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Good morning, South Sound! Schools are opening their doors this week: How's it feel to say goodbye to summer and get back on that education grind? Godspeed to all teachers, really.

Speaking of teaching, you could learn a thing or two from the artists who will gather at Kittredge Gallery Thursday night. Tacoma's best will attend the opening reception for The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's Foundation of Art Award, 2008-2010 Thursday, Sept. 2, 5-7 p.m.Twenty-five artists over the past three years had their art judged by a panel in hopes of grabbing the $7,500 prize.  Chris Sharp and Jeremy Mangan won in 2008 and 2009, respectively. This year, the honor went to Lisa Kinoshita, Tacoma artist and owner of Mineral studio gallery on Puyallup Avenue. Her work, especially her jewelry, is stunning. Past winners and nominees, and the list is impressive, as well as the public, will gather around Kinoshita for several rounds of "She's a jolly good artist," then drink wine I imagine.

The exhibition itself includes work by the 25 nominees featuring works range from painting, sculpture, and prints to video, jewelry, and embroidery, among other techniques. Materials are as diverse as felt, Legos, found cardboard signs, and repurposed books to the more traditional media such as oil, watercolor, ceramics, and photography. The show runs through Saturday, Oct. 2. But why wait when you can enjoy the art with the artists.

Small print: The annual $7,500 award program was established by the Community Foundation in 2008 to honor professional artists living and working in Pierce County, and is made possible through a foundation fund to support the Pierce County art community. Each year nominees are selected by a panel of regional arts professionals and Community Foundation board members. The award winner then creates a commissioned artwork for the foundation. Lisa Kinoshita's commissioned piece for the Community Foundation will be unveiled this fall.

The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's Foundation of Art Award, 2008-2010 Artists Reception

Thursday, Sept. 2, 5-7 p.m., no cover
Regular Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday
Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, North 15th Street at North Lawrence Street, Tacoma
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