The Tacoma Arts Commission will dedicate two new public art installations at an affordable housing community in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood.

The public art is located at Bay Terrace, a Tacoma Housing Authority property that offers 16 town homes, 54 apartment-style units, a 7,000-square-foot community/education center, and multi-purpose rooms for community programming. Tacoma Housing Authority hosted a grand-opening celebration in August to mark the completion of the project’s first phase (see “Tacoma Housing Authority: Bay Terrace grand opening Aug. 25,” Tacoma Daily Index, Aug. 8, 2014). Bay Terrace is a collaboration between the Tacoma Housing Authority, GGLO Architecture, and Absher Construction. In October, GGLO Architecture received an Excellence in Affordable Housing Award from the Tacoma Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium for its work on the project (see “GGLO Architecture, MDC earn affordable housing awards,” Tacoma Daily Index, Oct. 28, 2014)

The artwork—”TransFORM” by Yuki Nakamura, and “Sea Branches & Pearls” by Diane Hansen and Jennifer Weddermann—aims to create a welcoming outdoor space just outside of the Bay Terrace Community Center, and respond to the concepts of community, security, and support. The public art was commissioned by the Tacoma Housing Authority in partnership with the Tacoma Arts Commission’s Public Art: In Depth program, which trains established local artists to create public art.

A public dedication ceremony celebrating the artworks, artists, and the Bay Terrace community will be held at 5 p.m. on Thurs., May 28, at Bay Terrace, located at 2550 S. G St., in Tacoma. More information is available online here.

UPDATE | THURS., MAY 21 @ 8:30 A.M. — Here is the official press release from the City of Tacoma

Artworks Dedication on May 28
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2015

MEDIA CONTACTS
Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

Artworks by Tacoma Artists Yuki Nakamura, Diane Hansen and Jennifer Weddermann to be Dedicated on May 28

The public is invited to the dedication of two new artworks, “TransFORM” by Yuki Nakamura, and “Sea Branches & Pearls” by Diane Hansen and Jennifer Weddermann, on May 28, from 5-6 p.m., at Bay Terrace Apartments and Town Homes, 2550 South G St.

“Together, these two artworks create a special, art-filled corner for the Bay Terrace community,” said Tacoma Arts Administrator Amy McBride. “We are proud to partner with Tacoma Housing Authority to create beautiful places for people to live and thrive.”

Bay Terrace is Tacoma Housing Authority’s newest workforce housing development, located in the historic Hilltop neighborhood. “TransFORM” and “Sea Branches & Pearls” were commissioned by the Tacoma Housing Authority in partnership with the Tacoma Arts Commission’s Public Art: In Depth program, which trains established local artists to create public art.

For more information, visit:
Yuki Nakamura: yukinakamura.com
Diane Hansen: dianehansen.com
Jennifer Weddermann: weddermann.com
Tacoma Housing Authority: tacomahousing.net
City of Tacoma Arts Program: cityoftacoma.org/arts

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