THIRD THURSDAY ARTWALK TIDBITS >>>

I rode the ART BUS last night that led a group around Tacoma's Third Thursday Artwalk. Here's what I learned:

Cindy Murphy - the energetic owner of the novelty and gift shop Brownie Morrison (it's her porn name: Brownie was her first pet; Morrison was the street she grew up on) - has an ex-husband named Mick Murphy who loves breasts. "He likes boobs. There are boobs on everything," she says. And by everything she means Murphy's collage art that hangs on Brownie Morrison's walls. One of his pieces includes a full nude of Canadian actress Dorothy Stratten, who was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for August 1979.

Brownie Morrison is wacky place to hang out.

Knitter Megan Peters is funny. Peters leads the knitting group that meets every Thursday inside Tacoma Art Place. "Welcome, are you a knitter?" Peters asked a drop-in visitor last night. "No, I'm a crotcheter," replied the visitor. "Oh, you're a hooker," Peters announced to her knitting group.

Earrings by AJAX are for sale inside Tacoma Art Place.

Steve Lawler creates amazing wood re-furniture. His hand-built chairs, tables and lamps are made from recycled and reclaimed wood. His beautiful pieces can be seen - as well as many other talented artisans and craftspeople - at Madera Architectural Elements close to El Gaucho.

Wooden chair by Steve Lawler

Karen Cartwright Correia has cool stuff for you and your home in her shop Flying Monkey Mercantile inside the 253 Collective across from The Swiss. Although she misses her friends and family in Portland, Ore. (she's in Tacoma due to her husband's work,) she admires the creative people in Tacoma - including ART BUS organizer and Speakeasy Arts Cooperative creator Angela Jossy.

Items for sale inside the Flying Monkey Mercantile

The Peabody Waldorf Boutique and Gallery will host the Peabody Preservation Party Saturday, July 10 from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. in its intimate backroom space. Owner Eric Waldman explained the party is a fundraiser to keep the gallery operational, and will include breakdancing, puppet shows, live painting, a bake sale, live music, an auction, raffle and tons of art. If the art hanging on the galleries walls - created by young artists - is any indication of what the party could be, expect a creative, wild time.  

Eric Waldmann