WTAC entrance. |
The West Tampa Art Center is an old cigar factory building on Armenia in Tampa that was rehabbed into a furniture business on the ground floor, and artists' studios above. It is one of the roomier venues for the arts in the area. Many of the artists also open their studios to visitors whenever there is a show, so the viewer's experience is expanded and varied.
On the right is a view of the main gallery at the WTAC. This is where the show was held. Keep in mind that the building has very spacious hallways whose walls are also used to display art, giving the space a lot of potential for large exhibitions.
D.R.S., "Persistence of Time" |
A quadtych photograph by D.R.S. of branches, sticks, logs and things one would find around a cabin or logging camp, with a snowy backdrop. The various forms of the wood and their function, from the natural to the harvested and trimmed form still carry traces of its origins.
Don Compton, "Decomposition I" |
Don Compton's "Decomposition I" is a large (about 3.5 x 6.5 ft) sculpture with a metal "skeleton" and a porcelain head, looking like the remains of a large predator after its soft tissues have rotted away. No longer threatening, only a remnant of what it once was.
Don Compton, "Ride it like you stroke it" |
On the left, another Don Compton sculpture, "Ride it like You Stroke it", a play on the common saying. A ceramic and metal life-size sculpture of a Harley that attracted a lot of attention.
At the space by the DJ stage and entrance to the main gallery space there was a performance involving a face-painting against a matching backdrop.
Don Compton, "Foreign Policy" |
On the left, one last Don Compton sculpture in the form of an American Flag made of spent shell casings, titled "Foreign Policy", an openly political and dark work about current national reality.
Keith Parsons, "Untitled" |
Keith Parsons' "Untitled", depicting an elderly woman who appears to be nearing the end of her life, along with other older pictures from earlier days, shows what most of us are loathe to confront, the eventual decline of our bodies and minds. This is not an easy thing to do for many reasons, but it was handled extremely well in this instance.
Tina Koufas-Eisbacher, "Stairway to Hell" |
Ms. Koufas-Eisbacher's "Stairway to Hell" involves a bit of fashion, voyeurship, religion, and a little modeling mayhem. One of the things that makes this triptych work are the flip-flops between positive and negative in the panels.
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Jillian Corey-Katz, "Shot Out" |
Jillian Corey-Katz, "Arte de McFly 1" |
Congratulations to WTAC, Maida Millan, and all the artists for a memorable exhibit.
New Work: Pareidolia @ West Tampa Arts Center - 1906 N. Armenia Ave. Tampa.
Thank you Luis for coming out and experiencing it with us.
ReplyDeleteD.R.S
Don Compton's work is quite impressive! I really enjoyed seeing large scale pieces included in the show.
ReplyDeleteThank you Art Taco....it is a pleasure to have you visit WTCA!!!!
ReplyDeleteJillian I am so proud of you. Your photos are beautiful. -Caron
ReplyDelete