About two years ago, a group of artists came together to brainstorm ways of promoting the artistic community in Tacoma.

“It seemed like the art scene was getting stale, local artists weren’t feeling supported,” summarizes Houston Wimberly III, an artist who was present at that meeting and is working actively toward keeping the art scene fresh, most recently with his work with the Tacoma Arts Community’s Glass Roots Arts Festival, coming to Court D between 11th and 13th streets between noon and 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19.

The idea for the festival itself was born at the first Tacoma Arts Community meeting, when the group decided to build community through grass roots collaborations rather than joining forces with larger entities like Metro Parks.

“We wanted underground, grit city, pushing the local scene of art — all this stuff you’re seeing now,” Wimberly explains.

To that end, last year’s first Glass Roots Arts Festival worked the explosive and fresh indie arts scene, and this year’s promises more of the same.

The music alone would be enough to build a festival around, with acts like Matt Coughlin, Evan Purcell, the Kim Archer Band, Mary Win, Jeanlizabeth, The Syrens, and even Weekly Volcano scribe Angela Jossy, who’ll show off her pipes along with her most recent lineup of band mates.

Many of the bands had also played at Artwalk events at Embellish through the year; they will all choose songs to record for a live CD that will be recorded by Pacific Studios, and then available for purchase at Embellish on September 1, though preorders are encouraged, with a free CD of last year’s live acts going out to those wise individuals who do.

But of course, in Tacoma no arts event is complete without the artisans, arts and artists.

There will be a mobile glass hot shop present, fitting since the building the festival centers around — now housing Embellish — formerly was the site of M Squared Innovative Concepts in Glass, a glass tile-making shop. 2FtCrew will also make an appearance, tagging more art onto the distinctive purple building in the heart of Tacoma; Shakespeare in the Parking Lot will bring politics — and a potential debate with Marty Campbell — to the festivities, and more live art from the likes of Teddy Haggerty, Hogbot, Tim Kapler and Laura and Matt Eklund.

And the whole event will have an environmentally friendly spin with SolaRichard powering up the bands using the rays of the sun.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Wimberly promises. “I’m excited about it!”



[Downtown Tacoma, Sunday, Aug. 19, noon to 6 p.m., free, Court D between 11th and 13th streets, www.myspace.com/grassrootsartsfestival]