#youllhealtacoma

[springtidepress]

Feeling a bit off center but full of gratitude after seeing so many friends at @tacomaarts Arts at the Armory this past weekend. Tiny hands made tiny (sometimes smeary) prints and fun ensued, boo. #youlllovetacoma #youllhealtacoma #letterpress #tacomaart (at Tacoma, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVLbvJsvf1L/?utm_medium=tumblr

[springtidepress]

The rain stopped, then came 30 mph gusts of wind. “You’ll Heal Tacoma” is down, but @teresitasmexicanbakery @ttowntacoma and @kingsbooks have posters if you missed out. Many thanks to folks who left inspiring and healing messages. #youllhealtacoma #tacomaartsmonth #cultivatewonderandcare (at Tacoma, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGvIsdFBoCU/?igshid=ygtzxrm08pya

[springtidepress]

I visit “You’ll Heal Tacoma” each day to replace prints and retrieve messages kindly left by visitors. I mentioned Teresita’s tres leche cake—right across the street on McKinley—but today she had fresh pan de muerto. It’s a little sweet, and decorated with “bones” to represent a deceased love one. What a beautiful way to heal. #youllhealtacoma (at Tacoma, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGlD_BuBL5e/?igshid=1q7ltas1j6fis

[springtidepress]

I was unsure about installing “You’ll Heal Tacoma” this morning. The air quality is rated UNHEALTHY, and just a short time outdoors brings on sore throat and headache. Like everything in 2020, my mind goes to folks most at risk: without homes for sheltering, or whole communities destroyed by fire... during a pandemic. 🦋 It’s overwhelming. Small steps seem like the only way I can keep moving at all. So we rolled up hundreds of prints and shared a few with passing dog walkers and bicyclists at Stanley Playfield. Folks can stop by when it feels safe enough to be outside. 🦋 The last photo was shared by a friend who left her own message of healing in trade for a print today. In doing so, she also confirmed the choice to keep moving, making small steps. #youllhealtacoma #tacomaarts #publicart (at Tacoma, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFDEj40B8Nt/?igshid=1ohefcqz2zbjc

[springtidepress]

One bright light during this pandemic was an opportunity to take part in Public Art Reaching Community (PARC). A collaboration between @metroparkstacoma and Tacoma's Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality, 13 artists trained virtually to create temporary projects which will roll out through the rest of this year. Despite the smoke, I’ll be installing my project tomorrow. With a nod to the “You’ll Like Tacoma” signage featured at the 1909 Alaska Yukon Exposition, “You’ll Heal Tacoma” is literally a sign for our pandemic times. Both an urgent call to action and a future prediction, more than 400 posters are rolled up to collectively spell the healing message in four foot letters. 🦋 Visitors are encouraged to remove a poster to take home, then replace it with their own message of healing in response to the "How Will You Heal?" prompt. (While paper and writing tools are provided on site, viewers are welcome to bring their own writing implements). “You’ll Heal Tacoma” will be installed along South 19th Street at Stanley Playfield from September 12 to 20. The prints are Tacoma through-and-through: letterpress printed at Springtide Press with antique wood type recovered from a Browns Point boathouse, and printed on @riteintherain, an all-weather paper invented here. While the historic Tacoma sign was powered with electric bulbs, this current version glows with hope and healing for our city. @tacoma_wa #tacomaarts #youllhealtacoma #youllliketacoma #woodtype #letterpress (at Tacoma, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFAznJXBH4m/?igshid=1vo43kn7yryjs

[springtidepress]

Lots of sun and wind, and “You’ll Heal Tacoma” is installed on McKinley Avenue near 38th. Thank you to dream team @tamikonimura, her daughter Mira (our math whiz, who calculated all the spacing), @terukonimura_art and her daughter Ayame (our muse). If you come by for a print, Teresita’s Bakery is across the street and the tres leches cake and flan are very healing 🍰. #cultivatewonderandcare #youllhealtacoma #letterpress #woodtypewednesday (at Tacoma, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGVvk5zB_54/?igshid=1chf8baa3drw9