I really dig this lovely little gallery, located in one of the coolest middle-of-nowhere towns I've…read moreever stumbled into. I've been to a couple of openings here and had a blast each time. It's about an hour and a half drive north of Seattle, into the beautiful pastoral area of the Skagit River Valley, and well worth that drive for a gallery opening or an artist talk. Smith & Vallee put a lot of emphasis on both paintings and sculpture, particularly from regional artists (and the Skagit Valley area happens to be loaded with great artists, presumably attracted to the great landscapes and light angles, and the arts-friendly communal atmosphere of Bow-Edison). A cozy, intimate gallery + talented local artists + a supportive community = really fun and well-attended gallery openings. It can get pretty packed, which might force you to rubberneck a bit in order to see some of the art, but people are generally kind and relaxed. If it's too crowded for your blood, walk around and check out some of the other neato little shops, restaurants or bars in town and then filter back after a bit. "Town," by the way, is more or less a couple of charming little blocks that look as if you're on the set of a movie.

Their collections are very well-curated and showcase regional talent. The gallery is warm and…read moreinviting, not at all stuffy or snooty. The owners are also furniture and cabinetry makers, mostly working with reclaimed & unique slabs of wood. Their work is beyond compare.

Such a cool store in Fairhaven, Bellingham! The local art and pottery scene here is amazing and…read morethis is a great showcase of local talent!

A lot of my dinnerware and literally all my mugs I bought here over the years. Given, I only budget…read moreto buy 1-2 things each trip and I don't break things often. Good Earth normally features similar artists, and you can always contact them to get a piece made or buy something they may have not in the store. The staff is always welcoming and works with you to get what you need.

This little store on James St is very well named. It's full of not just fun art (and art supplies)…read morebut tons of happiness in the form of friendly staff and adorable little surprises (like fairy hideouts) throughout the store. While they have a little of everything, this is not an exhaustive art supply store, nor does it pretend to be. But if you're looking for something fun, creative, and inspiring it's definitely worth popping in. Bonus for their used art supplies area in the back, and super cool junk journaling kits!

If you love art supplies and fairies.. this little shop is a must stop…read more Very cute, has a magical fairy vibe . They have so much to look at, too many to list Mission - find all 15 fairy doors . Great service, very nice and kind

Fun place. Aforementioned live music on thursdays until 7pm-ish. Other evenings they close a little…read moreearlier. In this building, which is a non profit organization supporting the arts; there is art on the walls, a gallery space, dance and music instruction/practice rooms, and a gift shop. Plus, a coffeeshop, which makes a mean chai latte. Nice community gathering spot/ third space.

Are you a meeting planner looking for an absolutely unbelievably unique place in a completely…read moreunexpected location to meet? Check out the Jansen Art Center in Lynden Washington. Margaret and the staff are welcoming, accommodating, efficient and friendly. They will make you feel welcome and at home. Meet upstairs and use the downstairs for social events in the evening. You won't be disappointed!

I am crazy confused. How does this place not get written about by every visitor to Orcas??…read more You've seen the driveway entrance to their place from the main highway. Giant, shiny, reflective, metal spinning imploding-then-exploding undulating spikey flower-like moving sculptures. That may be a clunky way of describing it, but I bet you know what I'm talking about now. Going up [their] long driveway, I felt like I was going to somebody's house for a visit. Yowza, I wish I lived here! Nestled at the end of the road, lies a small house, a small studio for the more delicate sculptures and a large "yard" interspersed with moving metal. I didn't take pictures of the studio's sculptures, and frankly, my iPhone photos really don't capture how magnificent the outside moving sculptures are. These larger pieces adorning the meadow, powered by wind and continued momentum are astounding. Some are free-standing, some attached to trees. All are fascinating to watch--I was nearly hypnotized by some of the more complicated ones. Shiny, shiny. If I had $2K - $10K to spend on these, I totally would. They are stunning. Everybody should have one in their yard. You will love it and tell all your friends about this place after seeing it for yourself! Just gorgeous.

I love Anthony's work. He does large pieces as well as wall pieces. Everytime I visit Orcas Island…read moreI make a special visit to his sculpture garden. HIs large items are in the $3K-8K range (I think) and are quite reasonable for what you are getting.

Every 3rd Friday through summer (and a Holiday Market in December) Downtown Bellingham Partnership…read moresponsors these unique night markets. Commercial street is blocked off, and you are treated to a family- friendly and FREE evening with something for everyone. The market kicks off at 7:00pm with entertainment and ends at 11:00pm with dancing in the streets. The entertainment, vendors and food trucks are different each month so you get to experience varied local artists, musicians, dancers and food. I love the diversity of Bellingham! The bars on the street open their doors and patios, and...instant beer garden with no hassles or special permits. The mood is festive and carefree. Arrive early and take advantage of FREE PARKING at the Parkade, then sprint up the stairs and the market is right there. I loved the entertainment, strolling the vendors, people watching on a beautiful summer evening. You really feel a sense of community on nights like this.

If you've spent any length of time in Bellingham, you've no doubt heard of Jody Bergsma, her…read moretalented family and her iconic photographs. I first encountered her photos at the annual Allied Arts Festival, only later discovering the Bergsma Gallery which, ironically, is located not far from our house. It's a large space, with perfectly lit photos in all sizes - from small to "sofa sized". Walking through here is like walking through the landmarks and beautiful scenes that are the reason people move to this area. And the staff is very friendly, not pushy in the least, and understand if you're just there to browse. Prices are high here for the professionally framed and matted prints, but they also have smaller format prints, postcards, and other more affordable items so pretty much anyone can afford to take some Bergsma home with them.

If I ran an art space, this is what it would look like! A little dark, a little moody, with high…read moreceilings and all sorts of art hanging every which way. This place is super cool! I visited during a recent Art Walk when they even had a great band playing, and some tasty nibbles too. The art when I was there included oil paintings and charcoal. There was also an extensive class schedule (now doesn't that sound like fun). This place is definitely staying on my must-stop list for the next Art Walk.