Glacier Creations
Artists' co-op readies for the season

As winter approaches, many of us will be heading up to the mountain for a variety of reasons – snowboarding, skiing, kayaking on the Nooksack, jalapeno-cheddar scones from Wake ’n Bakery – the list is endless.

Tucked away off the Mt. Baker Highway behind Graham’s Store in a cozy cargo shipping container-turned art studio, a gem in Glacier waits for discovery. Glacier Creations is an art cooperative run by a small group of Glacier residents, showcasing the work of some 40 local artisans.

Artists Ann Baker and Abby McKinley had been dreaming of starting an art cooperative for years and hatched the plan while working together at Graham’s Store. Fellow artists and friends Danielle Duffy and Evette Shelton also climbed aboard, and together they approached Gary Graham for permission to use the space. Graham, a strong community supporter, donated the space and shipping container to Glacier Creations in October 2007. The four women celebrated the co-op’s grand opening in June 2009.

As soon as you step inside the shop, a weight is lifted off your shoulders. The everyday pressures of life melt away as the warm lights and pleasant fragrances hit your senses. The co-op is chock-full of a large collection of distinct, unique pieces. The array is mixed – pottery, drawings, knitted items, clothing, essential oils and tea, just to name a few. Beautiful photographs of Baker adorn the walls, and beeswax candles line the shelves.

The artists volunteer at the shop in addition to working full-time jobs elsewhere in the area. Currently, there are roughly 20 artists who volunteer on the grounds (not just selling artwork), with six or seven spending a large portion of their busy weekends cultivating the shop.  

The weekend volunteers fill the shop with a keen eye, aspiring to keep a diverse selection of goods available. The art comes from community members as young as 10, such as the delightful gift cards made by a local artist and elementary school student. She donates all of the profits her cards earn to Childcare Worldwide, an organization benefiting children in third-world countries.

As Shannon Robertson, one of the full-time volunteers, showed me around the shop, she excitedly discussed the upcoming winter season. As soon as the snow falls, Glacier sees a lot more visitors, which helps spur on local businesses. In preparation for the Christmas season, Robertson is weaving Christmas-colored baskets, and said that a few of the other artists were planning on making Christmas shower scrubbies.

Through my eyes, this vision for the future was already underway on that crisp fall day. A 3-year-old child ran through the shop, a friendly dog named Niko trotted around in the grass, and a steady stream of travelers and locals stopped by to chat and shop. Behind the building, the perfect spot for a garden sits ready to be tended.

Robertson and her fellow volunteers had organized a soap box derby race that evening to benefit the shop and bring locals together. The well-loved space this group of women created is only two years old, and another few years could easily see the formation of a flourishing community area.  

The co-op is meant to function as a community space in addition to its retail motive. The artists who spend their weekends nurturing the shop have dreams of sustainable lifestyles for their community. Plans for the future include a communal garden, a farmers market and a space for live music. As one artist says, “It’s not just about art. It’s about teaching about community.” Glacier Creations is located at 9989 Mount Baker Highway, behind Graham’s Store. During the winter, they will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visit them at www.glaciercreations.net or www.facebook.com/glaciercreations. X

Glacier Creations
9989 Mount Baker Highway
www.glaciercreations.net
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Kitty Bond is a recent graduate of Western Washington University. She enjoys hiking around the Chuckanut trails, riding her wicked awesome Specialized road bike, and planning her next travel adventure.