ART & LITERARY NEWS
November 2016
I’m a lifelong learner. So when I discovered Olli at Eckerd College (my friend, Kathi Diamant and book author, teaches at San Diego State University Olli), I just had to look into their art and literature classes.
Register online- www.Eckerd.Edu/Olli/Register or call 727-864-7600. They just sponsored their first ever Poetry Contest, you can travel to Cuba or on the Blue Danube with other passionate learners, or meet author Peter Kageyama (Love Where You Live) at a community workshop on Nov. 15 at 1-4 pm. From Gershwin to the Golden Age of TV shows, Ollis showcases film, television, Florida Studies, Literature, Writing, Performing Arts and Visual Arts…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Local artists, but well-known nationally, the Vitale Brothers’ murals capture the magic of Quentin Taratino’s film sets and Mexican wrestling iconic imagery at Nueva Cantina, the new Southeast restaurant whose grand opening is Nov. 2 with a Day of the Dead celebration and mucho margaritas, the brainchild of restauranteur Louie Spetrini and Chef Paul Daubert. If you haven’t toured the downtown murals and experienced the Second Saturday Artwalk, you are missing a delightful day of culture and cocktails.
Ciao baby, see you there! – Nanette Wiser
ONGOING
St. Petersburg
Second Saturday Artwalk 5-9 pm – Five arts districts, one fun day: Ride the Trolley and enjoy 40 galleries, studios, warehouses and yummy brews and chews along the way downtown. www.StPeteArtsAlliance.org
Gulfport 1st Friday and 3rd Saturday www.visitgulfportflorida.com
MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. NE 727-896-2667 www.fine-arts.org
Nov. 5 – Feb. 19: Jack Barrett People Watching – Mr. Barrett’s explorations of the human figure in paintings, sketches and select sculptures will be on view. Some may know him as a former St. Pete Times illustrator.
- Nov. 5, 3 pm: Gallery talk with Curator of Contemporary Art Katherine Pill and
Barrett’s wife, Louise.
- Nov. 19 – March 19: The Far North – Inuit Prints and Sculpture – These 30 works by accomplished Inuit artists spans the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Inuit people of the Arctic, formerly known as the Eskimo, have combined traditional and contemporary worlds in their work and have developed a distinctive visual language using modern materials and techniques. Through their art, the Inuit have continued a vital storytelling tradition among themselves, while reaching out to the broader public. They are especially known for their prints and sculpture.
- Nov. 20, 3 pm: Gallery talk on Inuit Prints and Sculpture by Dr. Teresa Wilkins.
- Dec. 8, 6:30 pm: Book Club at MFA, presented by Keep St. Pete Lit – Melanie McGrath’s The Long Exile: A Tale of Inuit Betrayal and Survival in the High Arctic will add another layer of understanding to The Far North.
- Thru Nov. 13: From the Heart – Folk Art on Paper. The MFA draws on its impressive collection of work by Southern self-taught artists Martha & Jim Sweeny, plus art by Bill Traylor, Thornton Dial, Nellie Mae Rowe, Lonnie Holley, Juanita Rogers and Purvis Young Dilmus Hall.
- Thru Jan. 22: Our America – The Latino Presence in Latin American Art Explore how Latino artists shaped the artistic community of their day with 92 original works that delve into the history and imagination of the artists and the world that inspired them.
- Nov. 9 10 am: – Coffee Talk with Nan Colton: In Every Mind is a World, Nan Colton portrays the great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who has influenced Latino artists, as well as others around the world. Refreshments, followed by performance and general docent tour.
- Nov. 10, 6:30 pm Book Club at the MFA: The Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Díaz draws us closer to the themes in Our America. Díaz teaches writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a past recipient of the MacArthur “Genius Grant.” Presented by Keep St. Pete Lit and the MFA.
The Dali Museum http://thedali.org
- Dec. 17 – April 17: Frida Kahlo at the Dali
- February – May 2017: Dali/Duchamp
- Thru Nov. 27: Ferran Adria – The Invention of Food Widely celebrated for changing the landscape of gastronomy, renowned chef and restaurateur Ferran Adria changed cooking in the same way Salvador Dali changed art.
Thru – Nov. 16: Ferran Adria Immersion Dinners
www.thedali.org/ferran-adria-homage-dinners
A series of seven unique dining experiences in conjunction with our special exhibition
Ferran Adria: The Invention of Food. Each meal serves as a one-of-a-kind homage to food innovator Adria. These exclusive dining events feature singular, chef inspired menus and wine pairings from Masciarelli Wine Company, designed to immerse you in the transformative nature of food. Seating is limited, reservations required.
- Nov. 6: Chef Fabrizio Aielli, Sea Salt
- Nov. 9: Chef Marty Blitz, Mise en Place
- Nov. 16: Chef Jeannie Pierola, Edison: food + drink lab
St. Petersburg Museum of History
335 2nd Ave. NE, downtown St. Pete, (727) 894-1052 http://spmoh.com
Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II
This exhibit explores the challenges andtriumphs of African Americans during the war era and is the first time the exhibit has been seen outside of its home in New Orleans. Before the Civil Rights marches of the 1950s and 1960s, there was a group of young African American men who fought for equality and the right to defend their country. On loan from the National WWII Museum, the exhibit features artifacts, photographs and oral histories to highlight some of the extraordinary achievements and challenges of African Americans during World War II, both overseas and on the Home Front.
In addition to this exhibit, the museum is home to permanent exhibitions such as the world’s largest collection of autographed baseballs, “Schrader’s Little Cooperstown,” and Flight One Gallery, where guests can explore the world’s first airliner and the birth of commercial aviation.
- The Florida Humanities Speaker Series continues through 2017 with these talks:
- Dec. 15: – Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition;
- Feb. 9, 2017: – The Magnificent Drama – Martin Luther King, Jr. in St. Augustine;
- April 13, 2017: – Getting to Know Florida’s Engaging Water World from the Inside Out.
Morean Arts Center
719 Central Ave. 727-822-7872 www.MoreanArtsCenter.org
- Thru Nov. 30: Stories On Clay: Focusing on narrative, story telling and imagery, this ceramic exhibition tells a unique story.
- Nov. 12-Dec. 30: Find hip gifts at “There is No Time Like the Presents” – 2016 Holiday Show & Sale. Where members of the Morean display gift-worthy items to purchase for the holidays including locally made paintings, functional pottery, jewelry, glass, ornaments and arty stocking stuffers. With more than 1000 members, the show displays a unique range of style and art to suit most tastes and décor and are one-of-a-kind.
- Keep St. Pete Lit keepstpetelit@gmail.com $10 writing classes for beginners and pros.
- 3-D Workshops and Design classes. info@create-3d-biz
Morean’s Glass Studio & Hot Shop
719 Central Ave., downtown St. Pete, 727 822-7872 x 2220 www.moreanartscenter.org/hot-shop/
Discover how beautiful works of glass are created in real time with professional glass blowers educating them on the process. Events include Ladies Night, Friday Hot Date Night, and Live Glass Blowing Demonstrations daily at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.
Chihuly Collection
720 Central Ave. 727.822.7872 x 8 www.MoreanArtsCenter.org
Explore the new home featuring 4,200 square feet of dedicated outdoor space, a premier retail store and an expanded temporary exhibition space that will host nationally acclaimed glass artists from around the country.
The Morean Center for Clay
420 22nd Street South, downtown St. Pete
One of the largest working potteries in the Southeast United States. It offers education, studio space, rotating exhibitions and gallery sales in one large, beautifully-renovated train station. It’s here you will find The Morean Center for Clay’s Artist in Residence (AIR) program, which houses six artists on an annual work exchange basis.
Craftsman House Gallery (10 am-5 pm) 727-323-2787 www.CraftsmanHouseGallery.com
ARTS, LITERARY & FILM EVENTS
Nov. 5 Historic Kenwood Bungalow Fest (10 am – 4 pm) www.historickenwood.org/bungalowfest-2016 The Historic Kenwood Association in conjunction with The Artists Enclave of Historic Kenwood host “A Celebration of Art and Architecture’ Home Tour, “ one of Southwest Florida’s Premier Architectural Home Tours.
Nov. 5 – 6 Folkfest St. Pete
(Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-10pm).
Central Ave between 11th & 13th www.FolkFestStPete.org Benefits Creative Clay, this art and music festival features amazing art, music, a family area and great food!
Nov. 12 Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading,
USF St. Pete, 140 Seventh Ave www.festivalofreading.com Dozens of writers, including Michael Connelly, Joyce Maynard, Brad Meltzer, Tim Dorsey, Ted Geltner, Lauren Gibaldi, Craig Pittman, Jim Webster, Ellen Prager and Frank Deford, plus biblio-phile workshops and so much more.
Nov. 10-13 Blue Ocean Film Festival & Conservation Summit
The Palladium Theater 727-388-6682 www.blueoceanfilmfestival.org Showcasing films that impact social issues, this respected festival brings light to the importance of our oceans and the protection we must provide to sustain them.
Preserve The Burg Walking Tours:
- Nov. 5 The “Original” Downtown Walking Tour – (starts at 10 am at the corner of 1st St & 1st Ave. SE, next to the entrance to the Saturday Morning Market (100 1st St. SE, St. Petersburg 33701)
Tour participants will take a trip through the heart of downtown St. Pete, seeing grand hotels, stately churches, and architectural treasures like the Snell Arcade and the Open Air Post Office as well as seeing many examples of how historic buildings have been successfully reused.
- Nov. 18: Noon – Friday Lunchtime Tour (starts at Mickey’s Café & Organics,
318 Central Ave.) Led by architectural historian & St. Petersburg Preservation President Emily Elwyn. Tour goers will see some of the best of the city’s architecture, including the Open Air Post Office and the adjacent Snell Building, while being led by a historian offering a unique perspective on the growth of the ‘Burg.
- Nov. 12: 10 am – The Waterfront Tour (starts at corner of 1st St and 1st Ave. S.E., next to the entrance to the Saturday Morning Market). The waterfront has a great history, ranging from being the site of the fountain of youth to the departure point for the world’s first airline. Tour participants will get to visit the fountain of youth and learn about the history of the city, including the civic visionaries who transformed a working waterfront into one of the largest waterfront park systems in the country.
- Nov. 19: 3pm – Historic Gulfport (starts at Gulfport Historical Museum, 5301 28th Ave. S.) Led by author Cathy Salustri, the Gulfport tour offers a stroll in the “suburbs” of funky and artsy Gulfport. Tour participants will get a look at this former fishing village on Boca Ceiga Bay and its collection of historic commercial & residential structures, including the National Register listed Gulfport Casino. With the introduction of the streetcar connecting it to St. Pete, Gulfport began to grow and to attract tourists in the 1920’s.
- Nov. 26: 10 am (starts at Craftsman House Gallery, 2955 Central Ave.) The Historic Kenwood tour offers a chance for participants to enjoy the feel & character of Historic Kenwood, one of the country’s premier bungalow neighborhoods and a National Register listed historic district. The tour is led by neighborhood residents proud to “show off” their neighborhood and excited to explain how hard work and reusing history changed a declining neighborhood into one of the ‘Burg’s most desirable neighborhoods. The tour will include a brief look inside one of the neighborhood’s restored bungalows.
Studio@ 620
620 First Ave. S, Downtown St. Pete 727-895-6620 www.thestudioat620.org Wordier Than Thou: Open mic for storytelling, share prose or just catch tales from area wordsmiths. (Check the website for dates; starts 7 pm.)
- Nov. 20 at 7 pm Russian Folks Songs & More Enjoy an evening of traditional Russian folk songs, some of which are over 500 years old, sung by Elona Krasavtseva (lyrical soprano) accompanied by Nina Slyusar-Wegmann (accordion and piano). The program will include a range of song styles, including wedding songs, also called “crying songs”, because weddings in northern Russia were for many years considered a sad event, as it meant that young girls were sent far away from their homes and families. There will also be a lot of sunny, hilarious, cheerful Italian and Spanish music, spiced with American and English favorites too.
- Elona Krasavtseva is an award winning singer and songwriter from Moscow, Russia. In 2013 she was named a National Treasure of Russia for her songwriting & performance. Elona performs in New York City and Los Angeles as well as in Europe including Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. She runs a Music and Poetry Club in Florida.
- Nina Slyusar-Wegmann is a frequent soloist with The Florida Orchestra and is the winner of four international music contests. Some songs will be performed with piano, some a capella, and some instrumental. There will be a lot of miraculous music.
- Nov. 19-20: CraftArt Festival
(Sat. 10 am – 5 pm, Sun. 10 am – 4 pm). Central Avenue between 4th & 6th Street. 727-821-7391 www.FloridaCraftArt.org Featuring some of the nation’s most established and emerging fine craft artists! Enjoy works in jewelry, clay, fiber, glass, wood, metal paper and mixed media.
Suntan Arts Center @ The Don Vista
3300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach (727) 367-3818 www.suntanart.org
- Nov. 26 – 27: 6th Annual 100 Artists Show (10 am – 5 pm): Art makes a great holiday gift. Discover gifted artists and enjoy food from The Hurricane and Mangia Gourmet, wine and beer while tapping your toes to The Dave Williamson Band & Pete Merrigan.
• Nov. 16 – 20: El Cultura A Festival of Creative Culture Station House, downtown St. Pete www.etcultura.com More than 20 bands in three days at the main stage venue, plus provocative lectures and interactive sessions at this new festival. - Nov. 16: “Emerging Technologies” with Tech Immersion Room @ “Tech Zoo” and “Rise of Digital Art- film, art, projection mapping and virtual reality”
- Nov. 17: “The Outlook of the Entrepreneurial Landscape”
- Nov. 18: “Coffee and the Morning papers- all things Lit!” & “Speed Networking Session”
Nov. 17: “Ambassador Of Jazz” 7 pm at Muvico Theater, Sundial downtown St. Pete. This documentary/film depicts the life journey of Sonny LaRosa which has many twists and turns. Produced by Barbara Bickerstaffe, Troy Bowman & Apollo Productions, the movie trailer can be viewed on YouTube under “Ambassador Of Jazz” Sonny LaRosa.
- Dec. 2: 6:30-8:30 pm, Dec. 3: 10 am – 3 pm The Florida Orchestra Guild’s Fifth Annual Holiday Tour of Homes and Cocktail Party See fabulous decorations and enjoy a holiday boutique and tasty treats at this fundraiser and tour of homes in the Snell Isle and Brightwaters Blvd. area of
Northeast St. Petersburg. FYI: Charlene Miller, 727-254-1176.
St. Petersburg Opera
727-823-2040 http://www.stpeteopera.org
PERFORMANCES
- Dec. 18: 2 pm, Dec. 19: 7:30 pm: Seasonal Sparkle celebrates all four seasons in this eclectic program of orchestral, choral, and solo vocal music.
- January 27: 7:30 pm, Jan. 29: 2 pm, Jan. 31: 7:30 pm: The Elixir of Love
CHARITY EVENT
- Dec. 9: 51st Annual SILVER BELLS Gala Luncheon “Elixir of Elegance” 11 am
St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Avenue downtown St. Pete: The event ushers in the holiday season in a festive setting, with entertainment by Maestro Mark Sforzini and members of the St. Petersburg Opera Company with instrumental accompaniment. The co-chairs Francesca Brusini and Linda Pugliese promise an ELEGANT afternoon with a delicious luncheon, a silent auction and fine entertainment. Contact: ursulacarroll7882@yahoo.com
St. Petersburg Arts Alliance
100 Second Ave. N, Ste. 150 St. Downtown St. Pete, FYI: John Collins 727-518-5142 john@stpeteartsalliance.org
- Jan. 27, 2017 Muse Award Benefit: The Muse Awards will celebrate artistic
inspiration at the Museum of Fine Arts, 7 PM. St. Petersburg’s fourth annual fundraising benefit for the arts will recognize the breadth and beauty of art and culture in our City of the Arts, and pay tribute to those that continue to inspire and guide St. Petersburg to its standing as an international arts destination.
Sculptor and painter Kyu Yamamoto will be honored as the Muse Award’s visual artist for the fourth annual Muse Awards benefit. Kyu joins 2016 winner, Steven Kenney, and 2015 winner, Carrie Jadus as the visual artist honoree. His artwork will be featured on the 2017 commemorative poster.
CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
People and Place: The Cultural and Natural History Center at Weedon Island Preserve
1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg. Thurs – Sat: 9 am – 4 pm. This art-inspired, permanent hands-on educational exhibit reveals the area’s history, ecology and people. Exhibits include Connecting People and Place, Uncovering Past Cultures, Understanding Culture through its Pottery, A Gallery of Memories, Mischief and Movies, Discovery of Hidden Worlds, What a Watershed Is and a virtual tour of the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of Weedon Island artifacts.
Heritage Village
11909 125th St. N, Largo. 727-582-2123; www.pinellascounty.org/heritage.
Objects from the Turner Family Permanent Collection. Thousands of objects and archival materials spanning 100 years of family history including toys and games, glassware and china, personal accessories, pottery, clothing, furniture, artwork and items from the Belleview Biltmore Hotel showcased here.
- Pinellas Passport: – Your Ticket through Time Heritage Village
This exhibit illustrates major areas of development in Pinellas County, including coastal living with a focus on the sponge industry, agriculture featuring citrus industry artifacts, community life through newspapers and a printing press, and tourism.
Florida Holocaust Museum
55 5th Street S. downtown St. Pete. Celebrating their 25th anniversary year, USA TODAY recently named them as the #1 museum to visit in St. Petersburg – Clearwater out of a top 10 list of museums! For the past 25 years, The Museum’s focus has been to tell the story of millions who suffered or died during the Holocaust through the personal testimonies, official documentation, photographs and artifacts of individual narratives.
NOTEWORTHY: TAMPA & BEYOND
University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. Tampa
- Through Dec. 10: Extracted
- Jan. 13 – March 4: Duke Riley Flights of Fancy
Ringling College of Art & Design
2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Thru Jan. 27, 2017: Jenny Medved’s – exhibition “INDIGENOUS PEOPLE” will be on display in this glorious Sarasota cultural mecca. Jenny Medved (Class of 2004) is a figurative artist & illustrator based in Sarasota, Florida. Originally from Atlanta, Medved relocated to Florida in 2000 to attend Ringling College where she obtained her BFA in Illustration. Medved holds an MFA in Figurative Painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where she studied under Zack Zdrale, William Whitaker and Warren Chang. She also studied traditional portraiture at the Florence Academy of Art, in Florence, Italy. Medved’s meticulously crafted watercolors of Hawaiian and Polynesian dancers and Native Americans are part of an ongoing visual exploration of indigenous cultures prompted by the discovery of her own Native American roots. In December of 2015, Medved was featured as one of ten artists to watch in Watercolor Artist Magazine.
OPEN CALL, CASTING NOTES, VOLUNTEERS
Tampa’s Gasparilla International Film Festival, March 2 – 9, 2017. Currently accepting submissions (no deadline listed for short films, U.S. narrative feature and College Student Feature Film, International Features, Made in Florida and U.S. Documentary features plus other categories. Details and the online application: www.withoutabox.com/login/5440
VOLUNTEERS WANTED!
The Docent Program at the Chihuly Collection Docents are trained to serve the needs and interests of our diverse visitors, from elementary school children to adults. No prior art history background or work experience is required to volunteer; however, those wishing to volunteer in the Docent Program should be comfortable working and communicating with the public. Docents create and conduct public tours of the permanent and visiting exhibitions as well as private tours arranged by the Group Sales staff.
Junior Docents: As part of the Junior Docent program, middle and high school students are trained in a mini-docent course. This program introduces students to artistic processes, builds self-esteem and public speaking skills. FYI: Andy Schlauch, Chihuly Collection Ex. Dir. 727.896.4527 Andy.Schlauch@MoreanArtsCenter.org
KUDOS & ART NEWS
“Not Just Another War Story”: Wayne Macdowell’s book is a meaningful true account of what the Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress bomber crews went through during World War II in the dangerous sky above occupied Europe. “You’ll get caught up in this exciting, action-packed, true to life, World War II adventure that puts YOU in a front row seat!” “Not Just Another War Story” is a story of hope, dreams and love in a war-torn world. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Tyrone. www.waynemacdowell.com