From Coyote to carving, dive into indigenous and world arts this spring.

 

We stand on traditional Puyallup lands – and we’re incredibly lucky to have a wealth of Native American arts filling our city, especially this spring. Explore glass by Northwest Native carvers and weavers from the Lummi, Skokomish and Chehalis tribes. Get “In the Spirit” with the annual juried show at the Washington State History Museum. Color a Coyote mural at Ocean Fest at the Foss Waterway Seaport.
 
But don’t stop there. The beauty of the arts is that they transport us instantly around the world to explore other cultures without spending a penny on airfares. Head to Japan for the beguiling animation of Studio Ghibli at The Grand Cinema. Find a Latino Euripides at Tacoma Arts Live. Wander Beethoven’s Germany with the Northwest Sinfonietta. Then head back home to the U.S.A at the LeMay America’s Car Museum.
 
Wherever your heritage lies, there’s somewhere new on the horizon this spring. Go explore.
 
Indigenous Spirit
  • Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Salish-Kootenai) brings her internationally-recognized talent to Tacoma Art Museum in “In the Footsteps of My Ancestors,” a powerful mixed-media show that explores undercurrents of conflict, compassion, peace, identity and the cycle of life. Through June 30, with free Neighborhood Nights every Thursday. tacomaartmuseum.org
  • At the Museum of Glass, artists who are family members of Mary Ellen Hillaire (Lummi), Gerald (Bruce) Miller (Skokomish) and Hazel Pete (Chehalis) collaborate under the leadership of glass experts Dan and Raya Friday (Lummi) to produce a body of new work that translates Evergreen Longhouse weavings and carvings into contemporary glass art. Through Nov. 10. museumofglass.org
  • Get “Into the Spirit” at the annual juried indigenous art show at the Washington State History Museum. Textiles, beadwork, basketry, carving, painting, sculpture and multimedia spread a rich canopy of Native expression, kicking off June 20 and culminating in a Native Northwest arts festival Aug. 10 in partnership with Tacoma Art Museum and Museum of Glass. washingtonhistory.org
 
All Cultures Meet at the Ocean
  • The ocean belongs to us all – and you’ll find cultural voices from indigenous to islander at the second annual Tacoma Ocean Fest at the Foss Waterway Seaport. Join in coloring the “Coyote, Fox and Whale” mural by Ryan Fedderson (Confederated Colville Tribes), sway to hula or West African dance, and catch ocean-themed music, film, art, VR, poetry and more, along with hands-on science and paddling. June 9. tacomaoceanfest.org
  • The sea is calling, and the Foss Waterway Seaport is the place to answer the call with a row, sail or paddle during the Tacoma Maritime Fest. This all-ages celebration of the city’s maritime heritage is a place to learn about, experience and enjoy one of Tacoma’s greatest assets: Our waterfront. July 27 and 28, Foss Waterway Seaport. fosswaterwayseaport.org
 
Chicano Greece
  • From ancient Greece by way of the L.A. Chicano barrios comes “Mojada,” a retelling of Euripides’ stark insanity drama “Medea” with by contemporary playwright Luis Alfaro, performed by UWT drama students. May 23-June 1, Tacoma Arts Live Studio III. tacomaartslive.org
 
American Dreams and English Humor
  • One of the most iconic movie cars of all time takes pride of place at the LeMay America’s Car Museum: the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback, a.k.a. the Bullitt Mustang. Famous from Steve McQueen’s famous chase scene, the Mustang will be up through July 14 (temporarily off-display May 28-June 4). americascarmuseum.org
  • What happens when a novelist and retired actress attempt to have a quiet weekend in the country? Their children gatecrash, of course. Noel Coward’s ineffably British comedy “Hay Fever” took Tacoma Little Theatre by storm at its first performance there in 1924, and it’s just as funny 95 years later. June 7-23. tacomalittletheatre.com