Re-imagined arts festival, Bellwether, continues through Sunday

In its second year as a re-imagined arts festival, Bellwether has landed once again in Downtown Bellevue, transforming the places we often look past into thought-provoking artwork and installations. 

Bellwether, which means a sign of things to come, is a free ten-day arts festival. It began last Friday with an opening party at Bellevue Arts Museum and will run through Sunday, September 22. This year’s event focuses on events and experiences for the public, offering 18 events in just eight days. This year’s theme is ‘Taking Root’, a thoughtful meditation on what it means to fuse cultures, identities, histories and traditions. Curated by nine talented individuals, Bellwether highlights the works of 40+ artists.  

Don’t miss your chance to experience the events yet to come in this fun and thought-provoking festival! Can’t-miss events we recommend include: 

• Guided Tour & Interactive Experience – 11:30am-1:30pm, Friday, September 20 – City Hall
  • Take a walking tour of all artworks and installations with Ben Beres of SuttonBeresCuller, creative directors of Bellwether 2019. As part of the tour, artist and director of FEARLESS Sandy Cioffi will give a short presentation on her VR project with BeAnotherLab, Embodied Narratives. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the project first-hand! Meet on the first floor of City Hall and wear comfy shoes for the walk.
• "While Supplies Last" Pop-up Art Market – 1-5pm, Saturday, September 21 – Bellevue Arts Museum
  • This pop-up art market offers an array of incredible, one-of-a-kind works from over 400 artists for sale, each one for $30. Thumb through until you find the piece that speaks to you, support emerging artists and add to your collection! The market will be held on the first floor of the Bellevue Arts Museum. Get a sneak peak of works available on Instagram. 
• PNW Super Soul All-Star Revue – 7-10pm, Saturday, September 21 – Meydenbauer Center Theatre 
  • Experience sounds that range from the global underground, to the city street corner and the hit-making recording studio. Seattle’s female/non-binary brass band, will parade from City Hall to Meydenbauer Center Theater to kick off the show, followed by local trio Terror/Cactus playing cinematic, psychedelic electro-cumbia behind homemade masks and eye-popping projections on the theater stage. Headliners Nile Waters will be joined by a who’s-who of guest singers, rappers and musicians representing the PNW’s millennial-made soul/hip-hop/pop community. It’s a night of music as wildly eclectic as Bellwether’s visual arts offerings and a showcase of the weird and the wonderful that this region is known for.

Also, stop into the old café space next to the Gift Shop at Bellevue Arts Museum for a complimentary sweet treat (delicious cookies, fresh piroshky and more!) at Today’s Special, a nod to the café space that used to be there, with an art-infused twist on the Daily Special. 

For a complete list of artists, curators and events, along with a map of where artworks are, check out the Bellwether website.  

Thanks to the City of Bellevue for putting on the festival, as well as the City’s partners: Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue Downtown Association, Madison Marquette, Meydenbauer Center and Onni Group.