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. Bima kicked off our anniversary celebrations with its largest show of commissioned work ever: indigenous strength & wellness, a group exhibition of works by more than twenty indigenous artists of the salish sea region. From kate ahvakana's welcome poles to preston singletary's glowing glass, the artwork celebrated positive cultural identities as well as the struggles of social, economic, and racial inequities, including generational trauma and its lasting effects. The exhibition fortified our strong relationships with local tribes and with partners and supporters including the suquamish tribe, tulalip tribe, wsu ireach program partnerships for native health, national endowment for the arts (nea), and the steven charles memorial exhibition fund. Bima spotlight was Bima's first-ever juried exhibition. Six jurors and staff reviewed over 3,000 artworks from 600+ regional artists, forging new relationships with artists and expanding the Museum's network and reputation. The resulting salon-style show exhibited the work of 150 diverse artists. Compelling themes emerged amongst diverse media, as emerging artists hung beside established ones. Bima spotlight allowed guests to really witness the river of extraordinary artistic talent that runs through this region, shining a light on the passion, excellence, and legacy of the artists while telling a shared story about our community at this moment. Bima's artists' books program also achieved new heights in 2023, anchored by the cynthia lovelace sears artists' books collection. Bima featured renowned artist book creator and master printmaker karen kunc with a solo artist's book exhibition. Pop-up book artist colette fu participated in the first-ever Bima artist-in-residence. Inspired by the lam tsuen wishing tree shrine in hong kong, fu constructed an eight-foot-tall carousel book that unfolds into a wishing tree. At Bima, we invited visitors to write their wishes on handmade paper oranges and toss them up into the wishing tree's branches. Bima's artist's books program also broke new ground with its innovative film series artists' books unshelved, with its collaboration with women's studio workshop (wsw) on an artist residency for indigenous artist's book artists, and by joining such esteemed institutions as the library of congress, scripps college, and yale university as an official wsw repository for their collection.
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.