I noticed Fulcrum’s fresh mural first. Then the gallery sign. Then I saw that it was a tattoo shop, too. As a new Tacoma resident whose own artwork largely consists of drawings of pierced ears and other body modifications, the concept of a gallery with a tattoo storefront felt like kismet.
I looked for Fulcrum online right away, saw that they were having an upcoming show, Desserts, and marked my calendar to see Soren Iverson’s work.
I’m so glad I did.
The opening was well-attended yet intimate. Iverson took the time to give several small groups a tour of his studio, which is located just behind the gallery. There, he gave insight into his practice and the ways in which his work is made. “I flip the canvas in each direction to work on it,” Iverson told my group, picking up and showing the room one of the large oil paint sticks he had lying nearby.
It was fascinating to see him in his element and lovely to see the community that showed up to support him and his work. In fact, I was so inspired I went back to Fulcrum a few days later asking how I could be involved in the gallery.
Upon my return I met the gallery steward Oliver Doriss and received a more extensive tour of the space. Through this I was able to see Iverson’s paintings in a different context. If you were lucky enough to see the show before it ends in early August, you should understand: there was something particularly fun and almost voyeuristic about having the gallery to myself, filled sketchbooks still spread across a table in the center of the room.
The show has ended, but here’s to Soren Iverson’s wonderful work and to a reinvigorated Fulcrum as it approaches its twentieth year.
From the new Fulcrum intern,
Deanna Stover (@DeannaStover_artist)
