Saturday, June 27, 2015

This PRIDE Weekend, 6/27/2015

Venture Compound, DIREWOOD in concert, starts at 8:00 $5-10 Admission.

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PRIDE PARADE. History washes away the bigots. Celebrate! Parade at 5 PM.

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Craft Art Puppet Show.  5:30


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Art Raffle at Bar 548

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Last Day of Bloom's Contemplation Show

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Member's Show at 620 5:30

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Thursday, June 18, 2015

Declinism, Art and Entertainment.

 Culture and the Arts are declining with their once strongest demographics: Educated, upper middle class and up people. On the other hand, donor contributions increased by 9.2% in 2014 (over 2013).
The arguments are made that entertainment and democratization are major factors in this.
At the Museum of Fine Arts in Saint Petersburg, Florida there is a show of Japanese prints. The ones prior to Modernism. There are portraits, representations of mythological stories, great romances, locations, landscapes and breaking news/important current events.These prints multi-tasked well beyond the aesthetic.
Medieval Art did too. In Europe and through Christiendom, the Gospel story was a common meme, known by everyone, even illiterates. The Art that the common man was exposed to, mostly in churches and government buildings, related images from those stories. The Art in church stained glass, sculptures and paintings portrayed apex dramatic moments from which believers easily discerned the characters and story depicted. This integrated the world of the viewers and simultaneously provided religious entertainment.
With the Enlightenment and thereafter, Western cultures became more secular and the functions once served by religion and Art were separated. This division is still ongoing. The democratization of the means of producing Art continues, with the number of people who file taxes as artists to Instagrammers all over the world.
With this egalitarian environment not only is everyone an artist, but also a critic. Right now, less than 10% of the number of critics employed in 1975 exist. A lot of people see this as a sign of decline in the quality and output of Art. The amount of Art has certainly increased, enabling anyone with a smartphone to partake of the benefits of making, showing and selling work.
Art Fairs have become the new ephemeral bastions of Art. They dominate the Art world. Here in Florida, artists make the pilgrimage to Art Basel  exactly like crazed sports fans to the Superbowl, and most voice fantasies of being in Basel. The few that have spent the time, effort and money to be in a satellite fair that I know have fared miserably, or broken even at best.
Art Fairs are all about the 1%-ers who have the place to themselves before the hoi polloi swarms, and they, still caught in the aftermath of Modernism, thrive on innovation, not quality.
There is now a Pilgrim's Road of Fairs all over the world, a Silk Road to the various markets. Auctions have also risen in prominence (and sales records). A yawning gulf of income inequality has widened between those at the top and all others.
The art world is rapidly evolving and shifting along with the rest of the culture. The old models have become obsolete, much to the consternation of those who came up through them and thought they would be around at least through their lifespan. The brick and mortars will still be around at the local level, particularly as nurseries for emerging artists in the lesser local markets.

Great Art continues to be made every day. Most of it will go unrecognized.

--- Luis


Saturday, June 13, 2015

This Spy Weekend, June 13th, 2015

  93 degrees today....Summer is here. Grieving for the pasing of Bud Lee, a friend and one of those people that always punched above their weight. Second Saturday, and I have no scheduled copilot(s) for tonight.

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Pangea Project #61 @ Venture Compound 8:00 PM, $8.00


Public Speaking is the music of Brooklyn, NY composer/multi-instrumentalist Jason Anthony Harris. Utilizing voice, radio, found objects and synthesizer, he pores over pedals to loop, warp and augment these sources. “He crafts coherent songs out of abstract processes and R&B from the tools of noise with the assured vision of an expert… a thrilling melange of found sound and pop music.” - Experimedia

Public Speaking

Whitey Alabastard

Jason Bundy

Otolathe

voice hoist


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2nd Sat Art Walk....

From 5-9pm Celebrate and Collect Cool Art on a Hot Summer Night at over 30 galleries and studios in the Waterfront Arts, Central Arts District, The EDGE District of St. Petersburg, Grand Central District Association and the Warehouse Arts District.

Then starting at 9pm, enjoy a Saint Petersburg Preservation Porch Party at the Historic Seaboard Train Station at 420 22nd Street South! You are sure to have fun at this historic setting with live music, tasty desert treats and drinks and lots of great people! The brick train station has a lot of history and character and is a perfect setting for one of SPP’s porch parties. Admission is just $10, public is welcome.
http://www.stpetepreservation.org/event-1947498.
SPP members will receive two drink tickets (good for beer/wine).

During ArtWalk, our free trolley shuttles (one traditional red trolley and one white coach bus) will have an art guide on board from St. Pete Preservation presenting historic backgrounds on special venues throughout the night. When gallery owners & artists are in historic buildings with a unique character it completely aligns with their creative venture. Both Craftsman House Gallery (1918 Arts & Crafts Bungalow) and The Morean Center for Clay (1926 Seaboard Train Station) are listed on the local historic registry. However there are dozens of other art venues located in historic buildings throughout ArtWalk. Duncan McClellan Glass is located in a former tomato packing plant. Soft Water Studios is the former 1930 Soft Water Laundry Building and the newest addition to ArtWalk, the Local Co-op is located in the 1920's historic Crislip Arcade!

Parking
You can park for free on 1st Ave N and 1st Ave S from 15th St to 30th Street. Additional parking will be available for trolley riders in the vacant lot at the Northeast corner of Central Avenue and 29th Street (Please note that this is NOT one of our trolley stops). In addition, venues with large free parking lots are Soft Water Studios, the Morean Center for Clay at the Train Station, the Clay Center of St. Petersburg, and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.

Duke Energy is our sponsor. The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, the Arts Association St. Petersburg Inc., the EDGE District, the Grand Central District, and the Warehouse Arts District associations coordinate St. Petersburg’s Second Saturday ArtWalk. The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance strives to be the community voice, the umbrella organization for the arts -- facilitating artists, arts organizations and creative businesses to work collaboratively; empowering the growth of the arts community, and driving arts-related economic development.

Trolley starts here at 5pm
Craftsman House Gallery – 2955 Central Avenue - The 7th Clay Pride Show. Featuring a collection of colorful ceramics by clay artists who are openly embracing the clay lifestyle. Clay, blown glass, jewelry, wood, all housed in an historic 1918 Arts & Crafts bungalow. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Craftsman-House-Gallery/158706022997

Charlie Parker-Pottery – 2724 6th Avenue S. – Great Gift Ideas for Dads and Grads. Come do your shopping for those hard to buy for people in your life. All work is handmade by either Charlie, or one of our talented members. Charlie will be doing demos throughout the evening. https://www.facebook.com/events/418837391574947/

Duncan McClellan Glass – 2342 Emerson Avenue South – The opening of "EnGraalMo!", with new works by Jake Pfeifer and Nic Emeric. Pfeifer and Emeric are the recipients of DMG School Project's May 2015 residency scholarship, which enables emerging and mid career artists a chance to develop new bodies of work, away from the stresses of daily life. Free glass blowing demonstration. http://dmglass.com/events/recipients-of-glass-residency-scholarship-premiere-new-work/

Clay Center of St. Petersburg - 420 23rd Street South – Demonstration in sculpture with Kyu Yamamoto. How to throw a 25 pound bowl. 41 artists work on display in our 1000 square foot studio. Live music and much more! https://www.facebook.com/ClayCenterofStPetersburg/timeline

Soft Water Studios - 515 22nd Street South - A fresh display of new and old works by resident artists in 2-D and 3-D. “Blue Nudes” by Carrie Jadus. https://www.facebook.com/sws.art.art/timeline

Mga Sculpture Studio – 515 22nd Street South - A commission driven sculpture facility that specializes in the design, fabrication and installation of sculptural objects in a variety of mediums from cartable materials to metal fabrication. Currently working on several large scale commissions for local private entities and across the country. https://www.facebook.com/MgaSculpture

Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum – 2240 9th Avenue S. – Exhibit by Dallas Jackson: A compilation of drawings and paintings from 2003 to 2013 focusing on music through the experience and visual response. Less focused on popular icons, the imagery focuses on how man and instrument visually represents the harmonious interaction. It is essentially one’s interpretation of how music is visualized. The artist preferred mediums of pastels, acrylic paint, stencils. Every Dad that visiting the museum will receive a Rays baseball ticket as we celebrate Father's Day. https://www.facebook.com/WoodsonMuseum/timeline

Gallerie 909 – 909 22nd Street South – Opening Reception -- The Art of Reparations and Freedom of Speech Collection featuring Everett Spruill. Live music. https://www.facebook.com/events/700233966751615/

Morean Center for Clay – 420 22nd Street South - Kodi Thompson premieres "Oversprayed and Underglazed" show featuring alley graffiti artwork that should be very cool for guests to experience. Kodi is a hot, young artist who is expected to emerge soon as an incredible talent people can't get enough of. https://www.facebook.com/CenterForClay

Richard Clark and Jim Corp - Five Deuces Galleria - 420 23rd Street South - Paper and paint, prints and canvas. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=739036012796403

Jim Woodfield Fine Art Studio - 5 Deuces Galleria Building, 222, #3 22nd St. S. - Featuring new portrait work and abstract paintings. https://www.facebook.com/woodfieldfineartstudio?pnref=lhc

Nancy Smrekar Art Studio - 2135 3rd Avenue South, Unit #5, Five Deuces Galleria Garden Building. Featuring acrylic/oil paintings in impressionism, realism, and abstract styles by emerging artist Nancy Smrekar. https://www.facebook.com/nancysmrekar.artist

Cory Allen Contemporary Art - 2121 Second Avenue South - Featuring anonymous artist Drown in the artist’s first solo exhibition at this gallery. The show will feature an installation piece titled “Happy Meal”. https://www.facebook.com/coryallencontemporaryart/timeline

From Mayan Hands - 2006 Second Avenue South - Showcasing the paintings of Beba Contreras and her famous "painted shoes". One day sale of all merchandise. Mayan Folk Art - antique and new-saints, demons, angels, devils, mary and joseph, day of the dead, textiles, and furniture. Spanish colonial furniture, dance masks, santos, and mayan ceremonial art. All the modern folk art is at wholesale prices. https://www.facebook.com/pages/From-Mayan-Hands/768725999853388?ref=br_tf

St. Petersburg Opera Company - 2145 1st Ave South - An exhibit of paintings by Kirk Ke Wang, a Professor of Visual Arts at Eckerd College, painter, sculptor, photographer, mixed media artist, and an educational software developer. This exhibition will explore paintings that depict the artist's two cultures he lives in. Born in Shanghai, China, he travels frequently between China and the US to promote art, education and culture. His works has been collected by museums, galleries and private collectors in the US and Asia. Wang maintains a studio in Tampa, Shanghai & NYC. Wang has exhibited his art works locally, nationally, internationally, and including the National Gallery in Beijing. https://www.facebook.com/StPeteOpera

Trolley Starts Here at 5pm
Creative Clay – 1114 Central Avenue - 20th Anniversary with good art, good folk, and a new exhibit. Painted Poetry features art inspired by poems, and invites the viewer to find poetic inspiration. The Lady and the Bard perform Americana music live. Also on exhibit are artist altered baseballs, and paintings of nature. https://www.facebook.com/events/105345599800724/

The Gallery – 200 Central Ave S. - Featuring a collection of paintings by Timothy Raines showcasing Major League Baseball. Join us for this opportunity to explore vibrant, sports themed artwork. Refreshments provided. https://www.facebook.com/thegalleryart

SHAPIRO'S Gallery – 300 Beach Drive NE. - Showcasing the finest in American made contemporary crafts. Blown glass, jewelry, pottery, wooden boxes, and sculpture. https://www.facebook.com/shapirogallery

Art on 1st – 550 First Avenue North – Aquatic Adventures ArtWalk. See what makes the sunshine state special—beaches, tides, deep blue depths. Featuring photos by Gene Norris, and paintings by Florida artists. https://www.facebook.com/events/105509749785514/

Florida CraftArt – 501 Central Avenue – “Boundary Lines” featuring Michael Covello’s intriguing installation, Charles Parkhill’s understated, yet profound wood sculpture, Charles Hazelaar ceramics and fiber artists Raina Benoit and Kathy Halper. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-CraftArt/352815711033?sk=timeline

The Art Lofts of St. Petersburg, FL – 10 Fifth Street North (upstairs) - Featuring young artists in “Student Showcase”. This innovative exhibit will showcase pieces from young, local artists. https://www.facebook.com/artlofts

Graphi-ko Gallery/ Jewelry – 669 Central Avenue - Opening of “Get Naked” art exhibition. The show will be a public juried event featuring over 80 local artists depicting the naked human form. Come and support local art and artists. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Graphi-ko-Gallery-Jewelry/125300180883521

The Local Coop - 645 Central Avenue - inside the Crislip Arcade. Celebrating its Grand Opening! Stop by to meet the owners/artists and see all the wonderful, locally handcrafted home decor, gifts, and the newly opened kids boutique - The Mini Coop. Live music, drinks, & a fabulous raffle. https://www.facebook.com/TLCStPete

St. Pete Art Works - 635 Central Ave - Featured Exhibition: The Flower Study Series: original acrylic paintings by Caroline Karp Babis. Live entertainment by Chris Garner on Steel Drum. St. Pete ArtWorks, (a subsidiary of Gulf Coast Artists' Alliance Inc.), is a co-operative art gallery featuring 23 local artists in a wide range of media. https://www.facebook.com/St.PeteArtWorks?fref=ts

Strands of Sunshine – 8 Sixth Street N – Local designer and artist Christina Lembo’s first solo exhibition. Using found paper, whimsical lettering, and a strong sense of wanderlust, Christina's works will stoke the imagination and drive for adventure. Paintings, hand-lettered vintage globes, and prints will be for sale. https://www.facebook.com/events/438705466310326/

Morean Arts Center – 719 Central Avenue – Opening reception for 2 new shows. 2015 All-Florida Juried Exhibition. 58 works from artists from all over the state, vie for nearly $2,500 in prizes. 2015 Instructor/Student Exhibition. Current works by our talented students and teachers in all mediums. https://www.facebook.com/MoreanArtsCenter?fref=ts

ARTicles Art Gallery & Custom Framing- 1445 Central Avenue – Changing Climates: from Cold Wars to Hot Flashes. Lance Rodgers' narrative paintings explode with energy, bravado, and an irreverent humor for pop culture iconography. Inspired by American nostalgia of the 50s and 60s, the artist incites an almost mythic childhood response full of whimsy and romantic irony. https://www.facebook.com/ArTiclesIncCustomFramingArtGallery

Art Central Studios - Art Central Building, 2109 Central Avenue, 2nd Floor - Six established visual artists - Carol Dameron, Mary Grieco, Frank Lewis, John Bartone, Herb Snitzer and Zala Highsmith, will be showing and speaking about their most recent works. http://www.artcentralstudios.com/

Creative Soul Studio : Coffee, Wine, Art – 2425 Central Avenue - Featuring art work by Xina Scuderi. https://www.facebook.com/CreativeSoulStudio

Our partner associations also have great listings for art events!!
• Keep Saint Petersburg Local
• Grand Central District Association
• Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association

Choose 4 or 5 to visit this Saturday then come back the next Second Saturday to visit more!

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A collection of colorful pottery by clay artists who are openly embracing the clay lifestyle.
Opening Reception June 13th during ArtWalk.
Show runs through June 30th.

A collection of colorful pottery by clay artists who are openly embracing the clay lifestyle.
Opening Reception June 13th during ArtWalk.
Show runs through June 30th.



Craftsman House, 5-9 PM   .2955 Central Ave. Saint Petersburg.



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Soft Water Studios, 515 22nd St S. St Pete Artwalk.

Photography, painting, ceramics ... good company, good conversation, lots of parking.

 


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Morean Clay Center, 420 22nd St, S. Saint Pete.

Visit the Morean and look over the beautiful work by local ceramic artists. Bowls for Good will be outside with 3 lathes available for making pens and bowls. No experience necessary! Work ftom our stock of Purple Heart, Bloodwood, Wild Cherry, Rosewood, and Maple Burl! Local wood turners will be on hand for demonstrations and clinics!
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 Strands of Sunshine, 8 6th St. N. 5-9 PM St Pete.
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Charlie Parker Pottery 2724 6th Ave S.
Come do your shopping at Charlie Parker Pottery for those hard to buy for people in your life. We have a wide range of gift items to choose from. All hand made by Charlie and our very talented members.
Charlie will be doing demos thoughout the evening.


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Regions Bank




Artwork by Barry Rothstein, Stella Sanders & Sterling Powell will be featured during the June 13th. 2nd Saturday ARTwalk @ Regions Bank in downtown St. Petersburg.
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Celebrate Creative Clay's 20th Anniversary with good art, good folk and our new exhibit: "Painted Poetry," featuring art-inspired by poems. Viewers are invited and encouraged to find poetic inspiration in the images depicted. We welcome back " Lady and the Bard," who will perform Americana music. Also on exhibit are artist altered baseballs, and paintings of nature. Refreshments available for suggested donation.

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Join The Studio@620 during Second Saturday Gallery Crawl for one last look at SHADOWSPEAK: Curiosities from Polly Johnson and The Crafty Hag / Coralette Damme
Come see the giant bear head one more time! 6-9 PM.

Polly Johnson is a ceramics artist with a degree in Visual Communication and is currently an instructor at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota. Coralette Damme has a Fine Arts degree with emphasis on Printmaking and frequently exhibits her work as The Crafty Hag at art markets and festivals.

Admission is free and open to the public.


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ARTicles Art Gallery is pleased to present new paintings by LANCE RODGERS in the exhibition Changing Climates: from Cold Wars to Hot Flashes, on June 13, 2015 at 6:00 pm. Lance Rodgers' narrative paintings explode with energy, bravado, and an irreverent humor for pop culture iconography. Inspired by American nostalgia of the 50s and 60s, Lance incites an almost mythic childhood response full of whimsy and romantic irony.

Lance Rodgers earned his fine art degree from Florida State University in 1977. A pillar of the St. Petersburg art community, Lance gained notoriety as the curator of exhibitions at Salt Creek Artworks for its entire 15 year run. A renowned, award-winning artist, Lance currently resides and maintains a studio in the Old Southeast Artist Enclave of St. Petersburg, Florida. Rodgers’ thoughtful narrative, sometimes humorous paintings are displayed in numerous galleries, museums, public and private collections in the United States and abroad.

Rodgers' solo exhibition at ARTicles Art Gallery celebrates a10 year relationship with the gallery. An opening reception for the exhibition will be held on June 13th, 6-9pm. His provocative work will be on view through August 1st. For more information contact the gallery at 727-898-6061.

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mmmmm

Friday, June 12, 2015

One of Our Own: Bud Lee Passes.

Bud Lee, 74, passed away yesterday morning from complications following a surgery. He was born Charles Todd Lee, on January 11, 1941 in White Plains, NY. The family spent years in South American countries, he ended up going to the Columbia School of Fine Arts and National Academy of Fine Arts in Manhattan. In the Army, he became a photographer for Stars and Stripes. In 1966 he became the Military Photographer of the Year.
A year later he was working for LIFE magazine, earning a cover while working on the Newark riots for a photograph of a young boy who was inadvertently shot by police.

During the following years Bud Lee worked as a photojournalist freelancing for Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country, Rolling Stone, the New York Times Sunday Magazine, Vogue, Mother Jones, Ms. magazine, London Records, Columbia Records, The Sunday Times magazine, the World Telegraph and others.
 In 1972 he founded the Iowa Photographer's Workshop at the University of Iowa. He received an NEA grant to start the Artist Filmmaker in the Schools program in Tampa.

He founded the Artists and Writers Trust, taught filmmaking, freelanced, and in 1990 co-founded the Artists and Writers Ball along with Peggy Lee, David Audet, Paul Wilborn. Beverly Coe, Bebe Williams and Mary D. Scourtes in response to the then even more elitist Gasparilla Parade festivities. This evolved into the Guavaween Parade and Festival.

In the Arts, as with everything else, it is always a handful of people who move the mountains and make all the difference in the future. Bud Lee was a leader within that group to which we owe, in large part, the present-day Arts Scene in Tampa.

I mostly knew Bud from running into each other at events. He always had a kind word for me, mentoring and inspiring at every turn. He was an asset to this City, a friend to so many, one who will be sorely missed.

In August 2003, he suffered a debilitating stroke. This did not deter him from making art.

RIP, Bud Lee.