Creative Pinellas gallery hosts final ‘Arts Annual’

LARGO — Creative Pinellas’ signature end-of-year exhibition, “Arts Annual 8,” is on view through Jan. 4, offering the public the last opportunity to experience the depth, diversity, and vitality of Pinellas County’s creative community at the gallery it has called home since 2018.

The Gallery at Creative Pinellas is at 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Parking and admission are free.

“Arts Annual 8” is the eighth and final “Arts Annual” exhibition to take place at the Gallery at Creative Pinellas. After being defunded by the county in September, the organization will vacate the county-owned office and gallery spaces by Feb. 1, making this exhibition both a celebration and a farewell. The exhibition features 119 works of visual art by 73 artists — including three spoken word performances that were presented at Creative Pinellas’ Nov. 21 fundraiser — for a total of 122 works spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, assemblage, film, and a special site-specific installation from the artist BASK.

Allison McCarthy, Creative Pinellas curatorial director, said this year’s “Arts Annual” was envisioned as a visually striking, museum-caliber exhibition that allows the artwork to take center stage while highlighting relationships between pieces across disciplines and styles. The exhibition is organized into five thematic sections that explore ideas such as scale, pattern, texture, portraiture, and nature, with playful groupings that place unrelated artists side by side to reveal unexpected connections.

“My goal was a show with a major wow-factor — high-caliber artwork that is all from Pinellas, shown in a museum-like setting that really allows the works to sing,” said McCarthy. “Throughout the show guests will see little groupings of works by unrelated artists whose pieces, sometimes in vastly different mediums, rhyme with each other in some way.”

Among the artists featured is painter Miss Crit (Laura Spencer), who has a charcoal drawing, “Polypores,” and an acrylic painting, “Good Luck,” in the show. She credits Creative Pinellas as being a “massive part of my story” evolving into a professional artist, from receiving its Emerging Artist Grant in 2019, to producing several local murals through its support, as well as showing her work in previous Creative Pinellas exhibitions.

“Creative Pinellas has always been there for me and our artistic community. It’s an absolute honor and privilege to participate in the final exhibit at the gallery,” said Spencer. “I’m forever changed by the power of Creative Pinellas, and hope to continue to grow alongside this prolific organization.”

After 89 years, the story of the Gulf Coast Museum of Art and The Gallery at Creative Pinellas is coming to an end. The Gulf Coast Museum of Art began as the Clearwater Museum in 1936, moved to Belleair about 1949 and along the way became the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center. Then, in 1998, after earning accreditation from the American Association of Museums, it became a museum again, and opened in Pinewood Cultural Park in 1999. It was part of a county initiative to incorporate a cultural presence alongside Heritage Village and the Florida Botanical Gardens. In 2018, Creative Pinellas, reopened the gallery and has since continued to build on the building’s original mission — to showcase the best in regional artistry.

For information, visit creativepinellas.org.

Mirella Cimato Gallery presents exhibition

ST. PETERSBURG — An opening reception for “All About Color,” a vibrant new exhibition by acclaimed artist Suzanne Benton, will take place during the St. Pete Art Walk on Saturday, Jan. 10, 5 to 9 p.m., at the Mirella Cimato Gallery at the St. Petersburg Opera Company, 2145 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg.

The exhibition runs Jan. 6 through Feb. 26, with a second Art Walk reception on Saturday, Feb. 14, 5 to 9 p.m. Both events offer an opportunity to meet the artist, enjoy light appetizers and wine, and experience a striking body of work shaped by solitude, transformation, and color.

Benton describes “All About Color” as a vivid response to the stillness of the COVID pandemic, which awakened in her a heightened awareness of nature and an irresistible pull toward luminous, expressive hues. Drawing on seven decades of artmaking — as well as foundational color studies with abstract expressionist John Ferren and travels through South Asia and Africa — she embraces color as the central narrative of this new direction. She views this body of work as her “late style,” a culmination of lifelong artistic exploration and a reflection on beauty, experience, and the fleeting light that shapes our world.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., or by appointment by calling 727-543-9190.

FloridaRAMA’s ‘Quick Shop’ gets sweeter

ST. PETERSBURG — FloridaRAMA is about to enhance its popular “Lucy Sparrow Quick Shop” with the addition of “Sugar Rush” just in time for the holidays.

“Lucy Sparrow’s Quick Shop” is an immersive art and shopping experience by world renowned felt artist Lucy Sparrow that invites you to shop at a replica convenience store made entirely of felt creations inside FloridaRAMA. With the launch of the new “Sugar Rush” section, guests are invited to indulge themselves in a classic American candy aisle made completely out of felt. Think 15,000 felt replicas of classic candies and chocolate bars adorning vibrant colored shelves, in true Sparrow style.

“Sugar Rush” and the “Lucy Sparrow’s Quick Shop” run alongside “Happy HoliDAZE,” where visitors can explore holiday scenes shaped by Florida’s unique spirit: A Christmas tree slips through a “portal” appearing magically in two rooms at once; the motel pool transforms into a gravity-free ice rink; and Florida panthers play the part of Santa’s chaotic elves. Visitors also will find manatees and flamingos showing off festive looks and a pirate ship ball pit.

“Lucy Sparrow’s Quick Shop,” “Sugar Rush” and “Happy HoliDAZE” are all included with general admission.

Nine glowing holes of Neon Minigolf returns for a limited time running through Jan. 5 for additional purchase.

The “Sugar Rush” limited time holiday activation will continue through Jan. 26.

FloridaRAMA is at 2606 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Visit www.floridarama.art.

U.S. Air Force Band to play conference

TAMPA — The U.S. Air Force Band of the West will be traveling to five cities in Florida to perform concerts for local communities and educators. The tour will include a performance at the Florida Music Educators Conference on Thursday, Jan. 15, 9:15 p.m., at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa.

These shows feature the exceptional talents of the nation’s finest airmen musicians, and celebrate the works of American composers, including, “Symphonic Dances from West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein.

Based in San Antonio, Texas, the USAF Band of the West is comprised of 61 highly-trained professional musicians who have dedicated themselves to serving their country through music. Whether performing for live, radio, or television audiences, these airmen are dedicated to enhancing community relations, promoting esprit de corps, and connecting with millions each year.

As musical ambassadors of the United States Air Force, the Band of the West travels more than 125,000 miles annually and provides hundreds of free performances to military and civilian audiences throughout Texas and the surrounding states.

For information, visit https://www.airforcebands.com/.

Pinellas Park Orchestra to perform

PINELLAS PARK — The Pinellas Park Orchestra will perform in concert on Thursday, Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m., at the Pinellas Park Performing Ars Center, 4951 78th Ave. N., Pinellas Park.

The concerts will feature a program of works including:

• Richard Strauss: Feierlicher Einzug der Ritter des Johanniterordens

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik

• Antonio Capuzzi: Concerto for Double Bass

• Richard Wagner: Vorspiel und Liebestod from “Tristan und Isolde”

Tickets are not required. Admission is free, with a $10 suggested donation. Seating is first come, first served. For information, visit Pinellasparkorchestra.org.

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