Create
Brush to canvas: News from the art community
The return of Lucy Sparrow, and the launch of the SHINE Mural Festival anniversary book.
British artist Lucy Sparrow caused quite a (positive) stir when she spent a few days in St. Petersburg in November.
She was creating one of her whimsical and world famous installations, “Lucy Sparrow’s Quick Stop,” inside FloridaRAMA – a convenience store where every one of the 13,000 items is made of felt (they’re actually custom-shaped little pillows with bright, hand-stitched felt covers).
Sparrow, who’s as colorful as her creations, even stopped into our Arts Alive! podcast studio for a warm and funny chat (listen to it at this link).
Everything in the Quick Stop – from felt potato chip bags to aspirin bottles to produce – went on sale (just like a real store!) and lots of things have been sold since.
Sparrow will be back at FloridaRAMA this weekend to expand on her installation with “Sugar Rush,” a candy shop with 18,000 newly-handmade items of candies and confections. She introduced the concept at the Art Miami Fair last month.
The artist will be onsite at FloridaRAMA Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, from 2 to 6 p.m.
UNITED in Pinellas Park
John Gascot, one of the owners of Pinellas Park’s Studios@5663, is launching the UNITED Mural Project, in which six artists (incluging Gascot himself) will paint one letter, in their own style, of the word UNITED on an outside studio wall. It’s a beautification project (the wall, they say, has been looking shabby), a message to the universe and a commentary on the drying-up of arts funding overall. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the public is invited to 5663’s first-ever Mural Fest. Attendees are encouraged to help paint the mural’s background, contribute to collaborative community canvases, explore a local art and maker market. There’ll be open studios, live music and a general groove. And it’s free. All the info is at the website.
Gascot and participating artist Laura “Miss Crit” Spencer will guest on Friday’s edition of our Arts Alive! podcast.
SHINE on
Coming to Tombolo Books Feb. 5: A celebration of St. Pete’s SHINE Mural Festival, which had its 10th anniversary in 2024. It’s at Tombolo because SHINE: 10th Anniversary Book has just been published. The event will include a panel discussion moderated by St. Petersburg Arts Alive executive director Helen French. The panelists include longtime SHINE director Jenee Priebe and artists Todd Burgess, Reid Jenkins, Cristi López and Zulu Painter.
The book includes more than 250 pages of photography, artist biographies, behind-the-scenes stories and comments from muralists and community leaders on the goal, and the intrinsic value, of public art.
Admission to the 6:30 p.m. is free, but RSVPs (at this link) are required.
More new stuff
Now on view at Wild Space Gallery (at The Factory St. Pete): Fine Feathers: Etchings by John Costin. The exhibit includes 22 copperplate etchings of native Florida birds, detailed, lifelike, life-sized and hand colored. Find more here.
Oil painting by L.E. Fen.
Now on view at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (Tampa): Dimpy Bhalotia: Small Lens, Big World, a collection of black and white cell phone images by the Mumbai-born, London-based photographer. Says the museum website: “Her work proves that powerful storytelling doesn’t require elaborate equipment, just a sharp eye, impeccable timing, and the camera in your pocket.” Find more here.
Unique works by oils artist L.E. Fen go on exhibit Friday, Feb. 6 at Gulfport’s Brenda McMahon Gallery. A reception is planned from 6 to 9 p.m. that day.
Just so you know: The 11th annual St. Petersburg Fine Art Festival is happening Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7 and 8, in South Straub Park.
Artists, museums and galleries: Please add the Catalyst to your email lists: bill@stpetecatalyst.com. Thanks!
