Angela on Art
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA)
I live on the downtown Seattle waterfront, a few blocks from the Seattle Ferry Terminal, and I love taking half hour excursions across Elliott Bay to Bainbridge Island. On the boat, I grab a coffee or a glass of wine, settle into a comfy booth, and watch the scenery go by. Once on the other side, it’s a five minute walk to the offerings of downtown Winslow. One of the first places you will come across is the art museum.
This museum has the best exhibits, it’s not too huge, and it’s free (excluding some special events). It’s open 10-5 daily. I visited with my mom last week, and they had three really great exhibits.
George and David Lewis: Deeply Rooted is a wonderful retrospective of these local landscape artists
I didn’t know of them before, but my garden-loving mother did. They are long time Bainbridge Island residents. By landscape artists, I mean they make art for the landscapes, frequently with cement. Their creations are bold but fit in with the living plants. I especially love the fountains that softly drip from plants atop a pedestal, rather than typical fountains that spill and splash.
Rain Tree by George and David Lewis, circa 1990, dyed concrete | BIMA
Tuscan Column by George and David Lewis, circa 1980, painted concrete | BIMA
Crafting Futures: Emerging Artists Invitational is another current exhibit. These are some pieces that stood out to me:
Teascape by Kathy Ross, cut and soldered tin, tin doll dishes | BIMA
Cat Woman, Kathy Ross, tin and mixed media | BIMA
Head #1 by Jacob Foran, 2023, ceramic | BIMA
Guard by George Rodriguez, 2015, ceramic with glaze | BIMA
Another exhibit is Featherfolio Encore by Chris Maynard from Olympia, WA. His medium is feathers which he cuts with an exacto knife! There are a few framed pieces and an installation on the walls.
Bird Bird by Chris Maynard, 2024, Heritage turkey feather | BIMA
Swallow Kori by Chris Maynard, 2022, Argus tail support feathers | BIMA
Installation by Chris Maynard | BIMA
I have frequented the BIMA many times, since my mother and my brother’s family live there. The exhibits never disappoint. I usually don’t make a plan to see anything in particular, but I’m always glad I checked it out.
Taking the ferry is something that we take for granted when we live in the Pacific Northwest, but unless we have a second home on an island, we can go long periods without riding one. And if you don’t own a boat (some of us don’t!) then it’s a fun way to get on the water. When I have friends and family in town visiting, I love to show off our beautiful bay. Before I moved two years ago, I had never taken the water taxi to West Seattle, and now it’s one of my favorite half-day activities. It’s a walk or bike-on ferry and takes about 10-15 minutes to get across. On the other side is Marination, an indoor/outdoor Hawaiian restaurant where you can enjoy a yummy meal and/or cocktail. You can also take a walk along the coastline to Alki Beach.
Upcoming exhibits at BIMA include Indigenous Craft this Summer and Pratt Fine Arts Center @ 50 this Fall, 2026.