AS SEEN IN THE WEEKLY VOLCANO >>>

A few weeks ago the Volcano's Kristin Kendle provided readers the lowdown on the new public art installation next to Pacific Plaza -- Projecting Drop, by Canadian artist Jill Anholt. If you happened to miss the article, click here and see what's up.

This Thursday, Dec. 16, from 4:30 - 6 p.m., there willbe a dedication ceremony for Projecting Drop, including Tacoma mayor Marilyn Strickland and the Tacoma Arts Commission.

Here's the lowdown from this morning's press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec. 13, 2010

MEDIA CONTACT:

Amy McBride, Community and Economic Development, amcbride@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5192
Rob McNair-Huff, Community Relations, robert.mcnair-huff@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5054

Dedication for Tacoma's newest public artwork, Dec. 16
Celebrate Tacoma's newest public artwork, Projecting Drop by Jill Anholt, in a dedication ceremony Thursday, Dec. 16, from 4:30-6 p.m. Join Mayor Strickland, the Tacoma Arts Commission, and Pacific Plaza Development, LLC to learn more about the piece, meet the artist and enjoy refreshments from local businesses.

The artwork is located at the hill climb at South 12th Street, between Commerce Street and Pacific Avenue. The dedication ceremony will be held in the adjoining building at PCS Structural Solutions, 1250 Pacific Ave., Suite 701.

Using tile, steel, and projected light, Projecting Drop tells the story of the modern LEED-platinum certified building that it's connected to, and the historic 19th century Turkish bathhouse that was discovered beneath the hill climb. For this project, the bathhouse was re-purposed as a water cistern that is used to irrigate the building's green roof, making the two hidden systems interdependent on each other for their continued functionality. The artwork creates a visual connection between the historic bathhouse below and the modern green roof above.

The artist, Jill Anholt, is a visual artist and designer who has been creating site specific public art installations since 1997. Her work investigates qualities of time, movement, light and materiality. Projecting Drop is the first project Anholt has completed in this country.

Projecting Drop is a $179,000 commission, funded through a public-private partnership between the City of Tacoma and Pacific Plaza Development, LLC. One percent of construction costs for the transformation of Pacific Plaza contributed to the creation of the artwork.

For more information, contact Rebecca Solverson at rsolverson@ci.tacoma.wa.us or by phone (253) 591-5560.