Blog Down to Washington | Stories & Conversations about the University of Washington

May 14, 2012 | On Campus, Outside Seattle, Public Art

Public Art at the UW—UW Tacoma

By Greg Flanders

UW Tacoma Library

The UW’s campus in Tacoma, which serves 3,600 students, dwells right in the heart of the historic downtown. Incorporating former places of business and warehouses (the library was once a municipal power plant) between the Tacoma Dome and the business district, UW Tacoma’s campus is an exciting mix of styles, and is covered with fantastic art.

UW Tacoma’s website hosts a guide to a walking tour of campus, and if you’re in the neighborhood, you should check it out. Maybe even make a special voyage out, now that road trip season is nearly upon us. Here are some sights to see around the UW Tacoma campus:

Ghost signs—All over campus are vintage signs, whose faded lettering recall the days when the UW Tacoma campus was a bustling downtown commercial district. Along the top of the Garretson Woodruff Pratt Building, artists have integrated the old signs into new works of art, with explanatory plaques at the base.

Mattress factory—Another ghost sign, advertising “Slumberite” mattresses, gives the Mattress Factory Building its name. This unique triangular building is home to many of UW Tacoma’s administrative offices, the student copy center, and The Ledger, the student newspaper.

Calligraphy samples—Before World War II, the neighborhood around UW Tacoma was home to a vibrant community of Japanese immigrants and Japanese-Americans. The Japanese Language School, located nearby on Tacoma Avenue, had been abandoned for many years and the building badly deteriorated when UW Tacoma acquired the property, and it had to be torn down. Writing samples from the school now decorate the Birmingham Block, to celebrate this piece of Tacoma’s unique history.

Museum of Glass—Not part of UW Tacoma, but just across the footbridge from campus, Tacoma’s Museum of Glass has teamed up with UW Tacoma to offer glass art classes to students. The museum itself is a wonder, featuring works from Dale Chihuly and other top glass artists from around the world.

So, if you find yourself in Tacoma, why not take in some great art, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy this jewel in the heart of the City of Destiny?

2 Comments

April 24, 2012 | Meet, Membership, On Campus

Members Thanked by UW President, Coach, Professor

By Greg Flanders

Coach Sark thanking members

President Michael Young, UW Football Coach Steve Sarkisian and popular UW Professor David Domke took the stage at the UW Alumni Association Member Celebration to thank UWAA members for their century-plus support of the University and higher ed.

Held in an enormous pavilion on Red Square, stuffed with art by UW students, three stages, a jazz combo, and buffet tables groaning under piles of delicious food, the UWAA Member Celebration hosted over 300 alumni and friends for an evening of music, conversation and fun.

Taking a break from the music (provided by a trio from the UW School of Music) President Young briefly traced the evolution of the UWAA from its earliest days in 1889—when there were 60 living UW alumni—to today’s 55,000-member community, united by a love of the University. He shared that the UW deans’ consensus that the mission of the UW was to “optimize human potential,” and his opinion that a strong University relies on a strong alumni association.

Coach Sarkisian took the stage next and shared his thoughts on the upcoming season at Century Link Field.

1 Comment

February 13, 2012 | Meet, On Campus

Robots Dance, Restore Faith in Humanty

By Greg Flanders

Who knew robots had hearts? That’s what we found out last Friday, Feb. 10, when hundreds of people, including some dressed as our metallic friends/future overlords descended on Red Square to brighten the day of a child.

11-year-old Alex told the Make-a-Wish Foundation he’d like to see robots in action helping humanity and even bringing about world peace, so the UW community leapt into action. Students choreographed a dance routine and spread the word on YouTube. Show up dressed like a robot, they said, and dance. And so this happened:

1 Comment

December 14, 2011 | Meet, On Campus, Public Art

Public Art at the UW: Department of Forensic Morphology Annex, by Cris Bruch

By Greg Flanders

Department of Morphology Annex by Cris Bruch

Planted near the shrubbery at the north end of Parrington lawn, the Department of Forensic Morphology Annex presents the most basic of questions to the viewer: what the heck is that? The Annex resembles a cross between some alien creature dredged up from the squiddy depths and the silver-skinned antagonist from “Terminator 2.” Curvy like a root vegetable, but silver plated like a B-29, the Annex resembles nothing natural on this earth.

2 Comments

November 8, 2011 | Meet

The UW Celebrates its 150th

By Greg Flanders

Cupcake Royale owner Jodi Hall shows off some of her W Day cupcakes

The UW Celebrated its 150^th Anniversary with W Day last Friday, November 4^th, commemorating the day that the UW opened its doors in 1861. On W Day, Huskies from around the world came together decked out in purple to celebrate the UW and all of its accomplishments. Here on campus alumni, students, faculty & staff celebrated on Red Square with 150^th celebratory t-shirts, W Day cupcakes created by Cupcake Royale, a performance by the Husky Band, face painting and appearances by President Young, Coach Steve Sarkisian, Coach Lorenzo Romar and even Harry the Husky!

Take a look at the W Day slideshow which captured some fun photos from the day.
http://www.washington.edu/news/articles/ringing-in-150th-2013-check-for-more-w-day-photos-later

2 Comments

October 25, 2011 | Meet

State Sen. Scott White, 1970-2011

By Greg Flanders

State Sen. Scott White, 1970-2011

The University of Washington alumni community was saddened to learn of the passing of State Senator Scott White, who died Friday, October 21, of cardiac arrest brought on by an undiagnosed enlarged heart. White, who graduated from the Evans School of Public Affairs in 2001, also taught courses in legislative relations there until the end of 2009.

Senator White was an ardent supporter of higher education, and was also a friend of public transit. Both of these passions were on display earlier this year when he worked to restore funding to King County Metro and lobbied to maintain bus routes that affected the University. As a result, students were not affected by threatened route changes and cutbacks, and were able to enjoy strong transit access to campus.

1 Comment

October 19, 2011 | Meet

Onalaska 5th-Graders “Adopt” the UW

By Greg Flanders

(Via UWToday) When an Onalaska elementary school asked the UW for help in inspiring her students to think about college, UW staffers rose to the occasion.

Read their story here. Did you have a teacher who pointed you to college when you didn’t think it was for you? You should get in touch and let them know about the effect they had. It will make their day.

What do you think?

October 12, 2011 | Learn, On Campus, Public Art

The Burke’s Got Everything…

By Greg Flanders

The Burke Museum and the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences maintain an amazing collection of fish. From spiny deep-sea anglerfish to a unique albino dogfish, the University of Washington Fish Collection comprises rows and rows of bottles and basins of fish preserved in alcohol in a fireproof, explosion-proof, earthquake-proof facility. Open to scholars and researchers, KING5 recently had a behind-the-scenes look:

Or you can take a look here:

The Burke really DOES have everything!

What do you think?

Public Art at the UW—UW Tacoma

Members Thanked by UW President, Coach, Professor

Robots Dance, Restore Faith in Humanty

Public Art at the UW: Department of Forensic Morphology Annex, by Cris Bruch

The UW Celebrates its 150th

State Sen. Scott White, 1970-2011

Onalaska 5th-Graders “Adopt” the UW

The Burke’s Got Everything…

Search the Blog:

Featured Posts:

Categories:

Archives:

What We're Talking About:

Weds on UWTV:

UWAA Tweets:

UW Voices:

UW Blogs:

UW Sites (the big ones):