Meet and greet fellow artists

Photo Courtesy of paul schrag

WORKING TOGETHER. The Tac25 art collective is putting together their first Artlatch event, in which artists of any medium come together and create art every month, to take place Aug. 25 from 6-11 p.m. at the collective. For those who struggle with finding time to fit art making in their life, Artlatch can provide a collaborative solution.

Though Tacoma is known as a city filled with artists, sometimes jobs, commitments and general life responsibilities can get in the way of people creating.

The Tac25 art collective was founded in September 2008 by Lisa Fruichantie and Ron Geier as a place for artist residents. Due to a profound demand for these types of live/work spaces in Tacoma, the collective was born. There were converted warehouse spaces downtown that housed four to six roommates, but they were not enough, according to Fruichantie.

“(They were) great but there hadn’t been anything in Tacoma that was modeled after artist co-ops around the country and even in Seattle,” she said. “This building had common kitchen spaces, several bathrooms and an events space, and the rest divided spaces that were offices that could be easily converted to residential (spaces).”

The Tac25 Collective currently has nine residents and has space for three more. For artists who currently are making art in their own homes whenever they have the time, the building may be something they should look into.

 “It’s a place for artists to live and cooperate, a residential community and collective of people who come together with a common vision – the desire to create in a community,” stated Paul Schrag, member of the Tac25 Collective.  “It’s not just on their own in their apartments, there’s lots of collaboration.”

All members of the collective share their art supplies and they also split the costs of apartment needs. This shared dependence upon others frees up time and energy for the artists to make more art.

Now Tac25 is looking for ways to expand their services and message to the broader community. Schrag and Mary K. Johnson, on-site manager of the collective, discussed the idea of potlatch, and its ties to Northwest Native Americans and the spirit and intent behind it. “That meshes well with what we’re doing…the freedom of exchange manifesting in outside the restrictions of commerce,” Schrag said. “It’s a place for people to come and be together face-to-face, instead of sitting behind a computer and interacting. It’s an immediate experience, rather than mediated experience. Artlatch and potlatch is a way for people to come together and do something beautiful.”

Thus, the idea for Artlatch was born, and the creators aim to make it a monthly gathering. “Bring whatever you want, creations, art supplies. There are no restrictions other than no welding, as it will violate fire code. Musicians, sculptors bring clay, painters bring paint. Everyone is welcome. The idea is everyone brings a gift. In this case, the gift is art.

“The value doesn’t lie in the fact that it doesn’t cost money, but is in the fact that you do something people rarely do, and do something creative and wonderful and fulfilling,” Schrag affirmed.

The goal for the event and resurgence of art making in the city, according to Schrag, is to simply perpetuate the process and allow it to thrive.

“We want to set an example for the arts community,” Schrag said. “One of the nice things about Tacoma’s art community is that it’s so intimate. (We) want to create rather than just look or talk about or buy art. Creation is the best part of art, and doing it together is the only thing that makes that better.”

The first Artlatch event will take place on Aug. 25 from 6-11 p.m., at the collective located at 2367 Tacoma Ave. S. Artlatch will continue to occur the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. For more information about the collective, work spaces or Artlatch events, call (253) 921-2858 or visit http://www.tac25.com.

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