Suntan Art Center open house set

ST. PETERSBURG — Suntan Art Center is celebrating one year in the Warehouse Arts District with an open house on Saturday, Jan. 31, 5 to 8 p.m., at 411 19th St. S., St. Petersburg.

Attendees will enjoy a welcoming evening built around community, art, creativity, and connection with live music, drinks, raffles, and food trucks. For information visit www.suntanart.org.

Jazz association to host Sounds of Hope

ST. PETERSBURG — The Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association will present The Sounds of Hope: Honoring the Legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Alvin J. Downing on Saturday, Jan. 24, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Warehouse Arts District Association, 515 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg.

Admission is free. The event is open to the public. This is an outdoor event with on-site parking. Register for the free event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sounds-of-hope-honoring-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-alvin-j-downing-tickets-1979620129096?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Sounds of Hope will feature live performances by local jazz musicians presenting music from the civil rights era, along with narrated reflections on the connection between jazz and the Civil Rights Movement. The program will honor the national legacy of civil rights champion Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the local impact of Alvin J. Downing, jazz music icon, music educator, and 2025 Florida Artists Hall of Fame inductee.

For information, visit www.aldowningjazz.com.

Seminole to present Art in the Park

SEMINOLE — The city of Seminole Recreation Department will present the 10th annual Art in the Park on Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Seminole City Park, 7464 Ridge Road, Seminole.

This outdoor event is free to attend.

An event dedicated to highlighting the talent that makes our community unique, Art in the Park features 33 local artists and fine crafters — both seasoned professionals and passionate hobbyists. Guests are encouraged to come out, connect with the artists, and explore a diverse collection of artwork. From 2D and 3D mixed media, digital art, drawing and printmaking, fiber, glass, handcrafted, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, sculpture, and wood and furniture, all works will be on site and available for purchase.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase by Black Cat Café.

For information, call 727-391-8345 or visit www.myseminole.com.

FloridaRAMA announces new Meatyard diorama

ST. PETERSBURG — FloridaRAMA recently unveiled a new diorama by St. Petersburg artist Rhys Meatyard titled “The Death and Resurrection of Rhys Meatyard.” The work is on display at FloridaRAMA, 2606 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Petersburg.

Small in scale, but rich in detail, the visually stunning work blends beauty and humor with deeper reflection. What first reads as playful slowly reveals a personal story about self-acceptance, mental health and the long work of letting go of unhealthy patterns. It is about choosing growth over shame and learning to live honestly in your own skin.

Meatyard is a third generation queer/trans artist, living and working in St. Petersburg. Influenced from a young age by the work of a long line of immediate family members who were known artists, Meatyard attended the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School and studied fine art and anthropology at Eckerd College.

“FloridaRAMA celebrates us exactly as we are, and doesn’t expect us to be anybody else,” Meatyard said.

Mental health sits at the center of this work — not as an abstract idea but as a lived experience. “The Death and Resurrection of Rhys Meatyard” reflects the tension between who we were and who we are becoming. While the scene is playful and meticulously crafted it also invites reflection and reminds viewers that healing can be messy and nonlinear and still full of beauty.

Cooler than a museum, smarter than a theme park and weirder than a carnival, FloridaRAMA is an indoor immersive art experience and Florida themed family attraction located in St. Petersburg. Designed for all ages and interests, FloridaRAMA has partnered with 85-plus artists, most of them local, to create a captivating world of playful installations that celebrate original Florida stories. Visit www.floridarama.art.

Imagine Museum announces Fire & Light Celebration

ST. PETERSBURG — The annual Fire & Light Anniversary Celebration: Valentine’s Gala Edition will take place on Saturday, Feb. 14, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

Tickets are $30 for members and $50 for nonmembers. Visit www.imaginemuseum.com/fire-and-light/.

This red-carpet event marks eight years of artistic excellence while unveiling the museum’s newest exhibition.

The evening will feature a red-carpet entrance, live jazz by Jeremy Carter, a dynamic light show, and the presentation of the Artist of the Future Award, recognizing an emerging creative voice in contemporary art. Guests will be among the first to experience Imagine Museum’s new Sci-Fi exhibition, debuting exclusively during the celebration.

Attendees will enjoy curated light bites and hors d’oeuvres, a specialty Valentine’s cocktail, and charcuterie alongside immersive moments including live painting and a photo booth experience by St. Jean’s Creative.

The Fire & Light Gala is a celebration of fire, light, and the transformative beauty of glass, offering art lovers, collectors, and community members a unique opportunity to connect with artists and experience new work in an intimate, elevated setting.

Elevated evening attire is encouraged.

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