Your weekend arts forecast: Trolleys won’t run for Saturday’s ArtWalk
UPDATE: The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance announced at 11:30 a.m. today that it has suspended trolley service for this weekend’s Second Saturday ArtWalk. Although the event will go on as scheduled, some galleries/studios will not be open.
The Arts Alliance map will be updated as the situation progresses.
ORIGINAL STORY: While the three trolleys that hum along on St. Pete streets during each month’s Second Saturday ArtWalk aren’t the quaint, old-fashioned, running-on-a-track electric kind, they’re still kind of sweetly nostalgic. You hop aboard, you get where you want to go, you hop off.
The trolleys stop, of course. At places called “trolley stops.” In fact, they make continuous loops between stops arranged strategically among the 40-some participating art galleries and studios in the Central Arts District, EDGE District, Grand Central District, Warehouse Arts District and downtown Waterfront District.
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, which operates the looper trolleys as part of its ongoing nonprofit service to arts and culture in St. Petersburg, doesn’t charge a trolley fee. You don’t need a ticket to ride.
The March ArtWalk – should be great weather for it, don’t you think? – is 5 to 9 p.m. this Saturday (March 14). You can trolley along, and pretend you’re riding on an old-timey San Francisco streetcar, or you can drive your car and stop, drive and stop, stop and drive.
Either way, visiting the cream of the St. Pete artistic crop is free. In most cases, if a specific artist’s work is in view on a Second Saturday, the artist will be there to say hello, and talk about the work. Some have special events planned; others provide refreshments. It is, according to Arts Alliance director John Collins, one of the largest art walk events in the country, if not the largest.
Drivers/walkers/skateboarders can download this month’s map here.
Trolleyites, take note (all information is subject to change):
Trolley Stop #1 – 2955 Central Ave. Craftsman House Gallery. Representing over 300 local and national artisans – pottery, blown glass, jewelry, wood, metal, furniture.
Trolley Stop #2 – 26th Ave. South between 26th & 27th St. Charlie Parker-Pottery, 2724 6th Avenue S. Join Beate Marston and Ignacio Meldrom for a communal show exploring the perception of attitude and expression in sculpture.
The Mad Monk, 615 27th St. South, Suite A. Featuring abstract works by Adam Hayward as well as local artists.
Zen Glass Studio & Gallery, 600 27th St South. Live glassblowing, auctions, demonstrations and a gallery show of our newest creations.
Studio 521 at 4 Gats Gallery 521 27th St. South – Featuring guest artist Thomas W. Hanafee., an award-winning commercial photographer who is now concentrating on fine nudes. His classic nude studies highlight the unique landscape of the human form. We will also feature a sculpture giveaway by Randy Colbath Sculpture.
Trolley Stop #3 – Closed for the March ArtWalk.
Trolley Stop #4 – 2342 Emerson Ave. South. Duncan McClellan Gallery. Celebrate the coming of spring at the opening exhibition of “Colorfield,” works by four visiting artists: Australians Kathy Elliot and Kevin Gordon, and Dorothy Hafner and Timothy Stover from Connecticut and Ohio. 6:15: Glass blowing demonstration begins; 8-9:30: Live jazz with the Henry Ashwood Jazz Project.
Trolley Stop #5 – 400 23rd St. S. NEW TO ARTWALK – Creative Art Studios.
Trolley Stop #6 – in the parking lot of 515 22nd St. South. MPAK Art + Design, 2215 6th Avenue South. Artists Andre and Michelle paint on corrugated aluminum and frame their work in metal.
Soft Water Studios, 515 22nd Street South. Welcoming back artist Jim Kammerud, along with his wife and fellow artist, Janie Haskins. Donation cash bar, light refreshments. Resident artists include: Mark Aeling, Wendy Durand, Janie Haskins, Carrie Jadus, Jim Kammerud, and Robert Sutherland.
MGA Sculpture Studio (same address). A commission driven sculpture facility that specializes in the design, fabrication and installation of sculptural objects in a variety of mediums from cartable materials to metal fabrication.
ArtsXchange (same address). “Off the Dome: Artists of the Dome Industrial Project.” In honor of the completion of the revitalization of the Dome Industrial markers, the six selected artists are showcasing their local work, literally “Off the Dome,” so to speak.: Elaine Chambliss, Brian McAllister, Zulu Painter, Susanne Sangrico, Justin Sears and Catherine Weaver. Also visit the studios of over 20 working artists in various mediums.
Trolley Stop #7 – 2240 9th Ave. South. Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum. “A Celebration of HER-story: Black on a Saturday Night,” a celebration of women’s strength and resilience in our community. The evening will feature spoken word, stories of influential black women, art, music, and light refreshments.
Trolley Stop #8 – 420 22nd St. South. Morean Center for Clay. “Grides,” curated by Artist-in-Residence Danny Dobrow, is a continuation of Dobrow’s exploration of boundary testing ceramicists. Participating artists are Jen Halli, Rachel Gu, Aaron Becker, and Austin Coudriet. Aaron will be doing a spoken word performance and Austin will be making a wet clay installation.
Trolley Stop #9 – 2101 3rd Avenue South (Five Deuces Galleria in the parking lot of 3 Daughters Brewing).
Anna Broshears Fine Art LLC, 2149 3rd Avenue South. Specializing in large scale abstract and seascape oil and acrylic paintings as well as pop art.
Ruppel Studio, 2135 3rd Avenue South. Figurative expressionism often on large canvasses. Meet the artist Janet Ruppel.
Trolley Stop #10 – 2010 1st Ave. South. Clay Center of St. Petersburg, 2010 1st Avenue South. Celebrating one of their 59 members, as well as doing a live demonstration of Raku firing and a blindfolded throwing demonstration.
Mirella Cimato Art Gallery – 2145 First Avenue South (inside Opera Central). TESA – The Exhibiting Society of Artists ; about 30 artists will be exhibiting in a variety of mediums.
Trolley Stop #11 – 1846 1st Avenue S. Creative Clay. “What the World Needs Now,” an exhibit, workshop and lecture by renowned folk artist Missionary Mary Proctor. (Workshop is from 3-5pm). Live music by Brian Brown 6-8pm. A vast folk art collection.
Trolley Stop #12 – 620 1st Ave. South. thestudio@620. The Florida Artists Group, with work from Sonia A. Smith, Lynn Foskett, Jim Swallow, Cheryl Swallow, Joanna Coke, Pam Miles, Melissa Nece, Leslie Jeffery, John Hintz, Margaret Juul, Margorie Graff and Denis Gaston.
Work by Alicia Campos for “Stitcherotica” at Art Lofts
Trolley Stop #13 – 5th Street between 1st Ave. N & Central. Connects to Downtown Looper. Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave. “Contemporary Fiber in Florida 2020,” featuring work by artists from around Florida, this exhibition will highlight current trends and innovations in the constantly evolving field of fiber art. Art Lofts: “Stitcherotica” (Studio 208) is a celebration of classic fiber art portrayed in a decidedly non-traditional sense. Eighteen artists, including Brandy Stark, Maria Swire and Alicia Campos, will interpret erotic, sexy, naughty themes through their art media, such as rope, yarn, cloth, wire, thread or wool.
RockShop Fine Gems & Jewelry, 529 Central Ave. Ungala live demonstration.
Graphi-ko Gallery/Jewelry, 669 Central Avenue – “Fish Tales” by Painter Loki – an all-new collection of works celebrating two of Florida’s favorite activities, fishing and drinking.
Trolley Stop #14 – 719 Central Ave.
Morean Arts Center and Glass Studio, 635 Central Ave. “Bunches,” a banana-themed art collection that is presented in homage to Art Basel Miami Beach and the Maurizio Cattelan’s “The Comedian.”
In celebration of the Grand Prix, the parking lot of the Morean Glass Studio will be transformed to a plein air showroom of vintage and race cars.
Trolley Stop #15 – 1445 Central Ave. ARTicles Art Gallery & Custom Framing and Leslie Curran Gallery, 1431 Central Ave. ART BRUT| featuring artist Michel Delgado.
Trolley Stop #16 – Central Avenue between 22nd & 23rd Streets. Woodfield Fine Art, 2253 Central Ave.e #105 – Features art created exclusively by local artists- new art will be exhibited during ArtWalk with many of the artists present.
Hampson Galleries – 1935 Central Ave. A retrospective of works in glass by Petr Hora, from the Czech Republic.
Trolley Stop #17 – Central Ave. and 24th St. St Pete ArtWorks, 2412 Central Avenue. A co-operative art gallery featuring the artwork of 21 local artists in a wide range of media. Featured Exhibition: “Invocations” – fiber and mixed media works by Rebecca Quigley, and live music by Marissa Nave.
The Downtown Looper covers the bayfront area, which will be in some form of disarray because of this weekend’s auto race. See the map for details.
At the the-at-uh
Several of our local professional theaters are up and running at full stride – including a couple of opening weekends: Jobsite, with John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, featured in these pages Wednesday, and Natalie Symons’ The People Downstairs at American Stage, which we’ll talk about Friday in the Catalyst.
At freeFall, the rave reviews are rolling in for Lone Star Spirits, continuing through March 29.
And now, this
The Mahaffey Theater is dark this weekend, as the Firestone Grand Prix ties up most of the bayfront. For The Florida Orchestra, this was as good a time as any to take a weekend off, since the group is usually in residence at the Mahaffey Saturday nights. TFO went ahead and declined to schedule weekend concerts at the Straz Center or Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Singer/songwriter Chuck Brodsky performs Friday in the big room at Craftsman House Gallery. Brodsky was the very first acoustic artist to play a Craftsman House show, back in 2006, and he’s been back every year since.
Creative Collaborations, the St. Petersburg Opera Company production Friday and Saturday at the organization’s headquarters on 1st Avenue South, is a potpourri of operatic voices and chamber orchestra in different combinations. Among the highlights: A rare performance of the Samuel Barber/Gian Carlo Menotti opera A Hand of Bridge, featuring a cast of four and a duration of nine minutes.
Sarasota-raised actor and comic Paul Reubens’ appearance Friday at the Tampa Theatre – talking about the 35th anniversary of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, accompanied by a screening of the Tim Burton comedy in which he plays the giggly man-child – is sold out. Just an FYI.
Saturday’s appearance by Art Garfunkel at the Capitol Theatre has been “postponed,” with no reason given – although it’s not a stretch to imagine the notoriously fragile-voiced singer staying home because of coronavirus fears.
- We can’t stress this enough: If we don’t know about your event, we can’t write anything about it. So please remember to add bill@stpetecatalyst.com to your mailing list today!
