Art News By Caron Schwartz
GRANTS, GRANTS, GRANTS
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, is delighted to announce the winners of the sixth annual Artist Grant Program established in 2015. The 20 $1,000 grants are intended to provide financial assistance to St. Petersburg artists for projects that support public engagement of their work in visual arts, dance, music, digital arts, and theater. This year’s grant recipients include:
A. J. Vaughan, co-owner of The Curiositorium, will produce Variety Arts Video Shorts.
Bonnie Agan, who will star in a full production of “Ann,” a one-woman show about former Texas governor, Ann Richards.
Catherine Weaver of Uniquely Original Art Studio will work with emerging young artists on “Surviving Together.”
Daniel Barojas, who will create a public mural with an integrated structure for a free community herb garden.
David Manson will film a video and present his 60-minute original compositions of Brazilian jazz performed by O Som Do Jazz, his Brazilian jazz sextet.
Jim Swallow is creating 3-D photographic images of 20 local artists working in their studios.
John Gascot will present “Americanos” as a solo exhibit of his work celebrating Latinx culture.
Julia Collver will share her painting process on social media platforms using video and images.
Margaret Juul is creating a new body of work for inclusion in the Florida Artists Group (FLAG) show
Aurailieus (Mark Stevens) will introduce The Bob Project 2.0, with a mission of scattering Bob the Robot art murals in the greater St. Petersburg area.
Mitzi Gordon is creating a limitededition chapbook that shares the journey of the Bluebird Books Bus, a social art project she founded in 2011.
Nikki Devereux, who reduces her carbon footprint by reusing paper from magazines, newspapers, books, and other discarded or recycled material, will mount a solo exhibition at the St. Pete First Art Collective Gilbert Chapel Gallery.
Rachel Stewart will develop a printmaking series of 10-15 works using new techniques.
Sara Norine will present “Greeting from Home; the St. Pete Postcard Project.”
Saumitra Chandratreya, an abstract fiber artist, is collaborating with poet Kevin Mooney to look at thecharacteristics of relationships in various stages through two distinct art forms.
Sheila Cowley, a playwright, will collaborate with choreographer Paula Kramer and an ensemble of 11 artists to present a performance piece called Three Actors, Three Dancers, Three Visual Artists and One Piano Player.
Shelby Dillon plans to create a safe place for creative individuals to learn.
Tess Oldfield will create a large-scale immersive lighting installation in St. Petersburg during a Second Saturday ArtWalk.
Tom Sivak will present Act II of Love v Death, a chamber opera focusing on two historical characters, Carl von Cosel and Mary Mallon.
William Leavengood and composer Constantine Grame will present GASPARILLA: THE MUSICAL in a workshop of reading/singing of the musical at the Palladium’s Hough Hall.
Asolo Repertory Theatre has been awarded an additional $70,000 Arts Appreciation Grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant is intended to help the theatre fulfill its mission during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 19, following the guidelines of public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Asolo Rep leadership suspended the remainder of its 2019-2020 season. More than 100 performances were canceled, including productions of The Great Leap, Hood, and Snow White, and the world premiere of the musical Knoxville from Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Frank Galati. Hood and Knoxville will now be presented during the 2020-2021 season.
Asolo Rep ticket holders are encouraged to convert the price of their tickets to a full, tax-deductibldonation to Asolo Rep. For more information see asolorep.org.
While you’re waiting for its return, the historic Sarasota-based theater company offers plenty of ways to stay in touch through Asolo Rep Engage, an online education, dramaturgy, and engagement platform that invites the community into our creative process, celebrates the art of theatre and all the people who create it. Click to asolorep.org/engage-learn/asolo-rep-engage to find out more.
Applications are being accepted for the Gulfport Merchants Chamber’s “Rise and Shine” Artist Grants. The purpose of the grants is to support the creative community within Gulfport and the surrounding area and to promote Gulfport as an art destination. The grants include funding, marketing/advertising support, and exhibition space. To be eligible to apply for one of the two grants applicants must be 18 years of age or older and live in Pinellas County. Current Gulfport residents will be given preferential treatment. Complete applications must be received by July 15.
The grants are not cash. Two grants will be issued with a value of $1,000 each and include:
- $500 to be used exclusively for displays, materials, and supplies
- $200 in five booth reservations at Gulfport Third Saturday Night Market with direct professional, social media marketing support Jury exemption and half-price booth for the Gulfport Fine Arts Festival (value of $160 plus ) plus festival signage and social media marketing.
- Four “Business of Art” consultations with a professional artist One-year membership as “Art Works Here” GMC Artist member. $100 after completing all seven events and the Post Grant Report.
For more information and to apply see visitgulfportflorida.com/grants and scroll to the bottom of the page, or email artistgrant@VisitGulfportFlorida.com.
To provide relief to small businesses impacted by COVID‐19 and to ensure the resiliency of local businesses and assist in job retention, the city of Gulfport has established the Gulfport Gateway Grant Program for eligible small businesses. Grants will be awarded to eligible, qualified small businesses.
Grants are $500 or $1,000 depending on the size of the business. Rather than hand out checks, the city will provide applicants a grant in the form of a credit on their utility bill. Funding will be available until September 30 or until the $50,000 from the unrestricted general fund has been exhausted. For more information see mygulfport.us/gatewaygrant.
My way or the Skyway
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the collaborative exhibition between four regional arts institutions, Skyway 20/21: A Contemporary Collaboration (skywaytampabay.com), has been rescheduled for 2021. The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Tampa Museum of Art, and USF Contemporary Art Museum collectively decided postponing would provide ample time to prepare and present. Exhibition dates for each venue will be announced later.
Here are the 48 artists, their place of residence and the art institutions where their work(s) will be presented:
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
- Robert Aiosa – Hillsborough
- Ibrahim Bassmi – Pinellas
- Dolores Coe – Hillsborough
- Keith Crowley – Sarasota
- Becky Flanders – Hillsborough
- Dakota Gearhart – Pinellas
- Morgan Janssen – Sarasota
- Ezra Johnson – Hillsborough
- Karl Kelly – Hillsborough
- Savannah Magnolia – Hillsborough
- Jon Notwick – Hillsborough
- Gabriel Ramos – Pinellas
- Lynne Railsback – Sarasota
- Matthew Wicks – Hillsborough
- Janelle Young – Hillsborough
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
- Carrie Boucher – Pinellas
- Ya La’Ford – Hillsborough
- Kalup Linzy – Hillsborough
- Noelle Mason – Hillsborough
- OK! Transmit – Pinellas
Eric Ondina – Hillsborough - Heather Rosenbach – Hillsborough
- Jake Troyli – Pinellas
Tampa Museum of Art
- Jaime Alaventhura – Hillsborough
- Kim Anderson – Sarasota
- Wendy Babcox – Hillsborough
- Janet Folsom – Pinellas
- Samson Huang – Hillsborough
- Jason Lazarus – Hillsborough
- Kirk Ke Wang – Hillsborough
- Cassia Kite – Sarasota
- Jenn Miller – Hillsborough
- Sarah O’Donoghue – Sarasota
- Herion Park – Sarasota
- Anat Pollack – Hillsborough
- Libbi Ponce – Hillsborough
- Selina Roman – Hillsborough
- John Sims – Sarasota
- Mike Solomon – Sarasota
- Jill Taffett – Sarasota
USF Contemporary Art Museum
- Rosemarie Chiarlone – Hillsborough
- Danny Dobrow – Pinellas
- Babette Herschberger – Pinellas
- Akiko Kotani – Pinellas
- Cynthia Mason – Pinellas
- Ry McCollough – Hillsborough
- Casey McDonough – Pinellas
- Kodi Thompson – Pinellas
Fingers crossed for this hurricane season
This year’s hurricane season marks 99 years since Pinellas County experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane. The Tampa Bay hurricane of 1921 (storms weren’t named until 1950) made landfall just north of St. Petersburg and caused major flood damage in the county, including downtown St. Pete. Piers were destroyed, roofs torn off, and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club filled with water. Although it looked like the
yacht club was a goner, once it dried out the city used the building as a recovery headquarters just days after the storm. The yacht club’s traditional Halloween dance took place, marking the beginning of the “dancing season” in St. Pete.
First, the bad news
The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Without visitors and events that provide the bulk of its revenue, however, some changes are afoot. The museum furloughed its 12 part-time staff members in mid-April. And the MFA store, which has operated at a loss for several years, will remain closed for at least the remainder of the year, even when the museum reopens. While The MFA Store will continue to fulfill online sales through this transition, unfortunately the two full-time positions at the physical store will be eliminated.
Then the good news
Ever wonder where to buy from local artists? Recently, the Arts Council of Hillsborough County asked these artists to share with us how to buy, and you can see the results at tampaarts.org/shop-small-heres-where-to-buy-local-art. Throughout coronavirus closures, our local arts businesses have struggled. So remember to shop small and buy from local businesses if you can, including art!
The Duncan McClellan Gallery is celebrating 10 years in business by offering a way to make acquiring artwork even more accessible and affordable. It’s partnered with Art Money (artmoney.com/us), a global art financial technology company that enables buyers to enjoy art purchases immediately, with interest-free payments spaced out over 10 months. Partner galleries, like DMG, provide a commission to Art Money, up to 10%, enabling the no-interest business model. In return, they are paid immediately, the artist gets paid, Art Money takes the repayment risk, and you take your art home to enjoy now while paying over time. A win-win, supporting artists, galleries, and a sustainable creative economy. Browse for your next acquisition at dmglass.com/gallery-store.
Contemporary craft at its finest 2020
Florida CraftArt is proud to announce the winners of the members’ show.
Winners include:
- Best in Show: Suzy Pease
- First Place: Al Bibbero
- Second Place: Susan Gott
- Third Place: Monica Lara
- Honorable Mentions: Judy Flescher, Leeann Kroetch, Melissa Menzer, Emilie Pritchard
Florida CraftArt call to artists
Submissions are wanted for Artists asActivists, an exhibit that speaks on the state of the world and calls for action. Artists are often the harbingers of community problems, the ones to sound the alarm of danger to our democracy or bring a crucial awareness to a social issue. This exhibit will feature artists who create socially engaged art and inspire dialogue within the community.
Artists currently working in fine craft (ceramics, fiber, jewelry, metal, mixed-media, sculpture, wood) disciplines who are incorporating current social justice themes into their work, from climate change to elder care, are invited to explore, discover, and create works that may challenge the status quo, prompt conversations, and effect change from old narratives. Content, context, mastery of craft, best use of media, as well as definitions and interpretations of “political vs. social justice” art will be brought forth for the artist and viewer alike.
Featuring work by artists from around America, this exhibition will highlight current Florida and national issues, trends, and innovations that impact our society. Florida CraftArt invites emerging, mid-career, and established artists to submit recent original work.
The deadline for the Sept. 11 – October 24 show, curated by Rolando Chang Barrero, is June 30.
The Warehouse Art District Association wants you as a Business Member!
For $150/year, local businesses can show their support of the art community and receive benefits including:
- WADA website listing as a Business Member with a link to your website.
- Social media promotion of your events and specials
- Host mixers or other WADA events
- Professional education provided by WADA
- Invitations to all WADA events
- Rent the ArtsXchange gallery or classroom at a discount
- WADA window cling
- Use of the Burka Member Lounge
- Learn more and enroll here: warehouseartsdistrictstpete.org/join-us.