St Pete Zine Fest @ Venture Compound, January 12th, 2013

The Venture Compound is holding the Saint Petersburg 'Zine Fest, coming up on January 12th, 2013 (2nd Saturday) starting at 6 PM. The event is sponsored by St. Pete Community Acupuncture and St. Pete Free Skool and is attracting a wide variety of 'zines and their authors, including Malcom Johnson and Coralette Damme.
At 2621 Fairfield Ave. South, St. Pete. This event is Free.

First Night 2012 Part I: Lanterns for Bill Woo Correira

First Night 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of this New Year's Celebration for Saint Petersburg. At Williams Park there was a longitudinal display of fish-themed Chinese lanterns dedicated to the dear and recently departed Bill Woo Correira. The lanterns dangled from a wire strung between scaffolding, glowing in the  evening sky as people milled around below.

The lanterns, each a one-of-a-kind, lovingly hand-painted tribute to Woo, held up by wire, connected, yet shining individually like the artists in Saint Petersburg.

--- Luis

The Southern Letterpress

Kaitlin Crockett of Ramblin' Rose Upcycle Boutique on the 600 block of Central brought friends, Bridget Elmer and her husband, who teach at the university level and own and run The Southern Letterpress.

Bridget Elmer, Southern Letterpress

They were parked, with their printed products in the bed of a very cool old pick-up truck. Along with Malcom Johnson we talked during the waning afternoon. They moved here recently and are getting settled and their studio space together.







They had on display various innovative and beautifully designed and printed items.

Bridget Elmer and Southern Letterpress goods.

The Elmers

It was a pleasure to meet the Elmers and Southern Letterpress. I want to extend to them a warm welcome to the St. Petersburg Creative Community. We've been waiting for them.

--- Luis

This Not Fade Away Weekend, January 4th-6th.

Now that the season has passed and life simultaneously begins anew and returns to normal, this weekend is still a little light event-wise, which is OK because a lot of us are still recovering.

 


Breakfast with Dali for Families @ Dali Museum - For kids 5-12, a docent-led tour through the Museum, then a breakfast buffet and activities for them. All for $21 per adult, plus $ 10/child. Saturday, January 5th, @ 9:30 AM. Dali Museum, 1 Dali Blvd, downtown St. Petersburg.


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Basement Gallery Photo Show - Missy Roll, Brian Leighty and Relic Photography will be exhibited. Tapas and Wine courtesy of Taps and Tequila and Sotted design and Cafe Alma.
1000 Central Ave. (Hard to see from Central. It is on the left if you're going West. Park right after Cafe Bohemia). Free. Friday, Jan 4th, 8-10 PM.

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Cocktails for a Cause @ Tampa Museum of Art - The Sono Cafe in TMA will be serving cocktails and finger food at a night opening of the Museum until 8 PM. A portion of sales at Sono will go to the Florida Holocaust Museum. All at TMA (free admission), Friday 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Downtown Tampa, Friday, January 4th, from 5-7.
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Fine Arts Friday @ Gulfport - This beautiful seaside community's Salon M will,host artists and their works, with complimentary drinks and appetizers. 2820 Beach Blvd. 6-10 PM Friday, Jan. 5th.
Free
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Florida Center of Creative Photography Meet @ O'Keefe's Family Tavern & Grille - This groups has speakers and addresses all levels of photography. Free. Wednesday, January 9th, 1219 Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater.
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 Home for The Holidays, Jamex and Einar de La Torre @ Mindy Solomon Gallery (MSG) - These Mexican glass artists have been reviewed here before. Last seen at the MFA Glass show the brothers return to MSG (their conceptual "home"). Free admission. All at 124 2nd Ave NE. St Pete.



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Tampa Museum of Art - A great chance to see the Cartier-Bresson photography show which closes on Jan. 13th.. Admission $10.00 All at TMA, 120 Gasparilla Plaza. Tampa. I reviewed it here: [Link]



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Dorothea Lange and Mario Algaze at Florida Museum of Photographic Arts - Two great and indirectly related exhibits at FMoPA. My review of the Mario Algaze can be seen here [Link]
 Through Jan. 6th, at FMoPA.

Museum Location

The Cube at Rivergate Plaza
400 N. Ashley Drive
Cube 200
Tampa, Florida 33602
813-221-2222
info@fmopa.org

Seen/Scene: Snowflakes for Sandy Hook @ Eve N Odd Gallery

After the tragedy at their school, the teachers asked or people to make and send them paper snowflakes for their Winter Festival. Jennifer Kosharek, who is an artist and owner of Eve and Odd gallery, stepped up and had a snowflake-making evening in her gallery. Later she sent the snowflakes to them. Here are a few pictures from that evening.

A snowflake being made...

From St. Petersburg's Eve N Odd to Sandy Hook: Snowflakes.

 Congratulations to everyone who participated in this heart-to-heart event. I felt a more direct connection to the Sandy Hook victims than I'd previously had when I added my snowflake to those pictured above.

--- Luis

The Life Aquatic for Bill Correira Woo @ Sake Bomb

Derek Donnelly & Lacy Myer

Sake Bomb entrance

 
The Life Aquatic show took place on Dec. 12th 2012 at the Sake Bomb. Several artists/friends of Woo donated works for auction to help raise money for the bronze bust that is to be put up on Central.

Work by Frank Strunk III

Work by Laura James

Work by Jen Kosharek

From Laura James, a Luminist seascape. On the right, what appears to be a school of (mangrove?) snapper from Jennifer Kosharek.

A wild abstraction (or is it a man o' war?) from Saori on the left. On right, a round fish by Chainsaw Chuck.

                               An angler robot with a reel-istic body by Sarah Thee Campagna.

Outside, on the sidewalk in front of the Sake Bomb, art and life went on...people gathered and socialized...

Sebastian Coolidge painting.

Another beautiful testimonial and outpouring of love for Bill Correira Woo from his friends.

--- Luis

Rob Davidson Fine Arts Mural by Christian Thomas.

Work by Christian Thomas

On Dec. 12th, a second party was held at Artful Living for the finishing of the mural along the back wall facing Central Ave. Christian Thomas, one of St. Petersburg's best and most prolific muralists, spray-painted this wall over a few weeks. On the left we see the mural around the 2nd week of November when the first party happened. A few pictures from the first party below...

Jun Bustamante and STOIC

 Below, pictures from the Dec. 12th wrap up...look at the difference between this pic on the left and the first one in this article. That's Christian Thomas painting in the upper left.

Here are two details from the mural...Note the colors. It is unusual to see this much white in street art. The colors and some of the symbology here bear resemblances to Inuit Totemic art.

Congratulations to Christian Thomas on another stand-out mural, and to Artful Living/Rob Davidson Fine Art/Art Supply for making this possible.

---- Luis

Warehouse Art District Evening, 12/15/2012, Part III, Venture Compound

For its 1st Birthday, the Venture Compound (VC) had a block party that was shared on the same evening with the Black Valley Coalition and Zen Glass. This is the third part in this series, the Venture Compound. This venue is a DIY grass-roots effort headed by Jesse Vance and a cadre of dedicated volunteers. It has evolved constantly throughout the year, incorporating improvements that have made the experience better at every turn and experimenting to see what works. The art gallery, run by Brad Kokay is coming along. One thing that hasn't changed is the level of passion and commitment. Here are a few pictures from the VC's 1st birthday...

The VC hosted a Ramblin' Rose Indie Market in its patio and surroundings, with lots of vendors.

In the art gallery, it was the closing reception for Jovan Bato Ijacik's (on the right) show. He was very kind for taking time to talk with a young budding artist friend of mine.

For more of Bato...[Link]

On the left is a work-in-progress by Bato, a portrait of Marylin Monroe in bubble gum.

Whitey Alabastard

As always, there was music at the VC that evening. I stayed for a couple of groups. Here was the unexpectedly delightful Mr. & Mrs. Smith, who played a great set of Irish songs.

 

Infinite Third did a floating world type of song, intensely meditative, taking the listener through a range of carefully modulated emotional levels.

Congratulations to everyone at the Venture Compound for a banner year and a great party to celebrate it.

--- Luis