Spotlights

Meet the Dream Team Behind the Runway

The Tampa Museum of Art will transform into an energetic runway filled with fashions by internationally renowned designer Bibhu Mohapatra for CITY: Fashion + Art + Culture. This event’s vision would not be possible without the tireless efforts of event co-chairs Enrique Crespo and Allison Beard Luzier. For this event, Enrique and Allison are creating a first-of-its-kind evening for TMA combining in-person and virtual components to allow all guests to enjoy a fun evening of fashion, art, and culture.

Enrique Crespo, a Principal Interior Designer at the Crespo Design Group currently serves on the Tampa Museum of Art’s Board of Trustees. Unconventional ideas and distinctive style are what define Enrique as one of the top interior design professionals in the area. “Art education programs should be accessible to all members of our community, and I am particularly excited to be able to bring art and design together to help raise funds for this purpose,” said Crespo.

Allison Beard Luzier, a Senior Vice President at Bank of America, grew up attending the Tampa Museum of Art — her parents were early and continuous supports of TMA’s programming. A TMA Board of Trustees alumna herself, Allison avidly supports local charities and philanthropic projects, and has served on numerous boards and committees around the bay.

Since 2004, The Junior League of Tampa (JLT) has put more than $2 million back into the community through its annual Holiday Gift Market (HGM). The HGM Committee was tasked with reimagining the traditionally week-long November event in the face of the global pandemic.

“This is The Junior League of Tampa’s largest fundraiser for our community projects and programs,” said Laura Walsh, HGM 2020 Co-Chair. “With COVID-19, we’ve seen a huge increase in requests for diapers, food and other resources.”

This year, HGM is going virtual and is a month-long shop-

Enrique Crespo, Bibhu Mohapatra, Allison Beard Luzier

“I’m so happy to bring Bibhu to Tampa as a way to help the Museum raise funds in support of wonderful programs that inspire children and families, the same way these programs inspire my family and me,” said Luzier.

CITY: Fashion + Art + Culture Saturday, January 9, 2021 Featuring designer Bibhu Mohapatra

Shop for a Cause at The Junior League of Tampa’s Holiday Gift Market

www.TampaMuseum.org/CITY ping event. Shop anytime, anywhere, from your desktop or mobile device. Tickets are on sale now for the virtual HGM Online Marketplace Early Access Week for $8. Early Access Week is November 14 - 20. You can shop through December 13.

HGM will include both ticketed private events as well public events open to all. Virtual events will include merchant shop videos, Zoom with Santa, Corks for a Cause wine tastings, cooking events, and more.

Learn more and purchase tickets at www.holidaygiftmarket.org.

Plein Air Artists Help Preserve Historic Charm of Indian Rocks Beach

The award winning artists Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Chandler and Helen Tilston are now the feature of two documentaries that have shed light on preserving the charm and character of the iconic cottages in Indian Rocks Beach (IRB). ”Saving Paradise: Artists with a Cause” is the vision of Emmy Award documentary film makers, Lynn Marvin Dingfelder and Larry Wiezycki filmed over a period of one year at Indian Rocks Beach and also Provence, France which is the birthplace of Impressionism. This documentary received “People’s

Uncertainty and fear have been fueled during the pandemic, and much of that brought on by our addiction to social media. One local company, The Paper Seahorse, has been helping to solve the digital dilemma with creative classes, speciality stationery and curated kits to

Helen Tilston, Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Chandler

Choice Award” at Tampa Film Festival in 2019 and recently at the St. Petersburg’s 2020 Sunscreen Film Festival, the film was was awarded “Best Florida Film.” “It is so rewarding to have a good news story to share during these difficult times, we are beyond enthused,” said Helen Tilston.

The documentary tells how Holmes, Chandler and Tilston through painting, and bringing notoriety to the endangered cottages at IRB, saved many from the wrecker’s ball. “The artists untiring efforts, and all in a peaceful fashion, have made the community of Indian Rocks Beach Tona Bell – owner of The Paper Seahorse calm ourselves, build resiliency and get more creative.

“Now more than ever people need to embrace mindfulness and reduce chaos,” said Tona Bell, owner of The Paper Seahorse. “Analog tools to help people get unplugged and live a bit more fall in love with their neighborhood again,” said the Mayor of IRB.

The second documentary called “Canvas with a Cause” is the brainchild of Roxanne Mannello and PBS, and has aired on WEDU/PBS.

“We have our French easels, canvases, umbrellas and straw hats at the ready, and are taking to the streets to do what we do best, paint en plein air,” adds Tilston.

For more information, visit www.helentilstonpainter.blogspot.com and

Mindfulness Does Come in a Box

www.saveourcottagesdoc.org. serenely are our main focus.”

From curated kits from a collection called Ways to Wellness to online workshops such as Watercolor Journaling and Introduction to Brush Lettering, The Paper Seahorse is providing tools to navigate during these times. The workshops are currently offered online and can be done at your own pace, in the comfort of your home with access to the class always, with an online community and access to the instructors. Quarterly Zoom sessions with the teachers are available at no extra cost.

For more information, call 813.251.8096, visit www.paperseahorse.com or email hello@paperseahorse.com.