New Hope Blooming for the Tacoma Dome? (24. October 2011, 11:26 by Exit133) ~ Flowers always cheer us up.
Is it time for a makeover for the Tacoma Dome?
Once upon a time, when the Tacoma Dome was brand new, and the one percent for the arts program was strong, there was a brief moment when the Tacoma Dome could have become an enormous canvas for an Andy Warhol work. Instead… Well, you know how it turned out.
But, according to the TNT, Tacoma Arts Administrator Amy McBride has been exploring the possibility of giving the Warhol treatment to the Dome, possibly the next time the 5-acre blue roof needs replacing. The City still retains the original lithographs submitted with Warhol’s proposal in 1982, and the idea has a lot of support from many Tacomans, who would like to be welcomed home by the sight of an enormous work by a world-famous artist. Even the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh seems supportive. Without a formal proposal, however, the Warhol Foundation in New York won’t comment, and they’re the ones with the actual rights to the work.
Here’s the original letter from the Andy Warhol Studio.
A mock up of the aerial view in yellow (you’ll have to imagine the LeMay next door).
A side view mock up in yellow.
And here it is in blue, if the yellow is too loud for you.
It didn’t happen 30 years ago. Could it happen now?
Tacoma Dome history seen previously on Exit133: Tacoma Dome – The Dream Becomes Reality.
Read the recent coverage from The News Tribune.
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Ew. The colors on that thing would be horrid! Please don’t do that to us! Ew!
1 | Posted by Merrydew | Oct 24, 11:43 AM
The “flower” design was originally rejected for a reason. As “cool” as a Warhol design might be, it’s a bad idea for the Dome.
The current scheme echoes the waters of the sound, the treelined hills, and the angles of the nearby mountains; the triangular theme emphasizes the wooden geodesic construction of the dome, and the colors work beautifully in both blue and overcast skies. All they need to do is figure out a way to keep it clean…
2 | Posted by the Jinxmedic | Oct 24, 12:23 PM
Great idea. Tacoma has grown to appreciate art more since the 1980s.
What is interesting is that Warhol’s proposal “Flower for Tacoma Dome” has grown to be extremely popular. There are dozens of web sites that sell the design as posters, cups, and other items.
Amazon.com alone has 80 “Flower for Tacoma” items:
Now if Tacoma can only be so lucky to get the design on the Tacoma Dome!
What we need is some adventure and imagination.
RR Anderson style imagination and adventure or something else? I think I need a picture to help me understand an adventurous Tacoma Dome.
5 | Posted by Peter Peter | Oct 24, 01:22 PM
forget Warhol, the estate is going to ring tacoma for every penny. Sell the roof to Clear Channel for ad space in exchange for removing their illegal billboards.
OR hire Jeremy Gregory to do a ‘dark and whimsical’ rip off of the Warhol flower. The dude works cheap. Just ask the City Arts magazine!
6 | Posted by Published Author, RR Anderson | Oct 24, 01:30 PM
as an homage to JBLM afghanistan veterans, can the flower be a poppy blossom ?
7 | Posted by Published Author, RR Anderson | Oct 24, 01:35 PM
dude! the world is on fire and you’re playing with hipster barbie dolls !
Where is your occupy inflammatory art?
9 | Posted by RR Anderson | Oct 26, 01:08 PM
Poor poor little jealous man. You can do it too! Dont be sad about yourself just do it! Theres a champ inside of that bearded double chin, just let him out!:)
HaHa Puppet Revolution!
10 | Posted by Jeremy Gregory | Oct 26, 08:38 PM
hey hey hey.. we have matching bearded double chins AND balding spots… brothers from different mothers. Viva revolution!
11 | Posted by RR Anderson | Oct 27, 09:10 AM
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