Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher to Open

Instead of viewing these stipulations as obstacles, the Whatcom Museum, in a collaborative effort with several Northwest companies and artists, embraced such guidelines with aplomb. Their efforts will be unveiled at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Museum’s newest and first original building, the Lightcatcher, on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 11 AM. Admission to all is free on opening day, thanks to a sponsorship from Key Bank.

In development since 2004, the Lightcatcher is a 42,000 square foot facility that will house visiting art exhibitions, a permanent Family Interactive Gallery (FIG; formerly the Children’s Museum), a courtyard, classrooms for both youth and adult education, a museum store, and a café. The building’s name is derived from its focal point—a 37 foot high and 180 foot long translucent, curved wall—which bridges the interior spaces of the Museum with its open courtyard.

Jim Olson of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects designed the building to include an iconic structure that would compliment other local landmarks in downtown Bellingham, and to create a warm, inviting space for the community. The Lightcatcher, quite literally, achieves these goals.

Designed to meet LEED Silver Standards, the Lightcatcher wall provides natural light and an energy-efficient heating and cooling system for the building. Further sustainable features at the Museum include a vegetated green roof, rain gardens, and rainwater harvesting cisterns.

The invitation to the community is also evident in the courtyard, which is accessible through the Museum lobby, or even the exterior sidewalk. From Grand Avenue, a passerby can see into the courtyard and through windows in the Lightcatcher wall to the art displays inside.

Once inside the magnificent facility, visitors have the chance to enjoy two visiting exhibits on display for the Museum’s grand opening. Like the Lightcatcher itself, the opening exhibits give particular attention to the materials used in the construction of art and our ongoing relationship with the planet.

The inaugural exhibition, Out of Bounds: Art from the Collection of Driek and Michael Zirinsky, will be on display through March 21, 2010. Whatcom Museum Art Curator Barbara Matilsky selected over 80 contemporary pieces from the Zirinsky collection that reinforce the following themes: Reinventing the Figure; Reimagining the Landscape; Transforming Objects and Materials; and Making Art New: Form and Process. Matilsky was conscious to include pieces in all types of media for this exhibit. A number of these pieces contain commentary on social, political, and environmental issues as well.

Also on display is a site-specific art installation by Seattle-based artist John Grade called Bloom: The Elephant Bed. With immense, bell-shaped sculptures suspended from the ceiling, Grade’s piece takes full advantage of the 26 foot high gallery ceiling. Ironically, these huge sculptures are inspired by the white, limestone shells of microscopic ocean organisms called coccolithophores. A commentary on cycles of formation and erosion, as well as climate change issues, Grade’s installation incorporates an element of disintegration throughout its five month exhibition. At its close on April 10, 2010, the remaining sculptures (made from sustainable materials that break down into harmless particles in water) will be cast into Bellingham Bay after a public procession.

At the other end of the Museum, the Family Interactive Gallery extends an emphasis on art and nature with hands-on activities to inspire creativity and learning. Stay tuned to Neighborhood-Kids.com for a more detailed exploration of this facility!

The Lightcatcher is located at the corner of Grand Avenue and Flora Street in Bellingham, Washington. Regular Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 PM. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students/seniors/military, $4 for children 5 and under, and free for Museum members. For more information, please contact the Whatcom Museum at (360) 778-8930.