Tollbooth Gallery. Image courtesy Tacoma Contemporary.

I just heard a great piece of news: the Tollbooth Gallery is coming back to life. Touted as the world's smallest gallery by previous managers Jared Pappas-Kelley and Michael Lent, the Tollbooth was a former TV-Tacoma kiosk that the City of Tacoma had allowed ArtRod to fill with hip and sometimes quite weird work on paper. When Pappas-Kelley and Lent left town last year, the Tollbooth ceased operation, along with their gallery Critical Line.

Since then, it's been a bit of a blight on the corner of Broadway and South 11th St: ripped paper and an abandoned air. So hooray for Tacoma Contemporary (the folks who put art in the Woolworth Windows just behind Tollbooth,) who've taken over the management and installed a brand-new DVD player and LCD monitor, and video/mixed media installation 'Honky Tonkin’" by Justin Colt Beckman. I haven't been down to see it yet, but here's what the press release says:

Inspired by music variety shows, karaoke, and childhood lip-sync concerts, "Honky Tonkin’" presents a series of rehearsal recordings through which the artist continues his investigation into the urban/rural dichotomy and its associated stereotypes. Billed as “The World’s Smallest Honky Tonk,” the work presented is a preliminary study for a full-scale honky-tonk bar that Beckman plans to construct in Fall 2008.

Using weathered wood and aluminum siding to transform the Tollbooth into a roadhouse bar of sorts, Beckman presents a series of videos featuring himself as a hillbilly music star, juxtaposed with samples from classic episodes of TV’s “Hee Haw” and found footage of hillbilly performers. As someone who is essentially a city boy with country boy tendencies, the act of role-playing hillbilly stereotypes provides the artist with a shortcut around the exclusionary, generational requirements typically associated with rural activities. The work brings a small slice of country to a very urban street corner.

And here's what it looks like:

Justin Beckman, "Honky Tonkin'" at Tollbooth Gallery. Image courtesy Tacoma Contemporary.

Beckman's not new to Tacoma: a founding member of Seattle's PUNCH gallery, he's shown at Tacoma Art Museum's 8th Biennial. Beckman's show is up through August 15; Tacoma glass gal Shannon Eakins is next, which could be interesting.

Choral Union in Queen's College, Cambridge, on their previous European tour. The choir sings Saturday at Lagerquist Hall. Photo: courtesy Choral Union.

Free show for Choral Union and then it’s off to Europe

It’s taken two years of fundraising and nearly three years of planning. It involves 45 singers and four countries. It’s the third European tour by local choir Choral Union, from July 2-16. But in case you can’t make it to the Prague or Dubrovnik concerts, the choir’s performing its tour concert at Pacific Lutheran University Saturday night, for free.

“Tours give the singers a different experience that they can’t get any other way,” says director Dr. Richard Nance. “They go to places they may not otherwise go to. Plus we get to share what we do, culturally and musically. We make friends. And when you tour together, you grow musically because of the repetition, and as a group of individuals. You bond more.”

But tour logistics aren’t easy. Nance goes through a tour operator, but also has to rely on his own contacts for setting up concerts. He’s also learned the hard way what not to do on a tour.

“Our first tour in 2002, we sang at the World Harp Congress in Geneva,” says Nance, who’d written a piece for choir, harp, percussion and timpani. For the rest of the tour, “we had to haul these instruments everywhere we went, in a freight car behind the bus.”

This year, the tour music is all a cappella. “It’s just easier,” says Nance.

So what do you sing when you take an American choir to Europe? Well, American music, mostly: The program tomorrow night will include contemporary composers like
Eric Whitacre, as well as folk songs and spirituals. But the repertoire also includes unusual European works: motets by Basque and Norwegian composers, and a Lithuanian mass to be sung at the Dominican monastery at Dubrovnik. Performances also include collaborations with local choirs. The itinerary includes the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia and Croatia.

Other Tacoma choirs tour Europe, of course. But it’s still a special thing, says Nance, to sing in venues like Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, or Queen’s College, Cambridge.

“It’s life changing,” Nance says. “These tours have provided my singers with the chance to stand in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna and sing where Joseph Haydn once stood. We don’t have buildings like that in our country!”

The 8 p.m. is in Lagerquist Hall at Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Ave S., Tacoma.

I was in New York a few weeks ago and crammed in as much art as I could.

I caught the Whitney Biennial and a few galleries (one word: Moss) but it was at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum where I found parallels to and coincidences with Tacoma’s art scenes.

Perched as if the slightest breeze might take it away, Jeff Koons’ “Balloon Dog (Yellow)” sits on the roof of the Met. Clearly, the 10-foot steel sculpture was the Met’s version of Tacoma Art Museum’s Leroy.

Meanwhile, across 5th Avenue at the Cooper-Hewitt, a Rococo show took up most of the gallery space. They did a nice job of explaining the beginnings of that French art style and even show examples of its modern practitioners. One of them: Dale Chihuly, apparently. One of his sconces was in the exhibit, not far from a Louis Comfort Tiffany. I listened in as a docent explained the art. “Do you know Chihuly?” the guide asked one of the museum goers. “Well, yes. But, not personally,” he replied.

Overwhelmed by exuberance I took a trip to the museum’s garden for a break and came face to face with a mobile hot shop. How did the Museum of Glass get this to NYC from Tacoma?

Turns out it was the Corning Museum of Glass’ GlassLab.

I talked with MOG’s director of communications Julie Pisto today. As far as she knows, Corning’s and MOG’s are the only full scale mobile hot shops operating in the country.

Which makes it even more amazing to stumble upon MOG’s counterpart without even looking for it.

New York may be a big city but it’s a small (art) world afterall.

Next week I’ll blog on where MOG’s mobile hot shop has been and where it’s headed to this summer.

The Renaissance in Forty Parts at TAM
Be the first in the Northwest to see the new sound installation at Tacoma Art Museum. Janet Cardiff’s “The Forty Part Motet” involves forty sound speakers set around the gallery, projecting the ethereal sounds of “Spem in Alium” by Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis. Opens June 28. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday, 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thursdays. $7.50/$6.50/five and under and third Thursdays free. 1701 Pacific Ave, Tacoma. 253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.org

Tacoma City Ballet’s One-Night Art Stand
Head up the red carpet stairs tomorrow to the grand ballroom of the Merlino Building, where the Tacoma City Ballet studio’s throwing open its doors for one evening to become a non-commission art gallery. Work by Merlino loft artists, the TCB company dancing “Pepe’s Café,” piano playing, sushi, hors d’oeuvres and champagne. 7-9 p.m., June 28. $5. 508 6th Ave, Tacoma. 253-272-4219, www.tacomacityballet.com

Choral Union Sings Europe
Community choir Choral Union is heading off for its third European tour, but you can hear them first without going to Prague or Dubrovnik. For their free pre-tour concert they’ll sing both European and American a cappella music. 8 p.m. June 28. Free. Lagerquist Hall, Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Ave S., Tacoma. 253-224-5423, www.plu.edu

Native Spirit at History Museum
The Washington State History Museum holds its third “In the Spirit: Northwest Native Arts Market and Festival” this weekend. In conjunction with the co-named exhibit inside, the outside market features local crafters (carving, weaving, bead-making) plus dancers, musicians and storytellers from local tribes. There’s a collector’s forum, and screening of docu-drama “Shadow of the Salmon.” 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. June 28, 12 – 5 p.m. June 29. Outside market free/seminar $45/film $3/museum admission $8/$7/$6/five and under free. 1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma. 1-888-BE-THERE, www.washingtonhistory.org

Urban Art Festival
Live graffiti, cool bands, contemporary dance, sushi, local restaurants and vendors—the Urban Art Festival has it groovin’ downtown. Noon til dusk, June 29. Fireman’s Park, corner A St and S. 9th St, Tacoma. www.urbanartfestival.net

It's a ways off yet, but fans of such classics as "Raging Bull," "The Great Escape" and "Some Like It Hot," should mark their calendars now to ready themselves for the rare opportunity to see those movies on the big screen in August.

The Grand Cinema is bringing that distinguished trio and three others of similar cinematic stature to Tacoma to mark the 90th anniversary of United Artists, the studio that made all of them. During the week of Aug. 1, the Grand will play "Raging Bull," "Midnight Cowboy" and "The Great Escape." Then the following week, beginning Aug. 8, the lineup will be "The Pink Panther," "Some Like It Hot" and "From Russia With Love," perhaps the greatest of the Connery Bond movies.

Speaking for myself, I can't wait to see De Niro again in one of his best roles ever. Hey, his Oscar was DESERVED! And that's no "Bull."

If you're a local filmmaker, the Grand Cinema wants to see what you've got, filmmakingwise. The theater's executive director, Philip Cowan tells us he was so impressed with the response to the Grand's 72- Hour Film Competition that he wants to incorporate the concept into the Tacoma Film Festival, which will arrives in early October.

Specifically, he's inviting filmmakers from Washington (no out-staters need apply) to create five-minute minimovies to compete for approximately 18 slots in a Local Filmmaker Showcase that will be part of the festival. "There are no restrictions on what kind of film you make," he says. "Any topic or genre is fair game as long as the final product is suitable for broad viewing." Translation: Keep it clean. At least, PG-13 clean.

The deadline is Aug. 4. The entry fee is $15. For full details contact the Grand at tacomafilmfestival@gmail.com.

Well, what are you waiting for? Grab your camcorder and get shooting.

Just got back from a Portland weekend, and the Japanese Garden is wearing a kimono in Crayola colors. In honor of the Glass Art Society's conference there, they have up "Frozen Music: Glass in the Garden." They've done a fantastic job. Most stunning of all are two outside pieces by internationally known artist Jun Kaneko--here's one of them, "Colorbox."

Not quite Chihuly, eh?!! And certainly not what you'd think of as restrained, Zen, elegant or any of those other overused Japanese-garden adjectives. But you know what: it works. They've put "Colorbox" right opposite the waterfall (not in the photo,) which it mimics formally, and the randomly alternating blocks of orange, yellow, lime and red echo the koi in the pool and the azaleas and Japanese maples on the lawn. Further up the hill, "African Reflections" is equally discordant in color (glass planks of primary blue, red and yellow) but the stark formalism is exactly what's maintained in the vegetation.

I saw these at midday--worth going back late afternoon to see how the light changes them.

I'm not the only one who likes it, either. Here's what curator Diane Durston had to say in an email:

"None of the three pieces in the exhibition were intended for the garden, though Mr. Kaneko expressed interested in seeing them in different contexts...An interesting footnote is that these works have been very easy for children to relate to—with no pre-conceived notions of what a Japanese garden is and what does or doesn’t belong in one."

Inside the pavilion, you get a treat of the best of contemporary Japanese glass art: sugary, floating petals of pate de verre from Etsuko Nishi, diving fish vessels from Hiroshi Yamano, intricately braided murrine work from Masami Koda.

The smoothness with which Durston has integrated contemporary glass art with centuries-old garden design is both impressive and supremely restful. Something for Tacoma to think about, now that we're getting our very own series of glass in the garden at the W.W. Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park.

The show is up through June 30.

Thursday night was absolutely perfect at Lakewold Gardens. Calm, slightly warm, and the rose-and-wisteria-laden Gardens filled with music of passion, stillness and playfulness. It was the opening of the Second City Chamber Series’ new season, and the first of two such concerts at Lakewold. This one featured out-of-towners Laura Kobayashi on violin and Susan Keith Gray on piano, with Tacoman Cindy Renander on clarinet.

Fine programming too, courtesy of SCCS director Svend Ronning. Pairing music from two different cities in each program this year, Ronning made good choices for Thursday night’s pair of New York and San Francisco.

Opening was John Adams “Road Movies” to connect the two cities. Kobayashi and Gray slid confidently into each of the road’s three moods: the biting, bluegrassy opening with relentless rhythm, the calm inner movement (Kobayashi’s full tone almost viola-like) and the moto perpetuo spiccato third movement, which was driven and tight but could have used more flamboyance.

Darius Milhaud’s “Suite” made an introspective bid for San Francisco, the city of his exile during WWII France, and here Renander and Kobayashi struck some lyrical conversation, ringing sounds in the “Vif” and passionate intensity in the finale, with precise piano support.

But it was Bela Bartok’s “Contrasts” that was the centerpiece. Commissioned in New York by Benny Goodman, it mixes some incredibly Goodman-esque slides, runs and high squeaks with the Hungarian’s signature rhythms and folk harmonies. Renander swung a bristling clarinet part with ease and lyricism, Kobayashi and Gray launched into frenzied rhythms and deathlike calm with equal intensity, and the piece remained gripping til the end.

If you haven’t been to a Lakewold concert, be sure to take a picnic dinner and sit under the wisteria just outside the French doors (you can hear just fine.) But do bring a jacket.

Next SCCS concert is at Lakewold Gardens, 12317 Gravelly Lake Dr SW, Lakewood. 7:30 p.m. July 17, featuring the Regency Quartet. Tickets $35/$30/$15. 253-572-TUNE, www.scchamberseries.org

Another show that just opened is at Fulcrum Gallery. Oliver Doriss has assembled some friends (Shannon Eakins, Joseph Miller, Alex Stisser, Conor McClellan and Doriss himself) to mount a group glass show called “Local 253.” It’s not particularly themed, but each artist is strong, and for a group show it’s refreshingly minimalist.

The main raison d’etre for “Local 253” (area code, get it?) is to showcase Tacoma glass artists for any glass folks visiting up here from the Glass Art Society’s annual international conference, on this weekend in Portland. And it’s a great reason. Tacoma is full of young glass artists doing some pretty cool things, and Fulcrum’s crowd are five of the best.

Doriss has a wall filled with five rectangular plaques of chunky clear glass. Impressed with broken circles, squares and oblongs, they’re uncompromising. As a total contrast, Stisser’s two gorgeously sticky-looking giant Lifesavers (about 15 inches high) with candy stripes of orange and pink give you a sugar buzz from just looking.

On the gallery’s other side, McClellan, a cold-working technician at the MoG Hot Shop, has mounted three odd structures. Not quite vessels, they also have candy-stripes, though black and white, with a rather endearing R2D2 eye on top--stylized paint cans, according to Doriss. They fit perfectly with Eakins’ installation “Speak”—blood-red glass bowls rimmed with vampire teeth and inset with speakers playing B-horror-flick screams and squawks. Their supporting CD player sports a very stylish fake fur coverlet.

Here's a photo of "Speak":

Finally, Miller, who runs M-Space hot shop with Eakins, has a wall of seven local landscapes painted onto white glass speech bubbles. The painting is postcardy, but the bubbles give a quizzical effect.

Since most of the artists are in Portland this weekend themselves, the artist talk is set for July 3.

Fulcrum Gallery, 1308 MLK Jr. Way, Tacoma. 6 – 9 p.m. Thursdays, 12 – 6 p.m. and by appointment. Saturdays and Sundays, through July 19. Artist talk 7 p.m. July 3. 253-250-0520, fulcrum.oliverdoriss.com

If you’d stopped in at the Helm Gallery downtown at ArtWalk last Thursday, you probably would have noticed the huge dead animal thing trapped in a net. Hard not to—it was right bang smack in the middle of the gallery. And just when you’d recovered from the “ewww” factor (it’s really a pile of toupes) you’d have started to notice the more subtle ick on the walls…

No, gallerists Peter Lynn and Sean Alexander haven’t really smeared the Helm’s walls with anything other than paint. They haven’t even hung up crumpled underwear next to detailed photos of vaginas, unlike the new and very gross Delight Gallery. They’ve hung a group show called “Ahhhhhhh!!! Ha. (Scream. Laugh.)”—and it’s a whole lot of fun: fun noir, let’s say.

There are Susan Belle’s candy-colored cupcake girls, with licorice-thin legs, living out their sugary, meaningless lives in paintings as exquisite as an Indian miniature. Also exquisite are Natalie Miller’s tiny clay hands poking out through the wall, holding their enameled dead birds like jewels.

Alexander himself has some drawings in here, and they’re worth staring for hours at: infinitesimally patterned shapes, figures, backgrounds in black ink. The whale with a bomb-lit tail is beautifully horrific, while the colored-paper splash trailing words like embroidered water along the wall is merely beautiful. (And time-consuming—70 pen-hours for the whale, apparently.) Here's the whale:

The rest isn’t as gut-pulling: Jasper Kreiger’s dot-to-dot King Kongs are a bit obvious, Jason Reamer’s series of goofy Star Wars-type mutations aren’t quite scary, or quite comic, more pitiable.

But stick around and watch Rumi Koshino’s dead animal installation for a while. It’s suspended from the ceiling pipes and, according to Alexander, when the folks upstairs flush their toilet, the whole thing shivers.

Now that’s worth screaming at.

The Helm Gallery, 12 – 6 p.m. Thursday – Saturday through July 6. 760 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-627-8845, www.thehelmgallery.com

The readers of AmericanStyle magazine have named Tacoma number 17 on its list of top 25 national arts destinations.

We just missed bumping Miami (#16) but got one over on arch nemesis Cincinnati (#18) in the mid-level city category.

I have to admit I've never heard of this magazine. But, I'll take any list that puts us above Honolulu as an arts destination. I'm canceling my vacation to Oahu.

But, I wonder how we would fare on the "Top Ten Destinations for Luaus" list...

Congratulations are in order to Tacoma painter Chris Sharp: he's the recipient of the first annual "Foundation of Art Award," set up this year by the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation to honor professional artists living in Pierce County. The award, just announced today, is for $7,500, and also involves a commissioned work of art, to be unveiled at the GTCF's November annual luncheon.

Sharp's a well-known painter around town, mostly from his delicate, unique signpainting, such as at the Rosewood Cafe in the North End. But his fine art is even better to look at, referencing signpainting with multiple levels of meaning and abstraction. Here's one of his works:

"Please Ring." Image courtesy Chris Sharp.

And another:

"Activate your social life." Image courtesy Chris Sharp.

"It's the biggest thing I've gotten so far. I'm beside myself. It doesn't seem real," said Sharp, on the phone today. He says he plans to use the money "paint more, and hopefully invest in my future as a painter/artist without the need to support myself with a day job."

You can see Sharp's work currently inside Rosewood, and a single work in the group show currently up at Blackwater Cafe. Watch for an upcoming solo show at the Iron Gallery at University of Washington, Tacoma in September.

The award was judged by a committee of local art professionals, including Margaret Bullock, curator of collections and special exhibitions at Tacoma Art Museum; Amy McBride, arts administrator with the City of Tacoma; JP Avila, art professor and co-chair of the department of art at Pacific Lutheran University; Rose Lincoln, president and CEO of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation; and Jim McDonald, local independent curator.

Kenny is his name and portable toilets are his game in an Aussie comedy titled – What else? – "Kenny." The movie will be making a big, er, splash at the Grand Cinema this Friday. It's having its U.S. premiere at the Tacoma art house, opening there before any other theater in any other city in the U.S.A. Yeah, that means you, New York. And you, L.A. Eat your hearts out.

"I watched it and I really enjoyed it," says the Grand's executive director, Philip Cowan. He enjoyed its quirky comedic take on its working-class hero so much that he urged the picture's U.S. distributor, Udy Epstein of LA-based Seventh Art Releasing, to let him have first dibs. "We talked to the producer and he said, 'OK, let's give it a shot,'" Epstein said. It's due to open in LA next month.

The picture has made $7 million since it was released Down Under in 2006, a nice chunk of change for a low-budget indie release. Not bad, especially considering the subject matter.

The Helm Gallery's in deep water--and you can save it.

It's a known fact that galleries don't make a whole lot of money, especially the small, cutting-edge ones like The Helm, just up from Tully's on Broadway downtown. For a year now they've been showing exactly the kind of art that doesn't make big bucks, but gives a great aesthetic edge to our town: huge painted cardboard cubby-houses, exquisite pen-and-ink drawings, afghan scarf installations, purses made from ceramic. They've supported many local artists, and given us the kind of funky art we don't want to have to go to Seattle for. And they've been breaking even, til now.

But now they're in trouble. They're not just not making money, they're out of money. They have another 12 months on their lease, but unless they get some funds fast, they'll "just go belly-up," says co-owner Sean Alexander.

Tacoma poster, by Sean Alexander. Image courtesy The Helm Gallery.

So here's how you can help.

The Helm is selling off prints of this terrific drawing by Alexander of a dreamy Tacoma layered in domes like the Emerald City. Each print (an edition of 300) costs $50, of which 1/3 goes to a Helm mural project downtown and the rest to saving this hip art space. (The original's also for sale, at $450.)

Get your print at The Helm, Blackwater Cafe or Tacoma Art Supply in about seven days, when they're back from the printer.

Meanwhile, says Alexander, the gallery will stay open through September, as they have artists booked (check out the opening Thursday night of scream-inducing, black-humor art.)

After that--well, it depends on the money.

Left to right: Deb Lund's "Dinosailors;" singing group The Shifty Sailors; Chuck Fowler's "Tall Ships of Puget Sound." Image courtesy WSHM.

Can't wait for Tall Ships on July 3? Then get down to the Washington State History Museum. From 11 a.m. tomorrow (June 14) they'll be hosting two local authors and a sea chantey singing group, with the Sea Scouts Ship Odyssey docked close by.

Here's what the press release says:

Chuck Fowler is the author of Tall Ships on Puget Sound, which tells the history of the tall sailing ships that came to the Pacific Northwest beginning in the mid-1700s. Children's book author Deb Lund wrote Dinosailors, about the funny adventures of a crew of novice dinosailors as they set sail, only to find that something even better waits for them back home.
Catch a performance of the Whidbey Island singing group, The Shifty Sailors, who inspired the book Dinosailors. They will perform a selection of the traditional and fun sea shanties sung by sailors at sea. The group has released four CDs, including H is for aHoy.

All events are free with museum admission ($8/$7/$6/five-and-under free). Fowler will kick things off at 11 a.m., followed by Lund at 1 p.m. The Shifty Sailors will perform from 2 - 3 p.m., then there'll be a book and CD signing.

Meanwhile, the 82-foot yawl SSS Odyssey is celebrating its 70th birthday with an free Open Boat from 11 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., and 4 - 5 p.m. The boat will be docked on the Thea Foss Waterway, behind the Museum of Glass. Before and after the Open Boat, there will be cruises (not free.)

Classic "Cuckoo"
Lakewood Playhouse takes you back to the frightening world of 1960s mental institutions in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through June 22. $20/$17/$14/$12. 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd, Lakewood. 253-588-0042, lptheater.qwestoffice.net.

Subversive Glass at Traver Gallery
Catch seductive, satirical glass by Mexican-born brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre at Traver Gallery: The opening includes nibbles, drinks and live classical guitar. 5 – 8 p.m. Saturday. Free. 1821 E. Dock St #100, Tacoma. 253-383-3685, www.travergallery.com.

French ArtWalk at TAM
It’s all French for ArtWalk at Tacoma Art Museum: at 6:30 p.m. the Tahoma Girls Choir sing music of Delibes, inspired by the Renoir print exhibit. Get there around 10 a.m. and watch Chihuly’s glass floats being reinstalled in the courtyard. 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. June 19. Free. 1701 Pacific Ave, Tacoma. 253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.org.

Glass, Screams, Naked Bodies at ArtWalk
Thursday’s ArtWalk night: drop in at Fulcrum for a group glass show, Helm for the fascinatingly horrific, and the brand new Delight Gallery in Sanford and Sons for naked body parts. June 19. Free. Fulcrum: 6-9 p.m. 1308 MLK Way, Tacoma. 253-250-0520, fulcrum.oliverdoriss.com. Helm: 5–10 p.m. 760 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-627-8845, www.thehelmgallery.com. Delight: 5-7 p.m. 743 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-347-2747, www.eststudios.com.

Music in the Gardens
Second City Chamber Series presents clarinet, violin and piano music in the lovely Lakewold Gardens. Hear works composed for New York (Bela Bartok,) San Francisco (Milhaud) and the freeway between them (Adams.) 7:30 p.m. June 19. $35/$30/$15. 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Lakewood. 253-572-TUNE, www.scchamberseries.org.

Ever wondered who taught Holly Hunter to play piano for her role in "The Piano?" Or Tom Cruise, for "Interview with the Vampire?"

Turns out a lot of Hollywood stars have had the same piano teacher--and she's coming to play at Borders Tacoma Thursday night.

Margie Balter is the woman in question. After a childhood of dancing, performing and directing her own theater company, the curvy blonde studied music at University of Washington, and played with African band Dumi, and the Minanzi Marimba Ensemble. A move to Los Angeles, however, got her some teaching gigs--from Jane Fonda's kids to Michael Keaton, and coaching a host of stars for musical film roles: Scarlett Johansson, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey and Barbara Hershey.

But she's still playing herself, and her Borders gig is to promote a CD of her own New Age compositions, "Music from the Heart."

Balter will play at 7 p.m. at Borders Tacoma, 2508 S. 38th St, on June 12. She'll also play at Borders Seattle, 1501 4th Ave, at 5:30 p.m. June 13. She'll also sign CDs.

Sure, the Hulk is getting all the attention this week but come August another big green guy is going to be center stage. Literally.

Tickets for "Shrek the Musical" go on sale Friday at 9:30 a.m.

The 5th Avenue Theatre show is the latest Broadway bound musical to get its start in Seattle ("Hairspray" and "Young Frankenstein" went on to be huge successes).

The show runs Aug. 14 to Sept. 21 with opening night on Sept. 10. The big green ogre then leaves his Seattle swamp to take up official residence at the Broadway Theatre in New York on Dec. 14.

The large cast seems to have every Broadway hit for the last 10 years in their resumes. The principals are Tony Award nominee Brian d'Arcy James as Shrek, Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad, Chester Gregory II as Donkey, Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia as Pinocchio and Kecia Lewis-Evans as The Dragon.

This is a completely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book "Shrek!" and the animated film "Shrek" (above, voiced by Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy.)

The show's book and lyrics are by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire; music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori; and is directed by Tony Award nominee Jason Moore.

Ticket prices range from $25 to $90. You can call 206-625-1900 or 888-5TH-4TIX, or www.5thavenue.org for tickets.

Is this going to be the next "Hairspray?" See it and find out.

Bellarmine grad and University Place resident Geoff Kanick will present three shows of magic and comedy at his alma mater this weekend.

“This show incorporates both my intense and unique stage illusions with some fun, slapstick comedy that will keep the entire family entertained,” Geoff said in a recent press release. “This show promises to be my best ever with a mix of new illusions and comedic wit that will shock and surprise the audience.”

Geoff is a fourth-generation Tacoma-area resident who has performed at First Night. He also headlined one other show at Bellarmine.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Bellarmine's McAstocker Theater, 2300 S. Washington St. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.magickkanick.com or www.thehoratio.com.

I took a trip down to the Museum of Glass Sunday to check out the new installation, “Mirrored Murrelets” by Joseph Rossano.

It's a photographer's dream and I predict it'll be showing up soon in the publications and websites of visiting media.

Rosemary made a trip as well. Read her review of the new work.

Many of us remember the dynamic Steve Bloom as the man who turned the struggling Tacoma Symphony Orchestra in the late '90s into the success it is today.

And some us might be surprised to know he's been executive director of the Portland Japanese Garden for the past three years. At least I was. The last I heard he was leading the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.

And apparently he's still working his magic. Bloom was just awarded an International Affairs Fellowship in Japan. It's presented by the Council on Foreign Relations, a group focused on increasing America’s understanding of the world and contributing ideas to U.S. foreign policy.

Bloom will conduct research and establish relationships between Japan and the U.S. The goal is to increase the care and maintenance of the 200-plus Japanese gardens open to the public in North America. He'll also work on cultural and artistic programming and exchange within the gardens. He'll be in Japan from this November through May 2009.

Bloom came to Tacoma in 1996 and left in 2000. He is originally from Buffalo, N.Y., where he was general manager of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Prior to Tacoma, he lived in Sacramento, where he was director of operations and personnel and staff conductor at the Sacramento Symphony.

Sad news. Paul and Josephine Zmolek, founders and directors of Barefoot Studios, have announced that they're leaving Tacoma during the summer. If you haven't seen anything at Barefoot, you should have--some of the best contemporary dance and physical theater anywhere in Puget Sound, plus dance classes, dance jams, art exhibitions and the like.

It was Barefoot that brought us Siteworks, the cool dance festival outside the Museum of Glass in 2006; "Grudge Match," the hilarious piece about family Christmas dinner infighting; and the recent multimedia work "Train".

The reason they're leaving? Josephine just landed the position of director of dance at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us and we are looking forward to the many challenges ahead," said Paul in an email.

But there are two pieces of good news along with the sad. Barefoot Studios will continue to give classes and performances, under the leadership of current faculty and associated artists, who are banding together to form the Barefoot Collective.

And two of the members will be the Zmoleks. Idaho's not that far away, and Paul and Josephine aren't cutting all ties with Tacoma. They'll be back for occasional performances, including--they hope--the next Siteworks festival, slated for 2009.

All the best, Paul and Jo.

Neddy Award-winning art can be seen at TAM
The Behnke Foundation has just announced its 2008 Neddy Award winners.
You can see Akio Takamori’s giant ceramic “Princess” and Randy Hayes’ painted photographs, along with other cool works in clay and paint, at the Tacoma Art Museum; 1701 Pacific Ave.; 253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.org

Stadium District will offer first Art and Wine Walk
Walk, drink and appreciate the art of local artists such as Mary Mann at the Stadium District’s first Art and Wine Walk on Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25, include hors d’oevres, tastings and a wineglass; and benefit Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Park at Stadium High School, and start tasting in its theater; 111 North E St.; 253-255-4027, www.stadiumartandwinewalk.com

Bobby McFerrin will bring voice, self to Pantages
The legendary, four-octave voice that can sing melody, harmony, bass and percussion all by itself (think, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”) is coming to the Pantages Theater at 3 p.m. Sunday at 3 p.m.
So is its owner, Bobby McFerrin; 253.591-5894, www.broadwaycenter.org

Museum of Glass presents ‘Mirrored Murrelets’
Just up at the Museum of Glass is “Mirrored Murrelets,” an outdoor sculpture installed in the mezzanine pool.
More than 250 glass murrelets skim the water, while benches like charred stumps symbolize the destroyed old-growth forest these Northwest birds need to survive; 1801 Dock St. 253-284-4750, www.museumofglass.org

Seymour Conservatory showcases glass art
“Skyponds” has just been installed at the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park.
Joe Miller and Oliver Doriss have made delicate, water-filled glass bowls hanging from carefully balanced mobiles amid the palm trees; 316 S. G St.’ 253-591-5330, www.metroparkstacoma.org

There are cat people and then there are cat people. Bailey Coates and her friend Zoe Mix are the latter.

The two 12-year-olds performed last night in the musical “Cats” at the University of Puget Sound. The UPS Community Music Department put on the youth production.

I spoke with Bailey’s father, Greg, before the show. He says the two middle school students are “ ‘Cats’ fanatics.” Greg says the pair have been dancing to the video and making “Cats” costumes for years. The feline obsessed friends put on a show for their six grade class and another at a local library.

Coates is taking the two to San Diego on Friday to see a national touring version of “Cats.” The supportive dad has arranged for a photo shoot with the professional cast and the two girls before the show. They’ll also take in SeaWorld and other attractions before heading home.

Greg said Bailey is as fanatical about real cats as she is about the costumed kind: “Since day one. Just like her mother.”

I asked him if he shared his family’s passion. There was a pause and then a sigh.

“I married into it. I was a dog person. I’m still getting to used to it.”

THAT is a supportive dad.

Hooray--the Museum of Glass is finally putting up some new glass installations in the reflecting pools in its plazas. At the 2002 opening, of course, the place was full of outside glass, but since then various things have happened: temporary sculptures taken down, the Water Forest near the waterfront damaged by a careless kid. Buster Simpson's "Incidence" alone has been there from the beginning.

This summer, though, the outside glass is back. This week artist Joseph Rossano has been installing "Mirrored Murrelets," a sculpture involving some 250 glass versions of the Northwest sea bird that he created during his Visiting Artist residency in MOG's Hot Shop in January. Apparently, the installation, which is in the mezzanine plaza, also includes fiberglass benches intended to look like charred tree stumps, to represent the damaged old-growth forest the murrelets need as habitat.

They're filling the pool today. I'll be heading down there Friday afternoon to check it out, and you can read my review online on Saturday.

Here's a photo of Rossano, holding one of the glass murrelets:

Artist Joseph Rossano, with a glass murrelet for the Museum of Glass. Photo courtesy Museum of Glass.

Meanwhile, Martin Blank is currently filling up the former Barefoot Studio space on Puyallup Ave with the clear-glass shapes that will make up his installation "Fluent Steps." The shapes look exactly like giant crinkle-cut chips. MOG spokesperson Susan Newsom says they're shooting for early fall for the installation in the main plaza reflecting pool. Watch this blog for updates and sneak peeks.