As Ferndale’s Main Street continues to develop, a new organization hopes to shake up the city’s burgeoning art scene.
It’s About Time Cultural Arts Center has its grand opening Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2013 Main St., with six local artists exhibiting works.
But collaborator Rock Morris said It’s About Time isn’t just a gallery. “We seek to engage community participation in exhibits, performances, programs and special events,” he said.
This encompasses everything from musical performances to children’s drawing classes and other hands-on events.
The seeds for the organization were planted when Sasch Stephens, who owns the art center’s 100-year-old building, noticed Morris’ work at a pop-up exhibition. Stephens was impressed enough to ask Morris to organize a show in Ferndale; together, they created a revolving exhibit in the building’s frontmost room. Stephens then asked Morris to collaborate further by devoting the entire building to arts and art education.
Stephens is an artist himself, known for creating sundials like the one on Unity Street in downtown Bellingham. (The name “It’s About Time” is a reference to his work.) He hopes the approachable, community-centric arts space will ultimately be his legacy.
“Sometimes you say ‘art gallery,’ [and] it scares people, frankly, because it sounds like a language that they don’t know,” Morris said. “We don’t want that. We want them to feel comfortable that they can come in and look at things, and not be judged about what they think or what they say.”
After extensive renovations, It’s About Time had its soft launch during the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour (WAST) in October. Saturday’s “grand opening” exhibition features 2D and 3D work from Stephens and Morris, plus Gordon Nealy, Vaune Ainsworth, Renee Cheesman and Ḵaa Shaayí Kéet’aakw.
Going forward, Morris plans to offer gallery space for a slight commission (though he noted they’re “not in it for a profit”) and connect with local schools. While he’s not expecting to match Lynden’s Jansen Art Center in scale, he does hope It’s About Time will “wake up” Ferndale’s art scene — and judging by early reactions, it’s on the right track.
Morris recalled a conversation during WAST with a woman who hadn’t drawn in years. “She was so inspired that she had to rush home and get her stuff out and start drawing again,” Morris said.
Another day, while Morris and Stephens worked on renovations, a passerby turned around and poked his head in the door. “He said, ‘I’ve lived here for 12 years,’” Morris continued, “and this is the best thing I’ve seen happen on the street.’”
Info: itsabouttime.space@gmail.com.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
