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Jan. 19, 2008 at 12:02am

Daniel Blue and R.R. Anderson: The New Wave of Tacoma Artists Taking Tacoma By Storm

The art scene has changed in Tacoma.  The bar has been raised. 

Two relatively new artists in Tacoma seem to be getting the most buzz over the last year.  They both seem to be working outside of the Tacoma mainstream art world.  You are not likely to see them in the Tacoma Art Museum.

Yet, both have been written up in numerous articles, held their own art shows, gained significant followings and have a significant support network and technology to deliver their art form.

If these folks are not part of the "creative class" in Tacoma, I don't know who is.  I can only hope that they stay in our fair city as they certainly have the ability to go anywhere they wish.

Today, Daniel Blue posts his latest piece on Exit 133, a local community blog entitled Daniel Blue at the Urbanaut:




Blue now is perhaps Tacoma's most well know poet, at least for a growing number of people who get their information online.  The entire text of the poem is found here.  Here's a portion of it:

There was a swelling a swirling of conversation and actions and eye sparking.  Confessions of visions.  People spoke freely of their ambitions and callings, anything was possible, the city was a blank canvas, and our anticipation grew with the massive bubble of energy, we felt that when it burst, Tacoma would explode onto the map of our world.  Known for its crazed artist communities, vibrant walkable neighborhoods, sustained by art and passion.

RR Anderson, is a seemingly ever present but almost exclusively virtual presence in Tacoma.  One trait that has amazed me is his discipline to put up a Tacomic each and every week for the last 47 weeks (save for one when Kevin Freitas covered for him).  Here's his showcase piece from his creation Holistic Forge Works:



Unwilling to cede the philosophy of life discussions to the Tacoma poets, the best I can describe RR's world view is a George Orwell adbuster pantheistic hybrid which is suprisingly consistent. Yet, even that description probably doesn't do it justice.  Here, through a recent avatar type exchange with Tacoma Gnome, RR lays out some of his philosophy.

RR: The conspiracy is REAL and is wholly consumed to steal away the SLACK innate in every free man, woman & child. The conspiracy dictates that flimsy illusions and self-serving delusions rule most people's lives. Who cares? Nobody cares. Nobody has all the answers. Nobody will defend your rights. Nobody will lower your taxes. My advice is whatever befalls you, walk on unattached. Untouched.

Some say that 'consciousness is means for the universe to know itself.' I find solace in this trope. Also it is impossible to carry the torch of truth through a crowd without singeing someone's beard.

Far from a mere superfluous rant, RR takes media and advertising influence seriously and led the charge on the Clear Channel Billboard issue. 

Interestingly, Blue's poem and RR Anderson's interview both came out yesterday.  Reading them back to back may cause you some existential pain.

Will they ever make a joint project together?  It sure would be interesting.

I know of no poem that Blue has made of RR. Yet RR Anderson has featured Blue in a Tacomic below.  The Tacoma depicts Blue reading an earlier poem.

Commentary:

Carry on Daniel and Ryan.  What a fun art escapade the last year or two has been for Tacoma with your presence.  Tacoma is still largely a blank slate and will be what people make of it.

Enjoy it while you can as it is only a matter of time before a new artist or group comes along who will make you look outdated and stogey.  :)