Critical Line was a

contemporary art Contemporary art is the art of today, produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a dynamic com ...

exhibition center that opened 5 May 2006 in the St. Helens section of Tacoma, Washington. The 1,800-foot redesigned gallery space specialized in

installation art Installation art is an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called ...

video Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) syste ...

performance A performance is an act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function. Management science In the work place ...

sound art Sound art is an artistic activity in which sound is utilized as a primary medium or material. Like many genres of contemporary art, sound art may be interdisciplinary in nature, or be used in hybrid forms. According to Brandon LaBelle, sound art ...

photography Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employed ...

, and time-based work, and was devised to "allow for creative exploration, experimentation, and exhibition in a space where artists are encouraged to take creative risks." The gallery operated in partnership with its satellite project the

Tollbooth Gallery The Tollbooth Gallery was a site-specific exhibition space and project of the nonprofit arts organization ArtRod launched in 2003 and located in Tacoma, Washington. The project featured contemporary art on view 24 hours a day and seven days a week. ...

, under the direction of

Jared Pappas-Kelley Jared Pappas-Kelley is an American curator, researcher, and visual artist. He studied at The Evergreen State College, Goddard College and the European Graduate School where he served as Graduate Teaching Assistant for both Jean-Luc Nancy and Paul ...

alongside Michael Lent, and was one of four major projects of the

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

art organization

ArtRod ArtRod is a nonprofit arts organization located in Tacoma, Washington. It was founded in 1958 and went through several incarnations including Allied Arts and Artists Exchange. The mission of ArtRod is to facilitate art exhibition in nontraditional p ...

. These also included the contemporary art journal

Toby Room ''Toby Room'' is a quarterly arts publication founded in 2001 and a project of ArtRod. Organized as a gallery in print, ''Toby Room'' featured writings, projects, and interviews amongst artists, filmmakers, and musicians, alongside contributions ...

, and the film and video series Don't Bite the Pavement. In 2010 an online journal based on the Critical Line exhibition space was launched.http://www.artrod.org

Past exhibitions

Found Space

Keeping Score
* Nativity Artists
New Works: Nicholas Nyland and Ellen Ito
* The End * Critical Line Invitational

External links

www.ArtRod.org
- The official website of the organisation.
criticalline.co.uk
- The gallery's online curatorial content

References

Buildings and structures in Tacoma, Washington Art museums and galleries in Washington (state) Tourist attractions in Tacoma, Washington Art galleries established in 2006 2006 establishments in Washington (state) {{Washington-struct-stub