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Welcome to Tacoma Arts Month

Celebrating 22 years!

Arts Events

Arts and culture programming to fill October

Opening Party

Launch Arts Month at STAR Center on Oct. 5!

Studio Tour

Meet Tacoma artists in their studios Oct. 14 & 15!

AMOCAT Arts Awards

Honoring vision, dedication, and action in our community

Arts at the Armory

Tacoma’s interactive arts market Nov 11 & 12!

Arts Events image: Snippet of 2022 Tacoma Arts Month Events calendar, learn more here: tacomaartsmonth.org/events.
Opening Party image: The Playground Kiki ballroom performance at Kaleidoscope, the Tacoma Arts Month opening party in 2022. Photo by Jamika Scott.
Studio Tour image: 2022 Tacoma Studio Tour attendees participate in a group painting at the studio of Mary Mann.
AMOCAT Arts Awards image: AMOCAT Arts Award design by Chandler O’Leary
Arts at the Armory image: Panoramic view of Arts at the Armory event in 2022.

Sponsors

Thank you to all our sponsors for their support!

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Meet and hear from local filmmaker, Donovan Wilson, as he screens his new, short film, "I Dreamed I was Naked and the World Turned Upside Down", which was filmed in Tacoma. Donovan will be submitting this film to Tribeca, Cannes, and the Tacoma Film Festival, among others, and this is a great chance to see it early!

The filmmakers and actors will be in attendance for 3 FREE screenings. Join them at the Grand Cinema in Tacoma on April 11th, from 7-10 pm.

7 pm - 7:30 pm: Tre James Photography Presentation
7:30 pm - 8 pm: Screening 1
8 pm - 8:30 pm: Screening 2
8:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Final Screening

Please register to attend the film through the Eventbrite link in our bio, or clicking here: bit.ly/I-dreamed

Donovan Wilson @beepresolve who wrote and directed the film, will be introducing the film and Q&A sessions after each screening. Local photographer Tre James will also be sharing his recent body of work focused on images of Tacoma which invites viewers “to re-imagine often overlooked parts of the city.”

The Arts and Cultural Vitality Division is happy to support Donovan’s work through our Tacoma Artist Initiative Program (TAIP).
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Meet and hear from local filmmaker, Donovan Wilson, as he screens his new, short film, I Dreamed I was Naked and the World Turned Upside Down,  which was filmed in Tacoma. Donovan will be submitting this film to Tribeca, Cannes, and the Tacoma Film Festival, among others, and this is a great chance to see it early!
 
The filmmakers and actors will be in attendance for 3 FREE screenings. Join them at the Grand Cinema in Tacoma on April 11th, from 7-10 pm. 

7 pm - 7:30 pm: Tre James Photography Presentation
7:30 pm - 8 pm: Screening 1
8 pm - 8:30 pm: Screening 2
8:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Final Screening
 
Please register to attend the film through the Eventbrite link in our bio, or clicking here: https://bit.ly/I-dreamed
 
Donovan Wilson @beepresolve who wrote and directed the film, will be introducing the film and Q&A sessions after each screening. Local photographer Tre James will also be sharing his recent body of work focused on images of Tacoma which invites viewers “to re-imagine often overlooked parts of the city.” 
 
The Arts and Cultural Vitality Division is happy to support Donovan’s work through our Tacoma Artist Initiative Program (TAIP).
1 week ago

See the new mural by artist Dionne Bonner, @dionnebonner at the South Tacoma Branch of @tacomalibrary!

South Tacoma Mural Celebration
Saturday, March 30, 2024
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
South Tacoma Branch Library

“The mural is grounded in the library's vision to be radically welcoming, and a trusted community hub where all people can find joy, compassion, and inspiration. In addition, the mural serves as a directional sign to help visitors find the library with a directional arrow as a marker. Exciting the senses with vibrant color and movement, characters and elements within the design are inspired by the colors that you see in the foliage, and architecture of the native lands of the Asian and Pacific Islander people. Colors that represent vitality, strength, and spirituality, themes that are shared and treasured in all cultures. The butterfly elements in the design represent our imagination and the transcendent power of the mind to take us to wonderful places, learn, grow and transform. The library has always been an important place in my life, and I believe it continues to be a gateway to different ways of learning and exploring the world. Reading and making connections through exploration and one-on-one engagement is an important socialization aspect of life. People are naturally drawn to explore in many different ways like doing research, and through analog and digital methods. And it's obvious our present and future world is open to access information in different ways. This eclectic way of learning intrigues us, we are dependent on it, and it empowers individuals, communities, businesses, and organizations to stay relevant in a fast-paced progressive world.” - Dionne Bonner

The @tacomatreefoundation will be onsite to give away free trees to attendees!

Learn more about the event here or click the link in our bio.
tacoma.bibliocommons.com/events/65bae836f797a6fee57365f1
www.facebook.com/events/1102886977557035/
... See MoreSee Less

See the new mural by artist Dionne Bonner, @dionnebonner at the South Tacoma Branch of @tacomalibrary!

South Tacoma Mural Celebration
Saturday, March 30, 2024
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
South Tacoma Branch Library
 
“The mural is grounded in the librarys vision to be radically welcoming, and a trusted community hub where all people can find joy, compassion, and inspiration. In addition, the mural serves as a directional sign to help visitors find the library with a directional arrow as a marker. Exciting the senses with vibrant color and movement, characters and elements within the design are inspired by the colors that you see in the foliage, and architecture of the native lands of the Asian and Pacific Islander people. Colors that represent vitality, strength, and spirituality, themes that are shared and treasured in all cultures. The butterfly elements in the design represent our imagination and the transcendent power of the mind to take us to wonderful places, learn, grow and transform. The library has always been an important place in my life, and I believe it continues to be a gateway to different ways of learning and exploring the world. Reading and making connections through exploration and one-on-one engagement is an important socialization aspect of life. People are naturally drawn to explore in many different ways like doing research, and through analog and digital methods. And its obvious our present and future world is open to access information in different ways. This eclectic way of learning intrigues us, we are dependent on it, and it empowers individuals, communities, businesses, and organizations to stay relevant in a fast-paced progressive world.” - Dionne Bonner

The @tacomatreefoundation will be onsite to give away free trees to attendees! 
 
Learn more about the event here or click the link in our bio.
https://tacoma.bibliocommons.com/events/65bae836f797a6fee57365f1
https://www.facebook.com/events/1102886977557035/Image attachmentImage attachment+7Image attachment
2 weeks ago

Explore Tacoma's rich and people centered history with TRIPOD, featuring three presenters - TAIP artist Merilee Tanbara, Philip Red Eagle, and Faaluaina Pritchard - on Thursday, March 15th from 7 – 8:30 pm at 206 N. J Street.

The Tacoma Arts Commission is proud to support Merilee Tanbara, @mtanbara as part of the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program.

Journey with writer Merilee as she paints a vivid picture of life in Tacoma's Japanese community in the 1920s, navigating the challenges of wartime hysteria, internment, and the struggle for belonging. Through her characters' eyes, Merilee poses profound questions about identity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of community.

Merilee will be presenting alongside Philip Red Eagle and Faaluaina Pritchard as part of the TRIPOD series. Please see more information in the link in our bio or if on Facebook see here: www.facebook.com/events/1541943883330039?

#TacomaArts #HistoricalFiction #CommunityVoices
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Explore Tacomas rich and people centered history with TRIPOD, featuring three presenters - TAIP artist Merilee Tanbara, Philip Red Eagle, and Faaluaina Pritchard - on Thursday, March 15th from 7 – 8:30 pm at 206 N. J Street.

The Tacoma Arts Commission is proud to support Merilee Tanbara, @mtanbara as part of the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program.

Journey with writer Merilee as she paints a vivid picture of life in Tacomas Japanese community in the 1920s, navigating the challenges of wartime hysteria, internment, and the struggle for belonging. Through her characters eyes, Merilee poses profound questions about identity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of community.

Merilee will be presenting alongside Philip Red Eagle and Faaluaina Pritchard as part of the TRIPOD series. Please see more information in the link in our bio or if on Facebook see here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1541943883330039?

#TacomaArts #HistoricalFiction #CommunityVoicesImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment
3 weeks ago

Shout out to The News Tribune for their wonderful piece on Fused Together. Check out the full article here:
www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article286243530.html

Fused Together is a series of free community art workshops run by Hilltop Artists, Communities for a Healthy Bay, and artist Kait Rhoads. These workshops are supported by the partnership between Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Creates. Come create stunning mosaic tiles and contribute to public installations around the city.

Learn more about the next event at Fern Hill Library on March 19th or visit Hilltop Artists page at hilltopartists.org/fusedtogether/

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to make art, connect with your community, and learn the importance of caring for our marine environments!

For more events and workshops like this, give the Tacoma Creates events calendar a visit: www.tacomacreates.org/events.

City of Tacoma Government

#FusedTogether #TacomaCreates #CommunityArt
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Shout out to The News Tribune for their wonderful piece on Fused Together. Check out the full article here: 
https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article286243530.html

Fused Together is a series of free community art workshops run by Hilltop Artists, Communities for a Healthy Bay, and artist Kait Rhoads. These workshops are supported by the partnership between Tacoma Public Library and Tacoma Creates. Come create stunning mosaic tiles and contribute to public installations around the city. 

Learn more about the next event at Fern Hill Library on March 19th or visit Hilltop Artists page at https://hilltopartists.org/fusedtogether/

Dont miss out on this amazing opportunity to make art, connect with your community, and learn the importance of caring for our marine environments!

For more events and workshops like this, give the Tacoma Creates events calendar a visit: www.tacomacreates.org/events. 

City of Tacoma Government 

#FusedTogether #TacomaCreates #CommunityArt
3 weeks ago

Rooted in Tradition: Northwest Basket Weaving Designs Enrich Melanie's Park:

Melanie's Park is a new Metro Parks Tacoma park located on the Thea Foss Waterway and will be opening in April 2024. The park site, which was polluted during its time hosting a steam plant, is now part of an effort to restore the shoreline.

Historic use of the area, including the past and continued relationship of the Puyallup people to the waterfront, will be reflected through interpretive elements that include the pathway that features Northwest Basket Weaving Designs stamped in colored concrete.

These Coast Salish basket weaving designs come from Northwest basket weavers, Sharron Nelson and her daughter, Denise Reed. They are members of the Puyallup & Chinook Tribes. Sharron and Denise were invited to create this project based on a recommendation from Puyallup Tribe staff. Sharron is a master weaver and Puyallup Tribe Elder, and Denise is her daughter, an accomplished weaver, and educator for the Tribe’s Culture Department.

They gather their own traditional weaving materials, such as cattails, tulle, sweet grass, bear grass, wild cherry bark, birch bark, cedar, and cedar roots. The colored concrete picked by the artists are meant to reference cedar. It takes more time to gather and prepare weaving materials than it does to weave a design.

The weaving designs created by Sharron Nelson and Denise Reed represent their tribal history and things that they love, such as the mountains, gathering, plants, the ocean, canoes, animals, and family. Some of the designs have been passed down for many generations.

The layout was provided by artist, designer, and Puyallup Tribal member Chris Duenas.

The designs were then fabricated as concrete stamps by local company, Tacoma Rubber Stamp, and were installed by J & K Concrete for Metro Parks Metro Parks Tacoma at Melanie’s Park.

The new park is located near the base of the 11th street bridge.
... See MoreSee Less

Rooted in Tradition: Northwest Basket Weaving Designs Enrich Melanies Park:

Melanies Park is a new Metro Parks Tacoma park located on the Thea Foss Waterway and will be opening in April 2024. The park site, which was polluted during its time hosting a steam plant, is now part of an effort to restore the shoreline.

Historic use of the area, including the past and continued relationship of the Puyallup people to the waterfront, will be reflected through interpretive elements that include the pathway that features Northwest Basket Weaving Designs stamped in colored concrete.  

These Coast Salish basket weaving designs come from Northwest basket weavers, Sharron Nelson and her daughter, Denise Reed. They are members of the Puyallup & Chinook Tribes. Sharron and Denise were invited to create this project based on a recommendation from Puyallup Tribe staff. Sharron is a master weaver and Puyallup Tribe Elder, and Denise is her daughter, an accomplished weaver, and educator for the Tribe’s Culture Department. 

 They gather their own traditional weaving materials, such as cattails, tulle, sweet grass, bear grass, wild cherry bark, birch bark, cedar, and cedar roots. The colored concrete picked by the artists are meant to reference cedar. It takes more time to gather and prepare weaving materials than it does to weave a design. 

The weaving designs created by Sharron Nelson and Denise Reed represent their tribal history and things that they love, such as the mountains, gathering, plants, the ocean, canoes, animals, and family. Some of the designs have been passed down for many generations.

The layout was provided by artist, designer, and Puyallup Tribal member Chris Duenas.

The designs were then fabricated as concrete stamps by local company, Tacoma Rubber Stamp, and were installed by J & K Concrete for Metro Parks Metro Parks Tacoma at Melanie’s Park. 

The new park is located near the base of the 11th street bridge.Image attachmentImage attachment+6Image attachment
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