Art News By Caron Schwartz
PERSONAL NOTE : Museum of Fine Arts – A Feast for the Eyes
By Caron Schwartz – ARTnews Editor
I have a confession to make. Although I’ve lived in paradise (i.e.,Gulfport) for almost three years, until a few weeks ago I had never been to the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. So when I got an invitation to check out the new exhibit, A Feast for the Eyes, I was raring to go.
I was so eager that instead of milling around with the press in the lobby, I joined a group that was headed into the exhibition room before the 10 am start time. A docent stopped me, saying it was just for the Grasset family, who had lent the collection to the museum.
Back with the press pool, I happily munched on a glorious spread that included overflowing bowls of fresh fruit, huge wheels of cheese, olives and a big loaf of rustic bread. It wasn’t until we were invited into the exhibit that I realized the smorgasbord was a living still life of one of the paintings. — Still Life of Fruit and Olives by Floris Claesz van Dyck.
It turned out to be a collection of my favorite genre, Old Masters of the 16th and 17 century. The detail is so intense the paintings seem to focus on the minutia you don’t readily see in real life. The artists show you everything from the beautiful – tiny droplets of water on a leaf – to the troubling – mold, insects, rats, dead birds.
Why I love it, I can’t say. The sensation is similar to what I felt on donning my first pair of glasses when I was seven. I looked up and saw the optician’s Grandma Moses painting, which before the specs was a colorful blur. Life became clear, logical.
The collection was so visceral, I could smell the roses, taste the grapes, touch the china, recognize the peasants, lose myself in a forest glen. It was a feast for all senses.
A Feast for the Eyes will be on view through July 28 and will not travel to other venues.
That’s “Litertainment” at the SunLit Festival, April 11-29
The 5th Annual SunLit Festival gets off to a rousing start at its Kickoff Party April 11th! The SunLit Festival is a springtime celebration of the written word made
possible by a confederation of literary, cultural, and civic organizations united to advance the enjoyment of books, reading, writing, and the classic art of letterpress printing. SunLit Festival 2019 brings together more than 35 organizations and arts disciplines to celebrate literacy, literature, reading, and writing for nearly a month of “Litertainment” and just plain fun. For more information see https://www.facebook.com/SunLitFestival/ or www.sunlitfestival.org
But wait, there’s more!
As part of SunLit, Friends of the St. Petersburg Main Library is hosting a writing contest among those who submit a 1,500-words-or-less short stories beginning with the words, “When I/he/she opened my/his/hers eyes, light the color of (choose a color) filled the room.” (Gender-neutral pronouns also acceptable.) Submit double-spaced Word or PDF files to froelichjanis@yahoo.com before 11:59 pm April 13. First prize: $100, second: $50. Young writers (18 and younger): $100.
Winners will be announced Saturday, April 27, at 2 pm during the festival event “Writers, Winners & the Publishing World.”
5th Annual SunLit Festival Schedule of Events APRIL 11 – 28
Refer to the full schedule at sunlitfestival.org for a description of each event.
- THURS, APR 11: SunLit Kickoff Party, Chihuly Gallery – 720 Central Ave., 7-9pm
- SAT. APR 13: Downtown Tour w/ Literary Twist! Leaves: 175 5th St. N., St. Pete, 10am-12pm
- SAT. APR 13: Exphrastic Performance in spired by Quest: A Celebration of Glass
- Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., 2-4 pm
- SAT. APR 13: Children’s Poetry Night Hike, Boyd Hill Preserve – 1101 CC Way S., 7pm
- SUN. APR 14 Wordier’s 1K Walk & Write, Wordier’s 1K Walk & Write (or Read)
- Departs: The Hanger – 540 1st St. SE, St. Pete
- MON, APR 15: Author Talk w/Paul Wilbron, Mirror Lake Library, 280 5th St. N., 5:30-7pm
- TUES, APR 16: Howl: Night of Poetry & Music, Old Key West Bar and Grill, 2451 Central Ave., St. Pete. 7-10pm
- WED, APR 17: Creative Loafing (F’n) Fiction Contest Award Ceremony, CL Space – 1911 N. 13th St., Tampa 7 – 9pm
- THURS, APR 18 : Poem in Your Pocket Day ArtXchange – 515 22nd St. S., Noon-4pm
- THURS, APR 18: Lector Social Club w/ Cigar City Journal Lector Social Club: A Lit & Natty Wine Shoppe, 305 E. Polk St., Tampa, 6:30-8pm
- THURS, APR 18: Staged Reading of Art People, Studio@620 – 620 1st Ave S., 7pm
- FRI. APR 19: Porch Party: Gulfport Trolley, Market Square-49th St. S., @ Tangerine, 2-4pm
- SAT, APR 20: Baked in the Florida Sun: A Benefit for Keep St. Pete Lit Behar + Peteranecz Architecture – 2340 Terminal Dr. S., St. Pete, 5:30-8:30pm
- MON, APR 22, 7 – 9 pm: A Celebration of the Erotic Venus, 244 Dr. M L King St. N., St Pete
- TUES, APR 23: Literary Trivia Night and Costume Contest at the Iberian Rooster 475 Central Ave., St. Pete, 6:30-8:30pm
- WED, APR 24: The Long and Short of It: The Relevance of Dark Fiction and Horror Books at Park Place – 6800 Gulfport Blvd. S., South Pasadena, 7pm
- THURS, APR 25: Literary Carousel at the Museum of Fine Arts – 255 Beach Dr. N., St. Petersburg, 6:30-8pm
- FRI, APR 26 – SUN, APR 28 : 38th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair at St. Petersburg Coliseum – 535 4th Ave N. APR. 26th 5-9pm; 27th 10am-5pm; 28th 11-4pm
- FRI, APR 26: Poets & Lizards: Celebration of New Southern Writing, Lector Social Club: 305 Polk St., Tampa, 6-9 pm
- FRI, APR 26: One in Ten – A Play about Adult Literacy, Sunshine Center – 330 5th St. N., St. Petersburg, 6:30-8:30pm
- SAT, APR 27: Kids Lit! Poetry in the Gardens, Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum – 2240 9th Ave. S., St. Pete 12-2pm
- SAT, APR 27: Writers, Winners & the Publishing World – St. Petersburg Main Library, 3745 9th Ave. N., St. Pete, 2-4pm
- SAT, APR 27: Not Just Music: A Sonic Journey, Dr. Carter G. Woodson Museum, 2240 9th Ave. S., St. Pete 3:30-5:30pm
- SAT, APR 27: Rob Saunders’ Stonewall Book Performance & Reading, the Studio@620, 620 1st Ave S., St. Pete, 6-8pm
Prefer a little more action? Check out Preserve the ‘Burg’s Movies in the Park
This year marks the 10th season for Preserve the ‘Burg’s Movies in the Park, an event many refer to as the best “little” event in the waterfront parks. This free and fun community gathering, held on Thursday evenings each May and October, is held in North Straub Park (400 Bayshore Dr., NE), the city’s historic downtown waterfront park that was dedicated in 1910.
Bring family and friends to enjoy free music and movies at each Thursday evening in May. The fun begins with live local music at 7 pm and movies at dark.
For more information see https://preservetheburg.org/page-1817752.
- May 2 – Goldfinger (PG)
- May 9 – Groundhog Day (PG)
- May 16 – Ghost (PG -13)
- May 23 – La La Land (PG-13)
- May 30 – The Lorax (PG)
God bless American Stage, which announces its 2019-2020 season
The 2019-2020 American Stage Mainstage Series explores the American spirit, our pursuit of happiness, our resiliency, and our unrelenting hope in An American Dreamscape. This season’s series spans a landscape of stories that explore the fantasy, the reality, the absurdity and the beauty of the American Dream. Like the American spirit, the season is rambunctious, ambitious, defiant, heartfelt and optimistic; introducing characters moving through the strange and incredible journey of the American experience.
For more information see http://americanstage.org/19-20/
- VIETGONE By Qui Nguyen, Regional Premiere, October 2 – November 3, 2019
- SILENT SKY By Lauren Gunderson, America’s most popular modern playwright, November 20 – December 22, 2019
- SKELETON CREW By Dominique Morisseau, Tampa Bay Premiere,
- January 22 – February 23, 2020
- THE PEOPLE DOWNSTAIRS By Natalie Symons (Playwright-in-Residence), World Premiere, March 11 – April 5, 2020
- ADMISSIONS By Joshua Harmon, Tampa Bay Premiere, Co-Production with Capital Stage, May 27 – June 28, 2020
- NEXT TO NORMAL Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey, Music by Tom Kitt, American Legacy Series, July 15 – August 16, 2020
How about a classic with a modern twist?
St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival presents a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” as the second full-length production of the festival’s 5th season. Directed by local theater artist Greg Thompson, the show will run Thursday-Sunday, April 18-28 at 8pm at the historic bandshell in Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave N, in downtown St. Petersburg. Admission is free.
The cast includes many members of the St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival repertory company including Sarah Pullman-Atanacio as Beatrice, Matt Frankel as Benedick, Ryan Bernier as Claudio, Chad Jacobs as Don John, Brianna Larson as Borachio, Summer Kiesel as Sexton/Friar Francis, and Hayden Baker as Conrade. Other starring roles include Alexandria Crawford as Hero, Maxx Janeda as Dogberry, and Katie Callahan as Ursula. For more information visit www.stpeteshakesfest.org
Back to the land with Music and a Meal
Sacred Lands Preservation and Education Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to preserving land that has historical and archaeological significance, hosts Music and a Meal the third Friday of the month. The event takes place at the Narvaez/Anderson Indian mound, the site of an ancient Tocobaga village. Visitors can also tour the land and learn about its history here on Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg.
Music and a Meal night features live music at one of the most unique historical and scenic sites in our county. Doors open at 7pm. Admission varies; see
sacredlandspreservationandeducation.org for details. A homemade meal is available for purchase separately for $8.00.
- APRIL — folk trio, “2PM” (Mike Jurgensen, Pete Price and Pete Hennings)
- MAY — Blackwell’s folk band, STILL FRIENDS
- JUNE – THE JOE MILLGAN BAND.
- JULY & AUGUST – SUMMER BREAK – NO MUSIC AND MEAL
- SEPTEMBER 2019 — ELAINE SILVER re: BEATLES TRIBUTE
- OCTOBER 18, 2019 — GYPSY STAR BAND
- NOVEMBER 2019 – TBA
- DECEMBER 2019 –CHRISTMAS MUSIC BENEFIT FOR THE HOMELESS – many artists and genres.
And for those who don’t want to have to leave the house … Florida Orchestra concerts to air on Classical WSMR
For the second year in a row, listeners can tune in to live recordings of select Florida Orchestra Masterworks concerts on Classical WSMR 89.1 & 103.9 FM radio. Eleven concerts from the 2018-2019 season will air at 7pm Thursdays, starting with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 on March 28. Most are conducted by Music Director Michael Francis.
The broadcasts are part of TFO’s ongoing partnership with WUSF Public Media and Classical WSMR radio, Tampa Bay’s only classical music radio station. The broadcasts are made possible by support from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Jay’s Fabric Center. Special thank-you to the Florida Orchestra Musicians Association and the American Federation of Musicians Local 427-721.
The full Tampa Bay Times Masterworks concerts are being recorded live all season long at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.
Schedule of broadcasts, which can be heard at 89.1, 103.9 FM, and WSMR.org. Schedule subject to change.
- April 11: Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1
- April 18: Vaughan Williams’ A London Symphony
- April 25: Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
- May 2: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- May 9: The Planets
- May 16: Mahler’s Symphony No. 1
- May 23: The Creation
- May 30: Mozart & Sibelius
- June 6: Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto
No need for SPF at Sunscreen Festival
The 14th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival, presented by the St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission, features films with Jim Gaffigan, Ed Asner, Anna Paquin, Melissa Leo, Cynthia Nixon, and more. It takes place April 25-28 at the AMC Sundial Theaters and other venues in downtown St. Petersburg.
Some highlights include the Martin Scorsese-produced film Tomorrow, The Parting Glass, directed by Stephen Moyer of True Blood fame, and the Jim Gaffigan comedy, You Can Choose Your Family.
The 2019 Festival will feature 128 films across a broad spectrum of genres, themes and topics including #MeToo, transgender, aging, autism, Alzheimer’s, immigration, and sex trafficking. These dramatic themes play alongside popular broad comedies, sci-fi, action and more.
For more information click to http://sunscreenfilmfestival.com
Calling all Gulfport LGBTQ Artists
LGBTQ Artists in Gulfport are invited to have their work considered for the LGBTQ Resource Center’s third annual ArtOut exhibit. Straight allies are also invited to apply if their work depicts or supports LGBTQ inclusion. Artists can submit one to three pieces in any medium.
Following a Pride March and LGBTQ Pride Flag-raising ceremony, the ArtOut exhibit will open with a reception Thursday, May 30, at the Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S. The exhibit will remain on display in the library atrium throughout LGBTQ Pride Month in June.
The deadline to commit to participate is April 30. There is no fee to enter. More information contact Beryll or Tessie at 727-503-9227 or email GulfportArtOut@gmail.com
LGBTQ student scholarship award in Gulfport
The LGBTQ Resource Center at Gulfport Public Library is proud to announce it is offering a $1,000 scholarship for the continuing education of an LGBTQ student from Gulfport. The Resource Center’s inaugural LGBTQ Scholar Award is intended to help students continue their post-graduate education, whether in college or trade school.
Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and have completed high school by June 2019. They must have a home address within the last two years in Gulfport and be currently accepted to or already attending an accredited post-secondary institution. They also must be registered for full-time attendance in the fall of 2019 in an undergraduate, graduate or trade school program.
Application packets may be picked up at the Gulfport Public Library or online at https://www.mygulfport.us/lgbtq-resources. Completed applications must be received by June 3, reference letters no later than June 10. Please direct questions to
Susan Gore, c/o LGBTQ Resource Center, Gulfport Library or at susangphd@gmail.com.
April in Paris
Love Paris in the springtime but can’t get there this year? Artlofts invites you to see la tour Eiffel et la rive gauche April 13 through 30 with a new exhibit by Susan Hess. Hess is debuting her new encaustic paintings inspired by her journey to France. You can also visit other working artists in their workspaces in Artlofts, the second floor of 10 5th St. N in St. Petersburg. Be sure to drop by during Artwalk, Saturday April 13, 5 – 9 pm.
Glass is a gas, gas, gas
The Morean Arts Center and Chihuly Collection will host three glass art exhibitions in conjunction with the 2019 Glass Art Society (GAS) Conference, which was held in March in St. Petersburg.
Exhibition dates:
- Visions in Glass: Works by Glass Art Society’s Members, Morean Arts Center, March 9 – April 26
- Explorations in Glass: Works by Glass Art Society’s Students, Morean Arts Center, March 9 – April 26
- Perspectives in Glass: A Science in Optics, Chihuly Collection, March 18 – May 31
Glass on the EDGE
Spearheaded by the EDGE Business District Association (EBDA) as part of the district’s new improvement plan, the EDGE District Gateway Marker Project came to fruition with the unveiling of the markers on Friday, March 29.
The project’s goal was the creation of iconic gateway markers that would identify the EDGE District, pay homage to its industrial heritage, reflect its vibrant present, and capture its vision for the future. With his design “On EDGE,” artist James Brenner received a $249,000 award. The design includes 10 individual sculptures made of glass and steel, two of which are larger and stand on the bookends of the district on Central Ave. at Martin Luther King, Jr. St. and on 16th St. The remaining eight sculptures stand on 1st Avenues North and South around the district’s perimeter.
The event was also part of the 2019 Glass Art Society Conference. For more about this and other EDGE District improvement projects, see http://www.edgedistrict.org/edge-master-plan.html.