Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Lightcatcher's Family Interactive Gallery

by Theresa Carpine11/12/2009 10:16:30 AM

Outside the Lightcatcher at night.
Photo by Tim Bies
Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects

Since the Whatcom Children’s Museum at the George S. Graham Building closed its doors last winter, local families have missed the great opportunities for art exploration and learning that the facility provided in our community. At the grand opening of the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher on Saturday, November 14, 2009, Bellingham families will finally get the chance to see the new children’s museum facility and discover that this state-of-the-art gallery was worth a yearlong wait.

FeatherBall by Anthony A. Howe, with mural by D.W. Miller in background.
Photo by Theresa Carpine

Known as the Family Interactive Gallery (FIG), the 3,000 square foot space feels like a natural yet playful extension of the high-art environment found at the new Museum. Each element at the FIG states an intention of balance: the balance of play with education, the balance of art with science, and the balance of broad appeal with age-appropriate activities.

Larry Ackerley, a museum industry professional and co-founder of LA CAB, developed and designed the FIG with museum educators, fabricators from Pacific Studio, and Smith & Vallee Woodworks. Inspired by the concept of trees, Ackerley wanted to fill the two-story gallery space with sculptures to expand the viewpoint of children upward.

In the gallery, art activities and pieces from the Museum’s permanent art collection are on display amidst curved walls, benches, and other interactive components made of wood. Crafted by Wesley Smith and Andrew Vallee, who worked on the Whatcom Museum’s Tree Project exhibit in 2002, the alder wood used throughout the gallery was grown and milled in Whatcom County.

3D Sculpture Activity Zone.
Photo by Theresa Carpine

Furthering the tree concept and bringing the eyes of children to the ceiling, an impressive mural by Bellingham artist D.W. Miller fills a full wall of the gallery; the green, abstract painting emphasizes the Northwest atmosphere that surrounds us in Bellingham, bringing nature inside the FIG.

Activities at the new facility include role-playing, kinetic movement, 3D sculpture, experimentation with light and color, stop-motion animation, and story-making. Although inspired by processes in the creation of art, subjects such as local history and natural science are also inherent lessons at each activity zone.

Exploring the work-in-progress Rain Hut.
Photo by Theresa Carpine

With activities spanning such diverse topics, the FIG appeals to a broad range of ages and interest levels. In the center of the gallery, an enclosed space gives crawlers and toddlers a chance to explore art in a safe environment, protected from the more rambunctious activities of older children. As the activity areas are quite spacious, parents can explore art alongside their children, and the clear divisions between each zone create opportunities for individualized learning experiences.

In conjunction with the Whatcom Museum’s grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology for the Lightcatcher’s green roof, the FIG includes a Rain Hut that incorporates the sounds of nature and weather with educational information about what happens to storm water runoff. During a visit to the restrooms, kids can even learn about the rain harvesting cisterns at the Lightcatcher that save the Museum 200,000 gallons of water each year.

Larry Ackerley demonstrates the Stop-Motion Animation Diorama.
Photo by Theresa Carpine

At the FIG, Museum staff will periodically bring an “ARTCART” out into the gallery for further exploration of art through spontaneous activities. A classroom is attached to the gallery for structured, large group learning as well; as in the past, this Activity Room will be available for Birthday Party rentals.

Executive Director Patricia Leach hopes that the new facility will allow the Museum to expand school programs with more integrated curriculums. Once Lightcatcher exhibitions and programs are up and running, the Whatcom Museum will begin a yearlong process to evaluate and plan future exhibits and programs at all three Museum facilities.

The Lightcatcher is located at the corner of Grand Avenue and Flora Street in Bellingham, Washington. Beginning November 14, 2009, regular Whatcom Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 PM. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students/seniors/military, $4.50 for children 5 and under, and free for Museum members. For more information, please call (360) 778-8930.

A Note About the Author: Theresa Carpine

Theresa Carpine graduated from WWU in 2006 with a BA in English Literature. She enjoys yoga, listening to music, riding her bike in downtown Bellingham, and babysitting really cute kids.