Containing over three dozen works of art, Big Rock Garden Park is an oasis of culture and connection located in the middle of the Silver Beach neighborhood in Bellingham, Washington. Nature and art complement each other in a way that resonates to viewers of all types, highlighting how an imaginative approach to enabling connections can make such an impact on individuals and entire communities.
From “Big Rock Garden Nursery” to “Gardens of Art”
George and Mary Ann Drake founded the “Big Rock Garden Nursery” in 1981. The 2.5-acre space was designed to provide employment to developmentally disabled youth. The two would soon open “Gardens of Art – Fine Art for the Garden” to showcase local and international artists, defining a whole new future for the space which would give the Pacific Northwest the sculpture garden that it was lacking at the time. The City of Bellingham purchased the collection in 1993. Since then, Big Rock Sculpture Garden has been further developed with the addition of notable pieces by artists from near and afar.
A map located at the entrance of the park highlights the names, locations and artists for each piece in the garden. Sebastián, Jan Zach, Georg Schmerholz, Kenji Gomi, and Alexei Kazantsev are a few of the international artists with pieces in the garden, while sculptures from local artists Michael Jacobsen, Shirley Erickson, Scott F. Emory, Aaron Loveitt and Russ Beardsley are also contained in the space. Special sections like the David Marshall Sculpture Gallery are directly and indirectly connected to some of the most notable pieces in the garden.
“Korean War Children’s Memorial Pavilion” is dedicated to the American servicemen and women for their aid to the children of Kora. Unveiled in 2003, it is the largest installation in the park. Other notable pieces include “Swell”, which was donated to the City in memory of George Miller, “Zoe Garden Wall,” which honors Bellingham community leader Catherine “Kitty” Stimpson and “Unity”, which drew inspiration from Native Americans’ communication in stone throughout the Pacific Northwest. These are just a few of the many figurative and abstract pieces that fill the space.
All of this history and creativity is evident across the Big Rock Garden Park. This has allowed it to cultivate an incredible connection with visitors from all over the Silver Beach community and beyond.
Celebrations and Community Connections
A building with information about Big Rock Garden Park along with products for sale resides near the entrance to the park. The structure highlights some of the most important ways that audiences can connect with the garden and all of the pieces in it.
Numerous dedications and displays that honor donors and supports are located near this building, highlighting an important means of revenue and continued support for the garden. The Whatcom Hispanic Organization, Friends of Big Rock Park and the Whatcom Park & Recreation Foundation are just a few of the organizations that are honored in these areas, with many of their members receiving named recognition for their efforts.
As an illustration of the special events and activities that take place at Big Rock Garden Park on a regular basis, Bellingham Parks and Recreation and volunteer organization Friends of Big Rock Garden Park sponsor an annual Mother’s Day celebration and other events in the area. Additionally, while the park features the largest number of sculptures in Bellingham’s collection, it also contains temporary installations that provide stakeholders and the community with numerous opportunities to host and attend special events throughout the year.
Special events, products for sale and sponsorships allow visitors to provide the support needed to maintain the imaginative art and natural beauty that define Big Rock Garden Park. Doing so has allowed it to cultivate a legacy that will continue to positively influence the entire region.
The Imagination of and for an Entire Community
Open daily from dawn to dusk, audiences can easily interact with the sculptures that are spread across the nature trails of Big Rock Garden Park. These trails highlight the natural beauty of the area while the sculpture showcases the region’s cultural heritage, compelling audiences to interpret and interact with each in meaningful ways. How they’re able to do so will continue to change as the space and pieces in it evolve, highlighting the long-lasting impact of an endeavor to showcase the imagination of and for an entire community.
