Create glass art, learn about marine life, meet your Tacoma neighbors at these events
People of all ages crowded the Kobetich branch of the Tacoma Public Library in Northeast Tacoma on Tuesday night, eager to take part in a unique community art project.
For an hour, families and others gathered shards and strings of cut glass, then layered and sandwiched them together to create colorful patchworks of mosaic tiles. Some of those squares will find their way into public installations at local libraries, and other designs will be wrapped around utility boxes around town.
Similar free Fused Together workshops will take place every other Tuesday at other libraries in Tacoma through the end of April.
With guidance from Seattle-based glass artist Kait Rhoads, the workshops are designed to make glass art accessible, foster community and educate people about the importance of preserving marine life in the Puget Sound.
The events are the result of a collaboration between the public library system, Hilltop Artists, Rhoads and environmental advocacy group Communities for a Healthy Bay. Funding for the program comes from Tacoma Creates, a 0.001% sales tax initiative to increase access to arts, culture, heritage and science experiences in Tacoma.
“It’s the coolest win-win-win you can imagine,” said Tacoma libraries public information officer Mariesa Bus. “It’s a benefit for the libraries because we get to host these high-quality programs; we get to deepen our partnerships and working relationships with these incredible community organizations and leaders; and we can utilize our programming budget more effectively to expand our own programs because Tacoma Creates is funding these.”
Participants can make two glass mosaics: one to take home and the other to become part of a community installation. Two glass installations are already up at the Moore library and South Tacoma library.
‘It really celebrates Tacoma’
Katie Mattran came to the workshop Tuesday with her two young sons and their grandmother.
“I’m making an anemone,” her fourth-grade son Luke said excitedly. “I’m hoping I can make it look like it’s coming out to grab your hand.”
Mattran said she found out about the event because she serves on the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board and thought it would be a good opportunity for her family to learn something new.
“I love [this] because it really celebrates Tacoma: our glass history and our location to Commencement Bay and on the Sound. It pulls it all together really nicely,” Mattran said. “We don’t get a lot of action out here in Northeast Tacoma … it’s really fun to meet everyone right here in the neighborhood.”
Stadium District resident Tom Walsten said Tuesday’s event was the third Fused Together workshop he’d attended this year. He plans to attend more.
“It’s therapeutic. It’s a good artistic outlet, and it’s something I wouldn’t mind learning more about and pursuing as a hobby,” he said. “I think it’s the best way to get out and break out of your shell a little bit. You meet people that you typically are not going to run into.”
When are the next events?
The next Fused Together community workshop will be at the Fern Hill library branch from 5:30-6:30 p.m. March 19.
After that is a workshop at the South Tacoma library branch on April 2 at the same time, as well as one at the Mottet library branch April 16 and the Swasey library branch April 30.
This story was originally published March 7, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
