This week, hear from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, take a self-guided tour of the studios of Whatcom County artists, discover ways to create something cool, attend a benefit to allow young women to explore their musical prowess, and welcome the return of “Hellingham.”
Award-winning author
Village Books hosts Anthony Doerr for the paperback release of his latest bestseller, “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” a finalist for the National Book Award, at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Western Washington University’s Performing Arts Center. Doerr is also the author of “All the Light We Cannot See,” winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Carnegie Medal, and the Alex Award, and a New York Times bestseller.
Doerr will be signing books after the event. Masks are required to enter the signing line. Tickets are $25 for one person, which includes a signed copy of “Cloud Cuckoo Land” or $31 for two people and one signed copy of the new book. Online ticket sales will end at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30. Tickets will be available at the door.
Tickets are available online, by phone, or in person from Western Washington University’s box office at tickets.wwu.edu. Visit villagebooks.com for more information.
Whodunnit?
“Hellingham,” Bellingham’s favorite improvised murder mystery, is back! Welcome to the sleepy town of Hellingham, where everyone is as silly as they are suspect. Improvisers take inspiration from the audience to create their characters, and then find out if they will witness, kill or be killed. The show will be staged at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 30 through Oct. 29; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 at The Upfront Theatre, 207 Prospect St. Upfront shows are all-ages unless otherwise specified. Tickets are $15 general, $10 students, available at theupfront.com/shows.
Bellingham Maker Faire
Family-friendly and aiming to provide an array of inspiring creations to behold, the Bellingham Maker Faire will have 35 vendors, craftspeople, artisans and exhibitors from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Bellis Fair mall. There will also be five presenters, a silent auction and tours of the Bellingham MakerSpace, with live video streaming of the presentations. Admission is free. Find out more at makerfairebellingham.org.
Benefit concert
Girls Need Guitars presents Ferron in a benefit concert to provide guitar lessons and songwriting workshops for foster kids in Whatcom and Skagit counties, starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the FireHouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Ave.
When Canadian singer-songwriter Ferron was 15 years old, she hit the road alone. She had a single shopping bag with a change of clothes, a toothbrush, a waitress uniform and a Leonard Cohen LP. Little did she know then, but one day her own songs would be compared to Cohen’s for their depth of word craft, intimacy and wisdom. Tickets are $25. Get them at eventbrite.com.
Peeking at Whatcom County artists
The Whatcom Artist Studio Tour was founded in 1995 to bring the public into artists’ working studios for a two-weekend self-guided tour and sale. The event offers visitors insight into the creative process, work life and work environment of area artists, and provides an opportunity for people to purchase original works directly from their makers.
This year’s tour is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the first two weekends in October — Oct. 1–2 and 8–9 — featuring more than 50 artists working in more than a dozen different media, at a whopping 41 studios scattered throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Each studio features the work of the primary artist, and some may include additional artists as well, providing a unique and compelling variety of artwork. For a list of participating artists, a map and more, go to studiotour.net.
Women composers
Focusing on American women composers, Bellingham Music Club presents soprano Ibidunni Ojikutu with pianist Rebecca Mañalac in a program anchored by B.E. Boykin’s songs, “Moments of Sonder,” set to poetry by Maya Angelou. The free concert begins at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 119 Texas St. They will also explore the words of the wives of Henry VIII (via Libby Larsen’s “Try Me, Good King”), Harriet Tubman’s journey (via Nkeiru Okoye’s “Songs of Harriet Tubman”), and various works by Florence Price.
Ojikutu is an alumni of Western Washington University. She is also a winner of the BMC High School Voice Competition and received the top award in the Seattle Opera Guild Training Grant Competition. She sang the role of Strawberry Woman in Seattle Opera’s 2011 and 2018 productions of “Porgy and Bess,” and made her debut with the Portland Opera in 2022. She maintains a connection with Bellingham, and has recently performed with the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra and the Whatcom Chorale.
The club’s full-length Night Beat concert is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave. Ticket purchase is not required; all are welcome, and students are always free. Donations will be appreciated ($20 suggested). Details are at bellinghammusicclub.org.
Before attending an in-person event, check with individual venues to make sure it is taking place as scheduled.
Margaret Bikman’s column runs every Wednesday. Reach her at Margaret.bikman@gmail.com.
