A door is a weighty thing in literature. It represents both a divider and a portal, a way to keep people out or a means of allowing people in. The metaphorical possibilities are endless. And, practically speaking, it’s not a bad idea, either, just to keep intruders out and such. Well, now you can see both options explored simultaneously at Art Doors, a benefit party for Glassroots Festival.

The party will kick off with door themed music (in other words all sorts of songs with the word "door" in them) played by DJ Paul Uhl. At 8 p.m. Alan Gorsuch, owner of Sanford and Son,  will serve as auctioneer. There are approximately 14 art doors (more keep popping up every day) created by some of Tacoma's favorite local artists: Matt and Laura Ekllund, Jeremy Silas, James Stowe, Linda Lapping DeSantis, Dawn Fortner, Huston Wimberly III, Voxxy Vallejo, Bonnie Chance, Crystal Braley-Cole, Lindsay Harris, Alysia Jines, Maureen McHugh and Angela Jossy at last count). One door, painted by Maureen McHugh, owner of Mad Hat Tea Co., features a poem by Daniel Blue. Artists Dawn Fortner and James Stowe are most recently known for being named "The Best Illustrators in the Universe (in Tacoma)" after dominating a few of the weekly Frost Park Chalk-Off Challenges.

After the doors find new homes, karaoke king, Danny Ray, will invite people to sing songs by, you guessed it, The Doors.

There will be a full bar for those that are over 21 but the event is all ages. Pizza from Puget Sound Pizza will be served for $2 a slice.

There is no cover charge but they will happily accept donations. The reason for the benefit is to assure that Glassroots Festival can cover its costs without having to charge the artists for vendor space.

Angela Jossy, organizer of the Art Door benefit, says, "We want this festival to truly showcase the wonderful art that is created here in the Tacoma/Pierce County area - not just the art that is created by those who have the resources to fund a marketing plan that includes vendor booths at festivals."

If you like what you see at the party, maybe you could take a piece of Tacoma art home with you, because like the poster infers, we must put a stop to the tyranny of plain white doors.



[Sanford & Son Antiques, Thursday, July 24, 7 p.m., all ages, donations for cover, 743 Broadway, Tacoma, tacoma-arts.com]