Jessica Spring shows a young visitor how the press works.

Tacoma Studio Tour
November 2 & 3, 2013

Are you a professional artist that lives in Tacoma and/or has a working studio in Tacoma? Do you want to open your studio to the public, demonstrate how you make your work, host a hands-on activity, and help raise the visibility of the arts in Tacoma? Apply to participate in our 12^th annual Tacoma Studio Tour!

The Tacoma Arts Commission is seeking professional artists who are willing to open their studios to the public for the Tacoma Studio Tour, one of the features of Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month this November. The emphasis of this tour is on raising visibility of the arts and providing artistic opportunities for the community to connect to the arts. While we encourage artists to have work for sale, the intention is not primarily as a studio sale. Studios will be open on Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3 from 11 am to 5 pm. Artists can choose to be open on Saturday, Sunday, or both days. The Tacoma Arts Commission will produce extensive electronic publicity materials including email newsletters, blog posts, and an interactive website and map. We will also produce a printed brochure for the Tacoma Studio Tour. The studio tours are free to both the artists and visitors.

A private entity is working on plans to provide a bus tour of studio locations. Studio Tour artists will have the opportunity to opt-in to being a stop along the bus tour route for a fee. More information about this optional service will be provided to all Studio Tour artists later this summer.

Deadline for submissions is Monday, July 22, 2013, midnight. Applicants will be juried in a competitive process by a sub-committee of the Tacoma Arts Commission and selected based on the quality of artwork and the overall diversity of the work presented, as well as geographic diversity of the studios.

To qualify:

1. You must live within the City of Tacoma limits and/or your working studio must be located within the City of Tacoma limits
2. You must provide a demonstration of your art form and/or provide a hands-on activity for attendees
3. You must actively promote the Studio Tours to your own contacts

If you would like to be a guest at another studio, the above guidelines still apply. A studio is defined as a location where artwork is created on a consistent basis.

Questions? Contact Naomi Strom-Avila at 253.591.5191 or nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org

To apply, submit the following three items:

1. Online Studio Tour Application
   Go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/2013TST and fill out the online application form.

Please submit the following two items by email to tacoma.submissions@cityoftacoma.org with the words “Studio Tour_Your Last Name” in the subject line.

2. 5 Work Samples
   Digital images only. Original work and slides cannot be accepted. We will use the images in materials produced for Art at Work month.
   • File Format Submit only “High” quality JPEG files (do not use GIF, TIFF, or other formats.) Do not embed the images into PowerPoint or submit moving image or audio files.
   • Image Size Images must be at least 300 ppi resolution. Images smaller than 600 pixels per side are not recommended.
3. Resume (if you have not participated in the Studio Tour in the past 2 years)

Notice for all of you artists who like to plan for the long-term:
Based on overwhelmingly supportive feedback we received from the community, Art at Work Month will be moving to October in 2014. Not this year. Next year. We’ll have more information for you when we get closer.

Spaceworks Tacoma and Downtown On The Go are currently seeking applications for a special Artscapes  project at 11th and Market in downtown Tacoma. Deadline to apply is June 25 at 5pm PST 

Overview of partnering programs:
Spaceworks Tacoma is a joint initiative of the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce designed to activate empty storefronts and vacant space. The initiative makes no- and low-cost temporary space, training, and technical assistance available to artists, creative entrepreneurs, organizations, and community groups in order to nurture successful projects that transform Tacoma into a stronger, more active city. www.SpaceworksTacoma.com

Downtown On the Go is the transportation advocate for anyone whose daily life is downtown. It is a program steered by a board of directors representing 20 downtown businesses, organizations, and agencies committed to leveraging their resources and relationships to reduce the downtown drive alone rate by 11% by 2015. http://www.downtownonthego.com/

Special Artscapes Project Description:
Spaceworks Tacoma and Downtown On The Go (DOTG) are teaming up to facilitate new Artscapes for the building walls at 11^th and Market in downtown Tacoma. We are seeking artist(s), artist teams and/or community groups to transform the current “Chalk Walls” into temporary 2-dimensional, site-specific installations (Artscapes) with a theme of transportation. Artists are asked to submit proposals that will create a space that adds to the livability of downtown and positively reflects living, moving, or being downtown Tacoma.

The building is located at 953 Market Street, Tacoma, WA98402. There are 15 wood panels total ranging in size from 150 SF to 400 SF. The Artscapes will be up for a period of 6 months and the artist will assume maintenance of the installations. Please submit proposals for all or part of the panels being offered with special attention paid to excluding the brick areas that are not currently painted green.

This project offers a stipend of $2,000 total (for materials, artists’ time and maintenance) for all panels located on 11^th and on Market Streets. Applicants can propose to create an Artscape on only one side of the building, i.e. 11^th street OR Market Street, for a stipend of $1000 per street side.

Selected artists must agree to the following:  

• Enter into an agreement with Spaceworks Tacoma regarding the terms of use
• This building is for sale, so the artists must be willing to deinstall the piece if the property owner finds a buyer within the negotiated timeframe
• Present destination quality artwork
• Maintain a high quality installation
• Create an enticing visual display for passersby
• Partner with Spaceworks Tacoma and DOTG to market and promote the installation
• Comply with all federal, state, and local laws
• Understand that initial payment is made within 30 days after installation, upon receipt of an invoice, and that payments cannot be made until contracts have been fully processed. A portion of payment is retained until deinstallation is complete.

Selection Criteria: Artists will be selected based on the following criteria.  

• Quality of work as exhibited in the work sample
• Feasibility and ability to execute proposal
• Ingenuity and strength of concept/proposal
• Appropriateness for the public realm 

 Selection Process
Applications to the Spaceworks program are reviewed by a panel of artists, arts professionals, Spaceworks Steering Committee members, representatives of neighborhood groups, and/or commercial property owners. 

 Questions? Or if you would like schematic drawings or photos of the panel walls, please contact Gabriel Brown, Spaceworks Arts & Economic Development Intern 253.682.1735, GabrielB@tacomachamber.org

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

WORK SAMPLE

• 5-10 digital images that demonstrate the artist’s past work. Whenever possible, include images of similar past projects. Artists applying as a team who have no examples of joint work in the past should submit 5 images of each artist’s work.
  o File Format: Submit only “High” quality JPEG files (do not use GIF, TIFF, or other formats.) Do not embed the images into PowerPoint or submit moving image or audio files.
  o Image Size: Images must be atleast  72 ppi resolution and 1000 pixels max on the largest side.
  o File Size: Files must be less than 2 MB each
  o File Labeling: Files must be titled with the applicant’s name followed by a number indicating the viewing order. Use a “0” in front of single digit numbers and use only letters, numbers, and underscores. For example: Smith_01.jpg; Smith_02.jpg. If using Mac OS 8 or later, be sure to include a “.jpg” extension at the end of each image title.
  o File Upload: In the application, please upload your images in the order to be viewed.
• AND/OR up to three Online Videos of the applicant’s past public interactions
  o Please provide the exact web address(es) where the online videos can be viewed. The panel will view a minimum of 1 minute and a maximum of 3 minutes of each video.

WORK SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS 
Provide the following information on the online application form for each image:

•  Title of each work represented in the image or activity depicted
• Media & dimensions (H x W x D”), if applicable, or description of activity
• If work is presented as part of a collaboration, explain your role in the larger project

RESUME (three pages or less)

• If submitting as a team/group, a current resume should be submitted for the contact person and all relevant team/group members
• Save as PDF. File should be 1 MB or less.
• Name your resume file with your last name like this: “Smith_ Resume.pdf”

PROPOSAL CONCEPT
Outline your proposal concept for this transportation-themed Artscapes installation. We are looking for a clear idea of your project and your ability to successfully implement it. Be as concise as possible. The review panel will not read more than the designated word count. You may answer in narrative, bulleted or other form. (500 words/3,000 characters or less)

PROPOSAL DRAWING
Please submit a proposal sketch or other visual aid for your project. Submit a jpg using the same guidelines as listed for the digital image work samples, or submit a PDF document (3 MB max.)

Ready to apply? Click here to go to the online application. We suggest you gather all your materials before starting the application. If you have problems with the online application please contact Gabriel Brown, Spaceworks Arts & Economic Development Intern 253.682.1735, GabrielB@tacomachamber.org.

What

In October 1998, a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. The Laramie Project is a breathtaking theatrical collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.

Tacoma Little Theatre is proud to end its 94^th season with The Laramie Project directed by Brie Yost, by Moisés Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project. This production is supported in part through Arts Projects funding of the Tacoma Arts Commission.

The Laramie Project Kickoff Night
Where: Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 North I Street, Tacoma
When: June 1, 6 pm 
Tickets: $10 suggested donation

Tacoma Little Theatre is proud to host The Laramie Project Kickoff Night is a celebration of equality, acceptance, and hope in our community. The event will include a silent auction, live entertainment, delicious local food, a cash bar, and an art gallery in the lobby. Meet the director and members of the cast and design team and join in this important conversation.

50% of the night’s profits will go to OASIS Youth Center. OASIS enhances and sustains the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth by saving individual lives, building community, and developing young leaders who can change the world. OASIS is a youth-adult partnership in which young people and adults come together for shared teaching, learning and action. OASIS is a program of the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. OASIS is open to LGBTQ youth ages 14-24.

Patti Puhn poses next to her work, Ceremonial Cape (cedar bark, sinew, abalone shell buttons, rabbit fur), winner of the 2012 In the Spirit “Honoring the Ancestors” award.

On Saturday, June 8, the Washington State History Museum will unveil the eighth annual In the Spirit: Contemporary Northwest Native Arts exhibit, in partnership with The Evergreen State College Longhouse Education & Cultural Center.  The exhibit, which will be on display through August 18, showcases work from more than 20 Northwest Native artisans and focuses on the distinctive cultures and stories of the region’s tribal groups.  The two-month exhibit will culminate with the In the Spirit: Northwest Native Arts Market & Festival on Saturday, August 17, 2013.

“Through these incredible artists, we are able celebrate and teach about the diversity of Washington state heritage,” said Jennifer Kilmer, Director of the Washington State Historical Society. “The sheer variety of mediums on display is a testament to the unique heritage of Northwest Native art and the beautiful contrast between traditional and modern cultures.”

There will be nearly 30 pieces in this year’s exhibit, including paintings, prints, basketry, sculpture, woven clothing, beadwork, cast glass, and mixed media pieces. This year welcomes an impressive eight past In the Spirit award winners and six first-time exhibitors. Each artist, representing 20 tribal groups, presents a different perspective and aesthetic.

During the opening night reception on June 8, museum members are invited to view the full exhibit and discuss the works with the artists and curators. The three-person judging panel, comprised of Native American art experts and artists, will present this year’s winners in four categories at the opening reception: “Best of Show,” “Celebrating the Northwest,” “Celebrating Tradition” and “Celebrating Innovation.”  A “People’s Choice” award is voted on by visitors throughout the exhibit and awarded during the August festival. 

“The interest and enthusiasm for this exhibit continues to grow year after year, and it shows how important these artists and cultures are to Washington history,” said Tina Kuckkahn-Miller, Director, Longhouse Education and Cultural Center at The Evergreen State College. “Each piece this year is rich with stories that tell of the various challenges, values and triumphs of Northwest Native communities.”

What: In the Spirit: Contemporary Northwest Native Arts exhibit 
Where: Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma
When: June 8 – August 18, 2013. Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., extended hours and free admission every third Thursday, 2 – 8 p.m.
Cost: $9.50/adults; $7/seniors and students; free for members and children age 5 and younger. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, active duty military with valid ID can receive free admission along with up to five of their family members.

The In the Spirit exhibit and festival are organized by the Washington State Historical Society and The Evergreen State College; made possible in part by the Tacoma Arts Commission, Tulalip Tribe and Nisqually Tribe, and media sponsor KUOW 94.9.

Cherilynn Williams & Annie Katica Green in rehearsal for Bluebeard.

What: Pericles Snowdon’s Bluebeard
Where: Chapel at Urban Grace, 902 Market Street, Tacoma
When: Fridays & Saturdays, May 31 – June 15, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $14/adults; $7/students w/ID. Tickets available at the door or in advance at Brown Paper Tickets.
Information: www.assemblagetheater.com

Raised inside an abandoned church since they were babies, four women have been taught to fear the outside world. Locked in to keep them safe from an ice storm which, 25 years ago, brought the world-as they-knew-it to an apocalyptic end, the four exist in a makeshift society controlled by their tortured matriarch, Blue. This uniquely written tour de force highlights one of London’s finest young playwrights. In its west coast premiere, English playwright Pericles Snowdon’s Bluebeard explores parenthood, political subjugation, gender, the environment, betrayal, and the apocalypse. The play, while dark and creepy, is charming and engaging with a fetching touch of dark humor. Bluebeard, presented by Tacoma’s Assemblage Theater, opens Friday, May 31 and runs for three weeks. Two pay-what-you-can performances are scheduled for Thursday, June 6 and 13.

Featured in the cast are Kathi Aleman, Nicole Lockett, Heather Christopher, Kaylie Rainer, Annie Katica Green and Cherilyn Williams.  Bluebeard is directed and produced by David Domkoski, with original music by Stanley William. Production design is by Erin Chanfrau.

“We all know the fairy tale about Bluebeard, who keeps his wives hostage, insisting that they be obedient to his will. It’s clearly a tale of patriarchal rule,” said David Domkoski, the play’s director. “How do we react to the tale, however,” asked Domkoski, “when the controller is a mother bent on protecting her daughters? That’s the premise which Pericles explores in his play. As the girls’ mother asks, ‘Isn’t it better to be put away somewhere safe than to get sent out to a world without a heart.’” Post-play discussions with the cast and director are scheduled after every performance.

Bluebeard was first produced in London, enjoying a sell-out run at the Old Red Lion Theater and garnering Time Out Critic’s Choice. It then transferred to New York and the Toronto Festival where it won rave reviews and the coveted Patron’s Pick award.

Assemblage Theater’s production of Bluebeard is funded in part through the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program of the Tacoma Arts Commission. Additional funding came from a recently completed campaign on KickStarter.com

About the playwright

In 2009 Pericles was selected by a panel of Radio 4 producers and artistic directors to receive the £10k OffWestEnd Adopt A Playwright award. The winning play, They Who Lay in Fields Like Beasts, was then introduced by Ian McKellen at The Theatre Royal Haymarket. Last year his memory palace play The Cat’s Mother was produced by all-female theatre company FoxedUp at The Courtyard in London, receiving 5 stars and a grant from the Arts Council.

For more information and a detailed job description, visit: http://www.tacomachamber.org/content/chamber-hiring

The deadline is next Friday, May 17 so hurry and apply!

the BareFoot Collective

Who: the BareFoot Collective
What: Ides of May dance concert
Where: Theater on the Square, 901 Broadway, Tacoma
When: Saturday, May 11, 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Tickets: $15-$20; purchase online, at the Broadway Center box office, or by calling 253-591-5894 

The BareFoot Collective’s (tBFC) Ides of May dance concert is coming again, but this year it is bigger than ever!  tBFC has always prided itself as being a home for movement arts in the South Sound area and in working within the community to make dance accessible to all.  This year they have reached out to give their annual Ides of May dance concert a boost.  Being held on Saturday May 11th, the show will be performed in the beautiful Theater on the Square, thanks to partnership with the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.

The Ides of May show is known for reaching out to bring the concepts and techniques of dance creation to high school students.  In the past tBFC has only been able to bring their workshop to one high school at a time.  This year, through their venue at Theater on the Square and the support of the community, tBFC is able to reach out to multiple high schools at once, bringing this unique opportunity for creation and performance with a professional company to as many youth as possible.

tBFC’s collaboration for this show does not stop there.  They are excited to be working with local music groups as well.  Michael Hoover, co-director of tBFC, is creating a dance piece to his love of punk music, and in particular Tacoma’s own Girl Trouble.  “I like the challenge of doing something different, something that challenges what is expected and what is ‘normal,’” said Hoover.  Established in 1984, Girl Trouble are a main stay in Tacoma, self producing and creating music their own way.   

This year’s concert will also include the music of Julia Massey and the Five Finger Discount, a talented trio branded as “cosmic-folk-rock”.  “It is amazing to find music that inspires you to move and create,” said Stephanie Pederson, co-director of tBFC.  “How lucky to have such a talented group of musicians in the Pacific Northwest that want to support dance and local organizations through the sharing of their art.”

This diverse show also features the live music of Nathaniel Dybevik, original work from Serendip Dance Brigade, the choreography of Carla Baragan of BQDanza, Serena River, and dancers from PLU.

Mural at 220 Puyallup Ave. Lead artist: Chris Sharp. Artist team: Kate Cendejas, Yvette Simone, Janice Lee Warren.

In support of the City of Tacoma’s ongoing efforts to combat blight and vandalism, the Tacoma Murals Project would like to hear from community groups interested in collaborating with local artists who will design and implement murals that reflect positive neighborhood themes or messages. The deadline for submissions is May 28, 2013.

“These community-based murals have proven to be positive community catalysts, bringing neighbors together, helping them find common voices, and enlivening areas that were previously neglected,” said Tacoma Arts Administrator Amy McBride. “It is inspiring to see how artists have been able to work within each community to develop murals that are unique and responsive to the characteristics, stories, history and future of each neighborhood.”

Each selected community group will receive a funded mural that includes artist supplies and artist compensation, an artist/artist team from a roster provided by the City, technical assistance and general promotion of the project.

Mural at 5441 South Sheridan. Lead artists: Kenji Stoll, Chris Jordan. Artist team: David Long, Yvette Simone, Chelsea O’Sullivan, Natalie Oswald.

In return, each selected community group would be responsible for contributing in-kind services and materials as required to prepare their mural wall, participating in the selection of an artist/artist team from a City-provided roster, coordinating community meetings and the dedication of their completed mural, and maintaining their mural after completion.

Community groups must, with property owner permission, propose specific mural walls. Proposed mural walls must be on commercial or public property and located within Tacoma city limits. Priority will be given to sites located within Community Based Services areas in Tacoma or sites located in areas without a good representation of public art.

Full project details, and the application, are available online. For additional information, please contact Naomi Strom-Avila at nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5191.

Artspace Mount Rainier Artist Lofts in Mount Rainier, Maryland

Thanks to generous support from JPMorgan Chase, the City of Tacoma and the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation are bringing Artspace (a national non-profit artist housing developer) to town to conduct a feasibility study for the development of artist live/work housing in Tacoma.  During their time in Tacoma, they will tour potential properties and meet with stakeholders including artists, the business sector, potential funders, and civic leaders.  

We need the input of artists, arts organizations, arts businesses, funders, etc to help inform this important discussion.  You don’t need to be looking to live in a live/work development in order to participate in this conversation. 

We invite you to attend this free Public Meeting about artist live/work space:
Date: Thursday, May 9
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Tacoma Municipal Building North, 738 St. Helens, room 16
No RSVP necessary

Artspace Hiawatha Lofts in Seattle

Artist live/work developments can be catalytic to communities providing affordable housing that meet both residential and professional needs of artists.  Artist live/work projects are productive creative centers that can become destinations and anchor neighborhoods.

With Tacoma’s beautiful historic building stock ripe for adaptive re-use and our thriving arts community, an artist live/work development would be an excellent addition to our arts ecosystem.

Feel free to spread the word about this public meeting to people who may be interested.

We hope to see you there!

Friday, April 26, 2013
Registration at 5:30pm, Tournament at 6pm
BLRB Office, 1250 Pacific Ave, Suite 700, Tacoma, WA

Bring your “A” game and retro tennis apparel (optional) to the 4th annual 2013 AIASWW Wii Tennis Tournament. Join Spaceworks staff, friends and supporters for a fun night of Wii Tennis at the cool offices of BLRB in downtown Tacoma. Spaceworks will appreciate your support through your entry fee of $20 for players or $10 for spectators, which includes both food & drink.

Please RVSP on our Facebook page or drop an email to: aia@aiasww.org
Presented by Emerging Leaders Group (American Institute of Architects South West Washington Chapter)