Part of Showcase Tacoma
Media Contact: Alyssa Rosso, Public Relations Coordinator, 253.272.4258 x3002, arosso@TacomaArtMuseum.org
(Tacoma, WA) – Tacoma Art Museum takes part in Showcase Tacoma with a free community festival on Friday, August 8, from 5 to 8 pm. The Renaissance-inspired Midsummer Night’s Community Festival offers an evening of free museum admission for all visitors, a lineup of special performances by local artists, and the return of the Iron Artist Challenge.
For the challenge, local artists compete to make an original work of art within sixty minutes using materials revealed to them at the start of the hour. Popular vote determines the winner. This is the second year for the Iron Artist Challenge, with the first taking place during the Glitter, Glisten, and Gleam free community festival in August 2007. See a YouTube video of the first Iron Artist Challenge online at www.TacomaArtMuseum.org/video.
A common theme of the museum’s summer exhibitions, Illuminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible and The Forty Part Motet by Janet Cardiff, is to take something ancient or traditional and re-examine it through a modern perspective. To mirror that, the evening includes performances by Shakespeare in the Parking Lot and youth from the DASH (Dancing, Acting, and Singing in Harmony) Center for the Arts, as well as DJ Pana mixing music, and art-making activities.
In addition to the museum’s own festivities, Showcase Tacoma will take place across Pacific Avenue at Tollefson Plaza until 9 pm.
For more information about the free community festival and registration for the Iron Artist Challenge, visit www.TacomaArtMuseum.org/ironartist. Details about Showcase Tacoma can be found at www.ShowcaseTacoma.org.
Free Seasonal Community Festivals are made possible, in part, by The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and Tacoma Arts Commission. Major funding for the museum's Community Commitment provided by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
Tacoma Art Museum connects people and builds community through art. The museum serves the diverse communities of the region through its collection, exhibitions, and learning programs, emphasizing art and artists from the Northwest. The museum’s five galleries display an array of major national shows, the best of Northwest art, creatively themed exhibitions, and historical retrospectives. In addition, there is an Education Wing for children, adults, and seniors with an art resource center, classroom, and studio for art making. Tacoma Art Museum is located in Tacoma’s Museum District, near the Museum of Glass, the Washington State History Museum, and historic Union Station.
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SUMMER HOURS – Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Third Thursdays 10am – 8pm, Sunday 12 – 5pm. Open Mondays Memorial Day through Labor Day.
NEW: Open Late Every Thursday, July 17 through September 4, 10 am to 8 pm
ADMISSION – Adult $7.50, Student/Military/Senior (65+) $6.50, Family $25 (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18). Children 5 and under free. Third Thursdays free. Members always free.
CONTACT – 253.272.4258, www.TacomaArtMuseum.org, info@TacomaArtMuseum.org
Museums on Us
Through April 2009
Tacoma Art Museum represents Washington in Bank of America’s national Museums on Us program. Bank of America bankcard holders and employees receive free museum admission the first full weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of every month. Visit www.BankofAmerica.com/museums for details.