ArtRod
Encyclopedia
ArtRod is a nonprofit arts organization located in Tacoma, Washington. It was originally founded in 1958 and went through several name changes including Allied Arts and Artists Exchange. The mission of ArtRod is to facilitate art exhibition in nontraditional public arenas. They have grown out of and in response to a specific need to bring contemporary art forms out of a solid conventional museum setting and directly into the community’s path.
ArtRod supports three major projects: Toby Room
magazine, the Don't Bite the Pavement film series, and its major focus, the Tollbooth Gallery
. The organization is expanding with other projects including a technical workspace for video artists and an international distribution of experimental video artworks. The organization is supported and ran through the work of two collaborating artists, Jared Pappas-Kelley
and Michael Lent
. In 2005 they were honored with an arts genius award from the City of Tacoma for their work on the Tollbooth Gallery
.
On May 5, 2006 the organization opened a new exhibition center called Critical Line
which, along with the Tollbooth Gallery
, will serve as its major project.
ArtRod supports three major projects: Toby Room
Toby Room
Toby Room is a quarterly arts publication founded in 2001 and a project of ArtRod. Toby Room features work by emerging and established artists who are doing engaging work in their field. Frequently, one might find a rock star interviewing a filmmaker or photography collective writing about riding...
magazine, the Don't Bite the Pavement film series, and its major focus, the Tollbooth Gallery
Tollbooth Gallery
The Tollbooth Gallery is a public art project that bills itself as the World's Smallest Gallery dedicated to Wheat Paste and Video Fine Arts. It is a project of ArtRod, a nonprofit arts organization and is located in Tacoma, Washington, USA...
. The organization is expanding with other projects including a technical workspace for video artists and an international distribution of experimental video artworks. The organization is supported and ran through the work of two collaborating artists, Jared Pappas-Kelley
Jared Pappas-Kelley
Jared Pappas-Kelley is a curator, writer, and artist. He was co-creator and publisher of Toby Room magazine. His direction of the arts organization ArtRod led to the creation of the Tollbooth Gallery, which he co-created and curated with fellow artist Michael Lent.Pappas-Kelley studied at The...
and Michael Lent
Michael Lent
Michael Lent is a visual artist and curator. He was the creator and publisher of Toby Room which featured interviews and work by contemporary artists. His direction of the arts organization ArtRod led to the creation of the Tollbooth Gallery, which he curated with fellow artist Jared Pappas-Kelley...
. In 2005 they were honored with an arts genius award from the City of Tacoma for their work on the Tollbooth Gallery
Tollbooth Gallery
The Tollbooth Gallery is a public art project that bills itself as the World's Smallest Gallery dedicated to Wheat Paste and Video Fine Arts. It is a project of ArtRod, a nonprofit arts organization and is located in Tacoma, Washington, USA...
.
On May 5, 2006 the organization opened a new exhibition center called Critical Line
Critical Line
Critical Line is a contemporary art exhibition center which opened May 5, 2006. It is one of two major projects of the nonprofit art organization ArtRod. Critical Line opened in the St. Helens section of the Theatre District of Downtown Tacoma, Washington...
which, along with the Tollbooth Gallery
Tollbooth Gallery
The Tollbooth Gallery is a public art project that bills itself as the World's Smallest Gallery dedicated to Wheat Paste and Video Fine Arts. It is a project of ArtRod, a nonprofit arts organization and is located in Tacoma, Washington, USA...
, will serve as its major project.