It's a homecoming of sorts for Tacoma artists. Thursday evening kicked off Alma Mater: three days of festivities as the city's newest venue for the arts opened its doors.
"It's about celebrating the work that they're already doing here and have been doing and giving them a home," said Rachel Ervin, co-founder of Alma Mater.
She and her partners saw a void in Tacoma's art scene; a place for artists to grow, to collaborate, to take it to the next level.
"It seems like in art, especially nowadays, you're not just a single disciplined artist," said co-founder Jason Heminger. "If you're a musician you also have to know about graphic design. You have to know about visual art, you have to know about cinematography. And if you don't know about it then you need to be able to collaborate with other artists who do."
Budding artist Tiffanny Hammonds grew up in Hilltop. She's watched as gentrification gradually eroded her neighborhood, putting more people on the street; people she knows.
"This is Asani," she said, showing one of her four paintings. "He was homeless since he was 14-years-old. He's 18 now. People can't go into cafes and go to the bathroom. People can't wash up anywhere. People can't feel human, you know. And that's what this piece is about. It's like we have neighbors. Everyone has a neighbor that they're not really recognizing."
Her expression is one of many to come. Rotating artists, a recording studio, a performance stage with dance floor and revolving DJs. A cafe and lounge will round out the income generators to help support the installations and education.
"And that's really sort of the core and the heart of where the impetus of this whole project came from, is like education, and how to put the power back into the hands of the artist," said Ervin.
Three years of planning has culminated with a successful opening. Now the real work begins as they finish construction and broaden their palate, giving T-town a bigger voice in the art world.
"It's about celebrating the work that they're already doing here and have been doing and giving them a home," she said.
Alma Mater is located at 1322 South Fawcett Avenue.
