Let ‘er Rip! Altered Book Workshop at the Library

An altered book is any book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art. They can be rebound, painted, cut, burned, folded, added to, collaged in, gold-leafed, rubber stamped, drilled or otherwise adorned. Altered books may be as simple as adding a drawing or text to a page, or as complex as creating an intricate book sculpture. If you’ve been itching to create something beautiful, or looking for the magic to achieve that, here’s the perfect opportunity to explore your creative self! Using easy art techniques and a ton of fun art supplies, you will learn how to express your dreams & visions — making an altered book that reflects you. Attendees should bring photos and other personal items to incorporate into the project, a sharp pair of scissors and a box lunch. Register here. http://evanced.tacomapubliclibrary.org/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp

Altered Book Workshop – Saturdays @ 11am – 3pm

Moore Library
Saturday, June 30 @ 11 – 3pm

Wheelock Library
Saturday, July 7 @ 11 – 3pm

Swasey Library
Saturday, July 21 @ 11-3pm

Metro Arts Theatre, Video & Visual Art Summer Camps

Enjoy summer vacation to the max! Does your child have a knack for acting, photography or storytelling, or love to make art? Then check out the menu at Metro Arts Visual and Theatre Art Summer Camps!

THEATRE AND VIDEO CAMPS

Video Production                                                           
Young people will try on the roles of director, screenwriter and actor using professional equipment. Ages 11 to 15.
School of the Arts – Pacific Ave.                                    
#61117    08/06 – 08/16    Mon. – Thurs.    10 am – 3 pm
Fee: $249

Improvisational Acting and Poetry Slam Camp  
This lively class teaches kids how to toss those scripts and improvise! Participants play games to create characters, poetry and stories. Ages 11 to 18.
School of the Arts – Broadway                                 
#61104    08/13 – 08/16    Mon. – Thurs.    10 am – 3 pm
Fee: $169

Storybook Theatre Camp                                            
Instructors Jonathan and Rachel will transform readings and discussions into lively daily theatrical presentations! Available at three locations. Ages 5 to 8.
STAR Center
#61105    07/16 – 07/19    Mon. – Thurs.    9 am – noon
School of the Arts – Broadway 
#61106       07/23 – 07/26    Mon. – Thurs.    9 am – noon
Portland Ave. Community Center
#61107    08/13 – 08/16    Mon. – Thurs.    9 am – noon
Fee: $149

Theatre Intensive Camp                                              
Youths 9 to 18 learn the basics of creating a theatrical masterpiece! This intensive teaches how to develop and analyze characters and improve acting technique. Instructor: Angelica Duncan. Ages 9 to 18.
School of the Arts – Broadway                                 
#61102    07/30 – 08/09    Mon. – Thurs.    10 am – 3 pm
Fee: $249

Acting for Film                                                                 
To get a feel for being in front of the camera, young aspiring actors will create infomercials with their performance captured on film. Instructor: Angelica Duncan. Ages 9 to 19.
Gray Middle School                                                       
#61103    07/09 – 07/19    Mon. – Thurs.    10 am – 3 pm
Fee: $249

Figure Drawing Sessions at the Merlino Art Center

Drawing courtesy of Tacoma Academy of Fine Art

The Tacoma Academy of Fine Art is hosting Wednesday night drawing sessions at the Merlino! Come sketch from a live model at a studio in the Merlino Art Center, a vintage 1925 brick building home to the Grand Cinema and Tacoma City Ballet.

The three-hour sessions will take place throughout the year on Wednesday nights, 6:30-9:30. Cost is $15 per session on a drop-in basis. Easels will be provided but artists must bring their own materials. All skill levels are welcome. On the last session of each month there is an optional group critique that all artists are welcome to participate in.

Questions? Call Tim Mansen at 253-579-6908 or email tim.mansen@gmail.com. www.tacomaacademyoffineart.com

Puget Sound Sumi Artists at Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden

Art work by Bill Havens.

The Puget Sound Sumi Artists are presenting “Sumi-e Visions of Nature”, an exhibition and demonstration of sumi-e painting at the Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, June 30 through July 25, 2012. Come enjoy this homage to nature; on view are artworks celebrating the centuries-old art form of brush painting set amidst some of nature’s most exquisite creations – bonsai trees – trained into living sculpture by human hands.

The opening reception is Saturday, June 30, 1 – 3 pm, at 3366 Weyerhaeuser Way South in Federal Way. This event includes free admission to the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection.

Metro Parks Summer Music Camps

This summer, Metro Parks Tacoma is offering a variety of music camps in conjunction with its community partners and Metro Arts. Whether your student is already involved in music or would like the chance of playing an instrument for the first time, there is a camp available!

Instrument Exploration Camp by Ted Brown Music Outreach
Instruments are provided.
Age: 8-12
Fee: $59
Time 9:30-11:30am
6/25- 6/28           Woodwinds #61093
7/09-7/26            Strings #61094
7/23- 7/26           Percussion #61096
Location: Ted Brown Music, 6228 Tacoma Mall Blvd

Puget Sound Brass Camp by Community School of Music
Daily Master classes, chamber music groups and brass ensemble rehearsals for students with 3 years+ experience.
Age: 13 and up
Fee: $195
Time: 10 am-3 pm (T-F) and 3-5:30 pm (Sat.)
6/26-6/30           Brass #61097
Location: University of Puget Sound

Rock the Guitar Camp, Volume III
Interactive camp for all skill levels.
Age: 11-15
Fee: $160
Time: 10 am-1 pm
7/16-7/19            Guitar #61100
Location: Tacoma School of the Arts, 1117 Broadway

Songwriting & Audio Recording
Foundations of theory and song structure – create and produce your own music.
Age: 11-15
Fee: $249
7/23-8/2 (M-TH)              Song/Audio #61101
Location: Tacoma School of the Arts, 1117 Broadway

Register online now!  www.metroparkstacoma.org/GOCamps. Contact: Mary Tuttle at (253) 471-0500

Speak Out at Community Budget Input Meetings

Arts and culture funding under discussion at Community Budget Input Meetings

Photo: Kristin Giordano

Tacoma residents are invited to participate in the creation of the 2013-2014 Biennial Budget through a series of Community Budget Input Meetings in late June and July in the five City Council Districts across the city. The purpose of the Community Budget Input Meetings is to help residents understand the City’s budget development process and provide an opportunity to speak with City officials about current and future budget allocations and priorities. Current projections for the City’s General Fund in the 2013-2014 biennium anticipate a budget gap between $60 and $65 million.

While arts and culture are certainly not the only thing being considered in these meetings, the City’s funding of arts and culture is under discussion and, based on a recent rating by Council, “there is willingness to reduce resource levels” for “funding for arts and cultural programs”. Input collected from residents at these meetings will be used by City staff to help determine how General Fund dollars will be spent on such services as those provided by police, fire, libraries, street maintenance,  social services and support for the arts and cultural programs.

This is the first time that the City of Tacoma has implemented a mechanism for focused community input re: the City’s budget. Consider attending, learning more, and making your voices heard! You will be asked to rank services in addition to learning more and sharing your perspectives. We encourage you to attend, if possible, and join in the conversation.

Meeting schedule:
June 27 – 5:30 p.m. at the Wheelock Library, 3722 N. 26^th St.
June 28 – 6 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 6730 N. 17^th St.
July 9 – 6 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, 3875 S. 66^th St., Community Room
July 11 – 6 p.m. at the Moore Library, 215 S. 56^th St.
July 12 – 6 p.m. at the Center at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave.
July 16 – 6 p.m. at the Snake Lake Nature Center, 1919 S. Tyler St.
July 18 – 6 p.m. at Stadium High School, 111 N. E St.
July 19 – 6 p.m. at Lincoln High School, 701 S. 37^th St.
July 23 – 6 p.m. at Baker Middle School, 8320 S. I St.

 

Dometop Mural Underway!

By Hannah Franke, Tacoma Arts Commission Intern

You can begin to see progress at the future Dometop Mural (not to be confused with the Dome District mural) site on the retaining wall of the 3200 block of East L Street.  The wall, covered in years of moss and dirt, is undergoing pressure washing this week to remove the debris so that painting can begin.  Stripped of the moss, the wall is beginning to look like a blank canvas that the lead artists, Rachael Dotson and Jeremy Gregory, and artist team Yvette Simone, Chelsea O’Sullivan, and Natalie Oswald will be transforming for the Dometop Neighborhood Alliance.  Here are some pictures of the in-progress work:

Murals Project Update: The Dome District Mural

By Hannah Franke, Tacoma Arts Commission Intern

In May we brought you news about five sites that were selected to receive murals this summer as part of the Tacoma Murals Project. A lot has happened since then and the groundwork for these artworks is starting to take shape, including on the mural for the Dome District at 220 Puyallup Avenue.

Chris Sharp, the lead artist on this project, and the artist team of Kate Cendejas, Yvette Simone, David Long  Brian Hutcheson, have been working to gather input and ideas from the community and property owner. They are now getting ready to meet with the community on Friday to present some initial ideas for a mural that artistically represents the area’s commercial and residential tenants.

220 Puyallup Avenue as a blank canvas

Initial mural concept by Chris Sharp

Sharp states, “This design feels like it reflects the transit oriented, congregation, or procession of people that come in through the district daily for different events.  It evokes the Dome without making any reference to it.”

Q & A with Chris Sharp:
What was your first response to the space you were given?
I was really pleased with the surface, location and scale of the site.

What does the community wish to portray in the mural?
Words that the community used to describe the area were: industrial, links, water, gateway, community, gritty, fun, opportunity, passionate, emotional, with growth. Also, there was some mention of the mural NOT visually representing Mt. Rainier or trains.

How do you plan to incorporate community values and stories into the mural?
With questions and answers from community members as well as by showing the design in a public forum. Hopefully, the design should evoke and inspire the words mentioned above.

When do you plan to complete the mural?
Mid to late July, hopefully sooner.

You can follow the progress of this mural at Chris Sharp’s blog: http://chrissharp3000.blogspot.com/