In just five short years THE JAMES MUSEUM has transformed from a hidden gem to an anchor of the St. Petersburg arts community.
When the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art opened in April 2018, it became one of the most accoladed additions to St. Pete’s thriving arts community. Celebrating five years is a major milestone, with more to come. To date, 200,000+ visitors have enjoyed this world-class museum. The James Museum provides experiences that inspire human connection and transformation through art depicting the peoples, landscapes, and history of the American West, and wildlife of the world. Currently on special exhibit is Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art, sure to be a family favorite.
From extraordinary sculptures that seem poised to buck and ride to blockbuster artist exhibits (Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams, Clyde Butcher, Edward S. Curtis), The James Museum’s collections are robust. More than 400 premiere works of art including sculpture, paintings and jewelry are on display in the museum’s 26,000 square feet of gallery space with a strong emphasis on recent works by living Native American artists from the Southwest. The collection includes early 20th century works by Western art pioneers who have influenced more recent generations of artists. Additionally, visitors will find a gallery featuring depictions of wildlife from around the world. Interpretations by Native American, Euro-American, Chinese American, and other artists bring a variety of perspectives and visual storytelling to the galleries.
Just this year, new Executive Director Robin Nicholson picked up the reigns from Executive Director Laura Hine to create the next chapter, assisted by curator Emily Kapes, Education Director Julie Matus, Development Director Debbie Sokolov, Marketing Director Stephanie Adamo, and PR Director Ryan Kasley.
Nicholson attributes their success to the visitors, members, donors and community partners. “We could not have made it without them. These five years have offered a platform for the future. My goal is to position the museum for long term growth and sustainability: build our resources (financial and human); expand our collections and our unique role in interpreting the complex narratives of the West in the American imagination; and act as a laboratory for experimentation as museums across the country ask the fundamental question ‘what is a museum for?’”
HISTORY The museum officially opened to the public on April 28, 2018, and kicked off its first special exhibition, Society of Animal Artists: Art and the Animal, that July. In September 2019, long time Executive Director, Laura Hine, who stepped down
in May, took the helm and implemented a growth strategy that brought the museum to new heights. Despite getting off to a strong start, in March of 2020 the museum closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pivoted to reaching would-be visitors at home with a new digital-first approach. When they reopened later that summer, staff redoubled their efforts to draw people back in with a full slate of youth and family activities and robust programming.
BLOCKBUSTER EXHIBITS A key to the growth strategy was the inclusion of blockbuster special exhibitions with big-name recognition. In October 2021, The James opened with art superstar Andy Warhol’s lesser-known works chronicling his fascination with the American West. The show supplied a heavy dose of Americana-tinged nostalgia that drew huge crowds to see Warhol’s signature pop-art motifs. Following the Warhol show, The James created a special dual exhibition, Ansel Adams: The Masterworks and Clyde Butcher: America the Beautiful, which paired the two landscape photography legends next to each other in a side-by-side exhibition. Butcher’s strong following in Florida helped set an attendance record for a special exhibition.
UPCOMING EXHIBITS The James is organizing a groundbreaking special exhibition called From Far East To West: The Chinese American Frontier which tells the stories of Chinese immigrants who crossed the Pacific to California in the mid 1880’s through paintings and artifacts. Contemporary Chinese American artists will present historical interpretations that speak to culture, identity, and resilience 10/13- 1/28/2024. The James will welcome Survival of the Fittest: Envisioning Wildlife and Wilderness with The Big Four, featuring masterworks from the Rijksmuseum Twenthe and the National Museum of Wildlife Art 2/17-5/26/2024.
EDUCATION & EVENTS The museum engages the community through programs and educational opportunities, for all ages, that bring their history to life and amplify voices that are not often at the forefront of mainstream Western art. You can even book a private tour with a docent. Sign up for an event and plan to spend the day. Enjoy a coffee and light snack in The Canyon Café and browse the eclectic gift shop for jewelry, books, art, apparel, and Western items. Hosting film, music, author talks, book clubs, drawing and youth programs, it’s a community playground that educates and illuminates the expansiveness of Western arts and culture. Hours are extended till 8pm for the popular $10 Tuesday with live entertainment once a month. The James even has a 129-seat auditorium where you can watch a film or hear an author talk.
The James Museum will debut Art in Mind, a special program developed with USF, for people with dementia-related diseases like Alzheimer’s later this year. It’s part of The Arts Coast’s growing trend of using art for therapy and healing, as we see museums hosting pet therapy and yoga as well as parties and fundraisers in their gorgeous event spaces.
JOIN THE JAMES Become a member, support their fun fundraisers, or make a donation which gives back to the community projects. For example, The Art for All fund provides free educational opportunities for adults and children receiving food assistance, including providing bus transportation for Tier 1 schools to visit the museum.
MUSEUM EVENTS Films, classes, concerts, and live bands. Check the website for details/prices/registration. Some events members-only or adult only. thejamesmuseum.org/events
- 8/4 @ 10:30am James Playdate: Wildlife Adventure
- 8/10 @ 11am Coffee with the Curator
- 8/12 @ 10:30am Family Day: Art That Pops
- 8/15 @ 5:30pm Wine & Design: Colorful Pet Portraits
- 8/17 @ 11am Book Tale: Cat Club by Craig Pittman
- 8/19 @ 11am-3pm Menagerie at the Museum: Animals • Art • Adventure: This family-friendly indoor event features real owls, hawks, kestrels, eagles, snakes, alligators, lemurs, skunks, miniature horses and more from Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Friends of Boyd Hill, Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures, Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, SPCA Tampa Bay and SPPD Mounted Unit.
- 8/22 @ 5:30-7:30pm Live Music: Hot Tonic Every Tuesday, the museum is open late until 8pm and admission is only $10. One Tuesday a month guests can enjoy live music.
- 8/26 @ 2pm Author Talk: Jack E. Davis, Ph.D., Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird.”
- 9/9 @ 10:30 Family Day ages 3-10; reservations required. Story time, kid-friendly tour and artmaking workshop.
- 9/19 @ 4pm Live Music Passarine
- 9/19 @ 4pm Just for Teachers, free with school ID. Come for an evening of perks including free admission, light refreshments, a cash bar, giveaways, and live music by Passarine. Meet Museum educators and docents and explore our K-12 school tour options.