Current Exhibitions

Tom Uttech; Nin Babamenindimin, 2002-03-2017; Oil on linen, 33 x 36.75 in. framed. Collection of the Tucson Museum of Art, Gift of the Contemporary Art Society, 2009.5.1.

September 8, 2018 – January 6, 2019; Lightcatcher

Curated by Barbara Matilsky, Curator of Art

Endangered Species: Artists on the Front Line of Biodiversity presents 80 works of art in all media, from rare books to cutting-edge video, that span the 19th through 21st centuries. It highlights artists who celebrate biodiversity’s exquisite complexity, interpret natural and human-induced extinctions of plants and animals, and focus on endangered species from diverse ecosystems. The exhibition explores art’s historic role in raising public awareness about the human activities that threaten habitats.

Endangered Species highlights an international group of 52 artists who celebrate biodiversity’s beauty, interpret natural and human-induced extinctions of plants and animals, and focus on species from diverse ecosystems under stress. It also includes the work of artists who spotlight the human activities that threaten biodiversity alongside projects that revitalize habitats and reconnect people to the rich tapestry of life.  Read more →

September 1 – 30, 2018; Old City Hall

This showcase highlights a variety of artwork from artists participating in the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour this coming October, and displays a wide range of artistic mediums. The Whatcom Artist Studio Tour takes place October 6–7 and 13–14, 2018, and offers the public an opportunity to visit artists’ working studios and gain insight into the creative process, work-life, and the work environment of local artists. The self-guided tour also provides an opportunity for people to purchase art directly from artists. Visit www.studiotour.net for more information about this year’s Studio Tour.

The John M. Edson Hall of Birds includes an example of what amateur ornithologist Edson’s study would have looked like in the 1930s and ’40s.

Opened March 16, 2017; Ongoing; Old City Hall

This new exhibit in Old City Hall provides a glimpse into the local history and culture of the Victorian Era, when taxidermy flourished and mounted animals often decorated interior spaces. For the Museum, this collection of birds is also important to the building’s history. If it hadn’t been for John M. Edson, Old City Hall might not be standing here today. While city officials were considering demolishing it, Edson saw an opportunity to not only save the building, but also to create a public museum within its walls. He dreamed of having a permanent home for his bird specimen collection, and the museum became the perfect showcase.

Now, more than 75 years later, the Whatcom Museum has taking this important collection and reinterpreted it as an educational experience. Designed in collaboration with the North Cascades Audubon Society, the new exhibit provides opportunities to learn about bird migration, conservation success stories, birds in peril, and the importance of studying bird specimens today. Alongside the interpretive panels and the birds themselves, the Hall of Birds provides a variety of interactive opportunities, including video clips of birds in our local habitats, audio files of Puget Sound-area bird calls, and hands-on activities for children. We look forward to sharing this important collection with visitors for years to come.