It’s almost like magic. Practically overnight, Tacoma’s downtown has been transformed from a deserted warehouse district into a very cool, pedestrian friendly neighborhood. What was once an abandoned warehouse now houses the Rock Wood Fired Pizza / Brewpub.

A couple of blocks down from that, at Commencement Bay Coffee Company, you can (finally!) get a decent espresso or cappuccino without driving to Seattle. Right behind that you’ll find a very cool art space/music venue that is something like ground zero for all things hip and beautiful. On the other hand, the best things have remained. For instance, the University of Puget Sound is still there, along with its bookstore, which has, possibly, the best selection of note pads and sketch pads in Washington.

What I like best about Tacoma is that many of its features have avoided the wrecking ball and real visionaries are now breathing new life into them. For example, there’s the old Tacoma Union Station (built in 1911) that houses the new (well, 1992) Dale Chihuly glass sculptures. Amazing stuff. And all within walking distance of my hotel. Not many people know about Tacoma. I feel like it’s my little secret. And now, of course, it’s yours.

So, the irony isn’t lost on me. Some of my metal sculptures could derail a freight train. Chihuly, Morris and the rest of the glass artists down the road have to tread lightly just to bring their art safely to the light of day.

Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to metal.

At the risk of sounding like yet another pompous artist, I like to imagine that my angular, grave, darkly monochromatic pieces are carrying on a conversation with the effervescent, colorful, ballet-like glass pieces I see all around me. Something like the repartee between Bogart and Hepburn in The African Queen.

Because I’m usually outside in my valet uniform or in the garage, I don’t ordinarily see Hotel Murano’s glass art. Sometimes after work I’ll change into my street clothes and walk the halls. Each floor (and there are 26 of them) has its own unique glass art display, so there’s a lot to see. A lot of thought has been invested into them with regard to their presentation and lighting, so they’re shown off to good effect.

By contrast, metal work is all too often stuck in a garden, basically being used as a glorified planter (ugh!). I dream of one day custom-creating a work for a client and being given total control over its placement, lighting, presentation, etc. Right now, my work is presented in the context of a non-running Dodge Dart, boxes of Goodwill-destined clothes that haven’t been moved in years and lawn care implements. In other words, my current gallery space is Tad’s dad’s garage.

later,

Josh

Before I sail too deep into the blogosphere with you, there’s something you should know. When I’m not parking cars at the Hotel Murano, I can probably be found in the workshop/garage belonging to the father of Tad, my best friend. I like to weld chunks of steel into abstract shapes and call them sculptures. And, though none of my work is quite ready for prime time, if you really, really, really want to see them, I’ll see what I can do for you.

The point is, these sculptures are heavy, chunky and virtually indestructible. Yet, here I am in TACOMA, the blown glass capital of, like, the world or whatever, pursuing an art form that is pretty much the opposite of everything glass stands for. Glass art is pretty, delicate, translucent and ethereal. My art is frankly brutal, sturdy, opaque and earthbound.

So, here I am in Tacoma, zigging where the rest of the (working, paid) art community is zagging. Go figure. Hold on, I’ve got to get back to work….

Change, they say, is permanent. And after years of stepping over vagrants in downtown Tacoma just to get into a burger joint, I’m totally OK to see new life breathed into these old buildings. Right now I’m thinking about the place where I work, the Hotel Murano. This building was originally a Sheraton, and at 26 stories it really dominates the skyline. I’d walked by here for years, and, though I never stayed here or anything, it seemed nice enough – but I’m a visionary kind of guy, and I liked to fantasize about what the place could become.

Enter Portland’s Provenance Group, which has a habit of buying older hotels and tricking them out with “boutique” concepts. Check out their work at Seattle’s Hotel Max or Portland’s Hollywood chic Hotel deLuxe . The team at Provenance has given this Tacoma property a thorough once-over, installed tens of thousands of dollars worth of blown glass from the likes of Dale Chihuly and others, and have turned an okay three star hotel into what is quite possibly the largest “boutique” hotel in the country. Like Sinatra would say, that’s fabulous, baby.

cheers

Josh