Tacoma Studio Tour Preview: Part 6

As we head into fall, our minds are abuzz about Art at Work Month. What is Art at Work Month? It’s the entire month of November chock-full of hundreds of arts and cultural activities for you to participate in. Art at Work Month is dedicated to showing off the very best about our community and we want you to be a part of it.

One of the signature events that takes place in November is the Tacoma Studio Tour. This year’s tour features 55 artists and collaborative studios and allows the general public the opportunity to see the spaces in and tools with which local artists create their work. You can ask questions and purchase one-of-a-kind creations. And every studio will feature demonstrations of the artistic process or will have hands-on activities for visitors. Check out ArtAtWorkTacoma.com  for the full list of artists, schedule, and an interactive map where you can plot your custom tour course.

What: Tacoma Studio Tour
Where: 37 studio locations around Tacoma – map your course here When: November 3 & 4, 11 am – 5 pm
Cost: FREE!

Here is this week’s artist sneak peeks:

Karen Doten

Karen Doten received her MFA in painting and printmaking from the University of Iowa in 1999. Since, she has taught and exhibited her work at various universities and spaces across the country. Karen’s work explores the theme of landscape through an observational, remembrance, and ephemeral process. Her art uses layering to show multiple spaces at once, allowing landscapes to condense into the center of the frame and consolidate space so that they become abstractions of places seen.

Becky Frehse

Becky’s mixed media work incorporates reclaimed “treasures” with carving, mosaic, modeling compounds, and heavily textured painted surfaces. She often collaborates with other artists to create pieces inspired by music, poetry, and travels abroad.

Nancy McLaughlin

    Nancy shares a studio with several other artists on the 3rd floor of the Jet Tioga Building, enjoying great views of the city and mountains beyond. She is currently portraying colorful abstract landscapes in acrylic on canvas, and pastel on paper. She starts with a simple arrangement of shapes, then works loosely to let the medium help dictate the final outcome. During the tour, she will be demonstrating her techniques and welcomes conversation.

Jim Oliver

     Jim is a fine art photographer known for his nature and urban landscapes as well as for flower, waterfall, and marine images. His work has been in 22 juried exhibits and a total of 53 exhibitions since 2007. With his background in providing adult education, he truly enjoys facilitating “On Location” photography classes and offers day trip photographic tours under the name “The View From Here” Photographic Tours.

Victoria Johnson

Victoria’s oil paintings are about an exploration and a practice. Arching curves occupy the canvas panel to define overlapping planes while in the act of motion painted in a palette of enigmatic colors. She is thrilled to be in her new studio having recently relocated to Tacoma from Seattle. Victoria is currently preparing for a fall exhibition at Lisa Harris Gallery.

Ken Marks
 
Ken Marks has been taking photographs for over 25 years. He started his photography business during the past two years and focuses on people, architecture, events, and natural places in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He is currently developing a body of work that portrays unique aspects of Tacoma and the Puget Sound region, displaying the rich diversity of areas in which he has been fortunate to travel.

Check out other artists on the tour:
Studio Tour Preview: Part 5
Studio Tour Preview: Part 4
Studio Tour Preview: Part 3
Studio Tour Preview: Part 2
Studio Tour Preview: Part 1

Art at Work Month is sponsored by Click! Cable TV, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Washington State Arts Commission, Weekly Volcano, and Premier Media Group.