City Seen: Zombies and Twitter Take Over Tacoma

Passing Fancy

One night a month, the rehearsal hall of Tacoma City Ballet (508 6th Avenue) becomes the Studio Gallery, where guests may attend exhibitions of work by local artists. On October 25 (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.), in addition to the art show, the ballet company will preview its upcoming production of Dracula, with musical accompaniment by the Northwest Sinfonietta Duo. TCB artistic director Erin Ceragioli notes that this very grownup affair is for those twenty-one and over. Admission includes hors d’œuvres and champagne.

James Stowe

Questions for James Stowe, Illustrator and Zombie Expert

How did you become the guy to talk to about zombies?
I am a zombie-pedia. I started my career as a horror illustrator, creating over one hundred books. I know more silly facts about zombies than I should.

Such as? Early in his career, Peter Jackson, the Lord of the Rings director, created zombie movies. And recently, a film was made in New Zealand about zombie sheep.

 Where did the fascination begin? Zombie films have scared the bejesus out of me since I was a kid. Maybe because I’m from a small town and all zombie movies are set in small towns. All good zombie movies tell a story around universal themes. Zombies are just there to add tension. 

Any favorite zombie moments? Jonathan Coulton has a song, “Re: Your Brains,” that’s about zombies at an office. The chorus goes, “brains, brains, brains . . . ” I went to his concert and five thousand people chanted “brains, brains, brains.” I got a little chill.

Microblogging

To “tweet” is to say what you’re up to in one hundred and forty characters or less on twitter.com. We asked a few local twitterers, why do it?

@erikemery I keep in touch with news & friends. Most online, some on my phone so I know where the next party is.

@cassioposa Those missing the social dynamics of junior high and addicted to virtual exhibitionism are quite at home here.

@auramae Sometimes I feel like shouting to the world, but the neighbors get cranky. So I shout on twitter instead.

@tacomamama It’s the written equivalent of candy. Sweet, small and probably unnecessary. But life would be less interesting without it.

@Frinklin Pure ego. Someone somewhere wants to know that I can’t stop humming the Charles in Charge theme song. Those are my people.

Fall Collections

Odessa Poole of Rebecca V Gallery is helping to grow the new FAT (Fashion Association of Tacoma) to raise awareness of artists working locally in the fashion industry. Founding members (from left) are Ondia Shapiro, Ebony Chevalre, Sherah Tilley, Poole and Melody Lambert. This month, Rebecca V hosts two special events: On October 17, designers display and sell work to benefit breast cancer research, and on October 24, a Fashion Industry Social connects
area fashionistas, photographers and models.

Photography by Chris Tumbusch