2025 Monthly Guild Meeting Special Programs
February
Tattoo Artist and Painter, Vesper Rothberg showed their enormous bird paintings inspired by Mozart’s Requiem. We were inspired by Vesper’s commitment to the honoring the individuality of each bird they paint. Vesper also leads free community bird-watching outings. Find out more at www.vesperrothberg.com
March
Kelly Hart, Executive Director of Allied Arts of Whatcom County, talked about various programs they offer including activities, outreach, education, advocacy, volunteering, internships and their gallery and thrift store. Their website is www.alliedarts.org WAG is an annual member of Allied Arts, and together we collaborate as community arts organizations. “It’s not competition, it’s representation.”
April
Forrest Chel presented about their hand-created pyrography art, ranging in size from large pieces of live edge wood, to ornamental bolo ties and pronoun pins. Their intricately drawn and designs wood-burned exclusively by hand, draw inspiration from pacific northwest nature, animals, and poetry. Find out more at www.forrestchelart.com.
May
Lori and Swil Kanim Marshall, a creative and musical duo thrilled us with a violin performance, story and the art of wrapping rocks. Find out more about Swil Kanim’s music and the Art of Honor at https://www.swilkanim.com/ Follow Lori’s spiritual practice and gorgeous leather-wrapped designs at www.zenwrockz.com
June
Art Challenge: “Reflections”
Each Whatcom Art Guild member was invited to enter a piece that embodied ‘reflections’ in some way… You can see the winners of the challenge here.
July
Chris Moench presented on his Axis of Hope Prayer Wheels, made of ceramics and carved and painted before firing. His work explores the themes of hope and renewal. Inspired by remembering the boys whose lives were taken during the gas pipeline explosion in Bellingham in 1999, Chris found a way to turn grief into art. 2000 of his pieces have now found homes worldwide. Learn more at www.axisofhope.net
August
John Trax and Dana Hayden told the Woodworker’s Relationship with Wood. John shared how he chooses the wood for his compressed cutting boards. Dana showed how he turns intricate bowls. Follow the artists’ journeys at https://www.zigzagmtart.com and https://www.whatcomartmarket.org/project/dana-hayden
September
Art Challenge “Fibonacci Sequence” – The pattern frequently appears in nature, most notably in spirals, and is sometimes called “the Golden Ratio.” Each Whatcom Art Guild member was invited to contribute a piece that embodied this theme. You can see the winners of the challenge here.
October
Holly Zwolinski shared her incredible astrophotography shots of the milkyway and northern lights in Whatcom County. She showed us her underwater camera and her amazing half-in-half-out of the water photos, in all seasons! Follow her work: www.hollyzphotography.com
November
Meet Carol M. Hansen, the artist behind Broken For You, who turns regular eggshells into beautiful gouache mosaics! Her art takes hours to make and is a treat for the eyes, exploring the beauty of nature and human expression. Three words come to mind …. color, texture and presentation. Explore Carol’s art journey at www.brokenforyou.shop
