A Tacoma Moment

Last weekend Tacoma really stepped up the love. The amount of quality interactions and experiences confirmed to me that I was living in the right city in the right time line. It was one of those particular nights where everything lined up just right. A beautiful spring evening, vibrant bar scene and an art opening at Tacoma Art Museum were just a few of the elements I had to look forward to.

Now I’m local, living in the Hilltop neighborhood not far from downtown. So I marched my butt on down to Pacific Avenue to check out the art show. As Tacoma is a big small city it was inevitable that I would run into a number of it’s amazing citizens along the way. First to roll up on me was Kharen Nakauye AKA DJ Special K racing up the hill to Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center. I then happened upon artist Holly Senn  shopping at a local design store. We stopped for a brief chat before I continued on my way down town. At the corner of 11th I turned at the site of the late Luzon Building built in 1890, demolished in 2009. As I rounded the now empty lot I was struck by how lovely and inviting this seemingly manicured empty lot appeared. A series of bonsai like shrubs graced the landscape and were accompanied by unique sculpted openings at the base of each. It reminded me hobbit shire from J.R.R. Tolkins Lord of  the Rings. The whole place had an intimate calm about it similar to that of a zen garden. To complete the magic of this forgotten space I was pleased to meet the guardians of this forgotten realm. Cute furry mammals playing and chasing one an other, going on about their daily routine.

After tearing myself away from the Zen Rodent Shire I navigated onward to Tacoma Art Museum. The main entrance was closed so I gained access through the rear of the building.  Upon exiting the elevator I found myself in a crowded hallway behind the glass cases on the main floor. That’s when it hit me. Although I was invited by a donor this was a members only RSVP event… Time to blend in and act natural.

 GATHER: 27 years of Hiltop Artists at Tacoma Art Museum is a showing of both current and alumni artists from the unique Hilltop Artists Glass program. Dale Chihuly, a Tacoma native started this program 27 years ago as a way to bring the glass craft the the under served population of Tacoma. As I have worked intimately in the Tacoma art scene for over 20 years, I am quite familiar with many of these artists and their works. This event truly captured the energy and importance of the Hilltop Artists program. What I didn’t expect from this exhibition was the generational factor. Glass artist Trenton Quiocho who is also the current shop manager at the Hilltop Artists Program curated GATHER. This was his first experience putting together a show of this size. His choices and selections addressed the community and reflected the art current art scene in Tacoma. However it really hit home for me during the address by our mayor Victoria Woodards thanking those who worked to bring this event together. She addressed the tired trope, “the youth are the future” as incorrect. The youth are our present and we need them as leaders and to follow the insight they provide .

I left this event riding high and happy with my choices. Many of the young artists that were on display that evening will be part of a show at Fulcrum Gallery in May. This exhibition is titled Riff Raff and is part of the Glass Art Society international conference in Tacoma Washington. It is a show that I have personally curated to feature many of my favorite artists in the area. Artists outside of the usual cannon of glass. The true backbone of the glass community. -Oliver Doriss

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I love Pagans!

Of all the religious belief structures it turns out I have a soft spot for pagans. Is it their sense of style? Is their inclusiveness, lack of judging others? Nope! It’s their light hearted sense of humor!

This photo was sent to me by A regular collector of Fulcrum Gallery who purchased this and another of the pieces from my Trophy Series. Personally I loved making this series, the creativity, and the technical challenge of producing these small works. Read more about this body of work here and the available pieces in this collection. -Oliver Doriss

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Aqua Alto

Although the water has receded, the damage has been done. Aqua Alto meaning The High Tide is a seasonal occurrence that grows worse every year. As a young glass worker I was lucky enough to have been indoctrinated into the Venetian tradition. One of my mentors and friend Maestro Davidé Fuin is a native of the small island of Murano just located off of Venice Italy. It is on this very Island where modern glassblowing has taken shape. Through my years of working and teaching with Davidé in Italy I have developed many friends and family that live and work in the Venetian Lagoon.

This years the Aqua Alto flooded the Venetian Islands 5ft. above the normal level. Many of the local businesses and shops were affected. I reached out to Davidé to see how his furnace faired through the flooding.


“No problem for me fortunately, but all Murano is on the knees, so I started a “gofundme” to support the glassblower community.” -Fuin

Support local Murano glassblowers to rebuild furnaces and studios after high water flood damage. The collected funds will be shared with those who have suffered severe damage and lost weeks of production. Please help us stand again!!
Read more – https://gf.me/u/wrmngw
Donate directly here: https://gf.me/u/wrmngy

If you can help financially great! Also these funds will go directly to the glassblowing community ,side stepping any parasitic political bureaucracy. Please forward this message to help us reach this campaign goal! -Oliver

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