Category Archives: Art — there is art here!

Morning Light at Union Station

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I was out and about unusually early this morning and just loved the light on Union Station at 1717 Pacific Avenue. The station was constructed in1911 by the architectural firm of Reed and Stem (who also designed Grand Central Station in New York City) and was originally used as a passenger station. In 1974 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was abandoned in 1984 and in 1990 – 1992 it was renovated for use as a courthouse of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. The statue out front is called New Beginnings and was sculpted in 1984 by Larry Anderson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_%28Tacoma,_Washington%29

http://www.unionstationrotunda.org/

And here is one more photo taken 5/2/14

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Doyle’s Public House, Lovely Day for a Guinness

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Doyle's Lovely Day for a Guinness by Gexydaf

The mural celebrating Doyle’s Public House is truly glorious! It is large scale reproduction of one of the original Guinness advertising signs. Per Wikipedia a slogan associated with Guinness in the 1940 was “Toucans in their nests agree/Guinness is good for you/Try some today and see/What one or toucan do.”

Doyle’s is located in the Stadium District at 208 Saint Helen’s Avenue and is a well regarded traditional Irish Pub which celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day every month on the 17th.

http://www.doylespublichouse.com/

Thea’s Park, Tacoma

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Thea's Park, Tacoma by Gexydaf

Yesterday’s new place was Thea’s Park, where my dear daughter and her classmates were having a picnic. I often forget about this little park because it isn’t part of Rustin Way and I don’t typically drive past it. But the setting makes it worth remembering! It has a great view of the grain elevator, the rail line, the Thea Foss Waterway, Mt. Rainier and the Port of Tacoma. In addition there is a peace pole, a giant globe, picnic tables and a boat ramp. That’s an awful lot for a park that is only 3 acres!

For more information, see the Park District web page. http://www.discoverparks.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ParkDetails&PropertyID=339

Tacoma Street Sign Project

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Sometime during the dreary winter months, this wonderful art project appeared on the side of the Merit Building at 951-959 S Market Street in downtown Tacoma. There is an associate Youtube video to be watched here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE-D3nA7vTQ

The Merit Building is available for sale for $1,000,000 (bring your best offer). Per the listing information the building was constructed in 1909, has 32,000 square feet and has been gutted down to the frame. I remember going to a restaurant in the building which I believe was called the Judicial Annex and having the best split pea soup!

If you’d like to buy the Merit Building, the listing can be found here http://www.commercialmls.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=inventory.biodetailFS&ln=462987&eofficeid=&eagentid=22193

 

Over the building’s long life, it has been home to many businesses included the Hotel Kingston, Federal Tire Sales Co., Auto Tire Co., Hollywood Apparel Shop, Olympic Dairy Store & Ice Cream Parlor, Second Closet Thrift Shop, Know They Self Book Center, Afrikan Book Center and the African American Museum.  One of the employees of the Ice Cream Parlot later started the Baskin Robbins chain.

To see how the building looked in its glory days (1928), follow this link to the Tacoma Public Library

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=4&n=2095&i=4290#text

 

Lincoln Bowl in the Lincoln District

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Lincoln Bowl by Gexydaf

Lincoln Bowl is located at 3828 South Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, WA. I’ve read that it no longer functions as a bowling alley, but instead is being used as warehouse space.  It does however still have the great sign.

Update: 12/12 The building and the great sign are gone! Dear husband tells me that it will be a new Asian grocery store.

A lovely spring day at Kubota Gardens

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What a lovely, much needed Spring Day.  The sun was shining all day and it was in the upper 60s!  Heaven.  I was compelled to be outside, so it was just perfect that I had a date with some friends to visit the 20 acre Kubota Gardens in South Seattle.  These gardens were developed by Fujitaro Kubota.  In 1987, the gardens were acquired by the City, fulfilling the desired of the Kubota family.  There are ponds, waterfalls and of course, many types of flora.  While I was there a young couple was having photographs professionally taken, I’m assuming for their wedding.

http://www.kubota.org/

 

 

 

 

Tacoma Central Police Substation

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Today I took a quick stop at the Tacoma Central Police Substation, Sector One at 1524 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.  What attracted me to the building was the stones in a metal cage art, of which there are at least three.  I’m not finding information on them, though they seem to be designed to be educational.  I did find this document about other art at local police stations.

http://www.tacomaculture.org/arts/resource/TA_PUB_Police.pdf

 

 

 

Tacoma Wayzgoose

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Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Today dear husband and I went off to Wayzgoose Letterpress and Book Arts Extravaganza at King’s Books. The place was packed! I loved walking through the store and visiting each book. Such creativity!

http://www.kingsbookstore.com/

Puget Sound Nuclear Free Weapons Zone

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This home is dedicated to being a Nuclear Free Weapons Zone and its sign declares “40 miles from the largest single stockpile of nuclear warheads in the U.S.”

I confirmed this in an online article that states “The Trident submarine base at Bangor, just 20 miles from Seattle, has become home to the largest single stockpile of nuclear warheads in the U.S. arsenal“.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Bangor-an-indicator-of-military-intentions-1231416.php#ixzz1J3hw2g00

Recently in Tacoma five peace activists, the Plowshare Five, were sentenced to time in jail because of their form of political protest. It is a fascinating story and one well worth reading. The best source of information is their blog at http://disarmnowplowshares.wordpress.com/

My hat is off to them for living their beliefs.

   

Japanese Garden at Point Defiance

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The new place of the day for yesterday was the Japanese Garden at Point Defiance (5400 North Pearl Street). Their website says “Azaleas, rhododendrons, Japanese cherry trees, crabapples and large and small pines flourish in the Japanese garden. An oriental footbridge, waterfall, Japanese lanterns and a small “tea house” further enhance the grounds. The garden provides a peaceful area to enjoy a bit of solitude and is especially enchanting in early spring. The Capital District of Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs helped to establish the garden in 1965 and continues to provide support.”