By Caron Schwartz
Emergence Creative Pinellas’s eighth annual Emerging Artist Exhibition showcases the work of their 2024 Emerging Artist grant recipients: Kaitlin Crockett, Vanessa Cunto, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Fran Failla, Tyler Gillespie, Antonia Lewandowski, David McCauley, Harriet Monzon-Aguirre, Gaby Rosa and Luci Westphal. Opening reception 5/9, 6-8pm. Exhibition runs through 7/21. https://bit.ly/cp-2024-artists
Sound bites An American Stage and Creative Pinellas collaboration, FRESH INK, offers short plays once a month. Enjoy bite-size, free plays that are diverse, inclusive, inventive, and adventurous at the Gallery at Creative Pinellas. https://bit.ly/florida-fresh-ink
Glass, glass everywhere Zen Glass Studio & Gallery in St. Pete offers glassblowing workshops to create pint or wine glasses, paperweights, beads, and more. https://zenglass.com/
Kevin Daigle, resident glassblower at DMG (Duncan McClellan Gallery) hot shop, will guide you through making your own drinking glass in our on-site hot shop. https://bit.ly/cups-with-kevin
While you’re at DMG check out Bloom & Ripen, the gallery’s summer exhibition, which focuses on fruit and florals of the collection. Curated by Zuzu Bartlett, the vision was to bring an appreciation to work already in the collection by inviting a fresh perspective. On view through 10/31. www.dmglass.com/24118-2
Nights @ MAACM Studio Sips! Bring a friend or a loved one to the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement for an evening of fused glass art-making while enjoying a glass of wine. 5/10 5-7pm. https://bit.ly/studio-sips
Date night Turns out MAACM is on Healthy Framework’s list of 10 best museums in town for first dates, especially if they appreciate architecture and art. Glass museum Imagine (yet more glass!) is on the list, too. You can even book a private tour. https://bit.ly/museum-dates-st-pete
Art for all The proposed new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark and surrounding Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment will each feature $500,000 worth of city-owned, insured, and maintained public art installations. According to a new St. Pete ordinance amendment, a percentage of construction costs for municipally funded projects must benefit the Art in Public Places Fund.
I’ll drink to that Indulge in art and flavor with Kahwa Coffee’s newest Artist Coffee Canister designed by Ya L’Ford! Not only does it come filled with coffee, it showcases stunning, one-of-a-kind designs by local artists. The cans are part of a partnership with the St. Pete Arts Alliance (SPAA) and their mission to help grow the St. Pete Arts Endowment (SPAE).
Who’d a thunk? The Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood is a talented visual artist! Check out his online gallery: www.ronniewood.com
Revolutionary An eyewitness depiction of the Continental Army hung in a New York apartment for decades is now part of the Museum of the American Revolution’s collection. The museum’s curator of exhibitions Matthew Skic researched the ink, paper, handwriting, and newspaper articles to determine the artist was Pierre Eugène Du Simitière, a Swiss artist who moved to Philadelphia in 1774 and often drew scenes of the American Revolution. https://bit.ly/rev-war-sketch
And action! Film Tampa Bay received a nomination for the Emerging Location Award as part of the Global Production Awards. Other nominees include Saudi Arabia, Albania, and Lake Tahoe. The winner will be announced at the Cannes Film Festival 5/20. https://bit.ly/film-tampa-bay
Film productions continue to flock to the Tampa Bay Area. Downtown St. Pete takes center stage in the new made-for-TV movie, Roommate Regret, which was filmed almost entirely in the dynamic Downtown St. Petersburg area.
Page-turner Join Tombolo Books to celebrate local, bestselling author Kristin Harmel’s paperback release of her latest book, The Paris Daughter. Harmel will be joined by fellow local, bestselling author Sarah Penner for an evening that fans of historical novels with brilliant women at the helm will not want to miss! 5/14, 7-8pm. www.tombolobooks.com/events
Artist opportunities
Florida CraftArt wants you to showcase your creativity and vision in their upcoming exhibition, HEROES. Whether you’re captivated by legendary figures from mythology, fascinated by everyday heroes, or inspired by personal tales of resilience, you are invited to contribute your unique perspective to this dynamic exhibition. Deadline 6/7. https://bit.ly/florida-heroes-art
ACT (Arts Conservatory for Teens) is seeking teaching artists from a variety of disciplines: theater, voice, dance, music production, game coding, fashion (design and modeling), visual arts, photography, graphic design, songwriting, and audio/visual. If you are passionate about the Arts and also about ACT’s mission to educate, empower, and enrich the lives of youth, please email your resume to: darnel@artsconservatoryforteens.org
Arquetopia Foundation offers artist residency scholarships for visual artists, designers, and writers in Mexico or Peru through its Art*Aid Scholarship. Programs include specific instructional programs and self-directed residencies. Deadline: 9/2. www.arquetopia.org
Céilís anyone? Learn traditional Irish dance (aka céilí) Wednesday nights at the MAR’s new HQ at the St. Petersburg City Theatre. No experience required. https://bit.ly/mar-classes
I Love St. Pete Learn all about our beloved city during Inside St. Pete, a one-day welcome to newbies and long-timers both. Hosted by the Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. https://bit.ly/inside-st-pete-2024
Speak up, please! If you haven’t already, take the Current Arts Coast Cultural Plan survey. Help shape the future of Pinellas County’s arts and culture. https://bit.ly/coast-arts-survey
Art/history Celebrate the 10-year partnership between Pinellas County Schools and the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts. History and art are brought to life as student artwork and performances animate the evening’s festivities. 5/7, 7-9pm. Free, registration required. https://bit.ly/pcs-10th
Art/camp Your kid age 9-14 can be a Junior Docent at The Dalí Museum’s weeklong camp. They’ll discover new ways to interpret and create art, meet new friends, and have fun in the Museum. The week concludes with a reception and Junior Docent-led gallery tour showcasing each student’s voice, Dalí knowledge, and their own surrealist art. Contact sayad@thedali.org
You say it’s your birthday Brenda McMahon Gallery celebrates five years of fine art during May. Drop by the downtown Gulfport shop to check out emerging and professional local and national artists and Artist of the Month. If the place seems bigger, it’s because McMahon expanded into the space next door previously occupied by Custom House Décor. www.brendamcmahongallery.com
Got credit card? The Bank of America Museums on Us program offers Bank of America and Merrill Lynch debit and credit cardholders free admission to over 225 museums across the US on the first weekend of every month. Tampa Bay participants: Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, Tampa Museum of Art, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. https://bit.ly/boa-museums