing for a public performance taking place from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 16, but the Schimmel piano they will be playing on as part of a Schimmel Showcase series happens to be located in the venue’s Chamber Hall, which is also home to a “Whatcom Artist Studio Tour 2022 Showcase.”
With a backdrop of paintings by Renee Noelle Cheesman and Jillene Smith — both of whom will be among the 45-plus artists participating in the countywide studio tour taking place Oct. 1–2 and 8–9 — Tomeda and Broersma played a variety of classical works, occasionally pausing to confer with each other and nail down the ins and outs of their upcoming gig. While they practiced, we perused photographs, sculptures, jewelry, pastels, oil paintings and more from many of the other Studio Tour artists (some of whom will be present at an Artist Talk at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22).
The downstairs Piano Lounge houses Eric Chauvin’s “Nova Roma: Three Views of the Ancient City.” Ultra-comfy red swivel chairs make it easy to contemplate the large acrylic works. (Amy Kepferle/Cascadia Daily News)
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that, in search of art, we’d also stumbled across music. Many of the exhibit spaces at “the J” have multiple uses.
For example, the downstairs Piano Lounge also houses Eric Chauvin’s “Nova Roma: Three Views of the Ancient City.” Ultra-comfy red swivel chairs make it easy to contemplate the large acrylic works depicting three landmark views of the city of Constantinople, circa 540 CE.
The Fine Arts Gallery, located in the southwest corner of the main floor, doubles as a conference room or meeting space. In the sunny windowsills, cleverly concocted ceramic drinking devices from the 10th annual “Cup Show” are on display. On the walls, Rachel Rothberg’s “Elegy” exhibit merges environmentalism with fine art. Rothberg’s self-described “larger than death” oil paintings of deceased song sparrows, nuthatches and warblers are jarring but beautiful.
“I intend to bring viewers face-to-face with the interconnected nature of the world to bring empathy towards these delicate avian subjects as a global turning point for ecological conservation,” Rothberg explained in their artist statement.
Bellingham-based artist Trish Harding’s “Wet Lands/Dry Lands” collection in the center’s library draws attention to the harrowing effects of climate change. (Amy Kepferle/Cascadia Daily News)
Bellingham-based artist Trish Harding’s “Wet Lands/Dry Lands” collection in the center’s library also draws attention to the harrowing effects of climate change. Strangely enough, her “Canary” pastel also features a dead bird, presumably the victim of a wildfire. “Ducky” depicts a bright-yellow rubber duck circling a small house that appears to be the only thing above water after a flood.
Like Rothberg’s work, Harding’s paintings manage to still convey the beauty of the world, even if it’s a call for people to pay attention to the landscape while it’s still (mostly) intact. With both flooding and wildfires becoming more common in the Pacific Northwest, Harding is hoping these paintings will cause people to pay attention to the current state of affairs. If you’re interested in hearing more about the exhibit, Harding will be giving an Artist Talk at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15.
Merino wool and synthetic fabric were used in the piece “Growth,” part of fabric artist Flora Carlile-Kovac’s “Woolscapes” exhibit. (Amy Kepferle/Cascadia Daily News)
But that’s not all. In the hallway near the piano lounge and leading down the stairway to the Jansen Art Center’s Textile Studio, Flora Carlile-Kovac’s “Woolscapes” elevates the craft of wool felting to fine art. Her fiber work combines a variety of techniques, and the result is seen in otherworldly textures and colors.
For an expanded look at Whatcom and Skagit county artists, the “Summer Juried Exhibit” features more than 75 pieces from 42 artists in a range of mediums. These seasonal shows comprise works by local creators, each of whom can submit as many as five pieces for consideration by a rotating jury of judges.
From self-portraits to sculptures, landscape paintings, acrylics, photo transfers on beach-aged wood, embellished collages, woodcut prints and beyond, the cross-section of pieces can be explored at various spots throughout the J.
Bluejay Blackburn’s “Rebirth” painting is one of the more than 75 pieces from 42 area artists on display in Jansen Art Center’s “Summer Juried Exhibit.” (Amy Kepferle/Cascadia Daily News)
One might think that with so much to see at the Jansen Art Center, it would be overwhelming to get through it all. But that’s not the case. Give yourself time to explore the nooks and crannies of the former City Hall building that was renovated and opened in 2012 — from the exhibit spaces to the various art and music studios, Gallery Shop, patio and other hidden gems — and enjoy the journey. Who knows, you might just find yourself attending a private piano recital, no tickets required.
The Jansen Art Center is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Lynden at 321 Front St. Entry is free. The current exhibits will be on display through Oct. 15. A variety of fall classes are on the roster, so sign up and connect with your own creativity. Info: jansenartcenter.org.
