Artist Anthony Duenas was born and raised in East Tacoma, but his roots are embedded with the Puyallup Indians, a tribe whose history in the Puget Sound region spans thousands of years. “I am Native American, an enrolled Puyallup tribal member,” he said in an e-mail interview. Duenas’s artwork centers on contemporary interpretations of Northwest native mythology rendered in the graceful curvilinear style of Coast Salish. He has created original outdoor murals and collaborative art around Tacoma including in the McKinley neighborhood, the Lincoln District and the Dome District.
“The more I got into the Coast Salish art form, the more I wanted to return the art form to the area,” he said. “I don’t want to lose the stories and myths of my tribe, and surrounding tribes.” Located on bustling city streets and near businesses, Duenas’s wall-spanning paintings energize neighborhood landscapes while bringing indigenous culture and storytelling to the surface of public awareness. Continue reading →
Every Third Thursday the Tacoma community gets to enjoy a variety of artistic events. The Tacoma Art Museum offers free admission, various galleries host opening nights for new exhibits, and more.
For this September’s Art Walk, the area saturated with historic theaters and performance spaces will come alive not only with visual art, but also with music, dancing and other activity. As your Third Thursday plans are shaping up, consider joining several of these indoor and outdoor events to see how public spaces can be highly utilized and programmed with fun experiences. All activities are 5-9pm unless otherwise noted. Grab a Theater District Art Walk map at Spaceworks Gallery or many of these locations.
Theater Square
Theater Square provides space for festivals and outdoor community performances
5pm | Guided Tour
Each visitor can craft a personal route to view art they are interested in, but those who crave community experience are invited to join Downtown: On The Go! for an organized walking tour that begins at 5:15pm in Theater Square and visits several locations along the way. The tour will conclude at 6:15pm at the opening reception for GTCF’s Foundation of Art Award, located at the Spaceworks Gallery. There is no pre-registration required.
Activating events and locations by bringing skateparks to the people. Pop-Up Park is a program that Alchemy runs in partnership with several local community events including Ethnic Fest, Downtown to Defiance, and several more.
Alchemy brings ramps, boards, helmets, to create a programmed skate park experience at events or in locations and communities that do not have skate parks.
Enjoy the energy and verve of the Symphony Tacoma Brass Quintet at the north end of Theater Square from 6-8:30pm. Becky Miller on horn, Judson Scott and Jeff Snyder on trumpet, Keith Winkle on trombone, and Paul Evans on tuba will present a lively and varied program, including the familiar and the unusual, from pop to classics.
This tiny park is easy to overlook but has great amenities with a stage, plenty of seating, and room to dance.
Just Digg’N
Sounds by Justin Tamminga and DJ DigOne who will accompany dance battles. Bring your best b-boy and b-girl game to this open session located in the pocket park between Commerce Street and Pacific Avenue, tucked between buildings next to 11th.
Frost Park (corner of 9th & Pacific)
6 – 9pm | Fire performances with circus artists Perry Petaccia, Zak Grenier and friends
Tacoma Chalk artists and members of CLAW will be chalking and you can join in!
Broadway Center (corner of 9th & Commerce)
CultureShock Collective presents art by Laura Castellanos
For the Broadway Center windows at 9th and Commerce, CultureShock Collective is curating an exhibit of work by Laura Castellanos. Learn more about Laura in this City Arts article.
The Productivity Parlour for Artful Living
(inside Revisioned Boutique at 741 St Helens Ave)
This hand-crafts business will showcase the history of sewing machines, as well as clothing, accessories, and costumes crafted by the Productivity Parlour artists.
Erin Severe as retro “Harley Quinn”. Dorothy Dean Photography
Naarah McDonald as queen. Photo courtesy of The Unicorn Files
Minka (821 Pacific)
5:30 – 7pm | Minka presents art of Chandler Woodfin & Sheila Klein
Minka is proud to present an exhibit of new work by Tacoma-based artist, Chandler Woodfin. Woodfin’s watercolors pulsate with voluminous, abstract forms and radiant implosions of color. This show features an epic 4′ x 12′ mural, “Hissing Uphill”.
“People often want to know what my paintings ‘depict’ or what I paint ‘about’. Truth is, I paint from the void and to the void. I paint because I cannot explain, not because I can. I paint because I know there are others who are painting what is inside of them. I paint because I know there is more to life than what my tongue can describe.” -Chandler Woodfin
You can also shop one of the newest collections by local fashion designer Sheila Klein.
Whether you are an artist seeking to activate your potential for public art or an entrepreneur with a growing business or business idea, we have offerings to support your creative drive.