Strategic planning process aims to steer Jansen Art Center into deeper sense of community. 

Jansen Art Center — at 321 Front Street in Lynden — has begun a strategic planning process that, in part, hopes to steer the hub to better represent the changing community. 

The Jansen’s board seeks to welcome the cultural richness of North Whatcom, said Cluny Madison — who has been pushing for a deeper sense of community since she became executive director in 2023 — through school and community partnerships, culturally inclusive programming, greater visibility as civic events and seasonal celebrations. 

The board anticipates fleshing out specifics by July, Madison said. 

Lynden, like many communities, is becoming more racially diverse.

In the 2000 U.S. Census, 93% of Lynden residents described themselves as white. By 2020, that percentage was down to 80% as the city’s population surged from 9,500 to 16,000. Among nonwhites, just 0.27% of Lynden residents were Black or African-American in 2000. In 2020, nearly 1% of residents — still fewer than 200 people — fit that category. Most of the growth in nonwhite residents was among those identifying as Hispanic or Latino.

Between 2010 and 2020, Lynden also saw modest increases in the percentage of residents identifying as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, as well as those who are Hispanic or Latino. There were slight decreases in the number of Asian and Native American populations, according to the data.

Every day, Madison said, instructors witness firsthand what research confirms, that access to the arts enriches lives through academic growth, improved well-being and stronger community connections.

She said they’re eager to listen and learn from tribal neighbors about how creative resources might support their goals and priorities. And as school arts programs face budget challenges, she seeks to help local students discover their creative voices.

“The arts bring people together, transcending boundaries and creating connections when words fall short. We are privileged to provide a place where these moments can happen,” she said. “This is why we do what we do.”

The J

Wandering the galleries and studios of the art center, dubbed  “The J,”  there’s activity everywhere —  jewelry studio manager and instructor Judi Gauthier creates a delicate piece as a nearby student torches her creation, and Sheri Ward, textile studio committee member, works on a rag rug using a vintage loom that’s open to anyone who wants to contribute their expertise. 

“Our beautifully restored historic building houses world-class studios and offers a full spectrum of artistic experiences — ceramics, painting, jewelry, textiles, music, exhibitions, and performances — all under one roof,” Madison said.

Programs manager Rachel Adams said that The J is a place that brings artists from all over the world to participate in its mission and engage in the arts.

Sue Sharpe, the Jansen Art Center’s board director, was administrator for the foundation during the creation of the art center from 2010 to its opening.

She joined the board because of her past involvement in its development and the belief in its future.

“The art center is a lasting gift to this community and the region,” she said. “It is an accessible resource to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.” 

Eleanor and Henry Jansen, lifelong residents of Whatcom County, were active in supporting community civic and charitable organizations, and because they wanted to continue their support after they died, they created the Eleanor and Henry Jansen Foundation in 1995 to provide assistance to these activities. 

Eleanor died in 1992, and Henry died in 2002.

The couple instilled in their children the importance of giving back, and their daughter Heidi Jansen Doornenbal had a vision of building an arts community with the necessary resources to develop skills and celebrate multiple disciplines and mediums.

One day, driving downtown on Front Street, Doornenbal passed the old City Hall that was built in 1929, which was now dilapidated and boarded up with a “For Sale” sign in the window. She thought, “That would be a great place for an art center.” 

After a visioning committee was formed and artists were contacted, a volunteer founding board of directors was formed to develop the mission and goals of the Jansen Art Center.

On June 6, 2011, the Lynden City Council voted unanimously to transfer ownership of the building to the foundation.

After much renovation, the Jansen Art Center celebrated its opening on August 4, 2012.

As the founder, Doornenbal became involved out of her belief that arts are important to a community, coupled with her feeling that the arts were not valued to the same degree as, for instance, sports and churches. 

Programs and people 

Madison was drawn to The J because of its blend of community spirit, artistic excellence and what she said was untapped potential.

“It was clear that the organization had a strong foundation and a vital role to play in the community’s cultural life.” “I saw an opportunity to support that work by helping deepen community engagement, strengthen financial sustainability and guide the organization toward even greater impact. The J represents the best of what arts organizations can be: welcoming, vibrant and deeply connected to the people we serve.”

Judi Gauthier takes pride in helping develop the jewelry studio downstairs in The J when it first opened in 2012. 

Doornenbal approached her about developing a jewelry studio in the basement area, and Gauthier was thrilled to be a part of the new, innovative project in Lynden.

The J has a myriad of small spaces that have housed city council chambers, the library, the water department, the police judge’s office, the fire hall, the jail and a fireproof vault where the city records were stored. 

Angela Wright, studio lead for the paint and fine arts studio at The J, has been teaching painting classes there for almost three years, working primarily in watercolor and gouache. 

When she happened to visit The J, she saw all that the center had to offer and immediately wanted to get involved.

“After COVID,” she said, “I decided to realign my life doing things that truly mattered to me. I saw an avenue where I could teach others what I had taught myself and share my passion.”

To Wright, the importance of The J to Whatcom County and its surrounding areas is much more than just a place to exhibit or take a class.

“It’s a community, a place for creatives to gather and share ideas, a place of belonging,” she said.

She also finds the history of the building captivating, that there are still jail cells on site, for example. 

“Sometimes it’s hard to picture the building as anything but the creative hub it is today,” she added.

Karen Visser, music studio and performance coordinator at The J, has taught the orchestra program at Lynden Christian Schools for 19 years and has taught private violin lessons for over 40 years. She has also played in the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra since it first started in 1976. 

As with Gauthier, Visser has been part of The J since it opened in 2012. One of her favorite things about The J is the opportunities it provides for live music and performances in the piano lounge and in the chamber hall that brings musicians and audiences together to engage in an intimate setting.

Not only can audiences hear talented local and regional performers, but they are surrounded by artwork, which rotates quarterly.

Leah Meleski, who works with Judi Gauthier as the jewelry studio manager and teaches beginning and intermediate jewelry classes, said The J seemed small, unnoticed and underappreciated when she started there about seven years ago, but over time it has taken off and grown into a very special place with state-of-the-art studios.

Doornenbal agrees. “We’ve learned what we’re good at, what we’re not good at, and have built a solid group of artists, staff and board to lead us into the future,” she said.

— By Margaret Bikman

Also read in Salish Current:

• “Allied Arts is on the move,” Dec. 16, 2024
• “Quilts and fiber arts bring joy, fun, a way to learn,” Aug. 28, 2024
• “Barrier-breaking art showcased at Western Gallery,” Nov. 6, 2023
• “Keeper of archival treasures has ‘the coolest job’,” Oct. 16, 2023
• “Whatcom Museum opens heritage exhibits to Indigenous people,” Feb. 24, 2020

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