Three classic movies from Universal Studios will begin a weeklong run at the Grand Cinema starting Friday.

In honor of the studio's 90th anniversary year, the Grand will be playing "Raging Bull," widely regarded as one of the best films of the 1980s, "Midnight Cowboy," winner of the best picture Oscar for 1969, and "The Great Escape."

The run ends on Aug. 7.

For show times, call 253-593-4474.

Bryan Rubino, "Crimson Red Bamboo" ("Florals" in background.) Photo: Corey Lund.

Bamboo and I have been arch-enemies for a long time, ever since a house I owned in Melbourne had a back-yard full of it.

So it's nice to walk through a grove of eight-foot-high bamboo knowing it's rootless and can only proliferate at temperatures above 1500 degrees F.

I'm talking about the current Bryan Rubino show at Fulcrum Gallery. The glass artist, whose name will be familiar to many from his 2006 copyright tiff with Dale Chihuly, has been working on this bamboo series for a couple of years now out of his Shelton studio, and Fulcrum owner Oliver Doriss--who worked on Rubino's glassblowing team years ago when he first broke away from Chihuly Inc.--is pleased to be the first local gallery to show Rubino's work in a while.

Says Doriss: "No-one else will touch Bryan's work right now. But my view of Chihuly's lawsuit is that it's funny. Chihuly started the lawsuit without actually putting copyright on his ideas."

Doriss is a fan of Rubino's work, and for good reason: his work is well-made and, mostly, aesthetically excellent. "Odysseus' Garden" is Fulcrum's biggest show to date, and completely fills the front and middle rooms of the Hilltop space. The central theme is the bamboo: tall canes of glass, varying from around 1-3 inches in diameter, set into floor-boxes in "groves." Not all the colors work equally well: the blood-red "Crimson" at the front is fiery and strong, but the green looks a little odd and the "Autumn" set in the middle room (olive to brown to gold to tangerine) reminds me of Walgreens holiday decorations. But the clear glass "Winter" grove opposite the red is stunning, catching the light and playing with the street scene outside. None of the groves has the same floor-box: Rubino seems to be experimenting with what works and what's necessary (the neon bamboo, for instance, need boxes which hide the transformer) and some look better than others. (The fake black sand is the most Vegas-casino-ish, the solid boxes the most elegant.)

On the walls are some glass flowers that erupt very Chihuly-esque from their spurting stamens, and on pedestals are a variety of glass sculptures: clear, bubbly "Ocean Life" forms that combine octopus and starfish in a swaying curve of arms; cane-work vessels that imitate Lino Tagliapietra (one of Rubino's mentors,) some agave-shaped "Florals" that would make great board-room decorations.

It's a bit of a mish-mash installation, but completely worth seeing.

"Odysseus' Garden" is up at Fulcrum Gallery through August 17. Thursdays 6-9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 12-6 p.m. and by appointment. 1308 MLK Jr. Way, Tacoma. 253-520-0250, fulcrum.oliverdoriss.com

Afro Celotto, "Fuoco." Image courtesy American Art Company.

For one day only, the American Art Company is showing the work of glass artist Afro Celotto, from Murano, Italy. Tomorrow (Saturday) from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. his North American representative will be at AAC to show more than 30 pieces by the artist, who AAC has just begun to represent.

Here's what owners Craig and Tammy Radford say in their press release:

Afro is from a small handful of artists that are considered the best in Murano and indeed the world. Afro apprenticed with the legendary Lino Tagliapietra and fulfilled the position of first assistant. After many years at "Effetre International", Afro took his skills to "La Murrina" where he filled the position of "First Master". Here he specialized in two of the oldest techniques: filigrana and murrhine. Four years later he would return to "Effetre International" after being asked to replace Lino Tagliapietra, who had moved to the United States to open his own studio.
You will find the work speaks of the years of experience accumulated by Afro and the selection will be absolutely stunning!

AAC is at 1126 Broadway, one block down from the Pantages. For more information: 253-272-4327 or www.americanartco.com.

He went. He saw. He got really, really cold.

Werner Herzog, the visionary (some would say crazed) German filmmaker who once ordered a crew of Indian laborers to haul a full-size steamboat over a jungled Amazonian hill for his feature "Fitzcarraldo," again went to extremes to make his latest picture, "Encounters at the End of the World." He went to McMurdo Station, the American research outpost in Anarctica, to see what kinds of people are drawn to the isolation and the cold there. He found a land of beauty. He found a hive of peculiarity. He captured it all on film and brought it back for you and me to see. Friday, we can see it at the Grand Cinema. Wear mittens. And a furry-earflap cap.

Also opening Friday at the Grand is "The Wackness," an angsty indie feature starring Ben Kingsley as a wacked-out doped-up shrink who trades therapy sessions for marijuana. It takes all kinds I guess.

I made my way down to the 6th Avenue Farmers Market this evening. I'm sure all you folks-about-town have already been there, buying cheese from Estrella Family Creamery and sausages from Cheryl the Pig Lady.

Though today was only the second week of the market's existence, a sure sign of its future (besides the crowds that were buying out entire stands of berries) was an artist painting a mural on the side of a building.

Jennevieve Schlemmer, a mosiac artist, was working on a scene showing a delivery truck towing a trailer full of fruits and vegetables. The mural is sponsored by the market and the 6th Avenue Merchants Association.

Schlemmer, of Tacoma, said she'd be painting the mural over the next few weeks.

The next time you're stocking up on blueberries check out Schlemmer's live art show.

Christopher Mathie, Red Raku Pottery.

Local ceramicist Christopher Mathie has been invited to show some pottery at the annual fundraising art sale "Behind the Shoji" at Portland's Japanese Garden, which opens this Saturday.

Says Mathie:

I was very excited to be asked to participate this year and created a collection of new Raku pottery for the show.

Locally, Mathie shows often at Two Vaults Gallery on S. Fawcett downtown.

"Behind the Shoji" runs through September 2. The Garden is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, 12-7 p.m. Mondays, and the sale is free with admission, which is $8 adults, $6.25 seniors and students, $5.25 6-17 years, and free for six-and-unders. There are artist demonstrations from 1-3 p.m. most weekend afternoons through summer.
611 SW Kingston Avenue, Portland. 503-223-1321, www.japanesegarden.com/events/behind-the-shoji

L to R: Art doors painted by Maureen McHugh, Bonnie Chance, Alysia Jines, Linda Lapping-DeSantis, Dawn Fortner. Image: Paul Uhl.

It's not often you get a chance to acquire an art-door, support a local festival and have a rockin' time to boot, but Thursday evening you'll get all that. The committee for the Glassroots downtown art festival, is holding a fundraiser with a difference: local artists have painted doors (yes, old house and shed doors, unattached) which will be auctioned off live at Sanford and Sons. A quarter of each sale goes back to the door artist, the rest of the proceeds go to fund the August 24 festival, which not only celebrates local art but supports it by not charging artists to erect booths.

Says co-organizer Angela Jossy:

Most festivals are funded by vendor booth fees. We are doing this fundraiser so that our vendors don't
have to bear the brunt of the festival costs. We made the booths free this year so that any artist, no matter what their financial status is, can come out, meet fellow artists and show their work for free.

If you were at Art on the Ave you may have seen some of the locally-painted doors. Artists include Matt and Laura Eklund, Houston Wimberly III, Linda Lapping DeSantis, Jeremy Silas, Voxxy Vallejo, James Stowe, Bonnie Chance, Charlene LaMountain, Maureen McHugh, Crystal Braley-Cole, Dawn Fortner and others. The auction runs from 7-10 p.m. this Thursday July 24 at 743 Broadway, Tacoma. Cover entry is by donation, and includes DJ music (think of every hit you know that includes the word "door": "My love open the door," "Back Door Man," "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," "Ooh,ooh, ooh, lookin out my back door," etc etc,) pizza by the slice, karaoke and drinks bar. Apart from the bar, the event is all-ages.

Are you wondering whose doors we posted here?

Left to right: The white door with crows on it is by Maureen McHugh, owner of Mad Hat Tea company, featuring a poem by fashionisto Daniel Blue. The blue door with gazebo was done by Bonnie Chance, the "Smack" door was created by Alysia Jines. The red and orange crow door with the mirror on it is by Linda Lapping-DeSantis, and the butterfly door was done by Dawn Fortner.

Just think of the possibilities for an art door: a room screen, a mural, a faux-door to confuse your neighbors. Dare I say it?--they're adoorable.

Marsha Blaker, "Not Galileo's Globe." Image courtesy Traver Gallery.

Undersea Glass at Traver Gallery
Husband and wife team Marsha Blaker and Paul DeSomma show their skill at Traver: Blaker creates lime-and-aqua fusings of kelp shapes, while DeSomma creates more abstract drawings via glass, metal and scorched wood. Tuesdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays 12-5 p.m. through Aug. 10. Free. 1821 E Dock St, Tacoma. 253-383-3685, www.travergallery.com

Shakespeare in the Parks
Magic and mayhem rule at Wooden O Theater’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The Seattle company performs the Shakespeare comedy free in local parks. 7 p.m. tonight at Angle Lake Park, 190408 International Blvd, SeaTac. 6:30 p.m. July 23 at Steel Lake Park, 2410 S 312th St, Federal Way. Free. Performances of this and “Romeo and Juliet” continue through August in Seattle locations. 206-733-8222, www.seattleshakespeare.org/woodeno/

The Helm Gallery’s on “Fire, Fire”
The Helm’s doing just one, short show in July: Vanessa La Valle’s “Fire, Fire” is an assemblage of photos, relics and mixed media from an actual house fire of which she was a victim. 12-6 p.m. today and tomorrow only. 760 Broadway, Tacoma. Free. 253-627-8845, www.thehelmgallery.com

Seattle Art Museum’s 75th Birthday Bash
SAM celebrates 75 years with a free, all-day party hosted by the Seattle Asian Art Museum (the original SAM building.) Festivities include live music and dance, roaming artists, kid’s stuff, cake at noon, film, and free tours of the SAAM exhibitions. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 19. Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 1400 E. Prospect St, Seattle. Free. 206-654-3206, www.seattleartmuseum.org

Tacoma Icons at Two Vaults Gallery
Thirty-eight local Tacoma artists plus dozens of Tacoma icons ranging from Dale Chihuly to Chinook salmon equals a two-wall show packed with “Icon-cepts.” Visit Two Vaults and see if you can pick them all by sight (including this critic.) Tuesdays-Wednesdays 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursdays-Saturdays 12-8 p.m. through Sept. 1. 602 S. Fawcett St, Tacoma. Free. 253-759-6233, www.twovaults.com

The mayor was there. So were Shrek, Fiona and Donkey. Well, actually it was Brian D'Arcy James, Sutton Foster and Chester Gregory II, the actors who play the three characters from "Shrek the Musical."

They showed today at Downstairs at the 5th, the underground concourse beneath the 5th Avenue Theatre, along with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, to tout the upcoming run of the new multimillon-dollar stage production.

As TV and newspaper photographers recorded the event, the mayor spoke of the Emerald City's growing prominence as an out-of-town launching pad for Broadway musicals based on movies. "Hairspray" got its start in Seattle. So did "Young Frankenstein." And now "Shrek."

James and Foster spoke in support of the Seattle's Climate Action Now summer transportation initiative that is intended to make people forsake their cars and use public transportation to get to the performances. It's a green initiative, you see, and the ogre is green, and so that sort of makes sense, I guess.

Gregory wrapped things up by singing one of the original tunes from the show. And then he and the other cast members went back into rehearsals, which are now in progress.

The production will be onstage at the 5th Avenue from Aug. 14 to Sept. 21. It's scheduled to open in New York City in November.

Design for Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival poster by Ariana Smith. Image courtesy Peninsula Art League.

Looking for something to do this weekend? The folks from the Peninsula Art League are organizing the 24th annual Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Here's what the organizers say will be there:

• 128 local and national arts and crafts vendors on Judson Street, in downtown Gig Harbor
• Fine food from crab melts to Peruvian, shaved ice to ice cream, and all of your favorite lattes, juices and soft drinks.
• Splendid music brought to you by Tammy Nilson – blues, country and bluegrass, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Children’s fun, art and entertainment including Tim Lowell making glass mosaic stepping stones, Harbor WildWatch interactive children’s art activities, and face painters

Parking in downtown Gig Harbor can be tough at the best of times, so take advantage of the free parking available at the Kimball Drive Park and Ride right off the City Center exit from Highway 16, where shuttles will pick up riders on an ongoing basis Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

For more information, call 253-265-8139.

The Grand Cinema is opening two new movies on Friday and they couldn't be more different. One, "Roman de Gare," is a devilishly twisty thriller from France's Claude Lelouch, best known as the director of 1966's "A Man and a Woman," which won the Oscar for best foreign language film. The other, "Up the Yangtze," is lushly photographed and remarkably intimate documentary about the vast social upheaval caused by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world that has caused millions of people to be displaced by its rising waters.

These pictures do have one thing in common: Both are uncommonly good. Excellent, even, each in its own very distinctive way.

Well worth checking out, either or both.

The board of directors at Tacoma Little Theatre has appointed local Doug Kerr as interim artistic director, following their decision last Wednesday to release David Duvall from the position. Here's what their press release has to say about Kerr:

“We have tapped a veteran of the arts with a strong business management background and familiarity with TLT and the management team,” stated TLT Board Vice President, Marie Kelly. “Doug was the head of the Pierce Community College Theatre Department for more than thirty years and is a respected and accomplished director, set designer and artist. Importantly, he shares both a commitment to the values and a vision of continued growth for TLT. We are thrilled to have him in place while we conduct a search for a permanent Artistic Director.”

Duvall was let go after 16 months in the position, during which time audiences dropped by around 20%, staff salaries were only partly paid, and positions remained unfilled, Duvall said last Thursday. (See that post on this blog below.)

The position of business director, left vacant by Cory Chapo last year, still remains unfilled. Previously, the business director worked with the artistic director in overall management of the theater. The 2008/09 season also remains unannounced.

Tacoma Little Theatre is, at 90 years, one of the oldest community theaters in the nation. Said Kelly: “We are poised to have a tremendous year of growth in artistic endeavors and our community involvement as we celebrate our 90th season. Our staff and board are committed to making this our best year ever!”

I don't usually blog about Seattle (who needs 'em?!) but today I'm breaking my rule, because one of my favorite Northwest artists is back, with a vengeance. Remember this one?

Jim Riswold, "Frida's Owies." Image courtesy G. Gibson Gallery.

It's none other than Jim Riswold, Portland artist and former marketing superbrat (the guy behind Nike in the 90s.) His work, that is: of course, the lovely lady to the left is none other than Frida Kahlo, dismembered into the sum of her numerous bodily woes. It made a great addition to the Northwest take on Tacoma Art Museum's Frida show in January 2007, and it's Riswold's usual style: tongue-in-cheek swipes at familiar or beloved icons using photographs of elaborately set-up dolls, toys, plastic food and anything else he can find.

After the TAM appearance Riswold contributed some funny anti-Nazi images to the Biennial there, followed by a very funny solo show of "Chairman Mao" perched on various designer chairs at the UPS Kittredge Gallery. Last year he took on Jesus and souvenir-shop Christianity at Portland's Augen Gallery. Now he's back--at the G. Gibson Gallery in Seattle. The subject? Artists. Oh, boy. There's lots of fun to be had down this mine.

For a start, how about "Jeff Koons goes Shopping?"

Jim Riswold, "Jeff Koons Goes Shopping." Image courtesy G. Gibson Gallery.

Or Damien Hirst's family Christmas, where department-store-gift-wrapped presents include piles of cigarette butts and other Hirst shockers?

Jim Riswold, "Hirst Family Christmas," image courtesy G. Gibson Gallery.

Riswold, as usual, adds his own text:

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Damien Hirst house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of pigs' heads, hazardous waste, dead puppies, chainsaws, used cigarettes, surgical tools, skulls, dead butterflies, urns and 19th-century anatomical guides danced through their heads."

Makes you want to be there.

There's a Warhol-style challenge to Safeway to sue him for appropriating their flower image in a silkscreen. There's an ode to why Basquiat got famous (he died.) There's "Andy's Owies" and "Basquiat's Owies."

As usual with Riswold, it's fun for one and all. I just wish he'd done Chihuly.
But here's what Jim had to say on that subject:
"I was going to do Chiluly. It was a pumpkin with an eye patch. The pumpkin was stuffed with really tacky glass nicknacks. But I chose artists I admire for the show."

"Jim Riswold: Make-Believe Artist" is up at G. Gibson Gallery through August 16. 300 S. Washington St, Seattle. 206.587.4033, www.ggibsongallery.com
Hours: Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. & Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Crystal Aikin, Tacoma's angelic gospel singer, was back in town this weekend to wash clothes.

Not her clothes. Your clothes.

Debby Abe had a terrific story in Saturday's paper about the Tide CleanStart Mobile Laundromat coming to town. Crystal, winner of BET's inaugural "Sunday Best" gospel singing competition (sort of like the gospel version of "American Idol"), brought the laundromat to town as the community service part of her awards (She was also driving the black 2008 Toyota Camry she won. Yay, Crystal!)

I visited the big orange laundromat Saturday afternoon to catch up with Crystal, whose life has been a whirlwind of activity in the past six months.

Since she performed a Dec. 28 "thank you" concert for the South Sound fans who voted her into the show's top spot, she's been to: Saint Lucia (in the Caribbean, for the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival), St. Louis, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Denver, Oregon, North Carolina and about a zillion other places. It's been a constant stream of performances and appearances at colleges, churches, gospel TV shows, awards shows and other events.

Is it difficult to find time for Tacoma?

"We just put it on the schedule and make it happen," Crystal said, laughing.

She was all smiles as she returned freshly wrapped and bagged bundles of clean laundry to folks who had dropped their clothes off Friday or Saturday.

Typically, the laundromat can handle about 250 loads per day, said coordinator Courtney Carr. They had nearly hit 700 loads by about 4 p.m. Saturday, she said. They aren't able to accept new loads but will continue washing the clothes they've received Sunday.

Crystal is still working on her first album and said she hopes to release a single before the end of the year.

"That's the key," she said, "to release a really powerful single."

With that in mind, she's also spending some time songwriting and arranging, she said.

One of the contenders for her first single is a song entitled "The Clouds," about forgiveness, restoration and newness of life after troubles, Crystal said. In a metaphorical way it reminds her of Tacoma and the Northwest, she said, where skies aren't always as sunny as they were Saturday – but the sunshine always returns.

In her travels, she's bumped into dozens of stars including L.L. Cool J, Chris Brown, Anita Baker, Michael Bolton, Wyclef Jean and many others.

And her next high-profile visit to Tacoma will be for a concert she'll headline Oct. 12 at the Pantages Theater. In the meantime, here are a few shots of Crystal to "Tide" you over. Get it? "Tide" you over?

The board of directors at Tacoma Little Theatre asked artistic director David Duvall to resign Wednesday morning, Duvall confirmed today. Duvall, who had held the position for 16 months, gave financial troubles and board dissatisfaction with his management style as reasons for the departure.

"The fit was not working for either the board or myself," said Duvall.

The recent history of the 90-year-old community theater has been difficult. Box office manager Gini Hawkins resigned last August, to be replaced by her assistant. Business manager Cory Chapo, who collaborated with Duvall in overall management, left in December. Chapo's position was left unfilled. Production manager Kevin Myers also left, and his technical and production duties were assumed by Duvall.

Audiences for the theater's musical productions had dropped over the last three years from an average of 80-85% of seats filled to around 60% this spring, Duvall said, while staff "regularly went on half-salary" and independent contractors "often had to wait a long time to be paid."

Duvall attributes the drop in attendance to audience aging and says that while he had been programming shows to appeal to younger audiences, such a turnaround "in my opinion takes more than 16 months" to achieve.

"Not being at TLT anymore reminds me of when I lost custody of my children," said Duvall, who had worked for the theater as an occasional director for a decade prior to his appointment as artistic director. "Working with the regular performers has been the best thing during my time here."

Duvall says he's "at peace" with the board's decision, since he'll now have time to work on private artistic projects he's not had time for. "I took the TLT job because I wanted to return the theater to its glory days," he says. "But I'm fine with this decision."

Dionne Bonner, "Octopus," a pencil design that will be painted directly onto 6th Ave at Art on the Ave.

From next week onwards, when you’re heading down 6th Ave, watch out for the giant octopus.

It’s big, it’s purple, and it’s part of Sunday’s 10th annual Art on the Ave street arts festival. And the best bit is that it’s permanent: The octopus is the star of an enormous mural to be painted directly on the street surface during the course of the day, serving both as a live-art festival highlight and as a way of encouraging community.

Art on the Ave is, of course, much bigger than a single mural, impressive though that may be. In 10 years the festival has gone from a modest, four-block event attracting only 2,000 people to an all-day celebration spanning eight blocks of Sixth Ave, including two music and theater stages, a beer garden, car show, dunk tank, food courts and art-and-craft vendors. Last year it saw over 15,000 visitors and involved large-scale performance art.

This year, the emphasis seems to be on painting. Artist Jennevieve Schlemmer will begin work on a wall mural outside Schuck’s Auto Supply; the subject will be the new weekly Farmers’ Market that previews at the festival. Artist-painted shed and house doors, an auction fundraiser for the upcoming Glassroots festival, will also be on display.

But the main live-art event this year is the octopus. The idea for an intersection street mural came from Portland, say the organizers, where citizen group City Repair has discovered that wherever they hold their annual intersection paintings, safer streets and a more integrated community are the result. (See the video here.)

One city permit later, and the 6th Ave Merchants Association have commissioned their own mural. Designed by local artist Dionne Bonner, the mural will be chalked by her early Sunday morning on the intersection outside Starbucks at 6th Ave and Pine St. For the rest of the day, festival-goers can volunteer for 15-minute rotations filling in the color. Like the Portland group, Bonner is using a mix of water-based latex paint and traffic marking paint, achieving color and durability.

“The Portland people say it lasts pretty well,” says Bonner, whose design of a purple octopus fringed with red sea-stars and green kelp fits with the festival’s 2008 theme of “Under Water.” “It’s different. The energy for it is great, [and] to get the community involved is a positive thing.”

Carla Hall, assistant coordinator for Art on the Ave, sees a broader benefit.

“We did it to have something that draws attention to the intersection as a gathering place. The theme fits with the 6th Ave goal of sustainability, especially in our water environment. And it adds another bit of uncommon art to the Ave—it’s a pretty funky, eclectic group of people who live, work and attend events on the Ave.”

Art on the Ave runs 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday on Sixth Ave, between Cedar and Trafton Sts, Tacoma. Park free at N. 14th and Union Sts for the free shuttle.

Summer nights. Saturday nights. Movie nights. Make that: Outdoor movies on summery Saturday nights. And hey, they're free.

Starting July 26 and running every Saturday through Aug. 30, Metro Parks is presenting the annual Comcast Outdoor Cinema series. The movies will be shown at sundown at various Tacoma parks, and each will be preceded by a live music concert.

First up on the 26th at Wright Park, 501 S. I St., is the inspirational "Freedom Writers," about a group of inner-city high school kids who are taught to express themselves through writing by a dedicated teacher played by Hilary Swank. On Aug. 2, a special treat, and you must remember this: "Casablanca" in glorious black and white at the Centre at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave. N.E. The sea serpent children's fantasy, "The Water Horse," arrives Aug. 9 at Thea's Park, 405 Dock St. Ever wonder where the Loch Ness Monster came from? See this picture and wonder no more.

"Under the Same Moon," an immigrant drama about a young Mexican boy who sets off by himself from his homeland to find his mother, a maid working in LA, will be shown Aug. 16 at the McKinley Playfield, 402 E. 56th St. Jerry Seinfeld's animated insect comedy "Bee Movie" buzzes into the South End Recreation Area (SERA), at South 60th and Adams on Aug. 23. Wrapping up the summer of cinema fun on Aug. 30 will be "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." It will be shown at Jefferson Park, 801 N. Mason St.

In case you missed Dan Voelpel's column today you'll be pleased to know that Outside magazine ranked Tacoma No. 5 in its list of "Where to Live Now."

That's up 12 spots from AmericanStyle magazine's list of top arts destinations earlier this year.

Why is this in the arts blog? The Outside correspondent, Katie Arnold, listed the Theater District renovations, museums, live music at Jazzbones and the vibrant arts center that Tacoma has become as some of the reasons for our ranking.

The photos for the story were provided by TNT photographers.

Washington, D.C., Chattanooga, Tenn., Ogden, Utah and Portsmouth, N.H. ranked above us.

Smirk worthy: Seattle ranked well below us.

Does this mean we'll see more folks in bicycle shorts attending the symphony? We can only hope.

William Burden will sing Nadir in Seattle Opera's "The Pearl Fishers" in January 2009. Photo: Boyd Ostroff

Seattle Opera has launched a new program that designates one Friday performance of three upcoming operas as an LGBT Night.

The press release says it’s for “Seattle’s Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender community” but I know they’d welcome wayward Pierce County gays. And straights.

The first LGBT night will be the August 22 performance of “Aida” followed by “The Pearl Fishers” on January 23, 2009 and “The Marriage of Figaro” on May 15, 2009.

The kickoff event on August 22 will be hosted by Seattle Opera Board of Trustees member and noted Man about Town JJ McKay and Washington State Senator Ed Murray. These events are priced at $100 per ticket and include discounted main floor orchestra seating, private intermission receptions including complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres during the first intermission and coffee and dessert during the second intermission, and free admission to “Overtures to the Opera” (regularly priced at $7.00), an informative and fast-paced pre-opera lecture.

Tickets may be purchased in two ways—online by going to seattleopera.org/tickets or via mobile phone by going to mobile.seattleopera.org. Use the Promotion code: LGBT to purchase tickets.

Gay or straight, get up to Seattle Opera or save gas and catch a performance of our own Tacoma Opera.

Here’s a shot of yours truly from my last Seattle Opera gig “Der Rosenkavalier.” It doesn’t get any gayer than this.

Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. Image courtesy TSO.

A Symphony of Sea Music
The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra will play sea-inspired light classics like Tchaikovsky’s “Russian Sailor’s Dance,” and Strauss’ “The Blue Danube”, plus popular and patriotic works, in a free outdoor concert at Tall Ships. 10:30 a.m. July 6. Free. Thea’s Park, 405 Dock St, Tacoma. 253-272-7264, www.tacomasymphony.org

Chanteys, Drinking Songs, and Rollicking Good Cheer from the Revellers
The Revels folks will dress up in 18th-century garb to stroll Tall Ships while singing the kind of harmonies you’d expect from (musical) seafarers. 2 p.m. July 4 on Northwest Passage Stage, 7 p.m. July 5 on Tradewinds Stage, 6 p.m. July 6 on Treasure Cove Stage, also roving through the crowd throughout the festival. Free. 253-756-1804, www.pugetsoundrevels.org

“Tempest”-Tossed in Tacoma
Shakespeare in the Parking Lot’s contribution to Tall Ships is a performance of “The Tempest,” broken into two parts (love and revenge) and played at the waterfront amphitheater. Will they use the Thea Foss Waterway as a prop? Go and find out. 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. July 5, 2 p.m. July 6. Free. Thea Foss Waterway amphitheater (behind Museum of Glass.) 253-318-5182, www.sitpl.org

Grand Impromptu Gallery Goes Abstract
If you’re totally Tall Shipped-out, there’s one place in town that’s not offering anything to do with masts or mizzens. Impromptu’s July show is “Towards Abstraction,” featuring regular gallery members plus guest artist from Olympia. 4 – 9 p.m. Thursday – Friday (closed July 4,) 2 – 9 p.m. Saturday, 2 – 6 p.m. Sunday, July 2- 27. Free. 608 S. Fawcett St, Tacoma. 253-572-9232, www.impromptugallerytacoma.com

Behind the Curtain at “Grease”
The director and actors at Tacoma Musical Playhouse take you backstage, figuratively speaking, for a 90-minute show about the history of the play, technical tricks, and musical highlights. If you’re planning to go to “Grease,” or take someone unfamiliar with it, this is a great introduction. 7 p.m. July 6. Free. Show itself runs July 11-August 2. 7116 6th Ave, Tacoma. 253-565-6867, www.tmp.org

Just visited Two Vaults Gallery in the Merlino building downtown to see the show that opened tonight, and whaddayaknow, I was in it! Well, sort of. The show, "ICON-cepts," invited over 38 local artists to create an icon celebrating a personage important to Tacoma. It's the brainchild of concrete art diva Lynn di Nino and Two Vaults owner Paula Tutmarc-Johnson, and it's a really fun show: there are at least four Dale Chihulys (maybe more, hard to count,) plus three of Lynn herself (hmmm, did this show get juried?) plus figures as diverse as St. Therese of Lisieux, Barack Obama, the Holy Trinity, a salmon, Frisco Freeze, the Hundredth Monkey, and Pierce Transit Bus Route No. 1.

Here's one of Dale, by Lynn:

Lynn Di Nino, "Dale."

And a very rocking 100th Monkey, by Claudia Riedener:

Claudia Riedener, "Saint Simius." Image courtesy Two Vaults Gallery.

And then there's me! Initially I'd thought I didn't make the cut as a Tacoma icon: well, I realize I'm not up there with Obama, or even the Monkey. But I got kind of sad that Derek Young of exit133.com was given a halo, and Kevin Freitas of feedtacoma.com was made an archangel. Then I wandered down to the back gallery and lo and behold, Dorothy McCuistion had canonized my notebook!

Dorothy McCuistion, "Seeing Art through Rosemary-colored Glasses." Image courtesy Two Vaults Gallery.

Dorothy has made a delightful print of my spiral-bound, featuring a pair of rosy-pink shades sporting speech bubbles with phrases from my reviews. (I'm so glad someone reads them!) Beneath is a tiny red toy bicycle (ode to my cycling exploits?) and the whole icon is surrounded by cheery sunshine. I can't quite work out the bluebird in a toy cage--some biting reference to my soul? Or just decoration? And I'm not sure about some of those words... did I really write "art salad?" (Maybe that referred to Dorothy's co-op gallery.)

But oh boy, I so *totally* want those sunglasses: pink with paisley patterns. And a red bike: mine's boring gray, really.

So thanks, Dorothy. Who, by the way, has a neat set of bike-themed prints pegged up in Impromptu Gallery just down the road from Two Vaults--monotypes riffing on the theme of bike wheels turned lime-slices turned manholes...

ICON-cepts is up for the summer, it seems. It's not all great art, but some of it's very clever--like chalk-mad R.R. Anderson's "Icon for the Iconoclast," a blank chalkboard triptych--and it deserves far more space than the two small walls it's been allocated.

Two Vaults is at 602 S. Fawcett St, Tacoma.

He’s played at Seattle’s Paramount for years. He’s in demand worldwide. And now he’s finally debuting in his own town. Dennis James, a Tacoman who’s made a 40-year career out of playing organ for silent films, will play the Rialto Sunday night for the 1926 film “The Black Pirate.” The screening’s in honor of—guess what?—Tall Ships, but as a purely cinematic and musical experience, it’s a whole lot bigger than that.

Starring silent film swoon-man Douglas Fairbanks (“The Mark of Zorro,” “The Thief of Bagdad”,) “The Black Pirate” was the second full-length feature shot in Technicolor, and tells the story of a nobleman who disguises himself as a pirate to avenge his father’s murder. Like many other silent movies, it had its own orchestral accompaniment, sometimes reduced for theater organ. Lost for decades, the film was restored in the 1970s, and in 1988 Dennis James restored the score and re-premiered it on organ with the Indianapolis Symphony.

It’s the kind of thing James, who’s lived in Tacoma the last six years, has spent nearly his whole life doing. The 57-year-old began playing for silent movies when he was 16; since then, he’s amassed a repertoire of 36 scores for organ and orchestra, hundreds in preparation, and several thousand for organ alone. He’s the regular organist at the Paramount Theatre’s “Silent Movie Mondays” series, and tours the world for concerts and film festivals.

And now he’s playing the Rialto, thanks to the First Night folks, who are organizing the show as a fundraiser for the New Year’s Eve arts celebration. Unlike new compositions or improvisations, this silent movie music is original: just what Fairbanks and Mary Pickford would have heard.

So what’s the music for “The Black Pirate” actually like?

“It’s firmly in the 19th century Romantic opera tradition,” says James, “like Richard Wagner. Each character has a theme, a leitmotiv—the captain, the ship, even the monkey has one. It’s rooted in the tradition of melodrama.”

Since the Rialto doesn’t have an organ, James will play a digital replica of a theater pipe organ, complete with sound effects like birdcalls and surf noises.

Being a pirate movie, what happens for cannon noises?

“It’s a cluster of bass drum, timpani roll, cymbals and low pedals all played together,” explains James. “What we in film music call ‘The Grand Crash.’”

“The Black Pirate” screens 7 p.m. July 6 at the Rialto Theater, 310 S. 9th St, Tacoma. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased from LeRoy Jewelers, Glenna’s Clothing, King’s Books and the Broadway Center box office (Sunday only.)

The Museum of Glass, which is in Tacoma, Wash., is one of Wired Geek Dad's 5 Great Interactive Museums to Visit this Summer. Along with San Francisco's Exploratorium and Washington D.C.'s International Spy Museum, MOG is on Wired's must-see list for the summer.

The post even features a News Tribune produced video on MOG, narrated by our own Rosemary Ponnekanti.

Now, let's just hope visitors head here instead of Portland which is where Wired said MOG was before updating their post.

But if folks do get misdirected to Portland they'll still be able to visit MOG. But only on July 13.

MOG's mobile hot shop will be at the Museum of Contemporary Craft for Craft: PDX. MOG's Julie Pisto told me that the MHS was there a year ago for the museum’s grand opening and it was so popular that they were invited back.

After that, the next MHS venture is to Everett for an art festival called Fresh Paint on August 16 and 17.

Marshall Johnson, "Entering the Straits." Image courtesy Art Concepts on Broadway.

Okay. So there's a whole, whole lot of Tall Ship-related arts stuff out there in T-town right now, and I did my very best to include all of it in the Soundlife story last Sunday. But I missed some. So here they are.

Who: Museum of Glass
What: Tall Ships community workshop, “Beware of Pirates and Sea Sirens,” led by artist Diane Kurzyna
When: 1 – 4 p.m. July 4
Where: 1801 Dock St, Tacoma
Admission: free with museum admission, $10 adults/$8 seniors, students, military/$4 6-12 years/free for under 6
And also: Annual Museum Store Summer Tent Sale
When: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. July 5, 12 – 4 p.m. July 6
Where: MoG Plaza
Admission: free
Information: 253-284-4750, www.museumofglass.org

Who: Freighthouse Art Gallery
What: “Tall Ships and Misty Shores” is an ship-themed exhibit of paintings, photography, drawings, clay and glass by Freighthouse artists
When: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday through July 31
Where: 602 E. 25th St, Tacoma (near the G St. end of Freighthouse Square)
Admission: free
Information: 253-383-9765, www.freighthousesquare.com/merch/artgallery.html

Who: Art Concepts on Broadway
What: “Tall Ships 2008” is an exhibit of new oil paintings by Northwest artist Marshall Johnson
When: 12 – 5 p.m. Thursday – Saturday and by appointment, July 3 – August 2; artist reception 5 – 8 p.m. July 17
Where: 924 Broadway, Tacoma
Admission: free
Information: 253-272-2202, www.artconceptsonbroadway.com