TACOMA REPRESENT >>>

The Weekly Volcano received word that Tacoma artist James Hume has advanced to the next round of auditions for Bravo's latest reality show, Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. Hume, who last night celebrated the opening of his new show, Not Painting Flowers, at the Sandpiper Gallery, will hop on a plane tomorrow and head back to Los Angeles - with a few tricks up his sleeve - for his second audition early next week.

"The application form is this thick," Hume described bring his thumb and index finger within an inch of each other. "And if I don't fill out every answer I'm disqualified. But, I think I have a great chance - and I have been working on a surprise for the judges that should knock them over."

The competition-based show - created by Sarah Jessica Parker - features 13 contemporary visual artists (painters, sculptors, photographers and the like) that's shaped much more like Top Chef and Project Runway than, say, Who Wants To Marry My Dad?

Here's a description of the show off its website:

In each episode, contestants are faced with the challenge of creating unique pieces in a variety of mediums such as painting, sculpture, photography, collage and industrial design. The weekly assignments are exciting, original and will challenge the artists' to push the limits of their technical skills and creative boundaries. Completed works of art will be appraised by our panel of top art world figures alongside a new celebrated guest judge every week. Through a gallery showing at the end of each challenge, these industry select dictate which artists have successfully mastered the subject matter and creation of their piece, as well as whose concept leaves the greatest impact.

Why would any self-respecting artist sell his soul to Bravo in exchange for his or her 15 minutes?

"Exposure," says Hume, "even if I'm out in the first round I'll have a better chance of showing my art to larger crowds."

The prizes aren't bad either: a gallery show, cash prize, national tour and, with Parker behind it, star power.

Hume has a great chance of landing a spot on the show, as he's a cross-genre artist who has been a professional in the visual art, film and music fields.

"I'm dead serious about this opportunity," says Hume. "I can come up with ideas quick, which the past show winners tend to do. I'm going to give it my very best."

Break a brush James.