This Pirated Weekend, Jan 27th - 29th.

Let's face it: You're going to be one of the 300,000 at Gasparilla, or you'll want to be as far away from it as possible. Here are some options....

Lost Moments @ Silver Meteor - A groups exhibit by local photographers with the idea that the moment portrayed is lost as is the soul involved. Portraits of well-known people are involved. Opens 4-8 PM on Sunday, Jan. 29th, runs through Feb 4th. Silver Meteor Gallery, 2213 E. Sixth Ave, Ybor City.  Free.
________________________________________________

Three Shows Open at Tampa Museum of Art - Romare Bearden, collages by this famous artist. Some may remember his work from the Black Art Museum  that used to be here, a fantastic small museum that IMO the city should have rescued or assimilated into another museum. Don Zan Fagna's mixed media works will also be shown. There is also a centennial celebration of  John Cage's musical work. Through May 6th. 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza. Admission is $10.
________________________________________________

 ArtWars @ The Emerald Bar - Chuck Majewski, Aurellius Artist, Derek Donnelly and Jenipher Chandley. Free. Friday, January 27th, 8 PM. The Emerald Bar, 550 Central Ave., St Pete.
_______________________________________________

The Awesome Show @ Cafe Hey - A show about Awesome Things is going up in (already awesome for its coffees, soups, baked goods, sandwiches, etc) Cafe Hey. Opens Friday, Jan 27th, from 8-11 PM.  1540 North Franklin. Tampa, just North of the Interstate. 
________________________________________________

The 39th Annual Beth-El Art Festival - Over 150 artists from the area will be shown in every medium imaginable. This is an excellent large festival. One of the unusual features of this festival is that they have real live docents to answer questions. Sunday, Jan 29th, and Monday, Jan 30th. Temple Beth-El • 400 Pasadena Avenue South, St. Petersburg FL 33703 • 727.347.613. Free.
________________________________________________

Bloom Opening @ Morean Art Center (MAC) - A flower-themed show in a state named after them. I saw some of the works ready to go up on Sunday and it looks good. MAC, 719 Central Ave. St Pete. Opens 5-7 PM Friday. Free.
________________________________________________

 William Pachner Solo Exhibit @ Bradley Cooper - Solo show of works by the artist between 1960-1970. Free. 1714 E. Seventh Ave, Ybor City. Opens 2-7 PM Friday.
________________________________________________

Drawing Underwater @ 620 - Mortgages and BP Oil are not the only things happening underwater in Florida. The crowdsourced project by Hunter Payne involved just that, drawing with the fishes. At The Studio @ 620, 620 1st Ave South, Friday, January 27th. Runs through Feb 17th.