By Caron Schwartz
WOMEN’S WORK
Through Sept. 11, Women’s Work: A Survey of Female Photographers is at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete. More than any other visual medium, women have played vital and sustained roles in the making and advancement of photography. Unfortunately, this contribution has been underemphasized. The MFA photography collection is rich in examples of innovative, courageous, and talented women photographers from the earliest days of the medium to contemporary times.
Margaret Bourke-White, Self Portrait, 1931, Gelatin silver print, Gift of Ludmila and Bruce Dandrew from The Ludmila Dandrew and Chitranee Drapkin Collection
Draw like Picasso
In conjunction with the Dalí’s exhibit Picasso and the Allure of the South, you are invited to see the world through a new lens during a Picasso-themed workshop. You’ll learn to use novel art and design techniques to create a collaborative Picasso-esque portrait focusing on geometry, form, and abstraction.
- Where: The Dalí Museum Raymond James Community Room
- When: May 19, 6-7pm Cost: $10
- Instructor: Austin Ventola, author of “Geometrica.”
- More information: www.thedali.org/event/geometrica-portrait-workshop/Visit MAACM and Win!
Planning to visit the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement soon? The time has never been better! While there, fill out an entry for a chance to win an amazing prize: porcelain bibelots (worth $800-$1,000), a $100 gift certificate to the Arts Cafe, or a dual membership to the museum ($100 value). Winners will be determined by random and chosen at noon on June 4 and announced in the MAACM newsletter on June 6. MAACM, 355 4th St. N, St. Petersburg
French for “trinkets,” bibelots are whimsical porcelain figures that serve as vessels.
Graphicstudio, part of the USF College of The Arts, hosts their annual Open House and Benefit Sale. Enjoy contemporary prints including those by Los Carpinteros, Lesley Dill, Alex Katz, Mernet Larsen, Robert Mapplethorpe, Christian Marclay, Vik Muniz, Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, William Wegman, and more.
- When: Saturday, May 21 from 10am until 5pm.
- Where: 3702 Spectrum Blvd. Suite 100, Tampa.
- More info: www.bit.ly/3K0uOuw
- William Wegman, Reflection
After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Creative Clay’s spring fundraiser, Spring for the Arts, returns May 20, 6-9pm, to NOVA 535, 535 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St. N in St. Petersburg. Live music, dance, and theater performances will augment the celebratory evening. Find event details at www.bit.ly/3L29QNe. Sponsor Creative Clay here: www.bit.ly/3vuFH2s.
Getting creative with Creative Pinellas
Creative Pinellas’s We Convene series continues its six public meetings with Arts and Tourism: Leveraging our Brand and Arts and Cultural Marketing
- Co-host: Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
- When: Thursday, May 12, 8-10am
- Location: 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo
- More information: www.creativepinellas.org/event/we-convene
But is it art?
Palm Beach-based Kolter Urban’s 42-story condo, Art House, is under construction on the 200 block of Central Ave. Besides 244 two- and three-bedroom units, amenities include a resort-style pool and spa, a co-working space, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a glass-enclosed personal training and movement studio, a theater, game room, covered outdoor dog park, and a clubhouse with a bar. Starting at $800,000 a pop, we’d like to know which local artists will be calling it home.
Feel free to light up
Atelier de Sosi calls artists to apply for “LIT,” an art show all about C-O-L-O-R and L-I-G-H-T! Artists who work in neon, lights, glow paint or any illuminating materials are encouraged to submit works for this show. This vibrant show will be on exhibit during June, Pride Month in St. Pete, so artists are encouraged to use Pride as inspiration for this show. Deadline is May 20.
For more information and to apply go to www.bit.ly/3vC0cKy.
Ahh, SPAA
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance is now offering a discounted membership rate of $125 to St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce members. A SPAA membership shows you support the arts in our community and continue to grow and enhance its impact. The arts in St. Pete is an important driver of economic development, which helps our city generates over $760,000 in tourism dollars. Demonstrate your support of economic growth in St. Pete through the arts by contacting Tracy Kennard at tracy@stpeteartsalliance.org.
SPAA also named Tiffany Ford as the director of community advancement. Ford’s role will be to develop and expand collaborative programs and partnerships that embrace and advance arts in St. Pete. Ford’s first initiatives will be to enhance SPAA’s educational programming including guidance and support of Arts for a Complete Education (ACE), professional development opportunities for practicing and emerging artists, and collaborations with key partners to bring accessible summer programs to teens interested in the arts. FYI, Tiffany most recently co-founded Sunshine City Improv Theatre (SCIT), and the networking and advocacy group Women of Tampa Bay Performing Arts.
Weirder than an NFT?
An invisible artwork by Yves Klein just sold for more than $1 million at Sotheby’s in Paris. Well, sort of. On the auction block was a paper receipt for a “Zone de sensibilité picturale immatérielle,” or a “zone of empty space,” a 1959 conceptual creation by the French artist. After fees, the price for the object exceeded €1,060,000 ($1.2 million). According to Sotheby’s, the buyer was a “private European collector.”Yves Klein, Zone de sensibilité picturale immatérielle (1959). Image courtesy of Sotheby’s
Happy birthday to ya!
On May 6, 5-9pm, Join Brenda McMahon in celebrating the three-year anniversary of Brenda McMahon Gallery on Beach Blvd. in Gulfport. In 2019 Brenda represented 10 artists, today she represents 21. It’s worthy of a celebration. There’ll be dancing in the streets to the music of special guests, Gale Trippsmith & Joey Interrante.
The first rule of fight club
Discover safe yet realistic stage combat during American Stage’s Brawls & Falls: Stage Combat. This class is great for those interested in learning the fundamentals of hand-to-hand stage combat, as well as communicative skills that will keep you and your scene partners safe. May 14, 1:30pm. For more information and tickets: www.bit.ly/3L37w8B.
Then enjoy American Stage’s 2022-2023 season, which marks its 45th anniversary. The season’s theme is “This is America.” To mark the occasion, single tickets for all Mainstage performances will be just $45. For tickets and information: www.americanstage.org.
2022-2023 SEASON SELECTIONS:
- Sept. 7 – Oct. 2: “Green Day’s American Idiot”
- Nov. 2-27: “The Colored Museum”
- Jan. 3 – Feb. 5, 2023: “Crimes of the Heart”
- April 12 – May 14, 2023: “Ragtime”
- May 31 – June 25, 2023: “Disgraced”
- July 19 – Aug. 23, 2023: TBA
But wait there’s more
American Stage Summer Camp is BACK beginning June 6. From musical theatre intensives to puppetry and playwriting, there’s something for everyone this summer.
With 20 different sessions for grades K-12, we look forward to hosting this summer’s team of teaching artists who will work with your students to ignite their creative voice. Check it out at www.americanstage.org/education
MORean summer camp
Nine weeks of camp fun starts June 6 at the Morean Arts Center. Art, glass, photo, and more. Learn more and sign up at www.moreanartscenter.org/camp/summercamp/
Our Sunshine City is getting its first-ever anime convention, aptly titled “Anime St. Pete.” The two-day celebration, Sept. 17-18 at the Coliseum will honor anime and the cosplay it inspires. Until now, St. Pete has been the only major Florida city to not have an anime convention. More info: www.animestpete.floridacomiccons.com/tickets.
Tampa City Ballet Carmen 2022, a new production presented by Tampa City Ballet, will shimmer with dance, passion, and storytelling on June 4 and 5 at the Jaeb Theater in the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa.