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It's the middle of August, which also means the end of summer is on the horizon, or something. In just a few short months we'll all be hunkering inside complaining about how cold it is, completely forgetting that just a few months prior we were doing the same thing, complaining about how hot it was. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts and stroll through galleries, museums and business tonight during Third Thursday Artwalk. From a councilman hosted bus ride to a party in a hair salon, plus a few glasses of cheap wine, and November seems a faraway land.
Officially running from 5-8 p.m. throughout downtown Tacoma, and these days beyond, Artwalk provides a few thrills, and a few chills, and without price of admission.
Oh, if you'd rather not walk, and have a guided tour, the Art Bus launches from the Tacoma Art Museum's sidewalk at 6 p.m. traveling to Viceroy Gallery, B2 Fine Art Gallery, Embellish Multispace Salon, Brick House Gallery, MLK Spaceworks, Jazzbones, Throwing Mud Gallery, 253 Collective and ending at The Swiss. Tacoma City Councilman David Boe will ride shotgun, pointing out architectural wonders, dropping history bombs and previewing each stop. Get in on the party here.
Here are a few spaces participating in tonight's art walk:
TACOMA ART MUSEUM: In conjunction with Dale Chihuly's Northwest TAM will host the free workshop "Caring for Collection" from 5-8 p.m. TAM will tell you if you're destroying your own art work (stop smoking next to your artwork!). You'll also learn the best ways to display your collections. At 6 p.m., Stoneweaver artist and native Linda Levier will discuss the significance of the Edward S. Curtis's North American Indian portfolio to local Native American groups. 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4258
BKB & CO.: Deborah Bushinski from Minnetonka, Minn., has her tessoro jewelry on display. 1734 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6884
SPACEWORKS TACOMA: Spaceworks Tacoma gobbled up empty storefronts in downtown Tacoma spitting them back out full of dreams - art studios, film production houses, pop-up stores and theater spaces - in three to six month stints. It's brilliant, really. Spaceworks blows out one candle tonight with a bash featuring performances from the talented D.A.S.H. Center students, live music by Fritha Strand Davern, Nat Dybevik, Your are Plural and others, scenes and laughs from Toy Boat Theatre and hella cool break dancing and live painting from the Fab-5 team. 5-8 p.m., 1300 Block of MLK Way, Hilltop Tacoma
253 COLLECTIVE: Member photographer Kate Lynch shows off her images of eagles, hummingbirds, shorebirds, and songbirds juxtaposed with photographs and photo illustrations of trees under the title "For the Birds & the Trees." 6-8 p.m., 19th and South Jefferson, Tacoma
MOUSAI STUDIOS: Ballroom Instructors opened this dance studio in Tacoma's Triangle District. Tonight, there's a reception for local artist and 253 Collective member Megan Kilen as people dance about smartly. 5-8 p.m., 759 St Helens Ave., Tacoma
EMBELLISH MULTISPACE SALON: Mad Hat Tea Co. co-owner and artist Maureen McHugh will exhibit her Acrylic and the fabulous flow and words and splotches of India ink inside the downtown Tacoma hair salon. Bonus: Najamoniq Todd and Del Brown will DJing the party, which also happens to be a birthday celebration for Embellish owner Patricia Lecy-Davis. 6-9 p.m., 1121 Court D, Tacoma
BRICK HOUSE GALLERY: Photographs of Winston Swift Boyer and Ralff Somoff will hang in this small, but awesome space. The Brick House always has the best free food. 5-8 p.m., 1123 S. Fawcett, Tacoma
MAVI CONTEMPORARY ART: This fancy space next to The Grand Cinema celebrates its one-year anniversary tonight featuring the works of William Quinn and Michael Loos, with a solo installation by Elizabeth Ashe in the front vault. 5-8:30 p.m., 502 Sixth Ave., Tacoma