Program areas at BIMA
Curatorial: at the core of Bima's mission is shining a light on the talented and diverse artists of the puget sound region and beyond. 2022 was a milestone year for the Museum. All of our major exhibitions set new standards for both Bima and the role of a smaller, community based Art Museum. Tia blassingame & ellen shetfield explored racial, environmental and lgbtqia+ themes. 'americans incarcerated: a family's story of social injustice', an exhibition by jan & chris hopkins in memory of the 80th anniversary of the signing of executive order 9066 to artfully provide a way for people to begin to understand this dark chapter. The family of legendary artist george tsutakawa honored Bima with their request to be the first major exhibition in 30 years, the 'language of nature' exhibition. Ginny ruffner's retrospective exhibition 'what if?' Dazzled guests with her playful and powerful glasswork mastery, conceptual installations and complex technological engineering that were disguised as colorful and interactive marvels! Bima spotlights artists in various stages of their career and welcomed a new artist to the scene, blake blanco's exhibition 'we all dream'. Eva funderburgh exhibition of ceramic beasts took guests to another dimension! Bima was also entrusted by local ceramic and textile artist elizabeth donnally davidson, an artist whose practice goes back several decades, to be the first place to ever show her work! The sherry grover gallery, Bima's jewel box room dedicated year-round to artist's books, continued to elevate the form and educate guests about the powerful Art form. Whether highlighting a simple photocopied and folded piece of paper in the group exhibition 'a to zine or displaying the intricate and detailed work of a book artist like colette fu, donald glaister or alisa banks, Bima has become a special place where people discover this amazing Art form for the first time.
Other events: with Bima's doors wide open, Bima's staff, volunteers, patrons, artists and all guests attended community and Art events to celebrate the pacific northwest's amazing artists!
Cultural & educational programs: Bima's educational and cultural programs continued to support the community, including producing and presenting more than 50 different forms of program outreach. The Museum spotlighted the works of more than 100 other artists of multiple genres through digital programs, films, concerts, poetry, lectures, Art kit delivery, and humanities programs, both at the Museum and virtually. This included off-site, digital and live programs from the untold stories and within/earshot jazz festival to a community celebration of martin luther king jr day and dia de los muertos, all aimed at keeping people connected to Art. Bima placed a special emphasis on reaching vulnerable populations and those experiencing challenges to arts engagement, including those facing isolation, financial hardship, and health/mobility challenges, as well as maintaining its mission to showcase and amplify diverse voices and Art forms.