ART AT WORK MONTH 2012 >>>

Tacoma Art at Work month fills the month of November with just that - art in progress, art out in the world, art doing more than simply sitting on a shelf and looking pretty.

Thursday, Nov. 1 from 6-8:30 p.m., the Art at Work kick-off party welcomes all into the hallowed halls of Tacoma Art Museum to start the month off right - with appetizers, desserts and a no-host bar. The art galleries will be open for your strolling pleasure and the air will be filled with the sweet sounds of the Tacoma Youth Symphony.

"It's a free event and it's open to the public," says Naomi Strom-Avila, cultural arts specialist at the Tacoma Arts Commission, which is responsible for putting on the event. "It really kicks off the month, and it's a great way to meet new people, see exhibits, have some appetizers - it's a lot of fun."

The evening is also dedicated to honoring 2012 funding recipients and AMOCAT Award winners. This year's AMOCAT Awards will go to three local pillars of the arts community. The Arts Patron Award will go to KeyBank, recognizing their donations to the Children's Museum of Tacoma, Broadway Center, Tacoma Art Museum and more, often allowing these venues to expand services. An award for Community Outreach by an Organization goes to The Grand Cinema, while Community Outreach by an Individual will go to local writer and fundraiser, Katy Evans.

[Tacoma Art Museum, Thursday, Nov. 1, 6-8:30 p.m., free admission, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.591.5191]

LINK: Art at Work Month 2012 schedule of events

NEWS YOU CAN USE TONIGHT >>>

Officially, tonight's screening of the film noir rock opera Rock-A-Bye Dead Man does not involve an audience participation segment. Hooligan Street Pictures and Sway Productions - the Tacoma-based producers of the 1940s rock musical - don't expect folks to throw toast, scream at the screen or clap coconut halves during chase scenes.

That said, last night the Weekly Volcano dropped in on the film's brain trust during their live interview with The Northwest Convergence Zone where we learned bits of trivia about the film. How you use this information is up to you. The film trivia below may pop up at trivia nights throughout Tacoma. File this information into your noggins.

Among other locations, auditions for Rock-A-Bye Dead Man were held at the Center For Spiritual Living and the Tacoma Film Club headquarters.

The film's score was first recorded at The Hungry Bard Foundation. The producer, Sean Gill-MacDonald, is the son of Lorraine Gill, an actress in the film. The remaining music was produced at the studio of Doug Mackey. Mackey is currently producing the second release by Loser Dog, Sean's band.  In fact, a number of the cast members are in bands:  Lorraine Gill (Taist of Iron), Bill Schlanbusch (The Plastards), Nate Dybevik (Taxi Driver), Loretta Deranleau Howard (Bodacious Ladyhood, a music and comedy group), Rich Bundy (The Plastards, Good Gravy, Breaking Quarantine). Dave McKibbin, who played lead guitar on all the music, is a veteran of many bands.

Actor Darryl Small learned all of the singing parts, both male and female, and taught each part to the cast member who would play that role in the film.

Director Joseph Kephart insisted there be a French horn in the film's music.  After an exhaustive search, no French horn player could be found. Then, the actor who was playing the detective suggested his sister, Hilary Spear. She immediately became part of the band.  Ironically, her brother had to drop out of the film. Lance Zielinski replaced him.

The opening scene of the detective driving was done on a green screen in the Graffiti Garages in downtown Tacoma. 

Rock-A-Bye Dead Man crew went to film at one location and was mistaken by staff members for a totally different film crew who were scheduled to shoot at the same location. 

The very last scene filmed was the séance, which was shot on Friday the 13^th.

[Washington State History Museum, Rock-a-Bye Dead Man movie premier, Monday, Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m., $3, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 888.238.4373]

LINK: The interview audio

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

There's a special relationship between the late great Andy Warhol and the City of Tacoma - a relationship that may not make T-town look too good, but we're making up for it.

In 1982, we had a shot at a Warhol flower design on the roof of the Tacoma Dome. It would have been the largest Warhol installation in the world. But the artist's proposal was rejected by seven short-sighted officials who couldn't see what they had in hand because their heads were up their rears.

Recently, City of Tacoma's Arts Administrator Amy McBride has been corresponding with the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh and the Warhol Foundation in New York, and now the next best thing - maybe even a better thing - is coming to town.

This November, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Warhol's proposal for Tacoma, the artist's flowers and vision for the Dome are coming to Tacoma Art Museum. The show Andy Warhol's Flowers for Tacoma will be on display Nov. 3 through Feb. 10, 2013. The exhibition celebrates more than 100 works by Warhol.

"Tacoma Art Museum is proud to bring this extensive body of Warhol's work to the Puget Sound," says Stephanie A. Stebich, director of Tacoma Art Museum. "The exhibition offers insights into Warhol's career that are rarely seen in the Northwest."

The exhibition will include Warhol's audacious floral proposal for the Tacoma Dome consisting of a brightly colored flower that would have covered the Dome, as well as paintings, studio photographs, and almost a dozen screen prints from his vibrant Flower series, which is based on a photograph of hibiscus flowers by Patricia Caulfield. The exhibition traces Warhol's ongoing interest in floral imagery from the early 1950s through 1986.

"This exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore in-depth a little-known component of Warhol's career and to re-imagine the city of Tacoma through his vision," says Rock Hushka, director of curatorial administration at Tacoma Art Museum. "The exhibition will show how one of the most influential American artists engaged with Tacoma."

When asked what about flowers attracted Warhol, Hushka says, "I think it was a handful of things. First, like most people, I think he really liked flowers because they were beautiful, fragile, fleeting, and ubiquitous. On a conceptual level, I think he was interested in testing the idea of the ‘sameness' of images. A flower image was no more important than a soup can, an electric chair, or a celebrity like Marilyn Monroe. I believe he was interested in seeing if he could make any mundane photograph (especially one that was randomly suggested by Henry Geldzahler) into a work of art the same way he did with the soup cans and the celebrities. Lastly, I think he soon discovered how many different variations he could make within fairly limited parameters. It's all so fascinating." 

Flowers for Tacoma will further cultivate art and culture by raising awareness about Warhol's proposal and the growing interest in realizing his vision. Advocates of the project, known as Citizens to Install Andy Warhol's Flower on Tacoma Dome, are trying to raise awareness about the significance of Warhol's proposition and the opportunity it provides for Tacoma. Learn more about them at www.Facebook.com/WarholonTacomaDome.

This exhibition is organized by Tacoma Art Museum, with the acknowledgement of the generosity of The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh.

Related Programs and Events

Print It!

• Saturday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Celebrate the opening of Andy Warhol's Flowers for Tacoma by creating screen prints inspired by Warhol. Cost: $35 ($25 for members)

Adorning the Dome

• Saturday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m.
• Amy McBride, City of Tacoma arts administrator, discusses Warhol's 1982 flower design submission for the Tacoma Dome and the current, renewed movement to put the design on the dome. Cost: Free with museum admission.

Hop Art Ale

Saturday, Nov. 3, 3 p.m.

• Join the unveiling of Hop Art Ale, a hand-crafted brew inspired by the Andy Warhol exhibition and specially created by the Harmon Brewery.

New Year's Eve Bash: Studio 54 at Tacoma Art Museum

Monday, Dec. 31
Ring in 2013 in Studio 54 style at an Andy Warhol-inspired celebration. Cost: $150 for Studio 54 Platinum VIP; $100 for Studio 54 Gold VIP; $50 for Studio 54 Pass

LINK: Alec Clayton reviews local art shows

SCARY DAY, OCT. 31, 2012 >>>

1. The Northern had all their equipment stolen at the end of September. Please join the Brotherhood for a great show to help them recover from the loss: Full Moon Radio, Vex and Carolyn Mark will rock the house. 100 percent of door and 50 percent of bar sales after 9 p.m. to benefit Northern: Olympia All Ages Project. 9 p.m., $5 suggested donation, The Brotherhood Lounge, 311 Capitol Way N.

2. Bring out the little boils and ghouls for safe and sane trick-or-treating in downtown Sumner. The City even closes the street for the safety of the kids who will be celebrating along main street as they show off their costumes and receive treats from the merchants. 5 - 7 p.m., You can also trick-or-treat in the historic Proctor District of Tacoma from 4 - 6 p.m., and in downtown Olympia from 3 - 6 p.m.

3. Spend Halloween in the historical State Theater and experience the spooky tale of The Golem, written and performed by Daniel Flint and starring live music by Jupiter Rex. The Golem follows the story of Athanasius Pernath, a jeweler in Prague's Jewish ghetto in the late 19th century who is afflicted with a curious amnesia. When a strange man enters Pernath's life with a mysterious book, the jeweler begins his descent into a labyrinth of murder, madness, and plots of revenge and unrequited love that eventually bring him face to face with his own dark past and mortality. 8 p.m., $20, Harlequin Productions, State Theater, 202 4th Avenue East, Olympia, 360.786.0151.

4. The Spazmatics will provide a nerdy good time with 80's covers tonight at Jazzbones. Costume contest with $100 prize, drink specials and fun! 9 p.m. $7, Jazzbones, 2803 6th Ave, Tacoma, 253.396.9169.

5. Haunted Dance Night at the Deltan Club brings a costume contest, ghoulish go-go- dancers and entertainment. Ghoulish go-go dancers? Sold. 9 p.m., Deltan Club, 733 Commerce Street, Tacoma.
Tacoma.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South South

ART AT WORK MONTH >>>

Art at Work: Tacoma's Arts Month showcases just about every aspect of the arts T-town sports during the month of November - but one of the most unique facets to this dreary month of art is the studio tour program.

Nov. 3 and 4, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tacoma working artists open their studios to the public.

"Studio tours have gone on for eleven years," says Naomi Strom-Avila, cultural arts specialist at Tacoma Arts Commission. "Everyone will have either hands on activities or demonstrations for visitors, so it's really about getting people there to see how art is made and get to talk to artists first hand."

For the most part, studio tours are self-directed. While there are 55 artists on the tour and their studios are located all around Tacoma, you can visit just one or all 55 (good luck with that). Not all studios are open both days, or all hours, so check the program first. Programs are available in printed format at Tacoma's museums and many local coffee shops, and online at ArtAtWorkTacoma.com.

Alternately, if hoofing it to several studios on your own is not your style, you can take the Tacoma ART BUS either Nov. 3 or 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. The ART BUS will whisk you off to visit about eight studios each day. Along the way, partake of some snacks and effervescent conversation with your fellow bus mates. Get tickets online in advance at TacomaArtBus.com or show up at least a half hour before the bus leaves. Tickets cost $15, or $25 for VIP. The bus leaves from Tacoma Art Museum.

LINK: List of studios

LINK: Tacoma Arts has a bitchin' series on the studio tours

WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE DO GOOD >>>

It's always a good thing when you can get dressed to the nines and help to better mankind, or at least the community around you. Head to Tacoma Art Museum, Nov. 10, and you can do just that at the Get Involved Gala 2012 - or the GIG, if you're in the know. The Get Involved Gala is a fundraiser, but also a rollicking night on the town.

GIG is an event hosted by Project: U - United Way of Pierce County's team of 20- and 30-something do-gooders. Funds raised by this great gala go directly to the United Way's Community Solutions Fund.

"This fund acts as a safety net and supports over 117 local nonprofits in the area," says Alicia Carter, vocational counselor at United Way of Pierce County. "It focuses on criteria such as education, income stabilization and health."

This semi-formal event fills the hallowed halls of Tacoma Art Museum with DJs pumping out the tunes, dancers in their finery, drinks in hand, appetizers and desserts flowing freely. This year, attendees will get a special bonus - access to the new Andy Warhol exhibit from 8 to 9 p.m.

"There will also be a professional photo booth with pictures printed on-site this year," says Carter.

Face it, folks. This may be your only chance to get a prom picture as an adult!

"I think it's important to note that this is United Way Pierce County's only actual fundraising event besides workplace campaigns," says Carter. "It's also a great way for young professionals to meet other people in the community and find out about other ways to get involved."

It's best to buy your tickets in advance at GetInvolvedGala.org before Nov. 9. Tickets are $50 for one or $95 for two - woo, savings! Tickets are available at the door for $60 each, but be warned, they are available in limited quantities and there's no guarantee you'll even get in.

"We can't guarantee how many will be available at the door since there is a max number of attendees," says Carter. "You might get all dressed up and have nowhere to go!"

TACOMA ART MUSEUM, GET INVOLVED GALA, SATURDAY, NOV. 10, 8-11 P.M., $15, 1701 PACIFIC AVE., TACOMA, GETINVOLVEDGALA.ORG

TEARS OF FREAKIN' JOY >>>

This past July, Chris Wedes, better known as TV clown J. P. Patches, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 84. On television from 1958 to 1981, Wedes delighted generations of Puget Sounders with his zany antics and a style that was irreverent yet gentle.

The Weekly Volcano hasn't been the same since. We still mope about our leaky office, pouring the last little splash of flat Tab into our Boris S. Wort coffee mugs, adjusting our collection of Ggoorrsstt the Friendly Frpl lunchboxes, dusting off our Swami of Pastrami Pez statues and wondering what to do with the rest of our lives.

Then we wandered into Metropolitan Market in Tacoma's Proctor District (2420 N. Proctor) for our daily pocket stuffing of free cheese.

Holy Patches Pals! The entire Met Market staff is dressed as characters from the J.P. Patches show for Halloween. Met's floral designer Anna Stahl – dressed J.P. – pulled 14 outfits together for the staff.

If you are a Patches Pal, drop by for a hug.

THURSDAY, NOV. 1, 2012 >>>

1. Enrique Iglesias and Marc Anthony have their place in society ... and that place is at the bottom of a deep lake with concrete shoes tied to their feet. If you want to hear some real, authentic Latin-American music, pop into Schneebeck Concert Hall tonight to see Eddie Palmieri, one of the influential pianists and founding fathers of Latin jazz. Hailing from Puerto Rico, Palmieri has had a career spanning five decades that's included recording projects with legendary percussionist Tito Puente and other salsa greats. Known for his richly textured arrangements and intense percussive style, Palmieri (along with renowned percussionist Jose Madera and the University of Puget Sound Jazz Band) will be heating up the stage. 7:30 p.m., $5-$11, Schneebeck Concert Hall, 1500 N. Warner, Tacoma, 253.879.3100

2. Taller-than-average Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist makes his way back to King's Books for his annual Signed Books and Wine Auction, put on by People for Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. The shindig goes down from 5-7 p.m. and features wines and signed books from Maria Semple, Garth Stein, Molly Ringwald, Bret Easton Ellis, Ann Rule and, of course, Lindquist. 5-7 p.m., $25 suggested donation, King's Books, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801

3. Interested in stopping Coal Export facilities in Tacoma and our state? Attend the coal-scoping workshop tonight at the University of Puget Sound. Host Elanor Hines of NW Straits Chapter leads a discussion on what you can do protect our waterfronts from the impacts of exporting dirty coal. 6-8 p.m., free, Wyatt Hall, Room 307, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner, 253.879.3100

4. The Tacoma Art Museum will be busier than street sweepers cleaning up candy wrappers. First, it's the weekly Thursdays Ignite night at TAM, which means chillin' with drinks and crafts. Second, The Bead Factory will be in the house leading a Dia de los Muertos bracelet workshop ($20-$30) at 6 p.m. Last, the Tacoma Arts Commission launches Art at Work Month with a party that includes free apps, artists butt slaps and the presentation of the prestigious AMOCAT Awards. 6-8:30 p.m., Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4258

5. Chinese acrobatics and martial arts have become a big deal onstage, from Cirque du Soleil shows to casino revues. Chi of Shaolin: The Tale of the Dragon features the Imperial Acrobats of China, a group formed by Las Vegas producer (and onetime acrobat) Yan Yan Shao. The show utilizes Gung Fu and Wushu martial arts, acrobatics, dance and music to tell a story. 7:30 p.m., $19-$56, Washington Center, 512 Washington St., Olympia, 360.753.8586

LINK: More Nov. 1 events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area