Arts Commission

Arts Commission — August 4, 2026

A regular meeting of the Bellingham Arts Commission was held in the Mayor's Boardroom and via Teams, with five of seven members present (Adonia Cairns and Sùsanna à'Kinlochaline were absent). The meeting covered a new mural proposal, a library art procurement decision, and a public art conservation update.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the July 2026 meeting were approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Chaloupka, seconded by Commissioner Freytag.

Vote: All ayes.

Samish Way & Mill Ave Retaining Wall Mural Proposal

Staff planner Taylor Littrell introduced a proposal developed through a partnership with Western Washington University. The project targets a retaining wall at Samish Way and Mill Avenue, where the goal is to reduce graffiti tagging through an art installation — a strategy supported by Public Works. The project is still in the concept development stage, and staff sought direction from the Commission before moving to final design.

WWU Design Professor Paula Airth and recent WWU graduate Bella Doughty, the artist, presented three concept options, all inspired by the natural environment of nearby Lake Padden. Commission discussion touched on several design considerations: the "Mother of Bellingham" concept was noted as particularly distinctive because it connects to an existing mural further down the street, and commissioners suggested that theme could extend across the upper wall levels to create visual continuity. They recommended that the upper wall sections be more pedestrian-scale in detail, while the larger lower surface could carry bolder, more readable imagery suited to passing vehicle traffic. A suggestion was made to consider having a figure oriented toward the lake for better spatial logic. Commissioners also floated the idea of combining elements from the third concept into the middle design to improve legibility and color impact.

No formal vote was taken — this was a direction-setting discussion. Staff will incorporate the Commission's feedback into the final design before returning for approval.

Bellingham Central Library Percent for Art — Selection Committee Recommendation

Senior Planner Darby Galligan reported on the selection committee's recent meeting for the Bellingham Central Library remodel's Percent for Art project. The committee — which included two art commissioners (Blake Hudson and Sùsanna à'Kinlochaline), a student representative, and city staff from the Library and Public Works — reviewed the existing artist roster but concluded it did not contain enough artists with relevant interior artwork experience for this particular project. As a result, staff recommended issuing a public Call for Art (via a Request for Qualifications, or RFQ) rather than drawing from the roster. The goal is to have an artist under contract by the end of 2026 to remain aligned with the library remodel schedule.

The Commission provided the following guidance for shaping the RFQ:

Preference (but not a requirement) should be given to artists with experience working with youth, in library settings, or with themes related to literature. The RFQ should make clear that the space is primarily for children. The artist will need to be willing to collaborate with the remodel's design team and be responsive to existing design elements such as lighting and seating — the remodel is at 100% design, but art placement sites remain as placeholders. The RFQ should include a checklist of opportunity sites where applicants can self-select areas of interest, with an open-ended "other" option. Full proposals are not expected at this stage — past work demonstrating alignment with the project theme is sufficient. Commissioners urged caution about AI-generated concepts. Staff and commissioners will help distribute the RFQ directly to artists experienced in this type of work, and it will also be posted on social media. The project budget may favor local or regional artists in practice, though it will not be a formal requirement.

No formal vote was taken; this was directional guidance to staff for drafting the RFQ.

Public Art Collection Conservation Update

Taylor Littrell updated the Commission on ongoing efforts to catalog the city's public art collection and prioritize conservation needs, drawing on past condition reports, repair requests, and recent site visits. Littrell shared findings from a recent downtown artwork tour that identified priority pieces needing conservation attention. Commissioners expressed appreciation for the work and endorsed staff's prioritization recommendations. Staff will move forward with establishing contracts for conservation work and will present the full prioritization rubric and collection inventory at a future meeting.

Public Comment

No public comment was received.

For the Good of the Order and Announcements

Several noteworthy updates were shared:

The meeting adjourned at 6:48 PM.

Key Takeaways