Hello!
The Only Constant?
Hello and welcome.
If this is your first newsletter from us, thanks for joining! If not, thanks for sticking with us. This newsletter is a source for PNW artists as well as art collectors for art news around the PNW from which you can mine all kinds of valuable opportunities for collecting, selling, or viewing great art.
As I am a new employee and head social media coordinator of The Lucky Dumpster, I will always include some new information about what’s going on in The Dumpster as well as news from around the PNW. I will also close out every newsletter with artist opportunities.
THE LUCKY DUMPSTER
It’s been a busy couple months at The Dumpster. Aaron Murray dropped off a new load of great clay sculptures, we are up to our elbows in upcycled art by Dean Christensen, and we have several new artists, some of whose work you can see above. The truly wonderful thing about The Dumpster, though, are the conversations that take place around the discoveries that happen hourly in the shop. So many celebratory conversations about craft, art, and the heart that artists put into the work they make. It’s truly an inspiring space in which to work because so many of the artists who bring their work in to the shop put their whole heart into what they’re making. It’s a magical space for makers and collectors alike. It’s been around for over 19 years in its present location, and will most likely be around for at least that many more. We are also working on how to activate the space next door, so stay tuned for news on that.
Regional Art Shows
If you haven’t seen Ai Weiwei at the Seattle Art Museum, GO. He has made incredibly important work over the last 4 decades and he is still alive. I would tell you more, but I think the journey of getting to know his work should be yours to take.
Kat Houseman and Evelyn Woods are showing at Smith and Vallee starting in May. Check it out, both are great artists.
Not the Whole Picture is showing at the Whatcom Museum in the Lightcatcher building through the end of July. It’s a pretty great show.
There is an “immersive art experience” happening in downtown Bellingham in some of the empty store fronts. The first opening is May 2nd, though there is not a ton of other information on this. From what I’ve gleaned, this experience will be created by Ron Smith, or, OctoEyes, and from the look of his work, we might be in for a gigantic lit up jelly fish experience. I might go and do a review of the show next week, and I might not. I’m not a huge fan of The Paper Whale or the limited way in which they have included people in their endeavors in Bellingham. But that shouldn’t keep you from checking it out.
Psychedelic rock posters are on display at The Portland Art Museum. I’m a fan and I can’t wait to go. That’s through June 15.
I will pick 5-10 shows each week to tell you about. If you have/know of a show you would like to see in the newsletter, let me know. I don’t charge and it will reach a small but engaged audience to which you might not have access.
On Showing Your Work.
As an artist of a certain age, I can tell you from experience that the one thing that gets in the way of most artists getting their work out into the world is themselves. It’s heartbreaking, really, but the reality is that many artists are so afraid of rejection that they take themselves out of the running by simply not trying.
The reality is that it’s never been easier to show your work, and it’s never been easier to get into shows and galleries. It’s not like we need professional photographers, hundreds of slides of our work, and hard copies of artist’s packets ready to send out on our studio shelves when we hear of a show. No. We are able to take our own images, scan the internet for artist opportunities, and keep updated versions of our bios, artist statements, and most recent work all on our computers!
The advice that I give to artists is to keep these updated artist packets handy, and sign up for a few services that will send you opportunities to your inbox. This alone isn’t enough, it is an oversimplification, I know. But, it’s a good first step. The more important work is in knowing where your work belongs. Approaching art markets with work that is probably more appropriate for galleries might end up wasting a lot of time, and trying to get a solo show before you have been in several group shows might also be a challenge. But, that’s the work we do as artists, we are always in a state of getting to know ourselves. In the spirit of helpfulness, here is a list of ways you can get your work out into the world:
Social media
Group shows
Pop-up markets in local businesses/rentable spaces
Online/magazine articles
Holiday (any holiday) markets
Café shows
Residencies
Gallery representation
Joining art co-ops, teaching studios, or community centers where art making is always happening
There are just so many ways to get your art into the world, so if you’re hoping to do that, pick one and do it. Get ready for rejection, and never let success go to your head. Remember that the work is what’s important, and as long as you’re happy making what you’re making, you’re already winning.
OPPORTUNITIES
The Lucky Dumpster is always taking in new artists, and the only requirement is that you come into the shop and ask. We will try anything within the space, so don’t be shy, come in and ask!
The Looking Glass Gallery in the window of Eyes on Fremont in Bellingham is looking for queer/BIPOC 3-D artists to show small scale work in June and September of 2025. The deadline is the last day of April. Send your artist packet to young.spike@gmail.com. We will let people know by the end of the first week of May.
Grants for Washington State Artist Projects Application opens May 16th, deadline, June 23rd
Art Project Grant (WA state) Deadline, May 12
Downtown Bellingham activation grants will open up again at the end of the summer.
There are still spaces available to rent a portal container village pop-up shop space. A perfect opportunity to get your work out there.
WA Clay arts member show submissions are open until May 2nd.
Sign up here to find national and international art opportunities (Artwork Archive)
Thanks very much for reading, sharing, and supporting us! See you soon.