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It’s Monkeyshines season in Tacoma

It’s Monkeyshines season in Tacoma
This year’s Monkeyshines celebrate the Year of the Rabbit.

Right when the doldrums of winter set in with short days and early darkness, clouds, rain and gloom, Monkeyshines pops up to spread its light and joy. Starting around Chinese New Year, Jan. 22, the Monkeyshines crew stealthily moves about Tacoma placing their artist created glass floats and medallions in hiding places for anyone to discover and hold as a keepsake for years to come. This year more than 2,000 of them, embossed with a stamp celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, will be tucked away so be on the lookout wherever you are.

 

One of the best things about Monkeyshines is that it is robed in secrecy. Exactly where the glass treasures are hidden is unknown to maintain the mystery of where a person might find one. Look up into trees, look down under bushes, keep an eye out along the shores of our city’s waterways… Monkeyshines are everywhere; you just have to find them, or they have to find you as sometimes they can just pop up when you’re not looking at all.

 

Exactly where the collectibles come from is another mystery. Yes, they’re made by glass artists in Tacoma but who are these Monkeyshiners? An artist known only as Ms. Monkey leads the merrymakers, as it was she who started the purely Tacoma tradition 20 years ago. In this Year of the Rabbit, characterized by quiet kindness, her hope is for people from all walks of life in Tacoma to happen upon a Monkeyshines surprise and simply enjoy the love spell that it brings.

 

"This year, Monkeyshines is all about a big hug to the city of Tacoma because we’re all in this together,” Ms. Monkey said. "It is a spirit of love that brings us all together and we’re going to push through this time we’ve been in. It’s all about love this year.”  

 

Monkeyshines makes it a point to spread this love from inside the city center and outward to all communities.  

 

As Ms. Monkey explains, "Since 2003, the very beginning, we have hidden them all over Tacoma. They are everywhere. That is important for us. I personally have hidden them in the outreaches of Tacoma and others are instructed to do the same. We are artists and we live everywhere in Tacoma.”

 

She said some Monkeyshines from years ago are still being found. 

 

"A couple of last year’s Year of the Tiger have been found recently. I hid some back in the Year of the Monkey (2016) that I know are still out there. There’s magic everywhere.”


Those lucky to find one are encouraged to share their discovery on social media and use the hashtag #monkeyshines2023.

 

Funding for Monkeyshines comes from a variety of grants, donations, and the sale of handblown candle cups – the official Monkeyshines swag – at tacomaglassblowing.com. Featuring an embossed golden rabbit design, the cups this year are pink, the color of safety and warmth to imbue a sense that all will be well.

 

The community can offer its support also at The Monkeyshines Project’s GoFundMe, where it states: "We’re celebrating the 20th year of this citywide treasure hunt, and it feels more important than ever right now. Dozens of people have donated hundreds of hours of their time to pull this off. Believe us – no one is making money off this thing. But we still love doing it. Every dollar you donate today will support the creation of the glass objects and art we hide for you to find and keep.”

 

While you’re out hunting for Monkeyshines, you may very well stumble upon other glass art pieces. A band of Rogue Monkeys is moving about the city doing their own thing and Ms. Monkey thinks it’s great.

 

‘We love them,” Ms. Monkey said. "A long time ago, there was Marble Man, who was the OG Rogue, and he started putting out marbles before Chinese New Year. There are all these amazing creatives in Tacoma who make beautiful things and they start putting them out before, during and after the Monkeyshines period. They’re incredible things and it’s a wonderful way to get the community involved. They’re really thoughtful about children and families and covering all of Tacoma.”

 

In her parting words to the Tacoma Weekly, Ms. Monkey shared this wise advice: "It's been tough so go out and find some glass. Smile at whoever you see, spread some love and just uplift each other. That’s the whole point of Monkeyshines.”