VISUAL EDGE: Chihuly's "Northwest"

By Alec Clayton on June 13, 2011

THE UNEXPECTED >>>

Tacoma Art Museum tries to cater to every taste and every demographic by mounting exhibitions that range from the traditional and historic to today's most revolutionary and idiosyncratic art. It seems the museum tries very hard to balance a need for catering to popular taste-that is, bringing in work that will get folks to open their wallets-and simultaneously keeping up with the latest trends and movements and fulfilling a responsibility to educate the public. That's a tall order, and for the most part TAM succeeds.

Just when I think TAM is on the verge of selling out-oh, god, another Chihuly, and this right after the blockbuster Norman Rockwell show-they do something gutsy like bring in the highly controversial Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture, which it was recently announced will make an appearance at the museum in March of 2012.

The new Chihuly show, Dale Chihuly's Northwest, opened on the day the rapture was supposed to happen and will run through September.

To read Alec Clayton's full column click here.

[Tacoma Art Museum, Dale Chihuly's Northwest, through Sept. 25, Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Third Thursdays 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., through May 30, $10, Student/Military/Senior (65+) $8, Family $25, children 5 and under free., Third Thursdays free, 1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma]

Hide/Seek, March 17 through June 10, 2012.