The Sides of the Town

The concept began as a t-shirt graphic designed to spark pride in Tacoma. At the time, few people were willing to wear apparel that boldly said Tacoma. By including every neighborhood and adding some controversial or debatable locations, the design ignited conversation. What started as a shirt quickly became more than fashion. It became a conversation about identity, loyalty, and connection across the city.

Unity in the Community

From the t-shirt, the project evolved into a public art installation exploring the idea of Unity in the Community. I wanted to show that while Tacoma’s neighborhoods are distinct, they are all part of the same shared story.

Walking the Neighborhoods

I spent weeks walking through each neighborhood, visiting thrift stores and exploring local streets. I collected clothing that reflected the people who live there. Each item carried its own history and energy. A jacket that once kept someone warm walking through Hilltop. A pair of jeans worn at a family barbecue in Eastside. A shirt donated after years of use in South Tacoma. Every garment became a piece of the story, holding the spirit of the people who inhabit these spaces.

Along the way, I photographed local landmarks, from playgrounds and community centers to murals and small shops. These images captured the heartbeat of each neighborhood and were incorporated into the installation to provide context. By pairing the garments with photographs, I wanted viewers to feel both the physical presence of the clothing and the lived reality of each community.

Sculptures of Memory

Using the collected garments, I constructed six distinct sculptures, one for each side of town. Layer by layer, the clothing became architectural, almost like building blocks of memory and presence. The sculptures carry traces of my hands and the journeys I made walking through each neighborhood. They are both physical and symbolic, grounding the intangible stories of people into a tangible form.

Repping Each Side

Neighborhood rivalries are real. People debate which side of town is cooler, tougher, better, or worse. This work flips that conversation. Everyone had to rep each other’s side of town, acknowledging that every neighborhood contributes to Tacoma’s story. The garments, photos, and sculptures became symbols of mutual respect and shared pride, a reflection of the connections I witnessed as I moved through the streets and stores.

One Town

The exhibition revealed something essential. Each side of town has its own style, rhythm, and history. Yet within that individuality, there is a thread of connection. Lives overlap, objects circulate, and stories echo across neighborhood lines. By walking through the neighborhoods and gathering these pieces, I felt the vibe of Tacoma in a way that no map or statistic could show. No matter what side you come from, it is all the same town.