Weekend Review: arts fartsy

Pardon the self indulgence of promoting an event I played a small part in creating, but that’s how it goes some times in a community where many folks find themselves supporting community-building organizations.

Tacoma Art Place held its biannual Community Free Day with a roster of free classes that range from felting to jewelry making to graphic design. There are two photography classes taught by yours truly as well. Some of my students made great strides in their journey from becoming people who take pictures to people who make art through photography. Their enthusiasm was infectious and forced me to do some “non-work” photo taking of my own. Another boost of inspiration came during Tacoma Youth Chorus’ “Spring Serenade with guest conductor, Henry Leck. The choirs of children and teen-agers was part of the group’s 20th season celebration that included commissioned works by several composers with connections to TYC, including Donna Schultz, Dan Davison, Judy Herrington and former director, Keith Loftis. My eyes peed a bit during a few of the songs.

On the nightlife side of Tacoma’s demographic, Sweetwater and High Noon Horizon played solid sets to good crowds at Hell’s Kitchen on Friday. Sweetwater was an anchor band of the Pacific Northwest music boom of the 1990s. The band’s fifth and most recent album “Clear the Tarmac” was released in 2009.

There were too many things to do than hours in the weekend.