Bainbridge Island Museum of Art to celebrate its 10th anniversary with BIMA Block Party on August 5th!

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art to celebrate its 10th anniversary with BIMA Block Party on August 5, 2023
12 bands, 2 free museums, art, food, vendor market and more.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. – Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) will host a free all-day festival of art and music on August 5, 2023 as the keystone community celebration of the Museum’s tenth anniversary. Dubbed the BIMA Block Party, the event will take over the entire Island Gateway development with four stages of live music, free entry to both BIMA and KiDiMu (Kids Discovery Museum), a beer and wine garden and food from BIMA Bistro and its neighbors as well as mobile food options and a pop up vendor market. From Americana to hip-hop, funk to Latin music, BIMA is presenting regional musical acts including darlings of the local music scene Shaina Shepherd, Tomo Nakayama, Stas Thee Boss, Tres Leches, Reposado, Lydia Ramsey, and more. BIMA Block Party is at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and Island Gateway (550 Winslow Way East, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110) on Saturday, August 5, from 12:00PM-9:30PM. Free offsite parking will be available at Bainbridge High School, Commodore Options School, and Ordway Elementary School, and nearby paid parking is available at the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal. For event updates and the most up-to-date information, visit https://www.biartmuseum.org/bima-block-party/.

BIMA Block Party is the Museum’s gift to the community in honor of its tenth anniversary. The museum, which opened its doors in June of 2013, has quickly become a bright light on the cultural scene. BIMA is open 7 days a week, free of admission, and serves almost 100,000 guests a year from Kitsap, Puget Sound, the Northwest and beyond. “It’s our chance to celebrate this milestone with our friends and neighbors,” said BIMA’s Executive Director, Sheila Hughes. “We’re calling this the year of Appreciation. Bringing together music, art and community creates such a special shared experience, and getting to do that while celebrating the support of our community, a significant birthday, and the wealth of talented working artists in our region just felt right.”

The event also coincides with BIMA’s first-ever juried exhibition, BIMA Spotlight. “Featuring work from more than 150 actively working Puget Sound area artists and craftspeople, the exhibition ties in beautifully with our 10th anniversary, and is the perfect companion to the BIMA Block Party,” continued Hughes. It’ll be a fun day where guests can really get the sense of what is happening artistically in our region.”

BIMA Block Party isn’t limited to music and art. The event will also include a pop up vendor market that includes art and crafts, jewelry, henna tattoos, clothing, and other festival favorites. A beer garden at the Gateway Stage will also feature a live model “Drink & Draw'' between bands. Food vendors from the area, including Taste da Boot, Erick’s Seafood & More, and other local vendors will supplement offerings by BIMA Bistro, Agate Restaurant, Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse, Fletcher Bay Winery, and Pegasus Coffee. Additionally, hands-on projects will be offered by BIMA and KiDiMu to keep hands and minds of all ages engaged in art making.

BIMA Block Party is made possible by support from its sponsors and donors including PRISM, City of Bainbridge Island, Laird Norton, Island Gateway, Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks & Recreation District, Gather, Bloedel Reserve, and Stoel Rives.

COMPLETE MUSICAL LINEUP:

Gateway Stage

12:00-1:00PM - Civil Rebellion
Civil Rebellion delivers unbridled energy to the stage to bring their audience to life in ways that seem to be becoming more and more rare as the modern age pushes forward — that being the amped rock show energy of the past. From the messy depths of punk rock to modern style alternative pop, the Emerald City’s young rock band roams from end to end to incorporate everyone and anyone who chooses to listen. Curated by the fine balance of lighthearted, energy-driven rock to melodic vocals and guitars, Civil Rebellion is more than certain to guide you day and night, feeling reborn from a time that might seem untreatable. “Keep it punk! But polite.”

2:30-3:30PM - Tres Leches
Tres Leches began one night when Alaia D’Alessandro and Ulises Mariscal heard the doorbell ring to reveal Zander Yates standing at the step waving with an everlasting grin. Together the soon-to-be-formed trio would find an expression for life’s chaos and an escape from societal pre-destiny.

5:00PM - Reposado
That soothing yet profound fire in your Soul. The feeling of elevation, but with a deep-rooted Culture. Now imagine mixing that with a strong hit of funk, chopping up a little jazz, a steady shake of Afro-beat, and served in a Cuban Cigar smoked glass — a cocktail of flavors the band likes to call “TEQUILA FUNK.” Reposado means “rested” and represents a balance. It is the middle-aged of the Tequila family, preferred by Tequila connoisseurs because of its balanced flavors. Having wisdom of age and spirit of youth, highs of a celebration and depths of an intervention, the light joy of freedom and the weight of certain truths. Reposado is a family of musicians and artists that can vary from a 6-15 person ensemble and you never know what surprise guest will be joining them, guaranteeing a unique experience every time.

8:00-9:30PM - Shaina Shepherd
Shaina Shepherd is a singer, songwriter, vocal teacher, and community organizer in Seattle, WA. Known for her pervasive style as front-woman to soul-grunge band BEARAXE, her notable vocal stylings have brought her into various creative spaces — from collaborating with Duff McKagan, Chong The Nomad and Acid Tongue to sharing stages with rock stars like Dave Matthews and Thunderpussy to being a soloist with the classical ensembles around the country. Inspired by the parallels between gospel and garbage metal, Shaina Shepherd is not your average vocalist. Living in the city where both Soundgarden and Quincy Jones cut their teeth, Shaina lends her soulful voice to projects of all genres.

Plaza Stage

1:00-2:30PM - Abyssinian Creole
Abyssinian Creole is the South Seattle duo of Khingz and Gabriel Teodros. Both storied MC’s with multiple decades of group work and solo work behind them, along with community work that both artists have put in from classrooms to building stages for other artists to be heard from. The group’s name symbolizes one of the oldest African nations and one of the newest African tongues, unified in the most visible African culture. A Safe Place For Us / From The Ashes Of Our Homes is the new double album set to launch from the legendary local hip-hop crew in the fall of 2023.

3:30-5:00PM - Terror/Cactus
Terror/Cactus is the digital folklore and psychedelic electro-cumbia project of Martín Selasco. Born in Buenos Aires and raised in Miami, the Seattle-based producer draws from a wide variety of Latin-American influences in his productions including Argentine folk, Peruvian chicha, and Colombian cumbia. These influences are woven into hypnotic electronic beats featuring psychedelic guitars, dub lasers, and field recordings.

6:30-8:00PM - Tomo Nakayama
Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington, Tomo Nakayama is an artist whose melodic, complex and emotionally compelling music has been praised by NPR, New York Times, and The Stranger. After two critically acclaimed indie-folk albums “Fog on the Lens” and “Pieces of Sky” (named “Best Folk Act” by Seattle Weekly), he surprised his fans by releasing the synthpop album “Melonday” (on Seattle label Porchlight Records). Co-produced by Yuuki Matthews (The Shins, Teardrops, Sufjan Stevens) and mastered by Dave Cooley (M83, Paramore, Tame Impala), “Melonday” was named one of the Top Albums of 2020 by Seattle Times, KEXP, and Seattle Met Magazine, and debuted at #1 on KEXP’s NW Charts. He has toured across the US and Japan, sharing the stage with Built to Spill, Thao, Daði Freyr, Fleet Foxes, Michael Hurley, Sons of Kemet, Ben Gibbard, Damien Jurado, Wye Oak, and Cornelius. He has collaborated with Dave Matthews, Sera Cahoone, Jherek Bischoff, and Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate). He also composed music and appeared as an actor in the Lynn Shelton film “Touchy Feely” with Elliot Page and Rosemarie DeWitt.

Buxton Auditorium

2:30-3:30PM - Lydia Ramsey
Born at home in the wooded beach town of Indianola, WA, Lydia was raised in a house scattered with instruments, from guitars and mandolins, to clarinets and accordions. With an upbringing rooted deeply in musical discovery and invention, her earliest inspirations came from her exploration on the piano, through the music of Chopin, Bill Evans, Debussy and Bach. When she began playing guitar, she drew inspiration from traditional folk artists. These influences shaped the foundation of her songwriting, combining the melodies of classical and jazz composers, with the storytelling and harmonies rooted in folk music. She has been praised for the vintage quality of her dynamic voice and the pure emotions in her songwriting, drawing comparisons to Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Her original music has been celebrated worldwide by NPR Music, The Americana Music Association, and featured on HBO’s hit series, Somebody Somewhere.

5:00-6:30PM - Stas Thee Boss
Born on Hilltop in Tacoma, but raised in the Southend of Seattle, Stasia represents her home through and through. After learning all the lyrics to Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” at the age of 8, she realized that a career in hip-hop was her destiny. She is formerly one half of the Psychedelic-Space-Rap-Jazz duo THEESatisfaction, with whom she produced, wrote and performed. She signed with Sub Pop Records in 2011, and released two albums. She was able to spread her love of music to many countries like France, UK, Australia, China, Portugal and Iceland. She is a member of the Black Constellation, along with Shabazz Palaces, Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes, Nicholas Galanin, Nep Sidhu and Erik Blood. She currently resides in Seattle and continues performing music as a solo artist, DJing on KEXP, at Havana Social Club, and at local parties.

Beacon Stage

12:00-1:30PM - Mirabai
A playwright, guitarist, and (maybe most importantly) a singer/songwriter, Mirabai loves nothing more than telling an absurd story with an honest emotional core. The songs of this genre-blending “floral folk goddess” are characterized by vulnerable lyrics, walls of harmony, collaboration with friends, and a refreshing blend of irony and sincerity. Mirabai was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, although she also grew up in her mother’s native Malaysia. She’s garnered such honors as the Robert Bloch Award for Music, placing at MoPop’s SoundOff, being named one of the Gates Foundation’s 100 Local Changemakers, winning the Young Playwrights Project (twice), and being chosen for the Seattle Opera’s Creation Lab. Since 2020 Mirabai has released 10 singles, 2 EPs, and 2 full-length albums – executing everything with a level of honesty that is equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Her art is an act of healing; a confusing celebration of her culture, community, identity, and life.

3:00-4:30PM - Maya Marie
Bringing an unforgettable ambiance to any stage, Maya Marie keeps an audience captivated as her soulful voice kicks a beat into your heart. Backed by the grit of rock, she inspires the audience to let go and liberate themselves while singing her truths from the bottom of her gut.

6:30-8:00PM - Bannister & Maine
Kristen Ferguson and Anne Mathews are Bannister & Maine, a musical duo from Kingston. Both accomplished musicians with years of experience in various bands (Kristen: the Outskirts, Ferguson & Co; Anne: the Lonely Coast, the Toy Boats), their talents combine in a beautiful harmony-filled repertoire of American music. From classic country and R&B to funky roots, folk, and beyond, these vibrant musicians bring a distinctive expertise to acoustic Americana.

Retail Vendors:

• AxSM Art LLC - Bold Beautiful Art with a Message. Stephanie Morales is a Seattle-born artist, inspired by travel, social justice, and multiculturalism, who seeks to inspire reflection and empowerment through symbolism. She is the Founder of Made Space Seattle, a Black Art, Culture, and Business Hub in the heart of the city.

• Beading by Kati - Creates beautiful handcrafted beaded earrings.

• Beyond the Curls - Beyond The Curls is an all-natural vegan hair care product line allowing your hair to become healthier naturally. The brand represents healthy hair, clean beauty, and a true dedication to loving all of who you are.

• Ebb & Bone - A three-person taxidermy art collective specializing in sustainably-sourced insects, butterflies, and bones mounted as wall or table art incorporating in-house taxidermy, insect pinning, and crystallization techniques.

• HER GLOW CANDY SHOP - Sweet, chic, affordable accessories! A curated online boutique for accessory lovers who like to make a statement and adorn themselves with unique, classic pieces. They provide chic, sweet, and affordable items that are designed to help you love yourself and feel good in your skin by adorning your outer appearance.

• Level Up Studio - Level Up Studio invites you to come on in and gain that experience in “leveling up!” Level Up with some new ink during her flash mini tattoos.

• Margeaux Lewis - Offers a wide variety of earrings collected over the years.

• Modern Optix - Dip Dye Lab and Optical Lounge, Handmade eyewear and Vintage Sunglasses. Modern Optix specializes in custom lenses available with or without prescription. They will be showcasing their Vintage Night Shades and Vintage Optical frames and accessories. In their studio in West Seattle, they carry seven handmade eyewear lines that are made in Brooklyn, Italy, and Germany.

• Nurtured Nodes - Nurtured Nodes is a plant shop where plants are our passion and people are our priority!

• PNW Sneaker Drip - 100% Authentic sneakers including Jordans, Yeezys, and Nikes With a range of sizing for the full family and also handmade turquoise jewelry made in the Pacific Northwest.

• Ruby Laine Apparel - Fashionable streetwear that is meticulously designed and crafted, comfortable, and expressive of your own style and personality.

• rue Santé Mindfulness-Based Self-Care™ - rue Santé Mindfulness-Based Self-Care™ is a woman-owned beauty-in-wellness brand. Their mission is to change the unrealistic perceptions of beauty and aging and to empower people to prioritize their health with products and rituals that reduce mental and physical stress and promote a healthy, happy state of being. Beauty is just one of the side-effects. They hand-make their own products with LOVE - luxurious, organic, vegan, and eco ingredients and materials. We donate 10% of proceeds & use our platform to create awareness for the conservation of species and planet.

• Sweet Leaf Henna - Contemporary freehand henna body art, using all organic & hand made henna paste.

• You As An Animal - Artist and illustrator Michelle Lassaline paints portraits of people as any animal they choose. With watercolor and ink on paper, Michelle creates these personal, whimsical works of art in just a few minutes. This live art experience invites imagination and storytelling from customers of all ages and backgrounds, resulting in a custom work of art that feels like the first page of an illustrated story book. Lassaline started the project in 2014 and has since performed for the City of Seattle, Artist Trust, 4Culture, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Seattle Mayor's Arts Awards, the Northwest Public Art Conference, Pike Place Market, Fremont Market, Vashon Strawberry Festival, and numerous weddings, celebrations, and gatherings of all kinds.

Food Vendors:

• Agate Restaurant - A Bainbridge Island favorite, Agate Restaurant is planning a special menu of handhelds and takeout for one day only!

• Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse - Bainbridge Brewing will be open and serving in the Alehouse and will be providing beer for the Gateway Stage Beer Garden.

• BIMA Bistro - BIMA Bistro will be serving a special, festival-inspired menu.

• BIMA Bistro Gateway Stage Beer Garden - watch the show while sipping cold beer from Bainbidge Island Brewing or fine wines from Flether Bay Winery.

• Fletcher Bay Winery - Fletcher Bay Winery’s tasting room and rooftop will be open and serving their island-crafted wines as well as providing wine for the Gateway Stage Beer Garden.

• Korsmo Celebrations - Cake Pops, Cakesicles, and delicious baked goods, bringing sweets and smiles to the community.

• Taste da Boot - Made with fresh ingredients and authentic recipes straight from Louisiana.

• Erick’s Seafood & More - specializes in seafood boils, Asian cuisines, and American comfort food

• Green Pot Deli - serving pho, banh mi, spring-rolls, eggrolls, bun salad bowls, and other traditional Vietnamese dishes