MyTampaLife » Art Exhibits

Size Matters Art Show

Denis Baldwin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:23:31 +0000

With images pulled from pop culture of both today and yesterday, the Size Matters art premiere took over NOVA535 on Friday night. The Vitale Brothers were the stars of the show, headlining with a supporting cast of other artists who brought their insight and character to the exhibit. Supporting artists include Bask, Tes One, Andrew Spear, Terribly Odd Frank, Strunk Ill, Davey Montooth, Chris Parks, Hydro 74, Sarah Gail Hutcherson, John Hutcherson, Chad Mize, Phillip Clark, T.W. Curtis, Dolla Bill, Melia White, Mark Michaels, Smilemaker Krystal Ralph, Hug Smugglers, Ron Pieniak, Ever, Cody Meagham, Ricardo Hernandez Marquez, Heinz Hinrighs, Andrea Pawlisz, Joey Vitale, Paul Vitale, and John Vitale.

Appealing to a wide audience, the subjects included a moniker of Lady Liberty with a Burger King parody, the recently deceased pitchman Billy Mays, Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, an iconic metal structure resembling a rusted boombox from the mid 80s, a headshell and needle brought to life size in a 3d model and a vectorized picture-of-a-picture take on Polaroid’s ad campaign from a decade ago. A trip upstairs revealed a callback to the 80s with Skeletor holding a lollipop. Dozens of pieces, most reasonably priced under $1000, ran the cultural range from the dawn of disco through the modern age.

It was very much an event to see and be seen. Hundreds of people poured into the event over the course of the 4 hour show. The accompanying fashion show was too big for just one post, so I’m running a separate post specifically for it.

Here’s some more photos of the artwork on display:

Here’s some crowd photos as well:

To see more photos from the Art Show, see the whole album:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/denisbaldwin/sets/72157621258657146/

Upcoming Vitale Brothers “Size Matters” show at NOVA535

Denis Baldwin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:11:00 +0000

On Friday July 10th at NOVA 535, local celebrity artists The Vitale Brothers will present their latest art show “Size Matters”! In typical NOVA style, the show will be kicked off with an extravagant party which will combine art, music and fashion.

The artists responsible for the content include Bask, Tes One, Andrew Spear, Terribly Odd Frank, Strunk Ill, Davey Montooth, Chris Parks, Hydro 74, Sarah Gail Hutcherson, John Hutcherson, Chad Mize, Phillip Clark, T.W. Curtis, Dolla Bill, Melia White, Mark Michaels, Smilemaker Krystal Ralph, Hug Smugglers, Ron Pieniak, Ever, Cody Meagham, Ricardo Hernandez Marquez, Heinz Hinrighs, Andrea Pawlisz, Joey Vitale, Paul Vitale, and John Vitale.

$5 admission. Doors open at 9 PM. Music by Dj Mega and Una Slim and fashion by Wear to the Tear.

Housed in a 1920 built five & dime; NOVA 535 is a lush, meticulously renovated 7,000 sqft. versatile event space with two full bars and plenty of convenient parking.

NOVA 535 Unique Event Space and Modern Art Lounge 535 Dr. M.L. K. Jr. St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 www.NOVA535.com

[5]Art Gallery’s New Exhibit “IN WHITE SPACE”

Denis Baldwin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:34:00 +0000

Last week, I went to the (5)Art Gallery’s new exhibit, located in the upstairs of an old warehouse-looking/factory-looking building (1906 N . Armenia Ave. #210 Tampa, FL 33607)

This group exhibition features a variety of works from guest artists. This year’s exhibition will debut in Gallery [5]art in West Tampa located in the Old Santaella Cigar Factory. The exhibition includes work from artists Alex Costantino, Brian Goe, Lauren Alyssa Howard, Vincent Kral, Wes Kline, Sonya McAlister, Justin Nelson, Rebecca Skelton, James Reiman and Christopher Weeks.

Art is such a subjective thing that it’s hard for me to judge what is “good” and what is “bad”, but I can definitely say that a lot of it is interesting. There were a variety of mediums, but most dealt with either print or paint medium. Some of my favorite exhibits included a constantly turning engine on a pedestal, complete with a crown of thorns. An homage to our countries desire to automate and capitalize on religion? A warning of the high horsepower performances by preachers and cult leaders to show that we’re not in the driver’s seat? Maybe it’s just cool looking and shiny. Either way, I loved it.

One room was dedicated entirely to science fiction, with many exhibits being draw from Star Trek. A three level portrait of a green alien woman being sassy was a nice turn-on, if only because it spoke to my inner geek’s sex drive.

There was a pretty well done glass piece in one room as well, relying on light to extend the physical boundary of the glass to create shadows that took on a life of their own. Every angle you look at this piece, the light shines through and you get a deeper perspective.

There was a wolf, tinted green and mouth agape, printed on a mattress. The worn out look of the medium combined with the stark colors takes the trash art concept and gives it some teeth.

There was a whole lot more to see as well. Here’s some photos:

The rest of the photos I took are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/denisbaldwin/sets/72157620059656155/

Downtown Tampa, done in Legos

Denis Baldwin — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:42:00 +0000

I saw this on BrassBowl, and it’s the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while.

This awesome creation pictured below is a product of the Greater Florida LEGO Train, on display in the Region’s building at 100 North Tampa Street.

Francesco’s Solo Art Show In St. Petersburg

Denis Baldwin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:56:00 +0000

Tomorrow, April 30th NOVA 535 Unique Event Space & Art Lounge will host Tampa-based artist, Francesco Kroslak’s, solo art show in St. Petersburg. The opening party will feature free admission, WMNF’s DJ Dood, delicious Hors d’oeuvres and of course Francesco himself.

A gracious winner of the 2008 [SOLO] Painting Award, Francesco has wowed art lovers from Florida to Manhattan and Europe with his vibrant and intensely passionate work. Francesco’s art reflects an intense freedom. His works are visceral and fiercely emotional. He draws his inspiration from daily events, emotions and music while expressing his feelings through bright colors and hidden objects.

Now, Francesco is treating St. Petersburg to a solo show at the gorgeous NOVA 535. Dress to impress and join us from 6-7 PM for a VIP viewing before doors open to the public. DJ Dood takes over NOVA 535’s world-class booth from 9 PM-2 AM. Several spectacular massive pieces will help anchor this breathtaking modern art exhibition.

Housed in a 1920 built five & dime; NOVA 535 is a lush, meticulously renovated 7,000 sqft. extraordinary & versatile event space with plenty of convenient parking. It’s unique high-end yet welcoming atmosphere blends classic & cutting edge elements making it the perfect place for a relaxing night out or your next big event.

Unclaimed prize from State of the Art 2.0

Denis Baldwin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:03:00 +0000

I was contacted yesterday by Christine A. Galas, one of the artists from the “State of the Art 2.0″ show. The winner of the raffle for her painting (shown below) has not claimed their prize. If you were at the show and entered the raffle, contact Christine through email at kurtis.marsh at yahoo.com.

“Art Under the Stars” Cigar & Art Show

Denis Baldwin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:19:00 +0000

Our friends at the Creative Native Gallery are at it again. This time, they’ve collaborated with SOHO Cigar (212 S. Armenia Avenue, Tampa FL 33609) for an evening of fine cigars and fine art on May 16th from 7PM-11PM.

The Creative Native Gallery features local Florida artists from all walks of life, backgrounds and mediums. Admission is free.

State of the Art 2.0 Art Show at the Roosevelt

Denis Baldwin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:28:00 +0000

Tek-nique Entertainment continues to put on great shows throughout Tampa Bay, the newest being the State of the Art 2.0 show, put on at the Roosevelt (1812 N 15th St Tampa, FL 33605) in Ybor City on Saturday, 04/25/2009. The show featured a mixed expose of art from local artists, ranging from digital production to living art to traditional canvas pieces.

Last year’s State of the Art showing was voted the Best Art Party of 2008 by the Tampa Bay Times. Version 2 was just as impactful, giving a glimpse into the work of artists including Christine A. Galas and J.E. Feightner.

While waiting for the show to open, an artist was outside painting a mural from scratch. Using spray paint, we watched as he sculpted an image of a robot monster “Meka” for the passing street crowd.

The first exhibit when walking through the door is “Slaves of the 21st Century” an homage of characters living out the sin-filled existence of excess and external fulfillment.

An electronic music show provided the soundtrack to the experience until the band arrived.

Art filled the walls. Some of it thought provoking. Some of it interesting. A lot of the work had political and social overtones that couldn’t be overlooked.

The work wasn’t limited to models and prints. Here you see a frightening sculpture in the upstairs staging area.

The show got crowded quickly. Within 20 minutes of opening, it was packed with art lovers both upstairs and down.

It was a great turnout for a nice show. Tek-nique has really been putting out quality shows in the last several months. If State of the Art 2.0 was any indication of things left to come, I’m very excited for the next exhibit.

Waiting Room Art Show at the Ybor City Social Club

Denis Baldwin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Last night, in the midst of the gaybor district is the Ybor City Social Club (1909 N 15th St Tampa, FL 33605, (813) 242-2717), an upstairs bar, art gallery and lounge that recently hosted the “Waiting Room Art Show”. This night of chill music, surreal themes, dark art and lounging around was a good time, drawing on the ambient vibe I had seen in much bigger art shows previously.

The thing about the Social Club that’s cool is that everything about it speaks of comfort. The whole place is dimly lit with comfortable seating all around. The bit of whirling lights and effects are kept minimal, just like the music, and it works for the Social Club. The seats are arranged to encourage small groups and it’s easy to melt into the furnishings.

Music for the night was from DJ’s Loki, Shard, Sumatra71 and ElliotNess. A mix of ambient sounds, chilled electronic, dub, triphop and lounge music added to the presentation. Being a Tek-nique Entertainment production, everything about the music selection, the environment and the art fit nicely.

The showcase was for Vivid Dark J.E. Feightner. His artwork was a collection of digitally painted works that are part Dali, part H.R. Giger and part slaugherhouse gore. Throw in dashes of nudity and complex layers of themes and you have a collection that speaks to the dark overtones many of us feel inside.

More of J.E. Feightner’s art can be seen on his MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/feightner

“The Waiting Room” Art Show and Electronic Music Night

Denis Baldwin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Tek-nique Entertainment presents “The Waiting Room”, a night of chill music and cool art. Art show by vivid Dark J.E. Feightner with music by DJ’s Loki, Shard, Shumatra71 and ElliotNess.

This Saturday, April 18th. $5 at the door. Held at the Ybor City Social Club.

4/18/2009 9:00 PM at Ybor City Social Club
1909 N 15th St, Ybor City, Florida 33605
Cost: $5

City of Tampa brick-wall painting

Denis Baldwin — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:21:00 +0000

This is an awesome mural I’ve seen a few times downtown, so I decided to go grab a photo of it today. I actually like it so much that I’m going to edit out the tension line in the left corner and turn this into my next batch of business cards.

Irregular Artbeat Show at the Skatepark of Tampa

Denis Baldwin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:20:00 +0000

When it comes to art, the raw appeal of street influenced work appeals most to me. Infused with music and the first hand knowledge of life in urban areas, art like the Irregular Artbeat Show (Skatepark of Tampa, 4215 Each Columbus Drive, Tampa FL 33605, 813-621-6793) mixes and remixes mediums.

I got to the skatepark around 8PM and the party was already bumping. Hundreds of people filled the inside and outside of the park, gliding by on decks and slinking about, conversing about the art and skate life in general. While in the parking lot, an artist who was not in the show came up to introduce himself and show me his art. It was quality, but he simply didn’t get registered in time. Punching a clock does not mesh with the life of an artist, I suppose.

Once in the main area, there are several lounges of art. Walking through the maze of people, I was able to get some photos of the many styles before me. The collection of artists, many from the Tampa Area, crafted their work in a way that paid homage to the music that drives them, including Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and others that represent the laid back experience you’d expect at a Skatepark Art Show.

I was able to briefly meet Cheeta, one of the artists and the innovative mind behind this gathering of talent. His work is at the core of this show, pushing the Artcore movement onto it’s feet and organizing this gallery exhibition. His clean lines and bright colors are part Brute!, part Shepard Fairey and all reasonably priced should you want to add them to your own gallery.

The same can be a said for a lot of the art at this show. It’s priced so that anyone can own a piece of street culture. For just a few hundred dollars, a piece of local art can speak to you as the artist has spoken to the canvas. I’m going back today to purchase one piece in particular, an ode to 1980s excess.

The exhibit will stay up for the next few weeks, so stop in to see it next time you are near the Skatepark. Admission is free.

The rest of the photos can be seen here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/denisbaldwin/sets/72157616325548366/

Sensory Overload at the HoneyPot

Denis Baldwin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:18:00 +0000

When Creative Loafing puts on a party, it puts on a party! The HoneyPot (1507 E. 7th Avenue in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida) was the host for the fourth annual “Sensory Overload” party, a mix of live music, djs, circuit bending, models, artwork and booze. While not what I expected, it was an excellent collection of elements.

When I first heard about SO4.0, I imagined a combination of rave and art show. I had thought the art would be digitally created and printed and the music would be electronic/techno. When I walked in, I realized I was in for a whole different sense-probing experience.

From an art standpoint, the mediums included large LCD televisions showing off presentations and a series of lavishly dressed models on platforms. There were a few standing presentations of a non-digital and non-fleshy variety, but the real stars of the show were the costumes and the digital experience.

As I made my way through the main floor, I was surrounded by fog, dancing people and flashing lights. A screen hung on the wall showing people tweeting about the party, at the party, for everyone to see. After just leaving the Tweetup an hour before, I was beyond burnt out on the idea of twitter, but most people seemed to enjoy it.

The music was really exceptional. On the experimental electronic side, there were guys playing video games and using the soundtrack in their musical act. There was a band with a horn section and a real life drummer, a far cry from the drum machine and synthesizers I was expecting.

As I made my way up to the 2nd and 3rd floors, there was a whole different vibe to each. The 2nd floor was a very private and chill down tempo room with people lounging about and producers working the controls for the lights and sound of the main dance floor.

The 3rd floor was playing a mix of hip hop classics and video game controlled sounds. At one point, on DJ was using a modded Nintendo DS (perhaps it was a PSP??) to control the sound. Projectors displayed a Google Maps presentation on loop and several other monitors showed digital living room designs and marketing campaigns.

As the third floor got louder and more full, I made my way back downstairs. The place was packed, and for good reason. The party continued to rage on, showing new models, more artwork on the televisions and more fun music. Shortly after midnight, I ducked out but I hear it continued to rage on well into the night.

Tarpon Springs Arts Festival this weekend

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:33:00 +0000

From The Tampa Real Estate Blog:

The 35th annual Tarpon Springs Arts Festival is finally here! Saturday and Sunday – 3/28-29. This is an awesome event in Tarpon Springs and one that we residents look forward to each year. The event attracts more than 25,000 people from all over the Tampa Bay area. People come to view the works of over 200 artists from Florida and other areas of the United States.

When you visit you can enjoy some good food and listen to top entertainment as well. The festival takes places in the historic area of Tarpon Springs on the picturesque Spring Bayou, located on the wets end of Tarpon Avenue from US 19 or Alt. 19. Parking is available in many areas around downtown and there is a trolley service that runs all day to take you to and from the event.

Come enjoy the Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival – rain or shine! Admission is $2 – under 16 years is free. Need more information, call the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce at 727-937-6109.

Chalk Walk/Chalk Tail Party a successful art event

Denis Baldwin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Last week, I reported on the “Tampa Bay in the Future” Chalk Walk Art Event. It was an incredible success, bringing in many chalk artists and hundreds of attendees to share their interpretations of the future of Tampa Bay in chalk. Here are a few images of the event, courtesy of Communications and Programming Director Christina Cook.

Creative Clay Member Artist – Yalanda S.

Creative Clay Member Artist – John V. with chalk on his fingers!

Creative Clay Smart Art Member – Marquise and his part of the masterpiece

Creative Clay Member Artist Chris C. showing off his work while Transitions Student Artez F. meditates on his next chalk

March 19th-21st, “Tampa Bay In The Future” Chalk Walk Art Event

Denis Baldwin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:18:00 +0000

This week (March 19-21) there is a free “Chalk Walk” festival taking place in Hyde Park. Currently there are 25 artists confirmed to participate and compete for cash prizes by designing chalk murals with a “Tampa Bay in the Future” theme.

There will be three professional artists at the event:
Ms. Lee Jones: http://www.chalk-it-up.com/
Elio Lopez: http://www.arteespanol.us/index.html
Ron Hawkins

The artists start their work on Thursday morning. The best visual day is Saturday (anytime) or Friday (towards the end of the day). At 6 pm on Friday, there is a Chalk Tail party with live music by Scott Tyler (http://www.myspace.com/scotttylermusic).

All three days, the public is welcome to family-friendly entertainment, live music, drink specials, food, art for sale, a chalk drawing experience for physically challenged individuals and performances from participants in the local High School Arts Stars Scholars program.

The Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts (TBBCA) is putting on the free event in an effort to support and link area artists with local businesses and the community.

Here are the quick facts on the event:

WHAT: Tampa’s inaugural Chalk Walk

WHO: Hosted by Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts; open to the
public and free

WHY: To raise money and awareness in support of area artists and arts
organizations

WHERE: Hyde Park Village, starting at Hyde Park’s Village Circle

WHEN: Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21 (9 am – 10 pm each day, except Sat.
they will wrap up at 3 pm).

OVERVIEW:
The Chalk Walk, a public art display of chalk drawings, will cover sidewalks in Tampa’s Hyde Park Village from March 19 to 21, awarding professional and amateur artists with cash prizes. There will be family-friendly entertainment, live music, drink specials, food, art for sale, a chalk drawing experience for physically challenged individuals and performances from the local High School Arts Stars Scholars.

MORE:
Brand Tampa, Chalk Walk group page: http://tinyurl.com/boufn5
(a group page also on Facebook)
Hyde Park Village: http://www.oldhydepark.com/
TBBCA: http://www.tbbca.org/

SPOTLIGHT TAMPA! at The Creative Native Gallery

Denis Baldwin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Friday night, I checked out the Creative Native Gallery (5307 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa FL 33610) on the east side of Tampa. The gallery, a converted and restored home on the outskirts of town, is home to the “Spotlight Tampa!” collection. This collection features artists from all over Tampa Bay and their artwork, a mixed medium collection in many disciplines.

The Creative Native Gallery exclusively features the works of local and native Florida artists — but it’s safe to say that even though you may find seashells, palm trees, or a sunset here and there, these subjects are presented in an original and eclectic format that may take you by surprise. While many of the featured artists are well-known, just as many of them, owner Pam Moody included, are still on the fringes of being known.

The art is fresh, fun and one of a kind, ranging from sculptural works of wood, metal, glass and ceramic, to 2-dimensional paintings and collage. If you do decide to venture out this way, we promise you will be entertained by the colorful, lively works on display.

What impressed me about this gallery is not just the varied displays by many talented artists, but also how the gallery was put together. From the outside, it looks like an eccentric house. Decorations fill the walkway and the porch, but it still seems very much a house. As I came to the door, I couldn’t decide if I should knock or not. Maybe I had the wrong place? Upon knocking, I was welcomed by a room of art lovers and artists, all welcoming me into their world.

Once inside, I was overwhelmed by the quality of many pieces of the art. From the surreal to the photographic, many of the painted pieces had amazing detail that I hadn’t seen before, especially with mediums like water color. Some of the “found objects” artwork, put together from items not normally used in art such as bolt-washers, were truly imaginative.

Their Spotlight Tampa exhibit is going on through April.

Body Worlds Exhibit at MOSI

Denis Baldwin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Are you intrigued by the human body? Do you hold a curiosity, perhaps even a morbid curiosity, for what makes our bodies unique and how they work?

If you do, I’d highly recommend Dr. Gunther von Hagens “Body Worlds” exhibit at MOSI (The Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave # 100, Tampa, FL 33617, (813) 987-6315).

At $18.95, the ticket price includes both the extensive Body Worlds exhibit but also, for a limited time, one standard IMAX® Dome Theatre film. You will want to make a day of it, as MOSI, the IMAX Dome and the Body Worlds exhibit are all quite robust, and you’ll want to devote as much time as you can to each exhibit.

Dr. Gunther von Hagens is the world’s leading public anatomist and originator of contemporary anatomical exhibitions. His exhibition, BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart offers insights on the human body and disease, and looks closely at the heart—revealing through the lens of anatomy, cardiology, psychology and culture how this four-chambered muscle nourishes, regulates and sustains life.

The process that the Body Worlds exhibit uses to preserve life in such amazing detail is Plastination. Invented by scientist and anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977, Plastination is the groundbreaking method of halting decomposition and preserving anatomical specimens for scientific and medical education. Plastination is the process of extracting all bodily fluids and soluble fat from specimens, replacing them through vacuum forced impregnation with reactive resins and elastomers, and then curing them with light, heat, or certain gases, which give the specimens rigidity and permanence.

The plastinates are both beautiful and, occasionally, ghastly. Coming to terms that these are the same parts inside of all of us is a lot to wrap your head around. Even at 29 years old, it takes a lot for me to come to terms with the sum of my parts, and how my actions effect my worldly vessel. The exhibit takes each plastinate to extremes, showing how individual muscle and nerve groups work, how certain bones work with others and how different tasks and positions cause the body to work in different ways. When put into perspective, this is a wonderful exhibit of humanity as seen through the eyes of science and art.

As you make your way through the exhibit, you’re taken through individual body systems in various forms. There is one exhibit showing the extracted nervous system. Another shows the interaction of male and female as exploded views, showing the separation of spine and brain from the rest of their systems. As science, they are brilliant. As art, they are stunning.

One theme carried throughout the exhibit is how our actions affect our health. There are exhibits of lungs with emphysema, healthy lungs, lungs with cancer and the lungs of a smoker. Seeing the drastic differences between them makes me think twice about picking up another cigarette. There’s also a breakdown of a fatty liver, caused by alcohol abuse. Another exhibit shows obesity and how it crowds organs and destroys health. It’s all very stark and dire when put into perspective of how we continually break down our once-healthy bodies.

Another exhibit shows the life cycle, from the smallest fetus at only a few weeks through a near-birth. Anyone who has ever lost a child or been close to the death of a child may want to avoid this particular section, which is easily to do as it’s off in a corner. I saw more than one person visible upset by it, though I’m sure they understand just as I understand why it’s important to be there. Dr. Gunther von Hagens gives us the truth in as real a format as we can hope for and I’m glad there’s no censorship in this exhibit.

As you get to the end of the exhibit, there’s a non-human exhibit, showing a Camel and it’s offspring in the same dissectional plastination as the other models. This was especially intriguing to me both because of the size of the animal and how complicated their internals are. I honestly could have spent an hour just looking at this exhibit.

I encourage anyone who is curious about anatomy or wants to see art and science come together in a unique way to check out the Body Worlds Exhibit.

The Muse Nude Showcase at The Artpool

Denis Baldwin — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:53:00 +0000

Nudity in the name of art rides that razor thin line between tasteful medium and exploitation. Too far to one side and you’re not making your point. Too far to the other side and you’ve pushed your art into the void of smut. THE MUSE, an exhibit of living artwork inspired by love, nudes, sex and St. Valentine skates the line but ultimately lives in the realm of art, making this exposition beautiful and intriguing.

I’d never been to the ArtPool (919 1st Ave N St Petersburg FL 33705 727.324.3878, OPEN: TUES-SAT 12PM-5PM) before yesterday, though I’d been in plenty of small arthouses before. I was recommended this place (and specifically this installation) by local singer/songwriter Aleshea Harris. This places reminded me a lot of the little bohemian galleries both in Detroit and New Orleans where local artists finally had a place to show face and be noticed. Artpool is a great location, just a block off MLK in St. Petersberg, in the shadow of downtown.

The only downside, especially when throwing events of this magnitude, is strictly in square feet. This showcase is probably 1500 square feet. With the hundreds of people that poured into it last night, they could have had three times the space and still been shoulder to shoulder. THE MUSE is a big idea, and a big show that requires a big floorplan. I’m hoping the next time this show is broadcast, it’s done so in a much bigger venue. That said, I love the venue for what it is and plan on checking out some of their shows, such as the upcoming MCM Mid Century Modern Art & Design Show and the ZERO Launch Party.

THE MUSE Show, as living art, is a bold and intriguing concept. A collection of beautiful women and handsome men, coated in latex paint and found-objects accoutrement wore their themes as fine art. Various effects were used to create stunning messages.

One installation was of a man, covered in testament, bag over head, stood mostly-still all night. The only exception I saw was when he was teased by a gay patron with a feather, causing him to squirm a bit. Other than that, he was a perfect mannequin for the message and I commend him for his performance.

Another male model, standing outside in a trance-like pose, showed the potential of bright colors on the masculine form:

The women, both beautiful and gracious, were not only done up in amazing paintings that complimented and barely concealed their nudity, but also showed humility in the experience. All but one welcomed my camera and spoke with me as if they’d known me for years. They seem genuinely very happy to be there and, as one model put it, “while I was afraid at first, I’m glad I did this. Living art is something I’m very happy to be part of.”

Aside from the models, there were also many reasonably priced art pieces on the walls on display. When I say reasonably priced, I note that because I’m incredibly impressed with what amazing artwork you can acquire for under $300. There were pieces I could see fitting into my own living space starting at $150, including some sculptures and structures that are bargains under $200.

I’m really hoping this show plays again in a larger area. I’m also hoping they have more models and this show grows in scope. In fact, if they wanted a portly man-child to paint for the next round, I’d gladly sacrifice myself to art.

Dali Museum of St. Petersburg

Denis Baldwin — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:43:00 +0000

Yesterday, I was fortunate to get a limited photo tour of the Dali Museum (1000 Third Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 727-823-3767). This facility is usually no-cameras-allowed, but thanks to Kathleen White, the Deputy Director, I was able to do a press-only tour and bring you, my readers, some photos.

Salvador Dali was an interesting character. Dreamer, intellectual, follower of Freud and gifted artistic crafter. But his artwork is not for everyone, and it’s obvious in his transitions over the years that he really was reaching for something that most people don’t see. While many of his earlier works were, on the surface “simple”, there was a breach at about 1924 when everything changed. His works became more abstract, with layers of hidden meaning that could be taken by how he painted, where he placed facets of his characters and the context within what he was painting. It’s easy enough to dismiss his artwork with “I don’t get it”, but for those who have an eye for the obscure, a desire for the unique and an interest in the unusual, Dali’s work may very well speak to you on a deep and meaningful level that only surrealism can do.

Dali had a number of themes that spoke to me. His obsession with time, and the idea of “bending time” reflects my own need to master and confine my place in time and space. His concepts of beauty and grace are seen in how he draws women, and how they interact with their environments. A number of his paintings feature “items removed”. Essentially, an item is drawn as if it’s cut out of another item and placed in another part of the work, reflecting how I feel like the things I do and the things I own are often a part of who I am, and when they are gone I feel emptier because of it. The great thing, for me, about surrealistic art is that you can take a number of meanings from each piece and apply them to your own life. Living in metaphor is something Dali does very well.

For examples of his work, see the Google Images of his artwork:
http://images.google.com/images?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=salvador+dali&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=G0OMSaL5Bo_ftgeQs_SiCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

The museum is a first class establishment. Large rooms with the paintings sparsely mounted, giving plenty of room for people to engage the art without crowding other visitors. On Thursdays, their admission fee drops from the normal $15 to a bargain price of $5/visitor. The place was packed yesterday. At one point, I counted over 90 people in the large auditorium room and another 100+ in a viewing area showing an old black and white movie. For the price, you really can’t beat this exhibit.

The museum, in it’s current state, will be open for another few years until their new museum opens in 2011. The new structure will be bigger, with more works of art, and the building itself will be a work of art based on Dali’s unique approach to art.

Old Tunes Make New Fashion

Denis Baldwin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:30:00 +0000

I love the Found Objects/Reclaimed Objects movement. Not only does it help the environment by keeping forgotten and discarded objects out of landfills, but it invokes a form of nostalgia for those who lived through the periods when these were hot items, and faux nostaliga that everyone younger thinks they have when something comes around to being cool again. It’s a win-win for everyone.

While at the Ybor Market this weekend, I ran into a man named A.J. who had a dual booth setup. First was his own A.J. Cigars. Good prices on good stogies. The man knows his stuff, and for that I commend him.

What I was really impressed by was his wife’s custom-made purses, made of old album sleeves and the records that were one housed in them as well as made of authentic cigar boxes. Here’s a snippet from their website:

We specialize in authentic cigar box purses. Each cigar box purse is tastefully embellished by hand. Our in house cigar box purse designer uses the highest quality materials for each unique purse. No two are the same. Our selections are priced to fit every budget and decorated to express unique style.

We are also the Band In My Hand LLC, Original Record Album Purse distributors for the Tampa area. Each record album purse is designed with the real original record album on one side and the corresponding decorative album art cover on the reverse. Collectible Purses By Jean carries a wide variety of in stock selections to choose from. Additionally we accept custom order requests for any record album you may be interested in.

What drew me into the booth and into talking with A.J. about them was the attention to detail in the bags and boxes. These are not cheaply made walmart garbage. These are very much hand produced with incredible concern for quality.

If you’re looking for old-made-new-again or something vintage that will make you stand out from the crowd, highly recommend checking out their collection. You’ll be very impressed with their craftsmanship and creativity.