By Caron Schwartz
Dalí in motion Ever wondered what happens when dancers channel their inner melting clocks? Find out when the 2025 Momentum Cohort Artists present Moving Surreal – a series of choreographic works inspired by the Dalí Museum’s special exhibition, Outside In: New Murals Inspired by Dalí. At the Dalí on 10/14, 7:30-8:30pm. https://bit.ly/moving-surreal
Bring your art to work At Power Design, St. Pete’s largest private employer, the office looks so much like an art gallery you may start critiquing the breakroom lighting. The design/build contracting firm packs its halls with murals, sculptures, large-scale photos, and multimedia displays, all handpicked by co-founders Dana and Mitch Permuy to keep their team inspired. Also, they’re hiring! powerdesigninc.us
Reading material alert! There’s a new print magazine in town. Small Talks, which began as an online zine, just dropped its first print edition. Emma Hintz, Joshua Reynes, and Jennifer Bodine wanted the local music scene mag to have a physical presence – and apparently, a cool spot next to your latte. Grab a copy at Black Crow Coffee on First Ave. S next to Tombolo Books. https://bit.ly/small-talks-zine
October is going swimmingly This month, Dalí Museum members get free admission to The Florida Aquarium, where you can commune with sea creatures, contemplate the mysteries of the deep, and pet a ray.
You can go home again The couple who owns Marilyn Monroe’s former hacienda and the neighboring property had plans to raze and combine them, but news of their demolition permit sent Angelenos, historians, preservationists, and fans into a tizzy. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant nixed the demolition plans, and the LA City Council has crowned the place a cultural landmark.
Paradisaical Art Center Sarasota is seeking submissions for Paradise, an exhibition that explores utopia, beauty, and escapism. They want art that takes viewers to places of serenity, joy, or bold new visions of an ideal world. Deadline: 10/26. http://bit.ly/sarasota-paradise
Pretty in Pink Blue Koi Gallery, a women-owned online platform, invites creatives to submit work to the Pretty in Pink Art Competition, a Barbie-approved celebration of every shade from bashful blush to traffic-stopping fuchsia – think cherry blossoms, neon lights, vintage lipstick, bubblegum, or abstract color explosions. Deadline: 10/31. http://bit.ly/pink-koi
POP+ART Ben Steele’s A POP OF ART! features 10 paintings by Utah-based Ben Steele (b. 1977), who mashes up art history and pop culture like a DJ with a paintbrush. Versatile in style and always a step ahead of the art police, Steele considers anything that keeps the creative process fresh to be fair game – including the American West. At The James Museum (where else?). thejamesmuseum.org
Fulsome DRV Gallery in Gulfport welcomes metalsmith Eric Folsom, a jewelry and sculpture artist who specializes in brazing. The Gulfport native also upcycles bicycle parts to make gates and other sculptural objects. https://www.drvgallery.com
Tippler’s delight The James Museum hosts Whiskey Business – Boots, Brews, & Bourbon, St. Pete’s premier whiskey, beer, and spirits tasting event, celebrating the best in whiskeys, bourbons, scotches, local and international brews, wine, and more. 11/7, 6-10pm.
whiskeybusinesstampabay.com
Reopenings The Florida Holocaust Museum has undergone a complete reimagining during its years-long renovation. With President and CEO Eric B. Stillman at the helm, the museum now offers a deeper experience of the Holocaust’s history. Included are Thor, a Danish fishing boat used in 1943 to rescue over 7,000 Jews, and the collection of Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. thefhm.org
St. Pete’s refreshed and reimagined President Barack Obama Main Library is now open. The 40,000-square-foot hub includes new spaces for programming, community use, and connection, featuring a café, bookstore, and STEAM workshop area. Now open seven days a week. splibraries.org
We’re still standing The Pinellas County Commissioners may have voted to eliminate funding for Creative Pinellas, but the board and staff of Creative Pinellas have a message to artists, cultural organizations, educators, creative businesses, and friends: We’re not going anywhere. “We are exploring possible paths forward and will keep you as informed as possible.” Stay tuned. creativepinellas.org
Adventurama Not having enough fun at Floridarama? How about immersive games add-ons? Pepe’s Plight, anyone? Lucky Duck Hunt, Bird Brains, Flower Power, and more! https://bit.ly/immersive-games
Yard sale Mark your calendar for 11/1, when Art In The Yard turns Gulfport into an open-air gallery. Come out and enjoy the talent and creativity of local artists right in their front yards. mygulfport.us/gulfport-art-in-the-yard
American beauty Rudy Ciccarello, president and founder of the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts movement, has much to be proud of. During the past year, the museum has undergone the reinstallation of the Collector’s Gallery, which features a selection of his favorite items, including American paintings and handcrafted frames. Masterworks of American Frame Design showcases frames as works of art in their own right. He assures us more is coming, especially the 10,000-sf expansion. museumaacm.org
Westward ho! Discover how American artists adapted and transformed Impressionism in In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870–1940. This exhibition traces the movement’s journey from its French origins to its reinterpretation across the US, revealing how artists blended European influences with American landscapes, cities, and everyday life. Tampa Museum of Art. https://bit.ly/new-light-tampa
London calling The David Bowie Centre is the latest addition to the V&A Storehouse – a warehouse for the Victoria and Albert Museum’s “we-have-too-much-stuff” situation. Bowie’s archive boasts over 90,000 objects, from tiny trinkets to wild costumes and projects that never saw the starlight. Evidently, the Thin White Duke was a bit of a hoarder. https://bit.ly/vam-bowie
Docent this sound like fun? The St. Pete Museum of History needs you! Volunteer opportunities include gallery docent (get your daily steps in), archives (for the Indiana Jones types), and guest service (smile required but not included). Want even more adventure? Try guiding a trolley or walking tour. For more info volunteers@spmoh.org.
Does this click? The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) wants volunteer docents. Lead tours, connect with visitors, and help people appreciate photography – one perfectly composed group shot at a time. outreach@fmopa.org
Tyrone Square surprise Next time you’re shopping or just mall walking, you’re in for a treat when you discover the tiny art workshop and gallery tucked into a storefront near Dillard’s. Zero Empty Spaces transforms vacant commercial spaces into vibrant, productive environments that support creative endeavors, including local artists. Check out Leonard Lewis, Tricia Lynn Bush, Rick Ceaser, and others at work. https://bit.ly/zero-locations