James R. Williamson

Arthur Foss Assisting Pallada

Bellingham hosts a thriving community of artists, and those who live here, have likely seen the artwork of James R. Williamson gracing the walls of numerous local establishments. His work has generated a unique “style” of Pacific Northwest Art. The name Williamson has become synonymous with images epitomizing PNW landscapes, wildlife, but most notably, maritime subjects. A U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Strategic Air Command, his passion and dedication to this particular line of work has inspired many of his Maritime paintings of military ships, workboats lighthouses etc. His striking and memorable images embody an exceptional degree of clarity and emotion, shaping a new genre of PNW art that has attracted numerous clienteles. Williamson’s originals and limited editions hang in thousands of executive offices, boardrooms, bank lobbies, government buildings, restaurants and private residences throughout the United States and in several other countries. A longtime Bellingham resident and fellow Western Washington Graduate (1978), Williamson is considered an established local figure around town.

When asked how James got started locally he responded, “After my discharge form the Air Force I came to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University. I began painting fishing boats as a way to increase my income. The word got around that I could illustrate any subject. I began getting inquiries from local industry and architects requesting illustrations of their products, machinery, buildings, houses — and I also created illustrations for marketing. Local private art collectors began requesting my work. As James goes on to state, “I am creating artwork that is appreciated by workers and management of various industrial, military and business clients. It has been very encouraging and gives me confidence to continue.”

Lady Washington at Grays Harbor

Now, the magnificent artwork of Williamson is on display right here at Boundary Bay. We invite you to stop by and take a look at the stunning pieces of art that hang on our Bistro walls. Williamson’s one-of-kind Original paintings, Remarque and Giclee editions are available for purchase, but he also decided to throw in a little something special us…each week we’ll raffle off a Limited Edition Print of his painting Lady Washington at Grays Harbor Lighthouse. Each 13”x19” print it signed and numbered by James, and placed in a mailing tube with the artist’s biography, print history and framing coupon. All you have to do is enter your name and phone number and place it in the raffle box in our foyer. Every Monday we will randomly draw a card, and notify the winner. Next time you are in the neighborhood, make sure you stop in and visit this stunning gallery (and don’t forget to enter your name for a change to win your own Williamson print!)

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Williamson Studio (360) 734-5497 – Located in Ferndale, Washington
Displaying original paintings and limited editions of maritime, landscapes and wildlife subjects. Contact the artist for current print information including remarqued prints (with original drawings in the margin), giclee editions (digital prints) and original works in progress.

Pacific Marine Gallery (360) 738-8535  – 700 West Holly Street / Bellingham, WA 98225
Displays orginal paintings by James R. Williamson plus limited editions of Pacific Northwest subjects framed and unframed. Watercolor class taught by Williamson on Wednesday evenings. Call for information.

A Brewer’s Thoughts on Highland Games

Our Assistant Brewery, Anthony Stone, reflects on the Bellingham Highland Games:

I’ve had a long history with Hovander park and the Bellingham Highland Games.  Growing up in Bellingham, Hovander has always been one of my favorite parks in Whatcom County.  While I was a student at Huxley I had the opportunity to work on a project there and meet with the recently deceased Charles Hovander, one to the last children to grow up on the farm.  Also while at Western I took two quarters of Scottish Highland Dance, the second quarter students perform at the Bellingham Highland Games.  (Just a note to current Western guys, I was the only guy in a class with about twenty girls so not a bad class to take!)  Anyways, our class did some Scottish Country Dancing demonstrations at the games which is why I bought my kilts from a vendor there at the games.  That year I also discovered the beer garden and I keep going back every year since.

Anthony: kilt, medal and all!

The last several years I started volunteering with Boundary Bay Brewery to help pour beer in the beer garden, and help co-ordinate those volunteers.  Every year it gets bigger under the guidance of Jared Winchester.  This year we were pouring eight beers, five meads, and three wines.  That is an amazing selection for any event.  Last year I participated in the Novice Heavy Athletics.  (click here to see photos of Anthony in last year’s competition!)I had no idea what I was doing, but Bob Ham and the guys were very helpful and patient.  I say I participated because if you saw these guys, I was definitely not any competition for them.  This year I stayed with my best event, keg tossing and marathon beer pouring.  We went through about 20 kegs of Boundary Bay beer alone this last weekend, that’s 310 gallons or 2480 pints.  Apparently the Highland Games president, Peter Rolstead or “Peter Piper,” was pleased with my performance because he gave me medal before I left.

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the Bellingham Highland Games and is a busy two day event.  You don’t have to be Scottish to have a good time with so much to see and do throughout the weekend.  The two biggest draws I think are the athletics and the pipe bands.  If you’ve never been before, I suggest getting there for the opening ceremonies when all the bands play together.  I’ve had friends go there for the first time and visit a clan tent only to shortly after find themselves proudly carrying their clan banner in the Parade of Clans.  The clan tents are a great resource for people wanting to research their Scottish ancestry.   There are loads of great vendors there, but probably the coolest thing to get at the Highland games is a sword or battle axe.  I don’t know how many guys I’ve seen leave the beer garden after a few Highland Scotch Reserves only to come back an hour later showing off their latest weapon.  I always encourage the uninitiated to try some Haggis and Irn-Bru, Scotland’s distinctive soft drink.  There’s also Highland Dancing, Irish harping, Drumming, Bag Pipes, bands like our local Maggie’s Fury and the ever popular Wicked Tinkers.  You can camp there at the park over night and some people even sleep.

enjoying the fruits of his labor...

Every year I am impressed with the hard work and dedication of the dozens of volunteers who make the Bellingham Highland Games such a great success.  They are a tight knit group that really exemplifies what being part of a clan means.  There is always a need for new volunteers to help.  If you’ve never been to the Highland Games, then please come out next year.  It is always held on the first weekend of July.  If nothing else come have a meat pie and a Highland Reserve in the sun and listen to all those bagpipes…  I wake up the next morning and can still hear them… If you are interested in more information about the Highland Games or want to volunteer, check out their website www.bhgs.org or call/fax 360-647-8500.

Alba Go Bragh!  Scotland Forever!   Cheers, -Anthony

Celebrate Sustainable Foods In Our Beer Garden

Join Western Students for Sustainable Foods in celebrating the bounty of our county!  From 4-10pm on Sunday, May 23rd, we’re having a big party in the beer garden here at Boundary Bay Brewery to say Thank You to Whatcom County Fishers and Farmers.  There’ll be live music, local foods to munch on and lots of opportunities to learn more about sustainable food right here in Bellingham.  This is a family friendly event and it’s free…but donations will be gladly accepted by the Students for Sustainable Foods organization.

The Students for Sustainable Foods have been around for years on Western’s campus, but the club was revitalized this year when they decided to focus on working with dining services to incorporate more local food options on campus and in the dining halls.  They have also focused a lot of their energy on education: hosting several sustainable cooking classes for students on a budget at the CO-OP annex,  showing films advocating sustainable eating, working in the university’s farm/garden,  and planting lots of trees. The Students for Sustainable Foods even launched the Vote With Your Fork campaign when author Michael Pollan came to campus.  A campaign that was intended to educate students about the power of their dollars and how every dollar spent on food is essentially a vote about what kind of food the economy should continue to provide. This week the club is hosting sustainable soups and smoothies week on campus, petitioning for healthier and more sustainable food options. They even built a few bike powered blenders to get the day rolling!  All in all, the aim of the organization is simply to enocourage people to be more educated about their food…no matter what kinds of food you eat.  They don’t care if you’re a vegan or a full blown carnivore…they just want you to make the connection from farm to plate that much shorter and to eat in the most sustainable and ecologically sound way you can.

Which is why they’re hosting this celebration in our Beer Garden!  Join us in celebrating the incredible amounts of local, sustainable foods we are lucky enough to have right here in our own community.  Take part in working for a more localized food economy, which supports our local food system, our community members, and brings more of the student population into Bellingham’s community.  Cheers!