Monday, August 31, 2009

Flower Bulb Farming


Mural commemorating
flower bulb farming
in the Puyallup River Valley
near Tacoma.

Artist Unknown.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Hello Cupcake


The creamcheese frosting

"Hello Cupcake" photo copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian

is to die for.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Dragonfly


Dragonfly is a gallery
and accessories shop on Pacific Avenue
across from the federal courthouse.


In addition to the courthouse reflected in the window
you can see my hands clutching
my little "take-everywhere" camera.


Friday, August 28, 2009

Something's Fishy


Pardon the pun
but I can't help thinking


"Don't play koi with me."

(Conservatory fish pond - Wright Park)

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Invitation


If you're itching for something creative to do


Open Art Studio.
Tacoma Art Museum.



Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Alt Heidelberg


Sometimes the most interesting signage
is faded by time.


Pacific Avenue in the Museum District.


Since I'm not a beer drinker,
I didn't know the history of this famous Tacoma brewery.
Click here to find out more about it.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Column


On the University of Washington campus


outside the entrance to the bookstore
and University Center.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Artists in Residence at the Glass Museum


Noted glass artist Tom Rowney
was the artist-in-residence
at the Museum of Glass last week.


The team, under Rowney's direction,
created works right in front of your eyes.


This week's artist-in-residence is
Molly Wolfe.

If you can't make it to the Museum in person
to watch her work, you can always check out the live feed
Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm
Third Thursday 10 am to 8 pm
(all times Pacific Standard time)

If you're coming to the museum to watch the fun,
just remember to wear something cool.
No, the fashion police aren't on duty.

It's just that
the Hot Shop is aptly named.


Sunday, August 23, 2009

Mr. Foote's Middle School Art Class at Baker Middle School


I'm only supposed to post one Tacoma photo,
so I'm treating what's written above as text,
even though I took a photo of this message
to share it with you.

There were three large-scale portraits
exhibited at The Hub
but I chose this one


to show what fabulous collaborative art
these young people created.

Kudos to art teacher Mr. Foote
for designing a project that could give
students such a feeling of success.

Kudos to The Hub restaurant
for providing gallery space
for all three pieces to be exhibited and admired.


Saturday, August 22, 2009

New Student Orientation


There was a lot of purple,
but not much gold in evidence
as new students got oriented
to the campus at University of Washington-Tacoma.

Go Dawgs!

Friday, August 21, 2009

This is Only a Test


Yesterday, when I took my son and his girlfriend
to Seattle-Tacoma International,
there were a lot of gawkers on the airport access road.


No, there wasn't an emergency with the new light rail system.
This was only a drill.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Ezra Meeker Mansion


The Ezra Meeker Mansion,
one of the historic homes
in the greater Tacoma area
(specifically Puyallup -- pronounced pew - Al - up)

is getting a new set of stairs
to the front door.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Suspension Bridges - Night


We have these two suspension bridges
spanning the Tacoma Narrows,
side by side.

The one on the right, with the decorative XX's
is the "old" bridge, the one that replaced "Galloping Gertie,"
the bridge that collapsed November 7, 1940.

(The remains of that bridge lie deep beneath the surface
and formed an artificial reef that is a favorite cold-water dive spot.)

The "old" bridge was designed to carry about 15,000 cars per day.
By the time construction began on the "new" parallel bridge,
it was carrying around 90,000 cars per day.

Traffic was a mess.

Now water flow through the Narrows is the same.

Traffic flow is much improved.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Is it Art?


I'm sure Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
doesn't think this is art.

But it does have a certain je ne sais quois.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Sunset Silhouette


This image pretty much


speaks for itself
about the colors of sunset at Titlow Park.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Cool Details


I love the attention to detail

someone paid to this building.

Notice the sculptural "head" motif
and the decorative painting on the arch.


Saturday, August 15, 2009

Open Art Studio


The Tacoma Art Museum
has an open art studio
where kids of all ages
can cut and paint and paste and get messy
to their hearts' content.

There's no cost to use the studio or the materials provided
and frequently there are free days when there's no admission fee.

Donations, however, are always gratefully accepted
as a means of defraying the costs of staffing
and supplying materials for the studio.



Friday, August 14, 2009

False Advertising


The photo of St. Joseph Hospital
in my earlier blog post today
wasn't taken yesterday, for sure.

Our environs got a soaking yesterday
from a strong cell of thunderstorms.
The roofs of Tacoma looked like this

mid-to-late afternoon.

The blue sky was just a memory.

St. Joseph Hospital, Tacoma



That white building with the curvilinear walls
and the porthole-like windows
is Tacoma's St. Joseph Hospital,

part of the Franciscan Health Care System.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Port City


Ships are thought to be female
for some reason
so I wonder:

does the Cape Intrepid ask the Cape Island,
"Does this color make my aft look big?"


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Minoela

One of the newest wine bar & bistros
in Tacoma is at Sixth and Fawcett.


As I understand it,
the food selections are somewhat limited but tasty
and the wine selection is the star.


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The Spar in Old Town


The Spar


a pub and eatery in Old Town.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Splashing Around


Water cascades down these sculptural forms

making splashing simply irresistible
on hot days.


Sunday, August 9, 2009

To the Point


Don't you love the swooping and soaring,
the imaginative thrust

of modern architecture?


Saturday, August 8, 2009

Take Me Out to the Ball Game


There would be no baseball,
either major or minor leagues,
without fans.


This must have been when there was a change of pitchers.
The attention level is less than rapt.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Sunset Over the Pond


Sunset
at Titlow Park in west Tacoma
on Puget Sound.


The last light of day.


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Keeping Watch


Around eight o'clock
on a warm and sunny evening

Mt. Rainier keeps watch over Tacoma.

(view from Dock Street)

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Ice Ice Baby



Luckily this isn't ice,
it only looks icy.

As warm as it's been the past couple of weeks,
it wouldn't have survived.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Butterfly Bush


A butterfly bush
adorns a vacant lot
along Dock Street.


The land there's not completely covered with condos.
Not yet.

Monday, August 3, 2009

The Workz Cafe


The cafe at the Tacoma Art Museum
is under new management
and is no longer
"Untitled."


It's now called
"The Workz Cafe"
and is run by the Jonz Catering folks.

I had a yummy turkey Cobb salad there.
The cafe still has the same friendly service
and the hours have expanded.

If you head over there,
see the jewelry exhibits
(I particularly love the Nancy Worden Loud Bones show)
and then have a bite to eat.

If you want to make a day of it,
head on down the street to the history museum
and then across the skybridge to the Glass Museum.


Sunday, August 2, 2009

William Traver Gallery


Not only is the gallery filled with wonderful things
artfully arranged in a delightful space,


it's well-positioned to make you reflect on art.


Saturday, August 1, 2009

Chalk the Walk


As usual, the corner of 9th and Pacific
was busy yesterday with artists

creating temporary masterpieces
at Chalk the Walk.