2008 Woodie Awards
SoHo-style gallery invades Tacoma's Antique Row neighborhood
Todd Toner
Issue date: 5/18/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
The former industrial buildings
of Tacoma, with high ceilings
and large open spaces, are
the perfect setting for art galleries
and showrooms alike. So,
when ArtRod opened its exhibition
hall, Critical Line, on May
5, it was no wonder it felt reminiscent
of Manhattan's SoHo
galleries.
Critical Line is 1,800 square
feet of highly lacquered Oriented
Strand Board reflecting the
bright-white airy atmosphere of
the gallery. The new space showcases
emerging and established
artists from around the world,
with its first exhibition, "Found
Space," presenting photographic
works by Matthew Keeney,
Kevin Haas, E.J. Hercyzk and
Ann Kendellen, with an audiovisual
piece by artist Ido Fluk.
Critical Line hopes to "meld
exhibitions from traditional
media such as printmaking and
drawing, to exploring new genres
like video, projection, audio, and
performance." A retail portion
changes with the exhibitions,
helping to fund and promote the
Gallery and the ArtRod organization.
With the opening of Critical
Line, ArtRod hopes to create a
new alternative to what they see
as "stoic art establishments" and
provide a space for "creative
exploration, experimentation,
and exhibition" where artists can
take creative risks.
However, with all these niceties
aside, I really hope to see
something a little more experimental
with their upcoming
exhibits. I feel the works ArtRod
has offered with its first exhibit
are worthwhile, but not anything
you couldn't find at one
of the "stoic art establishments."
Perhaps they were just playing
it safe for their first show and
they'll pull out all the stops for
the next. In either case, I urge
everyone to see the show for
themselves and get a taste of the
quasi-bohemian atmosphere burgeoning
in Tacoma's art scene.
ArtRod's exhibition "Found
Space" runs in the Critical Line
gallery at 741 St. Helens Avenue,
Tacoma, from May 5 - July 7.
Gallery hours are Thu-Sun 12-6
p.m., and Third Thursday 12-8
p.m. Admission is always free.
For more information contact the
gallery at (253) 444-2741.
of Tacoma, with high ceilings
and large open spaces, are
the perfect setting for art galleries
and showrooms alike. So,
when ArtRod opened its exhibition
hall, Critical Line, on May
5, it was no wonder it felt reminiscent
of Manhattan's SoHo
galleries.
Critical Line is 1,800 square
feet of highly lacquered Oriented
Strand Board reflecting the
bright-white airy atmosphere of
the gallery. The new space showcases
emerging and established
artists from around the world,
with its first exhibition, "Found
Space," presenting photographic
works by Matthew Keeney,
Kevin Haas, E.J. Hercyzk and
Ann Kendellen, with an audiovisual
piece by artist Ido Fluk.
Critical Line hopes to "meld
exhibitions from traditional
media such as printmaking and
drawing, to exploring new genres
like video, projection, audio, and
performance." A retail portion
changes with the exhibitions,
helping to fund and promote the
Gallery and the ArtRod organization.
With the opening of Critical
Line, ArtRod hopes to create a
new alternative to what they see
as "stoic art establishments" and
provide a space for "creative
exploration, experimentation,
and exhibition" where artists can
take creative risks.
However, with all these niceties
aside, I really hope to see
something a little more experimental
with their upcoming
exhibits. I feel the works ArtRod
has offered with its first exhibit
are worthwhile, but not anything
you couldn't find at one
of the "stoic art establishments."
Perhaps they were just playing
it safe for their first show and
they'll pull out all the stops for
the next. In either case, I urge
everyone to see the show for
themselves and get a taste of the
quasi-bohemian atmosphere burgeoning
in Tacoma's art scene.
ArtRod's exhibition "Found
Space" runs in the Critical Line
gallery at 741 St. Helens Avenue,
Tacoma, from May 5 - July 7.
Gallery hours are Thu-Sun 12-6
p.m., and Third Thursday 12-8
p.m. Admission is always free.
For more information contact the
gallery at (253) 444-2741.
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