Art News

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 727-547-4575 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 longtime 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.

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!

Paintings - Ceramics - Glass - Jewelry - Fiber

[gallery open Sunday-Tuesday 11-4, Thursday-Saturday 11-7]

Hot Tonic

October revs up with the Clearwater Jazz Holiday at BayCare Ballpark, featuring Kool & The Gang, Gloria Gaynor, Snarky Puppy, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and local fave Gloria West & The Gents 10/14-10/17. ClearwaterJazz.com Search Facebook events for live music all over town.

HOT TONIC Described as Postmodern Jukebox meets Amy Winehouse, HOT TONIC orchestra fuses jazz with Latin rhythms, funk, and soul, tied together by original arrangements. Co-led by vocalist/bassist Victoria Woods and guitarist Josh Hindmarsh, the band mixes horns and a dynamic rhythm section, performing throughout the USA and abroad in Australia and New Zealand. Delivering their high energy music to festivals, clubs and engagements around the world, HOT TONIC ORCHESTRA is a unique experience not to be missed! You can find them most Mondays at The Hangar (DTSP) @ 7 pm, Tuesdays at The North End Taphouse, Sundays at Gulfport Tiki House and some Wednesdays at Floridian Social Club.

CAMILLE TRUST, SINGER/

SONGWRITER In late September, Tampa native and celebrated singersongwriter Camille Trust released her debut full-length album, “ NY to FL,” and performed Sept. 24 at Floridian Social Club. The album is available on all streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. During the pandemic, Camille lived at home with her family, pivoting to find new ways to create her music. The songs on this album were written and produced over Zoom with her NYC producers. While home in Florida, she assembled a large local creative team – including director, photographer, wardrobe designer, hair & makeup artists – to produce music videos for this project. Her music video “Florida” features the lush landscapes of Odessa, St. Petersburg and Lutz, where she grew up.

Trust says that this album is “a narrative of the times leaving a city I loved to move back home to a place I left many years ago. I am excited to share my story of transition, love and acceptance when the world was turned upside down.”

To know Camille is to love her soul-baring, unapologetic music. The NYC-based singer/ songwriter released her debut EP “No Other Way” in May 2018 and has quickly established herself as a strong female force in the music scene, garnering praise from the likes of Billboard, Nylon, DuJour, Popdust. Camille is also a proud member of the Resistance Revival Chorus, performing and recording alongside Jim James, Kesha, Carly Simon, Phillip Glass, Ani Difranco, and receiving recognition from eminent artists like Shawn Mendes. As of recently, she has done backup vocals for Mendes and Nathaniel Rateliff on Saturday Night Live as well as the MTV Video Music Awards. With an intoxicating blend of 60’s Soul, 70’s fun, and contemporary Pop, Camille has a sound that is both nostalgic and avant-garde.

THE BLUES ARE BACK

Mark your calendars for the Mushroom Brotherhood 2021 tour 10/1 @Palladium, 10/8 @ Ramon, Frostproof, 10/9 @ Lyric, Stuart. The Kenny Neal Band gets down with a memorial concert for Florida’s blues legend Lucky Peterson 11/13 @ Palladium, St. Pete. The Tampa Bay Blues Fest revs up 4/8-10 in DTSP featuring JJ Grey, Larkin Poe, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Randolph, Ronnie Earl, Ronnie Brooks, Danielle Nicole, Eric Gales, Mindi Abair and more! tampabaybluesfest.com

Mushroom Brotherhood