Running through Sept 12th at the Tobin Gallery at 924 Broadway in Tacoma is an art exhibition of over a dozen local, Tacoma artists – The Gritty Show. It’s a diverse collection of painted and sculptural works reflecting the rich and varied talents of Tacoma artists.
Aaron Artis’ piece SkateboART depicts a skateboard and what resembles a basketball, in an abstract, expressionistic manner with the fluid quality reminiscent of zen calligraphy. The movement in this piece is celebratory and the bold shapes are playful.
Hadiya Finley’s No Bull in the Bushes, Girl, is a striking bronze sculpture of a female form peering out from behind a bush. Is it a comment about stepping back and opting out of BS, seeking refuge in nature or a feminist double endendre? It’s a beautiful composition with elegant, elongated forms.
James Junio’s work calls to mind the vibrant, energetic quality of Basquiat’s work – it’s a similar combination of abstract expressionism with urban subject matter from a Black experience. Fork in the Road communicates the energy of youth, buzzing with ideas, drive, surrounded by fiery forces.
Matt Zimmerman’s He Found a Use for the End of the Rope – is a bold, abstract, expressionist piece with tremendous activity and interplay between strong colors. The strokes of black, orange, golds sit dramatically on top of the work. The layers of color, their shape and spatial relationships give so much to think about.
Splatter Galaxy by Amerlynn Elizabeth Cox pulls you in to its universe of colors. There are so many zones of activity, areas of light and dark, rivers of blue light, it’s tempting to become lost in its rich cosmos.
Come on out to view these and many other works by Tacoma artists, through Sept. 12th at the Tobin Gallery downtown on Broadway.
The space is shared by Mad Hat Tea Co – where you can purchase high quality green teas, black tea blends, and herbal teas. He even carries Pu-erh tea – a special fermented tea from China with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
924 Broadway
Tacoma WA 98402
253.302.2046