Art News By Caron Schwartz
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL AT FMOPA
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 400 N Ashley Drive Cube 200 in Tampa, presents Sea to Shining Sea. This exhibition starts with the premise of America the Beautiful and expands to include the playfulness and eclectic beauty of this country and its people. Artists include David Freese, Clyde Butcher, Joan Gentry, Don Kirby, Benjamin Dimmitt, Bruce Davidson, Bruce Dale, Mick Briscoe, Joan Gentry, Loren Nelson, and Bud Lee. Especially now, when so much of our natural environment feels at peril, it is good to be reminded of the beauty that surrounds us, and the expressions and interpretations that accompany it. For more information: fmopa.org.
FMoPA also reminds us it’s time for its Fifth Annual Faces of Philanthropy, which coincides with the museum’s 20th anniversary as Tampa’s premier photography museum. The festivities happen from 7-10pm on Nov. 11 at The Epicurean Hotel. Guests will enjoy a cocktail hour, open bar, dinner, performances, and the presentation of awards to the FMoPA community. They look forward to welcoming you then for a beautiful evening. Purchase tickets ($150) at fmopa.org.
CELEBRATE LIFE
at “Dia de los Muertos 2” through Oct. 30 Día de los Muertos honors and celebrates deceased loved ones, so get to Atelier de SoSi for a juried exhibition of art that is full of life, contemplation, family, food, and fun. The Atelier invites you to come dressed for the occasion and enjoy face painting and traditional food, beverages, and music. The show features 70-plus pieces in glass, fiber, metal, wood, and paint on canvas. There are also 68 sugar skulls decorated by local artists and 50 smaller sugar skulls decorated by local children. The show will be on exhibit through October 30. Atelier de SoSi is located at 2380 6th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. For more information see www.atelierdesosi.com.
SHINE ON ST. PETE!
Returning for its 7th year, Oct. 15-24, the SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival will once again amaze us with a diverse collection of public art. The festival is an outdoor art exhibition founded with a seed grant from the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and produced by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance (SPAA). Local, national, and international mural artists are adding 19 new murals to the art districts of St. Pete. For artist bios, map, and full event details, visit stpeteartsalliance.org/shine-2021.
PIECED & PATTERNED: AMERICAN QUILTS C. 1880-1930
The geometric mastery of textile art grabs me like no other, so I was honored to get a sneak peek at the Museum of Fine Arts special exhibit of more than 30 extraordinary quilts. The design, materials, and craft reflect the complexity and richness of American life from the brash first decades of the republic through the trauma of the Great Depression. The colors, needlework, and overall composition of these pieces is staggeringly beautiful. On display through Jan. 23, 2022, at the MFA, 255 Beach Drive NE in St. Petersburg.
AMERICAN STAGE RETURNS!
After the longest wait in its storied history, American Stage launches its 2021–2022 season, For the Love of Theatre, with new productions chosen by Producing Artistic Director and Resident Playwright Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj. To lift everyone’s spirits The Odd Couple, featuring a multicultural cast, will be the new opening play. This Neil Simon classic explores the relationship between two friends who, despite their many differences, must find a way to live together. In the summer, American Stage will put on Dutchman, Amiri Baraka/LeRoi Jones’s classic that premiered during the height of the Civil Rights movement. For more information and to purchase tickets click to americanstage.org.
While you’re thinking about American Stage, consider subscribing. Not only do subscribers save up to 20% off on tickets, they get perks including priority seat selection, special savings on additional tickets, no-fee ticket exchange, lost ticket insurance, and more. A 3-play package, which includes all three Mainstage productions ranges from $124 to $186. A 4-play package also includes the holiday production and ranges from $119 to $245. But wait, there’s more. Check out Season Passes at americanstage.org/subscriptions.
AFTERNOON DELIGHT AT RUTH ECKERD HALL
If you love shows but hate staying up late consider Ruth Eckerd Hall’s matinee series, Adults at Leisure. Enjoy brunch, complete with adult beverages, at Upstage Dining, before the show. For information, prices, tickets (ranging from $18-$35), and brunch reservations visit www.rutheckerdhall.com.
ARTJONES OPEN STUDIO TOUR in my hometown of Gulfport celebrates its fifth anniversary Dec. 4-5 with its largest roster of fine artists to date, a growing emphasis on emerging artists, and the unveiling of a scholarship designed to welcome underrepresented voices in the arts community. The 30 artists will be spread throughout 12 working artist studios across Gulfport in an event easily navigated by driving, biking, or walking. For more information and to download a map, visit
www.artjonesstudiotour.com and social media outlets:
Facebook:
@WeAreArtJones
Instagram:
@ArtJonesGulfportFl
CASTLES MADE OF SAND (SANS JIMI HENDRIX)
All it takes is a pile of sand, some buckets of water, and lots of imagination to build a masterpiece – at least for the master sculptors who return to Treasure Island for Sanding Ovations. Enjoy their sculpting talent at Sandlantis, a Sand Sculpting Exhibition and Competition, Nov. 18-21. There’ll be plenty of room to spread out at the beach food court, beer garden, and arts and crafts marketplace. Fireworks Saturday evening at 10pm! For more information, visit sandingovationsmasterscup.com or call Treasure Island Parks & Recreation at 4575-547-727 ext. 237
MEANWHILE ELSEWHERE:
Conservation workers have embarked on a new round of work at the famous Stonehenge site in southern England. The stones have cracked and fallen over several times in modern history, according to one report. And, at the turn of the 20th century, a strong winter storm caused one of the monument’s horizontal lintels to crash to the ground.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE
There’s something special about baseball in Tampa. It started with a little boy dreaming of playing baseball. This boy, Al Lopez, became Tampa’s first major league player, manager, and Hall of Fame inductee. Now his childhood home is a new museum that welcomes fans to celebrate Tampa’s 130-plus years of baseball heritage. Tampa Baseball Museum at the Al Lopez House, 2003 N 19th St. in Tampa. For more information click to tampabaseballmuseum.org or call 813-440-2353.
As if baseball weren’t enough, there’s another new museum in our midst. The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement (MAACM) is the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to the American Arts and Crafts movement. The five-story, 137,000 square-foot museum is a work of art itself, with a grand atrium, skylights, and a dramatic spiral staircase – all adorned with period art, light fixtures, windows, fireplaces, and more. For more information see museumaacm.org.
NEW GUY IN CHARGE
The Florida Orchestra is starting its new season under the leadership of new Board Chair Gregory C. Yadley, a senior partner at the Tampa law firm Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, and a community leader, especially in the arts. A long-time patron, subscriber, and donor to the orchestra, he has long been part of TFO’s core leadership. Yadley takes the baton of board leadership from Janet Paroo, who served for four years and continues in an integral role on TFO›s board.
GET UP, STAND UP
And walk, bike, scoot, or skate to Halloween festivities on Central Avenue in St. Pete. Car-Free St. Pete, the St. Pete Downtown Partnership, and both The Edge and Grand Central District, in partnership with the city of St. Pete, are closing nearly two miles of Central Ave. to traffic on Halloween, Sunday, Oct. 31, 12-5pm, for a massive open streets event. Up and down Central Ave., between about 9th and 31st streets, families can get out and enjoy some trick-or-treating fun in the sunshine. Scooter demos, electric bus displays, roller skating, a mini-parade and more are also in the works for the event. See carfreestpete.com, grandcentraldistrict.org, and @theEDGEstpete
for updates.
HOPPER PRIZE is now accepting entries for its Fall 2021 artist grants. The grant-making institution and digital archiving platform offers individual artist grants on a bi-annual basis totaling $22,000. During this round, two artists will receive $3,500, four will receive $1,000, 30 will have their work archived on the Hopper Prize website. Selections will be featured on the @hopperprize Instagram feed and published in Insights into Contemporary Art. Apply at www.hopperprize.org.
AN IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO CREATE: FLORIDA OUTSIDER ART
The work of the Outsider artists – self-taught artists whose work has a naive quality – has made its way into fine art museums and hangs alongside more mainstream paintings and sculptures. Florida author/photographer/collector Gary Monroe has acquired nearly 1,000 pieces of Outsider art, and a good chunk of his collection will be on display at the Tampa Museum of Art from Nov. 4 through May 22, 2022. The exhibit features objects by self-taught artists from Florida›s West Coast and Central region. Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, tampamuseum.org
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY?
The St.Petersburg Arts Alliance (SPAA) is seeking a talented, passionate Volunteer Coordinator. You will help maintain an up-to-date volunteer list and recruit volunteers for events on an as-needed basis. Sadly, SPAA can’t pay you, but you’ll have these benefits:
- Special invitations to SPAA events
- A complimentary course at the Arts Business Academy
- A complimentary class to suit your interests
Are you game? Please send an email with the subject line Volunteer Coordinator to Terry at terry@stpeteartsalliance.org and include your expertise, interest, availability, and cell phone number. You may also attach your resume. No phone calls, please!