Sequins. Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol and Uncle Sam. Cotton candy. Artists and sparkly art. Put these ingredients together, and you must have the Tacoma Art Museum’s summer community festival Glitter, Glisten, and Gleam!, a free event happening from 6 to 8:30 Friday at the museum, celebrating “Sparkle then Fade,” the very bright exhibit on view at the TAM through Sep. 3.

Generally speaking, the Tacoma Art Museum throws a grand family fete that encompasses art and culture, entertainments and edibles, and even drinks. It’s the kind of fun that you can take the kids to while keeping brain cells intact; the kind of family fun that keeps them entertained even while you revel in adult interests.

“It’s going to be a fantastic, fun night,” promises Maija McKnight, community programs coordinator for the museum.

“People are encouraged to come in “sparkle” — we’ll give prizes for bling,” McKnight adds.

For this event, the fine TAM folks are further spinning the “sparkle” theme into a celebration of Andy Warhol and pop culture, and throwing in a dash of festival, with steel drum bands and DJ Pana keeping the mood bumping, while the crowd can dabble in artistic pursuits like masquerade mask-making and sparkle-face collages while the twinkle bright faces from Che’mel Salon will be on hand to paint individual bodies glistening.

Spun food and sparkling drink will be on hand as well, in addition to free access to the museum’s exhibits.

And then there will be “Iron Artist,” the museum’s version of what happens when camp cuisine culture meets sparkling art. For this, local artists will have 60 minutes to create masterpieces based on a mystery theme while emcee Luke Smiraldo oversees the event, which will feature commentary and judging by the likes of Uncle Sam, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, and Andy Warhol, who will judge based on originality, connection to the “Sparkle Then Fade” exhibit as well as the artists’ presentation and presence.

“It should be a hoot,” McKnight speculates.

The whole event will take place while Showcase Tacoma warms up to full swing across Pacific Avenue, lending itself to a full-on, art-lovin’, only-in-Tacoma cultural fun fest that would be very nearly criminal to miss, though if you have to miss this event, you’ll have another chance to glitter when the adults-only Twinkle Summer Dance party hits the museum on Aug. 24 from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Because sparkle is nice, very nice.

And the absence of sparkle is just, well, dull.



[Tacoma Art Museum, Friday, Aug. 10, 6-8:30 p.m., free admission, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4258]