The Jansen Art Center in Lynden, Washington will be back in full swing starting Sept. 1 with a complete Fall program including a new exhibit open for the public to enjoy, an array of performances and classes available for all and new fun and creative workshops.
Fall art workshops being offered at the J will include textiles, jewelry making, ceramics, performing arts and painting, with classes available for all ages. “Every single person is creative in their own way, and we have a class for any way you want to express that creativity. It’s so great to be able to offer that again and fill our building with learning and art after such a long time,” said the J’s Marketing Specialist Mary Fitzgerald.
A popular draw to the Jansen Art Center are their ceramics workshops, including a six-week Kurinuki class where students will learn the traditional Japanese form of handbuilding, a process where solid blocks of clay are hollowed out to obtain interior space. A perfect workshop for students who love texture, clay, and raw natural forms.
In a youth painting class offered to students ages 10 to 15, Bioluminescent Underwater Life, students will create an acrylic painting using various colors and glow in the dark paint while learning and discussing underwater sealife. Other youth program classes include Creative Clay, It’s Showtime, Keyboard Game for Preschoolers and more.
Lindsey Gerhard, Arts Director at the J, said “I’m amazed at all of the things a person can learn at the Jansen Art Center. From intro classes to deep technical dives, private music lessons to group performances, there is a place for you at the J no matter where you are on your artistic path or how developed your skills are.”
The Jansen Art Center will also be hosting an array performances from Bellingham Celtic music duo Schmid & Guest, local Bellingham acoustic Irish band Gallowglass and Noel Ensemble for Christmas festivities. Karen Visser, Music Studio and Performance Coordinator said, “I am so thrilled that we are finally seeing live music back in our community and our world! After a long pause, having performers and audiences once again reunited in our beautiful Chamber Hall makes all of us very happy.” Tickets are available on the J’s website for all performances.
In addition to performances and art workshops, the J will be displaying two solo artists' work in the Fall Solo Exhibits, Antonio Gonzalez and Susan Bennerstrom. Antonio Gonzalez is an artist with Chicano and American background and his work is greatly influenced by the people and agricultural area of Lower Yakima Valley and his connection to his culture and heritage. His artwork consists of bright bold paintings depicting farm workers, the harvest, cultural and iconic images. Susan Bennerstrom has had a passion for the exploration and depiction of light since the early 1980s and uses light and shadows in her paintings to carry the emotional weight and imply the narrative.
Along with the Solo Exhibits, the third solo show in the Chamber Gallery will be a Showcase Exhibit from the Whatcom Artists Studio Tour, a county-wide event where artists open up their home studios for tours to the public. Each year the J has a selection of the work on display as a part of the full tour. And last but not least, the Fall Juried Exhibit will be on display open to the public featuring work from multiple artists in Whatcom County and the surrounding region.
The Jansen Art Center is excited to fully open their doors and connect with the community again through the various exciting programs they have to offer in the fall. Lindsey Gerhard said, “From the start of COVID, our staff and board has been fully committed to making decisions and putting protocols in place that keep our community safe. After a year without in-person programming, we’re so happy to be able to swing open the doors to our studios again and welcome in a full lineup of over 75 Fall programs. We’re confident the art center will continue to be a safe, welcoming place for folks this fall.”
To register for fall workshops or buy tickets for performances, simply visit the Jansen Art Center website or call (360) 354-3600.
