Caregivers Explores Connection, Memory, and the Human Experience of Caring for Others

This September, Allied Arts of Whatcom County presents Caregivers, a powerful exhibition featuring the work of Francie Allen, Margot Clemens, and Ann Chaikin. The exhibition will be on view September 4–26, 2026, with a free Opening Reception on Friday, September 4 from 6:00–9:00 PM at Allied Arts, 1213 Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham.

At some point in our lives, nearly all of us experience what it means to give care, receive care, or witness someone we love navigate change. Caregivers creates space to reflect on those moments—the relationships we hold onto, the memories we preserve, and the quiet acts of compassion that often happen outside of view.

Visitors will encounter the sculptural work of Francie Allen, whose five life-size figures transform Allied Arts’ new multi-use room into an intimate environment for reflection and storytelling. Installed alongside the community stage, Allen’s sculptures create a setting where visual art and personal narrative meet. During the exhibition, Allen will share selections from her memoir, bringing voice and lived experience into conversation with the work.

Continuing into Artist Alley, viewers will experience paintings by Margot Clemens and Ann Chaikin. Presented in a more intimate gallery setting, their works offer personal reflections on memory, relationships, and the spaces and moments that shape our connections with others.

More than an exhibition, Caregivers is an opportunity for conversation. Through sculpture, painting, and personal storytelling, the artists remind us that caregiving is not only about loss or responsibility—it is also about love, resilience, presence, and the connections that remain.

The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public. Artwork will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the exhibiting artists and Allied Arts' nonprofit mission to strengthen Whatcom County's creative community.

For more information, visit www.alliedarts.org or call (360) 676-8548.