Three New Exhibitions at Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, Washington
Recently, the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, Washington opened three new exhibitions: “Murmuration,” “Hard Edge/Soft Ground,” and “Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press.” These three exhibitions are distinct in content, style, and material, but they are unified in the focus on each artist’s unique vision. What is so striking to this writer is the emphasis on process and collaboration in these three exhibits. For example, “Murmuration” features the work of woodcarver Andrew Vallee who transforms his carvings into bronze and glass, while “Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press” similarly celebrates the collaborative nature of printmaking. In all, these three exhibits offer a wide range of styles that are sure to delight curious viewers.
“Hard Edge/Soft Ground” is the first of a series of exhibitions titled “From the Vault” that features artwork from the museum’s permanent collection. The premise of the exhibition is simple: it is a survey of abstract art from the 1950s to 2017. But providing an overview of modern and contemporary abstraction is no easy task. The exhibition includes many forms of abstraction and non-representational art, from Kenneth Callahan to Mary Henry. Exhibiting Northwest School artists alongside Hard-edge abstraction may initially feel jarring, but this is precisely where thoughtful curation and exhibit design matter most. Not everyone experiences the exhibition in the exact same way, but my journey through the exhibition began with the soft edge of Mark Tobey’s monotype and ended with Mary Henry’s precise painting, “Linear Series #5,” an excellent example of the Op Art movement. In between these two experiences were the familiar sights of an Alden Mason Burpee series painting titled “Yellow Bingo,” two screenprints by Doris Totten Chase, and a large painting by Michael Dailey. In summary, the exhibition offers a concise survey of abstract art from the museum’s collection. It pairs nicely with the neighboring exhibit, “Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press.”
If you are unfamiliar with the process of a press or print studio, here is a very concise summary. Print studios consist of a team of expert printmakers who work with invited artists, who often focus on other art mediums, to create a series of limited-edition prints at the studio. The resulting works are then printed in limited quantities for purchase. Paulson Fontaine Press produces intaglio prints and has worked with over fifty artists since their first collaboration and publication in 1997. I visited Paulson Fontaine Press in 2022 and was able to observe their process in person. It was technical, precise, and encourages the artist to express their artistic vision through the medium. The results of facilitating this process successfully are on display in “Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press.”
Working with underrepresented artists is central to the work of Pam Paulson and Rhea Fontaine. The incredible work of this focus can be seen in this national traveling exhibition. At the Whatcom Museum, the curatorial team decided to include original works by the artists to illustrate how the prints fit in with the artist’s large body of work. One beautiful example is a quilt by the Gee’s Bend quilters alongside prints created at Paulson Fontaine Press. The detail accomplished in these prints is incredible and hard to describe in words. I was drawn to “Passing By” by Mary Lee Bendolph, a red and white color soft-ground etching with aquatint, spit bite aquatint, and chine collé. The print looks like a translucent quilt laid on a white background, almost as if the quilt has become thin through years of use. The exhibition is filled with highlights, but I was also drawn to Lonnie Holley’s unique artwork example on loan from the artist and prints created at Paulson Fontaine Press. “Steppin Through the Night” by Woody De Othello was also exceptional with the raking light shining across the scene of household objects.
On your way to and from these exhibitions, viewers also encounter work by local woodcarver Andrew Vallee installed in the foyer outside the gallery. The exhibition includes a wall installation of a murmuration of birds and two large sculptures of birds on the floor. These works act as a guide to lead visitors into the gallery spaces and encourage you to pause for longer observations. It was particularly delightful to watch children encounter these creatures with their combination of smooth and wood-grain textures.
Chloé Dye Sherpe
Chloé Dye Sherpe is an art professional and curator based in Washington State.
Whatcom Museum, located at 121 Prospect Street in Bellingham, Washington is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. “Murmuration” is on view through January 27, 2027; “Hard Edge/Soft Ground” is up through September 26; and “Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press” is on display through June 28. For more information, visit www.whatcommuseum.org.
