2007 in review: Tacoma's growing arts scene
There are signs of a nascent community, but the City of Destiny is still looking for its place in the world of artists and collectors.
In October, I interviewed a few people on the ground floor of Tacoma's growing visual arts scene. I found that while truly commendable efforts are being made in the city in the form of a revitalized downtown core flanked by flagship museums, it remains to be seen whether or not Tacomans themselves will embrace the arts in a manner that will support both artists and the gallery owners who sell their work.
I've since talked with Amy McBride, arts administrator for the City of Tacoma. McBride has held the position for nine years and has done much to fuel Tacoma's renaissance – although she's more likely to credit Tacoma Arts Commission members and others for the city's success. McBride says that a record 31 studios were open for the Art at Work month studio tour this November, up from just 14 when the program launched six years ago. She has also seen the number of arts events in Tacoma quadruple during that same time period.
Still, McBride acknowledged that Tacoma could do much better in some areas, such as providing affordable space for artists to live and work. "I'd die for something like that here," she says. "I've tried, but the right mix hasn't coalesced yet."
Top on her list is to promote a thriving downtown community. "We want to see street-level vibrancy," she says. McBride sees the high-end museums and grassroots arts activity as a good start, but she worries about proprietors such as Tom Michael and Catherine Swanson, two gallery owners I interviewed who spoke to the difficulties of economic survival in Tacoma. "If you're a professional artist, where do you show your work in Tacoma?" McBride asks. "We would like the gallery owners' efforts to be more sustainable. They're out there struggling their hearts out."
At this point, McBride can only hope that new condominium development and the residential impact they will make on the downtown core bring an increase in retail activity. "What's the tipping point?" she asks. "Will the people who move into those condos buy artwork?"
That's anybody's guess.
Comments:
Posted Thu, Dec 27, 12:54 p.m. inappropriate
Tacoma's Art Scene: Tacoma really only has itself to blame for its limited art scene. I am an artist and I have had a gallery since 2001 in downtown Tacoma. I seldom open my art gallery anymore because so few people support the arts in Tacoma unless it is to visit a "world class" museum, involves drinking and/or partying, is an opportunity to get something for free, or supports a particular cause.
Art is seldom celebrated in its own right and artists remain crammed into the old, tired, but still romanticized mold of "starving artist," a huge disservice that insures the continued devaluing of art and those of us that create it.
Nearly every day I hear someone say that they would love to buy art but "original art is so expensive." Yet those same people will spend hundreds and thousands of dollars every day on mass produced clothes, cars, and electronics.
I used to spend a lot of time organizing wonderful exhibits with great work - few people attended and after several years it became very disheartening.
People claim to support the arts but then the very same people will ask artists to donate their work to every auction in town or to work for free for a "good cause."
If Tacoma really wants to support the arts then its citizens need to step up and buy local art, Tacoma's art leaders need to stop playing favorites, and city leaders need to purchase art by local artists instead of internationally known people when opportunities arise (and I'm not talking about Dale Chihuly).
I feel that I have made contributions to Tacoma's art community - I have sold my pieces at the Night Tacoma Danced, which benefits the Tacoma Art Museum, donated my time for free to create downtown banners, and hosted art events for Tacoma's public school children. But I have sold much more of my work to people that don't live here.
To support the arts, Tacoma needs literally to put its money where its mouth is. Here is a suggestion - the next time you attend an art reception, put down that cookie and pick up your checkbook!