By Caron Schwartz
March is Youth Art Month! The Clearwater Arts Alliance and Creative Pinellas present K-8th grade works of art from Pinellas County Schools with the theme Visual Movement: How can one convey motion or action through art? The exhibit runs from 3/2-31 at the Creative Pinellas Gallery in Largo, with an opening reception 3/3 from 1:30-3pm. https://bit.ly/pinellas-creative-youth
Shout OUT Gulfport’s LGBTQ Resource Center has a new name: OUT Arts & Culture. The new name, which was revealed at the organization’s annual meeting, more closely reflects the organization’s mission and goals.
Selfie pandemic Art insurer Hiscox warns against “a pandemic of selfies” harming artworks in museums around the world. Visitors snapping self-portraits are backing into art, or tripping and falling on artworks, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage. Keep that selfie stick at home!
Arts & economics Learn how vital the arts are to our civic lives, tourism, and the economy at Creative Pinellas’s Arts & Economic Prosperity Forum 3/21, from 9am-12pm at the EpiCenter at St. Petersburg College. https://bit.ly/arts-prosperityforum
Creative Pinellas presents Strength of Character, an exhibition featuring large-scale paintings by Edgar Sanchez Cumbas, sculptural wood pieces by Kathleen & David Bly (Jib Projects), and assembled objects by Kendra Frorup. Opening reception 3/14, 6-8pm. On view through 4/28. https://bit.ly/creative-strength
With support from the National Endowment for the Arts and several Pinellas County nonprofits. Creative Pinellas awarded Beyond Placemaking Artist Grants to 10 Pinellas County Artists. $10,000 grant winners are AGalban, Sheila Cowley, Tiffany Elliott, Laurie Elmer, Debbie Garrett, Dr. Dallas Jackson, Tamia Iman Kennedy, and Dakota Parkinson. $15,000 winners are Polita Glynn and Jema. https://bit.ly/beyond-placemaking
There’s a new center for art, music, and ukulele at Creative Learning House. Classes and workshops include Music Makers for young children, ukulele for all ages, and art programs for all. www.creativelearninghouse.com
Hold onto your wallet Join us for the Gulf Coast Artists’ Alliance Annual Artsy Rummage Sale, featuring gently used arts and crafts supplies, artwork, prints, books, frames, mats, fabric, jewelry, displays, equipment, and more! 3/23, 10am-3pm. https://bit.ly/gcaafl-classes
Four decades Since 1984 the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School has served as a magnet program for artistically talented students. The Morean is hosting the Four Decades: PCCA Faculty + Alumni Exhibition through 3/28. More exhibitions featuring alumni, faculty, and students will continue throughout the year. https://bit.ly/morean-4-decades
Kristen Shepherd, former executive director and CEO of the St. Pete Museum of Fine Arts, has launched a consulting company. Shepherd Lane + Associates provides consulting, project management facilitation and training, media and public speaking training, and interim leadership services for museums and art institutions. www.shepherdlane.com
Yo mama The Museum of Motherhood holds its annual International MoM Conference: Threads of Connection: Sorry/Not Sorry. Accessible on Zoom and onsite at The Factory in St. Pete 3/22-24. https://bit.ly/momm-exhibits
The grand opening of Raven Skyriver and Kelly O’Dell’s dual exhibit will be held 3/9-10 at the Duncan McClellan Gallery. The two glass artists, who focus on sea animals, will have a lecture and demonstration 3/10 from 12-4pm. www.dmglass.com
Get fired up at a Gott Glass glassblowing class. Learn something new or hone your skills with one-on-one guidance from professional glassblower Susan Gott. Classes run through March and April. www.gottglass.com.
Spittin’ distance Spitfire Comedy House is offering a weekend of workshops with guest improv masters Aden and Eric Nepom 3/9-10. https://bit.ly/spitfire-nepom
Or get your schtick together at a Spitfire Sunday Drop-In from 2-4pm. This 18+-only improv class is open to all levels, focusing on new techniques, practices, and frameworks to make you a better improviser on and offstage. https://bit.ly/spitfire-classes
Candlelight Orchestra presents From Bach To The Beatles, a live, multi-sensory musical experience at Coastal Creative under the gentle glow of candlelight. 3/14, shows at 6:30 and 9pm. https://bit.ly/coastal-orchestra
Get back to the garden Check out Tampa Bay Watch’s inaugural Botanical Bash 3/10 from 1-4pm. This unique event immerses you in the beauty and versatility of native gardens with engaging and educational activities. https://bit.ly/tbw-botanical-bash
Gulfport’s Brenda McMahon Gallery is celebrating the works of Creative Pinellas Emerging Artist Grant winner Agueda Zabisky in March. Meet the artist 3/16 from 6-8pm at the gallery. www.brendamcmahongallery.com
Another Gulfport gallery, DRV Gallery, presents an exhibition of owner Deserie Valloreo’s work in April. The Human Condition opens 4/5 with an opening reception from 6-8pm and will be on display through 4/20. https://bit.ly/drv-human-condition
Artsy-craftsy gala The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement hosts its Annual Gala benefiting MAACM’s education program. Wear cocktail or semi-formal attire to delight in dinner, craft cocktails, exciting live auction, and more. 3/23 at 7pm.
Spring has sprung Take in local artists’ pieces of artwork during the city of South Pasadena Annual Artspring Exhibition 3/22-23, 10am-3pm. The gallery is located on the first floor of City Hall. Artists welcome to apply! 727-347-4171 or email cityhall@mysouthpasadena.com.
Dress like an Egyptian The Museum of Fine Arts presents Egyptomania: Fashion’s Conflicted Obsession with Darnell-Jamal Lisby, assistant fashion curator at the Cleveland Museum. 3/14, 6-7pm. https://bit.ly/mfa-egyptomania
Main squeeze The Morean’s eighth annual celebration of emerging Florida artists, Fresh Squeezed, runs 4/13-6/27 at the Morean Arts Center. https://bit.ly/morean-fresh
The Florida Holocaust Museum has become the permanent home of writer and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel’s entire archive, including a re-creation of his office. Most documents will be housed in the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library at USF St. Pete and will anchor USF’s new Elie Wiesel Center for Humanitarian Ethics. https://bit.ly/fhm-march
But does she take email? If you’ve ever stood in wonder before da Vinci’s Mona Lisa at the Louvre, you may have noticed a little mailbox nearby. No, it’s not a suggestion box, it’s for fan mail. If you can’t get to Paris you can always post a letter to Musée du Louvre, Service des publics, A l’attention de Mona Lisa, 75058 Paris Cedex 01, France.
TASTEful Join The Straz Center for their annual eat-and-drink extravaganza! TASTE at The Straz puts you on Tampa’s beautiful Riverwalk with access to the Bay area’s best food, craft brews, cocktails, live music, and more. 4/27, 7pm. https://bit.ly/2024-straz-taste