Destination: Tacoma’s art museums and galleries
Some people think that visiting an art museum is a bit like taking a vitamin — something you should do but it’s not all that much fun while it is going down. If this reflects your thoughts at all, let me tell you why I love to spend a day looking at art — there’s no way to do it wrong. When I’m by myself I read all the materials and spend time absorbing the colors and images and the stories brought to life by the art. When I’m with my 7-year-old son, we walk fast, go to multiple museums in one day, focus on the cafes and gift shops and spend lots of time in the hands-on studios at each museum.
This month we explored two of the biggies in Tacoma: the Glass Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum, along with several creative little galleries found downtown. Because my son was with me, we covered lots of ground in one day. We parked in the free parking garage at the Freighthouse Square and got on the Tacoma Link light rail train that took us right to Union Station.
We stepped into Union Station to see the glass artwork (by Tacoma-born artist, Dale Chihuly) that you can see from Highway 705 in the outsized, arched windows in this train station-turned-courthouse. We did have to show ID just to get into the lobby but it was worth it to see the spectacular architecture and art. From there we headed to the Bridge of Glass that allows pedestrians to get across the freeway to the Glass Museum. The partly covered bridge serves as additional gallery space for spectacular glass work donated to the city by Chihuly. I happen to think that getting to the Glass Museum is almost better than being in the museum.
Once in the Glass Museum, we watched three short films featuring visiting artists who served as Artists in Residence in 2007. We went into the hot shop where we watched the glass artists at work, heating up glass in 2,400 degree ovens and using tools to shape the molten glass before it cools. In the hands-on-studio, we did the old 1970s craft of creating graphic designs and turning them into badges for our lapels. The hands-on studio features a different art project each day for museum visitors, coordinated by a local artist. The gallery is not clearly marked and the exhibit of glass rain drops placed randomly around the floor don’t give visitors any hints about where it is OK to walk. I find that being scolded interferes with my One Day Vacation mind set, plus the museum’s café is closed for renovations, so we scooted back across the bridge and took a break at the new bakery on Pacific called Hello, Cupcake. There is nothing like a swirly, pink, coco-nutty cupcake to revive the spirits.
We headed into the Tacoma Art Museum for Part 2 of our art walk. The Art Museum also has an extensive collection of glass art, mostly by Chihuly. We enjoyed the quilt exhibit, spent time in their hands-on studio and bought some trinkets in the gift shop. The open spaces in this museum and the variety of exhibits are breathtaking.
The next part of our day involved visiting lesser-known studios and we came across two gems that will be part of our regular circuit when we go to Tacoma. BKB & Company is across Pacific Avenue from Union Station and is an eclectic and humorous combination of traditional and wearable arts with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. We enjoyed the Art-O-Mat which is an old cigarette vending machine that has been converted into an art dispenser. For just $5, you can pull the lever and an original piece of art is yours to keep. This machine is the only one of its kind in our state. There are 83 in the country and more than 400 artists participate in keeping the machines stocked.
Our second find was the Helm Gallery on Broadway. We were lucky enough to be invited to the opening of this gallery’s first show in late September. Gallery owners used networking sites like myspace.com to send messages to artists worldwide to ask them to contribute a drawing to this gallery’s first show. The response was so overwhelming that the gallery can have four more shows using the art that was submitted. Every square inch of the gallery is filled with drawings and paintings from all over the world.
Maybe because I am not an artist myself, I am especially impacted by being immersed in creativity and excellence for hours at a time. As I’ve learned from our local artist, Deb Munson, it is possible to incorporate all the best that art has to offer into our daily lives even if we never pick up a pen or paintbrush. I can try to be innovative in my work, I can appreciate the other “mediums” that people work in, I can try to add more color to my world, and I can devote some time to wonder and awe. We are lucky to live in this region that is so wealthy with artists and institutions that give us the opportunity to kick start our creativity just by spending an afternoon seeing what they are up to.
Where to see art:
A The Helm: A new progressive art space co-owned by Peter Lynn and Sean Alexander that will feature monthly shows of local and international artists. Openings will be held on the third Thursday of every month during art walk. In addition the space will be used as a general meeting hall, performance space, music venue and reading room. The Kindness of Strangers, open Sept. 20 to Oct. 10, is a fundraiser. 760 Broadway, Tacoma, www.thehelmgallery.com
A Open Studio Tour — Artists working in studios in Puyallup and Graham will have their studios open for tour Oct. 26, 27 and 28. The event will culminate at 5 p.m. Oct. 28 with a reception at the Fred Oldfield Center. Original art by participating artists will be given away by a drawing at the Sunday reception. Maps of the Open Studio Tour can be picked up at the Fred Oldfield Center just inside the Red Gate at the Fairgrounds or online at: www.valleyartsunited.org
A BKB & Company : This is a gallery of wearable and decorative art co-owned and operated by artists Corky Brown and Victoria Brown. Works range from fanciful accessories to handmade jewelry and clothing. You’ll also find unusual, unique and functional tableware, lamps, clocks, and mirrors. There will be a grand opening at its new location at 1734 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma on Oct. 27. www.bkbcompany.com or www.artomat.org
A The Museum of Glass is celebrating its fifth anniversary. The Museum Café is scheduled to reopen sometime in October. 1801 Dock St. Tacoma 1-866-4MUSEUM, museumofglass.org/
A The Tacoma Art Museum will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) starting with an installment of a colorful tapete (sand painting) in the lobby on Oct. 20 and culminating with a free community festival Nov. 4 from noon to 5 p.m. 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, 253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.org
Take a break:
Hello, Cupcake is the newest, quirky addition to the neighborhood surrounding UW Tacoma. Freshly baked cupcakes in a retro atmosphere decorated in wedding mint-greens and pinks, this is a great stop for museum-goers. 1740 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, 253-383-7772, www.hello-cupcake.com
How to get there:
The Tacoma Link light rail is a free way to get to the museums from around downtown. Park for free in the parking garage near Freighthouse Square and ride to the Link’s second stop, 19th and Pacific. www.soundtransit.org/x2099.xml
As a lifelong Puyallup resident, Sally Zeiger Hanson has been taking One Day Vacations here in the Puget Sound for years. To join the conversation about the fun that can be had close to home, contact he at sallyzeigerhanson@gmail.com or on her blog at onedayvacations.blogspot.com/
Print
E-Mail