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Brush to canvas: Events and news from the art world

Artist Krystle Lemonias, whose work utilizes found materials, fabric and iconography to depict themes of social class privilege, citizenship, labor rights and the ways in which economic inequality affects Black communities, speaks Friday at the Woodson African American Museum of Florida.

Krystle Lemonias. Photo provided.
Jamaica-born Lemonias, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Art at Rowan University, is a former bay area resident who holds an MFA (2022) from the University of South Florida. Her BFA is in printmaking.
While in Tampa she worked as a graduate student union organizer, and mentor with the Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative.
The exhibit, opening Tuesday, is called Invisible Labor. “Immigrant Black communities have contributed richly to the United States cultural diversity and the workforce despite systemic inequalities they face,” the artist statement reads. “My artwork explores these women’s work as domestic laborers that play an integral role in the function of our society. This piece explores the social complexities in these spaces regarding class, citizenship, economic inequity, and labor rights.
“In using the baby clothes of the children my mother in the composition cares for I tell untold stories of her experiences as a nanny. Individuals that are documented and undocumented people serving as essential participants to America’s workforce.”
RSVP (it’s free) for the 6:30 p.m. talk here.
Invisible Labor opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The exhibit also features works by Sharon Norwood, another graduate of the USF art school (she earned her MFA at Florida State University). These include “Savannah Greys”: Bricks from Savannah, Georgia, made by hand in the early 19th century.
“The bricks were handmade by enslaved persons, and in fact, you can see fingerprints in a couple of them,” said Woodson spokesman Danny Olda. “They’re particularly large, and amazing at being nearly 200 years old.”
Saturday brings the first Second Saturday ArtWalk of the new year. More than 40 artist studios and galleries will be open from 5 to 9 p.m., welcoming visitors, including the curious, the mildly interested and those looking to buy something cool. Here’s the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance’s January ArtWalk map.
The Artwalk After Dark party at FloridaRAMA (at Fairgrounds St. Pete) runs from 9 to 11 p.m. The event (free admission for January) gets you live music and a cash bar, in the cafe/gallery.
Thursday at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art: Borderland Unlocked, an artist panel discussion of the exhibition Icons and Symbols of the Borderland, with curator Diana Molina and others. That starts at 6:30 p.m., following a 6 p.m. interpretive dance performance by Melissa Melpignano. Tickets are available at this link.
LEARN MORE: Arts Alive! podcast: Diana Molina, guest curator, James Museum
Thursday at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Tampa: Former music executive (and big-time rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia collector) Davy Alder talks about his contributions to the exhibition Fandom: Celebrating Rock & Roll. It’s at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are here.
ADDITIONAL READING: Photography exhibit explores rock ‘n’ roll fandom
Friday at the Imagine Museum: The Florida Orchestra’s Principal Cellist Victor Minke Huls, and acclaimed violinist Nina Kim, in performance. Tickets ($10) for the 5 p.m. performance are available at this link.
Wild Space Gallery, also inside The Factory St. Pete, has an opening reception Saturday (5-8 p.m.) for Natural Selection. It includes fine art prints and sculpture multiples created at USF Graphicstudio – artists Mark Dion, Graciela Iturbide, Andrea Modica, Ed Ruscha and Janaina Tschäpe visually explore some of the ways that humanity and our natural environment interface with each other.
Coming to the Gallery at Creative Pinellas Jan 16: Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks, an exhibition by Nigerian Sri Lankan artist Sam Modder; on the 19th, the 50th Annual International Miniature Art Exhibition of the Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF), featuring over 600 works by 134 artists.
Gulfport’s DRV Gallery will host jazz trio La Lucha Thursday, Jan. 23.
Please send all event notices to bill@stpetecatalyst.com.

Artist Sam Modder brings “Source of All Hair, Wearer of All Socks” to the Gallery at Creative Pinellas Jan. 16. Image provided.
