This week, it’s all about flowers, art openings and the first concerts of the season for some of Bellingham’s music organizations. Try something or go someplace you’ve never explored!
Our creative heritage
Art from the Pacific Northwest is a recognized category of United States art. The Northwest School, which flourished in the 1930s through the 1940s, is characterized by elements such as earthy tones and symbols of nature in our region.
This outstanding creative history has inspired Gallery Syre’s current exhibition, “Artists From The Pacific Northwest,” opening with a public reception from 5–7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at the gallery, 465 W. Stuart Rd. In this exhibition, the gallery brings together Francis Donovan, Anita H. Lehmann, Bonnie Smerdon and David Syre, four artists of different generations who each in their own way exemplify the rich creative heritage of the Northwest artist. The exhibit shows through Jan. 28. Find out more at gallerysyre.com.
Dahlia Day
Triple Wren Farms, 2424 Zell Rd. in Ferndale, hosts a celebration of the beauty of dahlias from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, with thousands of dahlias growing in the fields in every form, color and size; exquisite flower displays; and plenty of room in the outdoor farm setting to walk between the rows and look up close at the blooms and plants.
While you’re at the farm, you can pluck U-pick flowers, meet experienced dahlia hybridizers, preview the varieties that will be offered in the annual dahlia tuber pre-sale, peek into the dahlia seedling trial gardens and browse through the legacy collection. The farm store will be open and there’ll be food truck fare from Feast food truck. Admission is $10, free for kids 10 and younger.
The Triple Wren VIP Dahlia Festival experience, only available to a limited number of guests for $125, includes a VIP Sunset Reception from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, earliest farm access, mingling with owners Steve and Sarah Pabody, a meet-and-greet with guest hybridizers, a professional golden hour portrait photo in the dahlias, a U-pick bouquet and first access to a potted dahlia sale and farm store, plus a tote bag and refreshments. No pets are allowed. Details are at triplewrenfarms.com.
Generational relationships
Lee Blessing’s play, “Eleemosynary,” will be staged Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2–3, continuing Sept. 8–10, at the Lucas Hicks Theater in the Sylvia Center for the Arts, 207 Prospect St. It’s directed by Ashley Albertson, and features Cindy Whiston, Dawn Hunter and Kharma Strambaugh.
The play is about the relationship of three women: the strong-willed, eccentric grandmother, Dorothea; her daughter, Artie (Artemis), who rebels against the domination of her mother; and Artie’s daughter, Echo, whom Artie has abandoned to an upbringing by Dorothea. Tickets are $10–$15. Please note these will be the final performances at the Sylvia Center, which will be closing its doors after the run. Info: sylviacenterforthearts.org.
Guitar master
Tony McManus, hailed by John Renbourn as the “best Celtic guitarist in the world,” performs at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at the FireHouse Arts and Events Center, 1314 Harris Ave. Tickets are $25 in advance through Brown Paper Tickets, $30 at the door. Details on the show: firehouseperformingarts.com or tonymcmanus.com.
Bluegrass time
The North Cascades Bluegrass Festival, hosted by Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation, runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Sept. 2–5, at the Deming Logging Show grounds, 3295 Cedarville Rd.
This year’s festival lineup contains a number of award-winning bands, including two-time Grammy-nominated band The Special Consensus, featuring 2021 IBMA Music Award nominees Greg Blake, male vocalist of the year, and Dan Eubanks, bass player of the year; IBMA Momentum award-winning band Stillhouse Junkies; plus The Kody Norris Show, a seven-time nominated SPGMA band of the year.
Also appearing this year will be the Boulder, Colorado-based Blue Canyon Boys, regional favorites The Lonesome Town Painters and Runaway Train. Completing this year’s lineup will be talented singer-songwriter Rebekah Long from Nashville, who, in addition to performing with her own band during the festival, will join local band favorite Roosevelt Road, in a gospel set on Sunday morning. Camping is available. For details on tickets, go to ncbf.fun.
Poetry reading and workshop
Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest will read a selection of her works, followed by a generative poetry workshop with audience participation, starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., in Mount Vernon. Please consider bringing your own notebook and writing utensil to this event. Much of the evening will be centered around the subject of salmon and its cultural impact on the peoples of the Salish region.
Priest’s most recent book, “Northwest Know-How: Beaches,” includes poems, legends and descriptions of beaches in Washington and Oregon. Priest is also seeking poets who would like to submit poems to an anthology that she’s collecting in celebration of Washington state salmon runs and Washington state poets. The project is supported in part by Humanities WA, the Washington State Arts Commission and the Academy of American Poets. Empty Bowl Press will publish the anthology in 2023. The deadline to submit poems is Sept. 18. For the particulars about the free event, go to lincolntheatre.org.
Bellingham Music Club season opens
“Concerts à la Carte,” the theme for Bellingham Music Club’s 2022–23 season, begins with a free recital at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 119 Texas St. Local treasures Gabriel and Rebecca Mañalac are two gifted pianists who will share up-close-and-personal musical moments on one keyboard.
Monthly daytime concerts are Wednesdays through June at 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church and the club’s popular evening series, “Night Beat,” will be Fridays each month at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave.
To make Night Beat even more accessible, concerts will be ticket-free this year! Students are always free, and a suggested donation is $20 for all others. For continued safety, audience members are required to wear masks. Info can be found at bellinghammusicclub.org.
Housewarming at the FireHouse
The Jazz Center of Bellingham hosts its “Firehousewarming” on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at 1314 Harris Ave. The event will celebrate the organization’s new home, and will feature music with the center’s student ensemble on the outdoor stage. Trío Sueño, Conner Helms, Kevin Woods, Thomas Harris, Roger Yamashita, King Dahl, Jerry Steinhilber, Christian Casolary, Sabrina Gomez and Marlena Dziz will perform on the indoor stage. Refreshments, a silent auction and ways to support the Jazz Center’s mission will be on the musical menu. Admission is free, but please RSVP at jazzcenterofbellingham.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.
