Congratulations to Fife painter Jeremy Mangan, the 2009 winner of the Fife artist Jeremy Mangan is the winner of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's second annual "Foundation of
Art Award." The award, now in its second year, was announced this week, and rewards a Pierce County artist with $7,500 and a commissioned piece, to be unveiled in fall.

Mangan is a painter, professional ice sculptor and art handler at the Tacoma Art Museum. He received his Masters of Fine Arts in Painting from Hunter College, City University of New York, and was recently selected as the featured artist at The Congressional Club's First Lady's Luncheon, for which he was invited to create a painting to represent Washington.

The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation awards over $3 million annually to students and non-profit organizations in Pierce County supporting philanthropic efforts. The Foundation of Art Award was inaugurated last year, and the winner is selected by a committee of local art professionals. Other nominees for this year were Sean Alexander, Marc Dombrosky, Spencer Ebbinga, Jeremy
Gregory, Ellen Ito, Janet Marcavage, Joe Miller, Yuki Nakamura, Chandler
O'Leary, James Porter, and Holly Senn. Last year's award was won by painter Chris Sharp.

"Thriving arts and culture are one of the key elements we have identified as necessary for our vision of a Vibrant Community," said Rose Lincoln Hamilton, President & CEO of the GTCF.

You can find out more about Mangan at www.jeremymangan.com. A gallery of the nominees for the award is at www.gtcf.org/artgallery

Long Le of Tacoma gives a thumbs up after learning a break dance move in a L.I.F.E. class run by Fab-5. (Photo by Lui Kit Wong)

Last April TNT arts reporter Rosemary Ponnekanti profiled the L.I.F.E. classes, run by local hip-hop organization Fab- 5.

With the L.I.F.E. classes, “we realized we could create a movement. Hip-hop has the power to move people into one positive direction,” said co-founder Jason Hulen. Along with some friends from Pacific Lutheran University, Hulen started Fab- 5 back in 2000 as an organization committed to holding positive drug- and alcohol-free hip-hop events for Tacoma youth.

The L.I.F.E. classes are aimed at helping youth achieve skills and self-expression through all hip-hop art forms: breakdancing, legal graffiti, DJing and music recording, with lunch provided. Beginning in 2005, the program has expanded with funding from major local foundations to its present 10-week format running April through June.

Now you can see what these youth have been up to at “Everyday L.I.F.E. – Fab-5’s Latest Vibes” 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, The program includes a free BBQ, live mural painting, student lead artist workshops (2 p.m. - 4 p.m.), breakdancing, graffiti, DJing, music production and performances and an art show.

The event is free but students will be accepting donations of food, clothing and money to benefit various organizations doing direct service in Pierce County.

It all takes place at The Brick City Project, 754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma.

Peter Chang, Bracelet, 1992. Acrylic, PVC, and found objects. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Helen Williams Drutt Collection, gift of the Morgan Foundation. © Peter Chang.

Iron Man would feel right at home in Tacoma this summer.

Metal-Urge, a celebration of metal arts, is being forged all summer long with 100 metal artists at 24 downtown venues. It begins Saturday and runs through September 20.

The marquee events are two major metal art-oriented exhibits at the Tacoma Art Museum. The first (Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry from the Helen Williams Drutt English Collection) opens Saturday.

“We want Metal-Urge to attract people to the South Sound’s downtown like magnets to metal,” said Amy McBride City of Tacoma Arts Administrator.

Jewelry and metal/mixed media artists are showing their work at local galleries and other venues around town. For more information visit www.tacomaculture.org.

Deborah Page

Ladyfest, the not-for-profit celebration and showcase of female artists and performers, comes to Sanford and Son Saturday.

Though the event started in 2000 in Olympia (featuring Sleater-Kinney, Cat Power and Neko Case) it's been celebrated all over the world since then. And now it's made the 30 miles up I-5 to Tacoma.

The all-volunteer, community-produced day features performers Deborah Page, Voxxy Vallejo, Starstruck, Tammy Robacker, Brit Baab, Civita, the Barefoot Collective and more. Visual artists include Ann Koi, Jada Moon and Jayme Ferrari.

Admission for the all ages event (1 p.m. - 10 p.m.) is $10 and proceeds benefit Domestic Abuse Women's Network. Visit www.ladyfesttacoma.com/ for more info.

Sandford and Son is at 744 Commerce in Tacoma.

Art by Mindy Barker

The Green Spot, a tea house and art gallery, is having it's grand opening Saturday in University Place.

Owner Alice Yeh established the business at 3318 Bridgeport Way W. as a place not only to enjoy tea but showcase local artists emphasizing the confluence of Eastern and Western cultures.

For Yeh, it's a labor of love.

"This is my retirement hobby. It's an expensive hobby," Yeh told me Wednesday.

She currently offers half a dozen Chinese teas but she'll expand those options soon. Sandwiches, salads, soups and sweets are also for sale.

The grand opening will feature the work of painter Liang Wei, at left, (image courtesy of Gunnar Nordstrom Contemporary Fine Art) who will give a talk at 2 p.m. on his emigration from Szechwan, China to Seattle.

Free samples of select teas will be available as well. The tea house will open just prior to 2 p.m. Saturday but it's already up and running.

Contact info: 253-565-2832; www.greenspottea.com

Read Wei's bio here:

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