IT'S THIRD THURSDAY! >>>

Tomorrow is the third Thursday of the month, which means Tacoma museums, galleries and business aim an extra spotlight or two on their art, complimenting the works with free nibbles and sips.

For all you Spew readers, you know the official Third Thursday Artwalk has been replaced with the Tacoma Art Mingle, which is gaining speed with an improved website, more participating venues and a new passport game.

Proctor Art Gallery participates in tomorrow's Art Mingle - but it's not content with just opening the door to see what happens.

"We're hoping through our connection with Tacoma Art Group and the Tacoma Art Mingle that people will come out and see what we're doing," says owner Carolyn Burt. "And learning a little bit about art, too, if they come in. We always have an artist on duty here. By talking to the artist, anyone can find out how things are done and made, so it's an educational process too for people who are interested."

Proctor Art Gallery has three featured artists this month: Gary LaTurner (painting and drawing), Sharon Crocetti (oil painting), and Leslie Theil - a lampworker who has branched out her glass bead and jewelry work into awesome glass and metalwork flowers mounted on maple burl. Of the three, Crocetti and Theil will be in the house Thursday.

"I'm actually doing a scratchboard demonstration from 6:15 to 7," says gallery owner Carolyn Burt. "So many people aren't aware of what scratchboard is. I've been showing it now for several months and a lot of people are curious what it is."

Scratchboard consists of a layer of white, baked clay with India ink on top. Burt will use a series of engraving tools to carve away the layer of black and create a black-and-white image. It's an unforgiving art form, but Burt has decided to take her chances anyway.

PROCTOR ART GALLERY, 3811 N. 26TH ST., TACOMA, 253.759.4238