Critic’s Picks: Tacoma Art Museum festival, Glass Museum Chihuly tour
B2 GALLERY ANNIVERSARY
Hard to believe, but Tacoma’s B2 Gallery is celebrating its fifth anniversary this weekend with two days of visual, literary and performance artists who have shown or performed at the gallery over its history. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. July 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 19. Free (it’s a crowdfunding event). B2 Gallery, 711 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma. 253-238-5065, b2finearts.com.
TACOMA ART MUSEUM MATSURI FESTIVAL
“Matsuri” is Japanese for “festival,” and TAM’s American Matsuri celebrates multiculturalism through the lens of Roger Shimomura’s pop-art paintings exploring our perceptions of race. As well as free entry to the galleries, there will be community art-making, a Tanabata wish-tree, a screening of the award-winning “The Cats of Mirikitani” (noon) and an artist lecture by Shimomura (3 p.m.). 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 19. Free. Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma. 253-272-4258, tacomaartmuseum.org.
CHIHULY TOUR AT MUSEUM OF GLASS
Every other Friday in summer, docents at the Museum of Glass lead visitors around downtown Tacoma telling the stories behind public glass artwork by international artist Dale Chihuly. 2 p.m. July 17, 31, Aug. 14 and 28. $24 general admission; $22 senior, military, student; $15 child; $10 member, includes museum admission. Tours begin at front desk of Museum of Glass, 1801 Dock St., Tacoma. 866-4-MUSEUM (468-7386), museumofglass.org.
‘PIRATES OF PENZANCE’ IN SEATTLE
Stage director Chris Nardine and conductor Bernie Kwiram, both Tacoma opera veterans, head up the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s “Pirates of Penzance” this weekend and next, along with three Tacoma cast members. The 100-year-old operetta tells the story of a renegade pirate, a verbose major-general and his numerous daughters in classic silly English style. 7:30 p.m. July 17, 18, 24, 25; 2 p.m. July 18, 19, 25. $38 general/$35 senior/$16 student. Bagley Wright Theater at Seattle Rep, 155 Mercer St., Seattle. 800-838-3006, pattersong.org, thepirateking.brownpapertickets.com.
This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 4:00 AM with the headline "Critic’s Picks: Tacoma Art Museum festival, Glass Museum Chihuly tour."