It was a perfect summer day on Sunday for one of Tacoma’s longest running and most beloved community festivals – Art on the Ave.
Taking place along 10 blocks within the 6th Avenue Business District, the Ave was closed to vehicle traffic from South Alder Street to South State Street so that crowds could move about freely to visit merchandise vendors, enjoy a bite to eat from food trucks, listen to music by local bands, watch performances on three stages, and find themselves witnessing a moment of spontaneous pop-up art along the way. The community, diversity and inclusion that have always been a hallmark of Art on the Ave were on full and beautiful display everywhere that day.
“It’s the 23rd annual in 2023. If it weren’t for the pandemic, that would not have happened,” said Art on the Ave Director Angela Jossy as the event got underway, a nod to how COVID briefly interfered with presenting the event. “It looks like a success so far. The streets were already full before noon, so I guess the word is out.”
People came and went throughout the day to stay for as long as they wished before retreating to shadier and cooler places.
“I’m so glad people are coming out even though it’s so hot,” said Kat Key who set up a vendor site for her business The Salty Cat Collective.
As the sole proprietor for her business, this social work student and mother of two toddlers handmakes accessories and apparel, all designed and stamped in her workshop. Her line of products runs from stickers, keychains, enamel pins and earrings to T-shirts and hoodies, all with brassy, cheeky messaging showing her sharp sense of humor with sassy art and humanistic themes.
“I am inspired by badass women, emo, and pop culture,” Key states at saltycat.co. “In Dolly We Trust, for Stevie We Bow. Amen.”
Bringing the sweet scent of burning incense to the Ave, Lily Laurore was there offering products from her brick-and-mortar Sunflower Soul Apothecary shop at 5101 Yacht Club Rd. inside the Waterfront Market at Ruston.
“I have a lot of fun coming out to see all these people,” she said. “I’m an herbalist, and my goal is to bring holistic products to the people and show them that everything can be natural but not boring. They’re colorful and fragrant using essential oils.”
Featuring aromatherapy, bath and body products, herbs, skin care and moisturizers, handmade soaps and more, learn all about this BIPOC-owned business at sunflowersouldapothecary.com.
“I was very proud of our team and how it all turned out,” Jossy states in a Facebook post. “You are not supposed to plan an event that size in three months’ time. It’s just not normally possible! But we had the dream team this year and they knew exactly what to do and who to call to pull it together.”
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