This Pachydermic Weekend, August 24th-26th

The Republicans, Police, Feds, Journalists and protesters are here, the spooks are free-roaming the streets wearing guayaberas, drones are in the air, and Isaac is on its way. Could it get any crazier? Odds are it will. Maybe Tampa should have a designated RNC skinny-dipping area on Beer Can Beach?
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"Common Sense @ West Tampa Center for The Arts" - The West Tampa Center for The Arts (WTCA) is opening a politically themed art show titled "Common Sense". Juried by Carolyn Kossar, Taylor Ikin and Rob Rowen. The show will feature a multitude of artists working in a variety of media.

Work by Ligorano and Reese

The above picture, courtesy of Ligorano, shows a similar ice sculpture to what the artists will be doing on Monday, August 27th at Lykes Gaslight Square Park. 

2012 Show Dates/Times

Monday August 27th “Morning in America”, a temporary monument by featured artists Ligorano/Reese  (To Be Displayed at Lykes Gaslight Square.  Early Afternoon - Early Evening)

Monday August 27th from 10 am until 6 pm (Soft Opening – “Common Sense”)

Tuesday August 28th from 10 am until 10 pm (“Common Sense” Artist Reception 6 pm – 10 pm)

Wednesday August 29th from 10 am until 6 pm

Thursday August 30th from 10 am until 4 pm (“Common Sense” Closing Day)

  All at 1906 Armenia. $3 admission.

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The Elephant in the Room @ CL Space - Tempus Projects and CL Space present "The Elephant in the Room". a (you guessed) politically-themed show. Bradley Arthur, BASK, Todd Bates, Diran Lyons, Roger Palmer and others. Works from last week's Silver Revolution by Experimental Skeleton, Inc. will be there for more collaborative colllaging by participants. Mitzi Gordon's Bluebird Book Bus will be there. All at Ybor Square, Saturday, August 25th, 7-9 PM. Free admision.
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Post! @ Cafe Hey - Political posters from all over the world. This one should be hot. This is a genuine cafe where poets, artists (and protesters) hang out. Show opens on Saturday, August 25th. Free admission. 1540 North Franklin Street. Free admission.
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Drawing Political Lines @ Tampa Museum of Art - 59 historical political cartoons. Also a great exhibit of Modernist and Post Modernist chairs. TMA, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza. Just behind the Great White RNC Tent by the river at Curtis Hixon Park. $10 admission.
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Portraits of Power by Platon and Civil War Photographs from the Drapkin and Larry West Collections @ Florida Museum of Photographic Arts - I've reviewed the Civil War show here [Link]. The PLaton pictures are not just of powerful people, but they're powerful in their own right. $10 admission. Opens August 23rd, runs through Nov 11.
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Cuban Sandwich Invitational Show @ HCC Ybor -  The Cuban Sandwich Show. An exhibit that is densepacked with art reflecting local culture history and vision as seen through the hearts of some of our best artists. I reviewed it here [Link]. Open through August 30th.

  Hillsborough Community College's Art Gallery is located in the Performing Arts Building Room 114 on the Ybor City Campus located at 2204 N. 15th Street Tampa, FL 33605. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Tuesdays from 12 noon to 7 p.m. The gallery is open to the public, and admission is free for everyone. Click here for a map of the campus. For further information or to arrange special hours, contact Gallery Coordinator, Carolyn Kossar at ckossar@hccfl.edu  or 813-253-7674. Free admission.
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 East Cuban Cultural Exchange Show @ Nuance Galleries - Thirteen artists from the Oriente province of Cuba. 804 S. Dale Mabry. Tampa. Free admission.
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--- Luis