Paper Whale

06/02/2026

A new look for a bigger impact. You may have noticed the steady roll out of our new branding. Today, we're officially introducing the new Paper Whale—new logo, new look, new website. Same grit. Bolder energy.⁠
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This rebrand wasn't just a visual refresh. It was a reckoning:⁠
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• An honest approach of who we are and what we do⁠
• A sharpened mission and vision that feels real and undeniable⁠
• A belief in community and our commitment to making it possible⁠
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A massive thank you to our Design Director and Bellingham's own Micah Ellis at Further Up Co. for leading this process. The new whale mark evolves from the original. It’s bolder, more alive, and yet it still carries what it always has: community, collaboration, forward momentum, and the creative energy simmering beneath the surface of every place.⁠
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You know our events. Now we want you to know us.⁠
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Paper Whale is a placemaking agency. We use raw creative energy to turn ordinary places into unforgettable experiences. And now we need you more than ever as a donor, sponsor, volunteer, artist, or attendee.⁠
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Explore the new site at https://www.paper-whale.com and let us know what you think.⁠
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06/01/2026

It’s our 4th anniversary today, so a reintroduction is in order. We are Paper Whale, a non-profit placemaking agency, and we believe that the best way to love your city is to make something beautiful. We create unforgettable places. We bring people together. We rethink the status quo, and we hold a bold vision to redefine a city once content with "subdued excitement."

Who we are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnTe8y_6JCI

🎥: Soulcraft Allstars
Thank you to Aaron Straight and the team at Soulcraft Allstars team for making a video that speaks so clearly to who we are and what we do.

Paper Whale is a placemaking agency that uses raw creative energy t...

05/19/2026

The lineup is here!

05/18/2026

That's a wrap for our Rising Tide Spring season. We'll be back in the Fall with more of this powerhouse speaker series. There's nothing like it. Thank you to everyone who showed up to support one another, celebrate local wins, learn from changemakers, and be on the cutting edge of modern civic engagement.

Kudos to our lineup last Friday:






+ our co-host with the most

A heartfelt thanks to and for making this series possible.

05/06/2026

What happens when good ideas are born from play, not goals or outcomes?

More than likely, the process starts messy, is ever evolving and a little unsure of itself.

This Friday, Paper Whale wraps up the spring season of Rising Tide with Prototypes for Play—a conversation with Christian and Benny Zenga about experimenting your way forward, and why trying things that “don’t work yet” is often where the real progress happens.

From tall bike journeys across Africa to rolling car sculptures to public skate parks and immersive installations, the Zenga Bros are known for building work that lives in public spaces and invites participation. Their practice is rooted in one simple idea: you learn more by doing than by perfecting.

This Rising Tide is all about ideas in motion and why getting them into the world before they're "finished" is where the real learning begins.

Prototypes for Play is the last speaker series of the season, and tickets are SOLD OUT. We're stoked to send off Rising Tide with a packed house!⁠
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If you didn't snag tickets to Rising Tide, you can still join the fun. The after party with and starts at 9pm @ 707 Astor St. and is open to the public with a $10 suggested donation!

05/01/2026

Next Friday 5/8, we're sending off the spring Rising Tide speaker series with a yodel and a honky-tonk twang. Even though tickets to Rising Tide are SOLD OUT, the after-party starts at 9 PM and is open to everyone—whether you were at the speaker series or not.⁠

After Prototypes for Play with the Zenga Bros., the H***y Tonk Social Club and Buddy Mac Band take over with our signature after-party vibes.

Ease into the music with a quick intro to 2-step and swing dancing with Heather from H***y Tonk Social Club (zero experience required), then settle into the rhythm with early country rockabilly from Buddy Mac Band.

$10 suggested donation at the door. No advance tickets to the after party. No fuss. Just come through when doors open at 9pm. 707 Astor St.

See you next Friday!

04/27/2026

Tickets to May's Rising Tide are going fast, but one sure way to get in the door is to volunteer!⁠
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We’re looking for a small crew to help with setup, teardown, and bartending.⁠ As a small non-profit, volunteer help from this incredible community is what makes all our events possible.⁠
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Jump in, lend a hand and experience the event for free. Sign-up here:
https://www.volunteershiftmanager.com/p/rising-tide-prototypes-for-play-e63y
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📸:

04/22/2026

Play first, and figure it out as you go. That’s the idea behind Prototypes for Play, the final Rising Tide Speaker Series of the spring, happening Friday, May 8 in Bellingham.

We’re bringing in the Zenga Bros, Vancouver-based artists and builders who create large-scale, interactive work that that's one part playground, one part public art and two parts experimentation.

For the Zenga Bros, their work isn't about perfection. It's about building, testing, tweaking and seeing what sticks in the real world. Failure is all but guaranteed at some point. Because that's how real innovation works. Try, test, learn, repeat.

If you haven’t experienced Rising Tide yet, this is a strong one to close out the season with. Hit the link below and grab your tickets now. They will sell out quickly!

Tickets by donation, from $10
Doors at 7 PM | Events at 7:45 PM
707 Astor St., Bellingham

We’ll kick the night off with a new round of Small Wins (short, local stories from people creating momentum in Bellingham), live braid weaving from artist Miracle Jones and live music and after party with Buddy Mac Band.

Rising Tide wouldn't be possible without the generous support of the Project Neighborly Fund of the Whatcom Community Foundation and Tilt Shift Design.

Tickets: https://www.paper-whale.com/event-details/rising-tide-prototypes-for-play

04/20/2026

Calling all Bellingham businesses and building owners! We’re on the hunt for standout prize walls for the 2026 Noisy Waters Mural Festival—and your building could become the next landmark.⁠
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Imagine your space transformed into a bold, story-filled piece of public art… a backdrop for photos, a stop on the mural tour, a daily moment of inspiration for the community.⁠
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We’re looking for walls that are:⁠
• Large + highly visible⁠
• Downtown or centrally located in Bellingham⁠
• Ready for paint and possibility⁠
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Have a wall in mind? Send us a message. We'll walk you through the logistics of commissioning a mural, including: investment, time, festival voting, and working with an artist on the final design.⁠
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Thank you to our past prize wall sponsors for making a lasting commitment to the beauty of this community! This selection includes:⁠
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Chuckanut Builders mural by Emily Beaudoin
Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner PLLC - Washington's Injury Lawyers mural by Shogo Ota
City of Bellingham, Washington - Government mural by Nora Bruhn
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Finished mural photos by FotoMataio Fotografia

04/18/2026

Thank you to all the community members, speakers, musicians, and artists for joining us last week at Rising Tide! The conversation was deep and meaningful, uncovering everything that lives beneath the surface. Together, we offered up a theme of hope during heavy times, and created the kind of energy that lingers long after the room empties. We hope you left inspired.

Thank you .ridley.37266 , Simon Graves, and more for making the evening a memorable one.

Photos by
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