The Florida Orchestra(TFO) announces new season 2018-19
Even more exciting than the 50th anniversary year programming, this season aims to be the most wide-ranging yet. Starting in the fall, Music Director Michael Francis states, “It’s our first chance to show where we’re going as an orchestra in our new era,” he said.
Tampa Bay Times Masterworks concerts:
A Child of Our Time (Nov. 9-11)
TFO will perform Michael Tippett’s oratorio, featuring The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay for the first time.
Tippett, a pacifist, was inspired by Kristallnacht when he composed the oratorio, so it was a natural choice to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the “Night of Broken Glass” in partnership with the Florida Holocaust Museum. “It’s extraordinary as a dramatic, powerful, brand-new piece for the audience to hear,” said Francis “but it’s also very accessible, beautiful and memorable.”
The Planets (Feb. 15-17, 2019)
Holst’s The Planets, includes a hidden gem: music as a living art form. Francis and his wife, Cindy, are sponsoring a new work by University of South Florida Associate Professor Baljinder Sekhon.. This goes along with his mission to explore the Masterworks in a new light and discover new music. “We are a vibrant orchestra for the 21st century,” Francis said. “It’s important that we stay absolutely fresh and treat music as a living art.” Right now, he is focused on commissioning only Florida talent.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Feb. 22-24, 2019)
Everybody can hum Mendelssohn’s famous “Wedding March” from this work, but the orchestra will go all out to perform a complete and enhanced version based on William Shakespeare’s play allowing TFOto collaborate with local organizations. The plan is to have singers and actors join the orchestra because music can unite a community. “This is a great opportunity for local arts organizations to celebrate each other and the Tampa Bay community,” Francis said.
Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 (March 29-31, 2019)
Benjamin Grosvenor, “..one of the great talents of our time” said Francis. He’s now playing with all the major orchestras — and he’s coming to play with us.” The orchestra will perform the beautiful, 25-minute piece mostly in the dark with the words from Transfigured Night, based on the poem by Richard Dehmel on screen, synched to the music. “It will be deeply atmospheric and powerful,” said Francis.
The two percussion pieces on this program: Steve Reich’s Music for Pieces of Wood and Andrew Norman’s Switch, feature pioneering classical percussionist Colin Currie.
“Summer Fun” by Creative Clay at Artlofts
Artlofts is proud to offer a free exhibit of 2D and 3D works by Creative Clay artists. You can interact with 18 artists in their working studios and learn the techniques behind their art. From Saturday June 9 through June 30. They will also be on exhibit at Artwalk, Saturday June 9th 5:00pm-9:00pm. Artlofts Gallery, 10 Fifth St. N. (2nd Floor) above Florida CraftArt. St. Petersburg. For more information call Rebecca at 727-449-5146.
Suntan Art Center Offers Summer Art Camps
Summer art camp gives our young artists the chance to submerse themselves in art. They will explore painting, drawing, sculpture and art history to develop and enhance their confidence in their creativity and develop their own voice.
Four Sessions:
- Session 1 June 11-15 – “Nature’s Wonders”
- Session 2 June 18-22: – “Explorations in Paint”
- Session 3 June 25-29 – “Art Around the World”
- Session 4 July 9-13 – “Printmaking: the Art of Ink”
Art Instructor: Linda Griffin (727)-422-7229 or griffinlm19@gmail.com .
St. Petersburg Arts Alliance to Present Arts Business Academy
A six-week program of professional development training sessions, providing artists and personnel of arts organizations the skills and confidence to meet business challenges. Session Topics will include:
Defining Your Self as a Creative Busines, Developing Your Brand, Media and Promotion, Social Media and Marketing,
Simple steps to Protect your Creative Expression and Consequences for Failure to Do So and Practical Business Tools and Raising Funds.
The classes will help fine artists, musicians, writers and non-profit administrators prepare for careers in the arts and arts organizations.
“The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance is committed to professional arts education to support the growing numbers of artist entrepreneurs who drive our creative economy,” says John Collins, Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance will Collins. “We have very supportive arts community professionals who are willing to help so that all succeed.” Participants receive a Certificate of Completion from the Kate Tiedemann College of Business at USF St. Petersburg.
Visit https://gh.stpetegreenhouse.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=10380143 or call (727) 893-7146 to register
Monday evening classes start June 4 – 6 pm at The Greenhouse, 440 2nd Ave N. St. Petersburg 33701. Registration for the series is $100. Free parking provided in City parking lot across the street.
Morean events Pride Pop Up – June 20-29, 2018
In conjunction with St. Pete Pride Week 2018, the Morean Arts Center will host a pop up show in the gallery store. Join us as we celebrate the LGBTQ community through art.
One Hundred: 2018 Members Show – July 14-September 28,2018
2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Morean’s annual members show! To celebrate our 100th exhibition, we have asked each member to bring a work of art that expresses the theme of “one hundred”—interpreted any way they choose. Pictured: Rose Marie Prins
Danee Kinzel: Enter Here – July 14- September 28,2018
The Best of Show award winner from the 2017 members exhibition receives a solo show in a Morean gallery to coincide with the current member showcase. Danee Kinzel’s luminous pastel paintings draw the viewer into a world of salt marshes, sand dunes, and sentinel palm trees.
Meet Clyde Butcher at Dali Museum – June 30th • September 29nd • November 3rd
Nearly two years ago, The Dalí Museum sought out Butcher to use his talents to capture a body of images of Dalí’s Mediterranean home, featuring some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes. Butcher The thoughtfully curated collection will feature 41 photos that take viewers on a journey through the Catalonian region.
Butcher captured the sublime beauty of Dalí’s Mediterranean world in exquisite detail, providing a portal between their two worlds for our guests to explore.” https://clydebutcher.com/events/
OPA Palooza
Historic Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks will be the site on June 8, 9, and 10, 2018 to celebrate Greek heritage and culture at the family-friendly Opa! Palooza Greek Festival. The event, hosted by the Tarpon Springs Merchant’s Association, will feature Greek-style live music, dancing, seminars, workshops, food, pastries, spirits, a kids play area with games, and much more.
June 8-10, 2018; Friday, 12 pm- 10 pm. Saturday, 10 am- 10 pm & Sunday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. For general event information, follow us on Facebook/Opa Palooza, visit SIKtampabay.com or call 727-322-5217.
2018 Artist’ Grant Awards
Individual Artist Grant Program offers financialassistance to resident artists for projects that support public engagement.
Arnie Arluke, photographer of roller derby skaters—photographers Deadly Rival Roller Derby dressed in skating attire while posed in St. Petersburg locations. He hopes to exhibit approximately 21 photographs at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and the Slayground.
Bob Barancik is an award-winning painter, print maker, and video producer. He is also a docent at the Florida Holocaust Museum. his artnothate.com website. Bob has over 150 paintings, prints, and handmade artist books in the FHM’s permanent collection.
Dewey Davis-Thompson will present a staged reading of the new musical set in the 1920s St. Petersburg. Sunshine City, written in collaboration with award-winning composer Tom Sivak is Free and open to the public
Donald Gialanella, using Atmospheric Air Pressure Implosion, will create a series of tests to determine the optimal amount of heating, steel gauge, and degree of deformation needed to construct an air- pressure formed sculpture. The final sculpture will be imploded as a demonstration “event” in St Petersburg, at a venue to be determined.
Katherine Gibson created Drive-by Window, a new and innovative gallery concept. Selected Artists will feature their work at 1980 Central Avenue while building their respective exhibit resume.
Nicole Desirée Hays is a fine art body painter. St. Petersburg’s “Art of Body Experience” is a coffee table book showcasing Nicole work interpreting the photography of Michael Sheehan.
Kenny Jensen is a multidisciplinary conceptual artist with a deep interest in Florida’s unique natural environment. He will be producing a pop-up exhibition in mid-July at Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails in partnership with collector Christopher Eaton, local conceptual painter Jon Seals, and local singer songwriter Adam Randall.
Akiko Kotani will present Views of the Bosphorus, a series of 5 panels, 40” wide by 20” high that are stitched with bamboo threads on paper.She will exhibit her works at the Leslie Curran Gallery in a two-person show in September, 2018.
Paula Kramer will produce Take A Chance Dance, a Choreo/Theater project that includes new works created by Literature and Performing Artists, Bob Devin-Jones, Fanni Green and Maureen McDole from three different perspectives. Each artist will perform his/her work in individual showings at selected sites.
Mikhail Mansion will start a new media arts community in St. Petersburg that is focused on using computer code as a medium and tool deriving new forms of expression. For this project, he will use Meetup.com and other social media websites to define, to initiate and advertise this group. Using Nature is a strong source of artistic inspiration.
David Manson is a jazz music composer, producer and trombonist. A free concert open to the public in St. Petersburg in August of 2018 will feature his original new compositions, performed by the Brazilian jazz sextet, O Som Do Jazz. accentuates an international aspect to our city, with Brazilian-influenced music.
Veronica Leone Matthews founded the St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival in 2015. She will collaborate with Studio@620 with two readings during workshop adaptations, culminating in a fully staged play in Williams Park in fall 2018. The project provides opportunities for students and the community to experience Shakespeare’s works.
Desiree Moore is a multidisciplinary artist with an active collaborative practice. She will transform Barter Boat, a large public art project by Radar Art, into a mobile version. The Barter Bike will allow spontaneous interactions in Downtown St. Petersburg that beckon people to trade for “treasure” in the Barter Bike Cargo. All trades are cycled into new hand-held items for the next willing participant.
Rose Marie Prins, PhD will offer workshops at the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, the St Petersburg Museum of History, and Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center.
These workshops include three generations of St. Petersburg residents in the creation of autobiographical altered books. The goal is to present, interpret and preserve St Petersburg’s history and engage a broad and diverse audience through these activities.
Andee Scott will create a non-traditional, site-specific dance residency/performance project for five female choreographers. This project seeks to contextualize dance as public art, providing audiences opportunities to encounter dance in their everyday lives, with both the rehearsal/creation process and the performance occurring during regular business hours, free and open to the public. https://stpeteartsalliance.org
Please email news and opportunities to Sheila@stpeteartsalliance.org
GeckoFest 18th Anniversary!
Saturday, September 1, 2018 10 am-10:00 pm
3101 Beach Blvd. So., Gulfport, Florida 33707
GeckoFest offers a fun-filled opportunity to explore quirky Gulfport, a wonderful slice of “Old Florida,” on one of its most colorful days of the year. This year’s theme is GeckoCon featuring heroes, villains, cult characters, imaginary locations and more from comics, books, movies, tv shows, animé and other media in the pop culture world of Comic Con conventions around the world.
Gecko Fest features live music on two stages, hundreds of food, art and craft vendors, kids’ activities, and lively street performances.
GeckoFest is celebrated along Beach and Shore Boulevards in the heart of Gulfport. A portion of proceeds from all Gecko events benefits local charities each year.
For more information on GeckoFest directions and parking go to our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/GeckoFest