Arts & Entertainment

Tacoma Playing Cards Arrive at Stores

The UWT campus captured in a linocut by Audra Laymon.

If you haven’t heard the buzz, locally-made Tacoma Playing Cards are out! The deck was created by art group Tacoma Makes and features a variety of scenes that of interest to locals, such as: UFOs above Mt. Rainier, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge being attacked by a giant octopus, and our very own UWT campus. After a successful campaign on funding platform Kickstarter.com, the cards are on sale at various local businesses including the UW Bookstore on campus.

The five of diamonds card features a linocut image of UWT was created by Audra Laymon. Laymon was noticed by Tacoma Makes when her work was displayed at the last Wayzgoose print-making event at Kings Books. When asked how she came up with the idea for the image, Laymon said she chose the steps because they “are the most iconic part of the campus.” Laymon took the steps often walking from her job at the Museum of Glass to her home in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma, where she’s lived for seven years.

Audra’s artistic influence can be seen around town; she designed the ornate menu and chalkboard for apothecary 1022 South, and is looking forward to being a part of Wayzgoose again next year.

Prints of the UWT card and others in the set are available on TacomaMakes.com.