By Caron Schwartz
They killed Kenny, err, Tony Regulars and fan favorites from the standup podcast Kill Tony take their live show on the road with Killers of Kill Tony. They’ve added a new show to their gig at the Mahaffey Theater on 5/9 @ 9:30pm. https://bit.ly/tony-mahaffey
Eine kleine chamber music The Palladium Chamber Series’ 13th season is in full swing. Upcoming shows: Echoes in E-flat: Mozart & Schumann on 2/11; Varied Soundscapes featuring Stefan Jackiw & Yoonah Kim on 3/25; Intimate Connection, Bold Expression: Schubert, Shostakovich, & Mendelssohn on 4/15. https://bit.ly/palladium-chamber
Not your Coca-Cola polar bears Set against a backdrop of dried grass, rusted tanks, and debris, a photo series by Dmitry Kokh centers on a small group of polar bears that had taken over an abandoned meteorological station located between Russia and Alaska on Kolyuchin Island in the Chukchi Sea. https://bit.ly/arresting-polar-bears
Read a good book lately? Sales of print books are on the rise. Some 762.4 million copies were sold in 2025, up 0.3% from 2024, which in turn saw sales grow 0.5% over 2023. Since sales peaked in 2021 at 839.7 million copies, they have settled at levels higher than before the pandemic, though not as high as many publishers had hoped.
Big wheels keep on turning Caroline Borole channels the high energy and powerful, raspy vocals of Tina Turner in PROUD Tina: The Ultimate Tribute to Tina Turner, coming to the Mahaffey 2/17 @ 8pm. https://bit.ly/proud-tina
Plastic fantastic Discover Plasmatic Rhomboid (Osmium) by Gisela Colón, a luminous sculpture inspired by the natural beauty of Puerto Rico and the glow of futuristic cities, now on view at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete. Watch a short video on Instagram (https://bit.ly/mfa-plasmatic).
Abstraction While there check out The Question of Abstraction, intended as a primer for understanding and engaging with abstract art. Largely drawn from the MFA’s permanent collection, it includes key examples that define various artistic movements championing abstraction, from the beginnings of Modernism in the early 20th century to the present day. Thru 6/14.
Abstract yourself during Abstract Explorations with Amy Howell on the second Tuesday of the month at DRV Gallery in Gulfport. Topics range from color theory to techniques and tools, to the power of contrast, and more. Students bring their own paints, palette knives, surfaces, and tools. $160 for four classes, $45 for single classes. https://bit.ly/drv-calendar
Figurative for a change, New works by L.E. Fen are on display at Gulfport’s Brenda McMahon Gallery. Fen is a figurative oil painter whose work lingers in charged moments — framed by old photographs, film stills, nature, and travel. Meet the artist at his artist talk with gallerist Brenda McMahon on 2/21 from 6-8pm. www.brendamcmahongallery.com
Artist opportunity Wendover Art Group, a Largo-based manufacturer of high-quality artwork and artisanal mirrors, wallcoverings, lighting, textiles, sculptures, and more is always seeking new artists. To apply: https://bit.ly/wendover-artist
AweSnapp invites global artists in 2D and 3D media to enter its annual awards. Win your share of $1,000 in cash and prizes, plus digital awards, gallery features, social media promotion, and global exposure to curators and collectors. The online platform is dedicated to empowering emerging artists, engaging art lovers, and inspiring collectors worldwide. Deadline 3/31. Apply at www.awesnapp.com.
Practical internship Practically Pikasso is seeking a college-age marketing intern for their expanding Clay Corner. Interns work one day a week for four hours during a 10-week or 12-week term. In exchange, interns receive access to clay workshops, open studio hours, shelf space, and free access to glazes and firings. Interested? lynn@practicallypikasso.com
You don’t know James until you’ve attended a docent-led tour of the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. Guided tours are included in the price of admission on Thursdays 1:30-2:15pm. https://bit.ly/james-guided-tours
Polly wally Dalí Take in some word art during Poetry at The Dalí, an ongoing series hosted by Helen Pruitt Wallace, former poet laureate of St. Pete. 2/12 @ 6-7pm, and every second Thursday of each month. View past performances on the Museum’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@DaliMuseum
Across the bridge The exhibition Jun Kaneko: Silence Before Sound celebrates the Tampa Museum of Art’s recent acquisition of Jun Kaneko’s (Japanese-American, b. 1942) monumental sculpture Untitled (Dango). The exhibition represents the first major exhibition of Kaneko’s oeuvre in Florida and presents an overview of the artist’s prolific career. Thru 8/23. https://bit.ly/jun-kaneko
No resting on laurels here You could be the next Tampa Bay Photo Laureate! Applications are now open for the fourth annual Photo Laureate, who will have the honor of documenting and representing Tampa Bay for one year. Their work will culminate in a solo exhibition at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts during May 2027, the St. Pete Month of Photography (SPMOP). Information and application: www.spmop.org/call-for-entries-pl-2026
Gasparilla’s first gaspThe Henry B. Plant Museum looks beyond the myth of pirate José Gaspar with Gaspar’s Gold: Carnival and Community in a New South City. The exhibition explores the arcane symbols and community customs that gave rise to one of the nation’s most recognized celebrations. Thru 8/30. https://bit.ly/gaspers-gold
Escape from suburbia David Bowie’s childhood home in London is about to undergo some serious ch-ch-changes. The modest terraced house at 4 Plaistow Grove, where Bowie lived until age 20, has been acquired by the Heritage of London Trust and will open to the public next year. https://bit.ly/bowie-home
Keys to a fundraiser “Claim” a piano key during 88 Keys. 88 Days., the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival’s fundraising campaign that runs through World Piano Day 3/29. Enjoy piano concerts throughout Tampa Bay 3/24-29, including a live radio performance by Rebecca Penneys on WSMR 89.1 on 3/24. https://bit.ly/rppf-flyer