YOU’RE INVITED TO THE OPENING OF MATTER: TACOMA MADE MODERN
Hello, Tacoma,
Moss + Mineral is opening a cool new space at 821 Pacific Ave. with artisan furniture makers rePly and birdloft! Please join us for the soft opening of Matter: Tacoma made modern, a custom design showroom and artspace on Sunday, May 1, 1-5pm. Matter (mattertacoma.com) showcases the work of three local makers:
Moss + Mineral – Lisa Kinoshita, mossandmineral.com
birdloft furniture – Adrienne Wicks and Jeff Libby, birdloft.com
rePly Furniture – Steve Lawler, replyfurniture.com
This space brims with an eclectic mix of contemporary art furniture by rePly; hand-crafted, sustainable furniture by birdloft; and mid-century modern design from yours truly. In addition to showcasing fine woodworking and vintage stylings, the May 1 opening will feature “The Sixties”, an exhibition by Northwest printmaker Bill Colby, and an appearance by the artist from 2-5pm.
Matter is an open-concept store that draws on the owners’ diverse backgrounds to show customers how to put together a room with individualistic style, from the ground up. These artisans bring a range of experience to their undertaking: birdloft and RePly were founding members of the acclaimed REVIVE showroom in Tacoma’s Dome District. Moss + Mineral (formerly, the gallery known as Mineral) has been a fixture in Tacoma arts since 2003, showing visual art, functional design and studio jewelry. The store plans to bring in emerging and established artisans in coming months.
Located in an airy 1,800sf space in the Theater District, Matter offers intriguing possibilities as an artspace; its co-directors are planning future events which may include expert talks, readings and live performance free to the public.
Bringing together three varied yet complementary aesthetics under one roof provides a boon for those seeking an assist in designing their home and work spaces:
• birdloft furniture / Jeff Libby+Adrienne Wicks – Sustainable furniture design from wood and steel that grounds and uplifts. Small shop, meticulous craft by two architect-craftspeople. Calibrated for sanctuary at home.
• rePly Furniture / Steve Lawler – The culmination of many years of creative pursuit. An ingenious and elegant approach to building earth-friendly furniture from reclaimed plywood scrap, exquisitely formed and laminated for an element of surprise.
• Moss + Mineral / Lisa Kinoshita – An artist and curator transfers her love of modern design to period objects and unusual botanicals that transform the rooms we live in.
In the Matter showroom, decor will be staged to offer customers ideas on how to effortlessly pull so many fresh influences together.
Please join us for the opening on May Day, 1-5pm at 821 Pacific Ave., Tacoma WA 98402. Meet renowned Northwest artist, Bill Colby, from 2-5pm (show runs through June 11, 2016). Website: mattertacoma.com. Regular store hours commence May 5: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11:30-5:30. Contact: Lisa Kinoshita/253.961.5220; verticalshout@gmail.com. (Photo at top of page: rePly Stool by Steve Lawler)
Nimbus Table by birdloft furniture
Open End Table by rePly Furniture
Kimono Bench by Moss + Mineral