Creative Pinellas gallery hosts final \u2018Arts Annual\u2019<\/p>\n
LARGO \u2014 Creative Pinellas\u2019 signature end-of-year exhibition, \u201cArts Annual 8,\u201d is on view through Jan. 4, offering the public the last opportunity to experience the depth, diversity, and vitality of Pinellas County\u2019s creative community at the gallery it has called home since 2018.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cArts Annual 8\u201d is the eighth and final \u201cArts Annual\u201d 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 \u2014 including three spoken word performances that were presented at Creative Pinellas\u2019 Nov. 21 fundraiser \u2014 for a total of 122 works spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, assemblage, film, and a special site-specific installation from the artist BASK.<\/p>\n
Allison McCarthy, Creative Pinellas curatorial director, said this year\u2019s \u201cArts Annual\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal was a show with a major wow-factor \u2014 high-caliber artwork that is all from Pinellas, shown in a museum-like setting that really allows the works to sing,\u201d said McCarthy. \u201cThroughout 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the artists featured is painter Miss Crit (Laura Spencer), who has a charcoal drawing, \u201cPolypores,\u201d and an acrylic painting, \u201cGood Luck,\u201d in the show. She credits Creative Pinellas as being a \u201cmassive part of my story\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreative 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,\u201d said Spencer. \u201cI’m forever changed by the power of Creative Pinellas, and hope to continue to grow alongside this prolific organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s original mission \u2014 to showcase the best in regional artistry.<\/p>\n
For information, visit creativepinellas.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mirella Cimato Gallery presents exhibition<\/p>\n ST. PETERSBURG \u2014 An opening reception for \u201cAll About Color,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Benton describes \u201cAll About Color\u201d 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 \u2014 as well as foundational color studies with abstract expressionist John Ferren and travels through South Asia and Africa \u2014 she embraces color as the central narrative of this new direction. She views this body of work as her \u201clate style,\u201d a culmination of lifelong artistic exploration and a reflection on beauty, experience, and the fleeting light that shapes our world.<\/p>\n Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., or by appointment by calling 727-543-9190.<\/p>\n FloridaRAMA\u2019s \u2018Quick Shop\u2019 gets sweeter<\/p>\n ST. PETERSBURG \u2014 FloridaRAMA is about to enhance its popular \u201cLucy Sparrow Quick Shop\u201d with the addition of \u201cSugar Rush\u201d just in time for the holidays.<\/p>\n \u201cLucy Sparrow\u2019s Quick Shop\u201d 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 \u201cSugar Rush\u201d 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.<\/p>\n \u201cSugar Rush\u201d and the \u201cLucy Sparrow\u2019s Quick Shop\u201d run alongside \u201cHappy HoliDAZE,\u201d where visitors can explore holiday scenes shaped by Florida\u2019s unique spirit: A Christmas tree slips through a \u201cportal\u201d 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\u2019s chaotic elves. Visitors also will find manatees and flamingos showing off festive looks and a pirate ship ball pit.<\/p>\n \u201cLucy Sparrow\u2019s Quick Shop,\u201d \u201cSugar Rush\u201d and \u201cHappy HoliDAZE\u201d are all included with general admission.<\/p>\n Nine glowing holes of Neon Minigolf returns for a limited time running through Jan. 5 for additional purchase.<\/p>\n The \u201cSugar Rush\u201d limited time holiday activation will continue through Jan. 26.<\/p>\n FloridaRAMA is at 2606 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Petersburg. Visit www.floridarama.art.<\/p>\n U.S. Air Force Band to play conference<\/p>\n TAMPA \u2014 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.<\/p>\n These shows feature the exceptional talents of the nation\u2019s finest airmen musicians, and celebrate the works of American composers, including, \u201cSymphonic Dances from West Side Story\u201d by Leonard Bernstein.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n For information, visit https:\/\/www.airforcebands.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pinellas Park Orchestra to perform<\/p>\n PINELLAS PARK \u2014 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.<\/p>\n The concerts will feature a program of works including:<\/p>\n \u2022 Richard Strauss: Feierlicher Einzug der Ritter des Johanniterordens<\/p>\n \u2022 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik<\/p>\n \u2022 Antonio Capuzzi: Concerto for Double Bass<\/p>\n \u2022 Richard Wagner: Vorspiel und Liebestod from \u201cTristan und Isolde\u201d<\/p>\n Tickets are not required. Admission is free, with a $10 suggested donation. Seating is first come, first served. For information, visit Pinellasparkorchestra.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n