Arts & Culture in Pinellas County January 2018

ARTS SHINE HERE. 

A movement that has created opportunities and experiences for artists, locals and visitors, as well as launched collaborative partnerships that make our region a more vibrant place to live, work, and play.

A few of the accomplishements that the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance has supported in the arts, including:

  • SHINE Mural Festival – in the 3rd year, it has added 17 new murals to the community by diverse artists from around the world
  • Publication of the St. Petersburg Studio & Gallery Guide featuring 41 art businesses that exhibit and sell artwork in a multitude of mediums
  • Development of the only virtual mural arts tour in the world designed to be accessible to all
  • Development of the online St. Petersburg Cultural Directory
  • Support for emerging organizations and festivals, including SHINE, Et Cultura, and the Exquisite Corpse Games
  • Providing Artists Community Engagement Grants
  • Establishing Funding Futures, providing grant awards for at-risk students in afterschool arts education programs
  • Supporting 2nd Saturday ArtWalk, which creates an unforgettable experience for all participants while supporting small business

These accomplishments are achieved through the support of donations from the community.  Starting children early to express themselves help’s create  tomorrows budding artist in the community.  Funds help the arts in educating not only kids, but in the continuing education for entrepreneurs and creative business professionals. Invest in the arts and create a blossoming art community.

PINELLAS AUTISM PROJECT AND THE CITY OF IMAGINATION

January 20th, 2018
2726 54th St. S. (Between the 2 dog parks) Gulfport, Florida 33707 – 6 – 10pm, Free

Come join Studio Duvoe, the Pinellas Autism Project and the City of Imagination to celebrate the artistic genius of neuro-diverse (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, etc.) kids and young adults from all over Pinellas County. The students ages 6 – 21, paint in an Abstract Expressionism style, which is based on color, movement, texture and feelings. When a student sells a painting, they receive half of the funds, with the other half funding future events. Student’s work is nicely framed and very reasonably priced ($10 – $75). Don’t miss this opportunity to view and appreciate these fine works of art. Even if you are not in the market for artwork, come and tell them how beautiful it is!!!! Live music, drinks and light snacks will be provided. Call or text Caroline Duvoe 727-271-5016 or email her at studioduvoe@yahoo.com if you have questions  You can also visit their website at www.studioduvoe.org

IKEBANA – Japanese Art of Flower Arranging

Chapter #65 of Ikebana International welcomes all who are interested in the art of Japanese flower arranging. The Chapter’s Mission is to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the USA and Japan.  Ikebana International’s goal is to stimulate, cultivate, and perpetuate the study of Ikebana and related arts and culture throughout the world.

The January meeting is a special one. Ronell Douglass, Sub-Grandmaster of the Ohara School of Ikebana will delight everyone with a demonstration of Japanese floral arrangements. Lunch is included and will be followed by an auction of beautiful gift baskets. Join them Wednesday, January 17th, 2018. Reception 9:15 – 10:00 am, demonstration at 10 am and lunch at noon at The Club at Treasure Island, 400 Treasure Island Causeway, Treasure Island, FL 33706. Members $45, Non-Members $55.

Call 727-729-9445 or visit www.ikebanastpetersburg.com to download a registration form. Mark your calendars now for the Annual Ikebana Exhibition at Treasure Island Community Center on March 10th and 11th. It is a great local glimpse into this incredibly beautiful combination of nature displayed with an artist’s touch.

WAREHOUSE ARTS DISTRICT ASSOCIATION

New Executive Director – Diane Bailey Morton

Diane Bailey Morton is the new Executive Director of the Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA), President Mark Aeling said, “Diane is a true community leader. She has had a stellar professional career and has been very supportive of the arts community in both service and philanthropy. Needless to say, we are thrilled to have her on board.” Diane Morton has practiced law in the Tampa Bay Area for over thirty years. She began her career as an Assistant State Attorney where she handled high profile felony cases. She opened her own trial practice in St. Petersburg and handled labor and employment cases. She served as General Counsel of the Tampa Police Benevolent Association and the Tampa Firefighters. She was named General Counsel to C1 Bank and guided the bank through the successful merger with Bank of the Ozarks. 

“I have known Diane for many years.  She is a true art lover and a consummate professional in all she undertakes.  We are lucky to have her and are excited about her advancing the mission of the Warehouse Arts District,” says Rob Kapusta, WADA Vice President. Ms. Morton can be reached at diane@whereartismade.com.

THE FLORIDA HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

Tenth Story in its “25 Survivors, 25 Stories… Celebrating 25 Years!” Oral History Series

The Florida Holocaust Museum (The FHM) has partnered with Eckerd College to release a 25th anniversary oral history series entitled “25 Survivors, 25 Stories… Celebrating 25 Years!”  Over the next 15 months, the museum’s oral history series will feature a different Holocaust survivor on the 25th of each month.  Each survivor brings to the series an individual voice that enlivens our understanding of the Holocaust; the war’s effects on individuals, families, and communities dispersed across the world; and its reverberations into the present 10th story was released. It features Survivor Ellen Bernstein.

For Ellen’s story in full, visit her page: https://www.thefhm.org/survivor-stories/story-10-ellen-bernstein

ANDREA BOCELLI – ANNUAL VALENTINE’S DAY PERFORMANCESFebruary 14, 2018

This February, legendary tenor Andrea Bocelli will be returning to the U.S. for his annual Valentine’s Day performance at Tampa’s AMALIE Arena on February 14, 2018, at 8 pm. Andrea Bocelli’s Valentine’s Day performance at AMALIE Arena is presented by Opera Tampa, the resident opera company of the Straz Center.  In celebration of the Valentine’s holiday, Andrea Bocelli will treat fans to a unique holiday repertoire combining the most beloved arias, crossover hits and famed love songs. As one of the most recognizable and romantic voices in the world, Andrea Bocelli has been thrilling audiences for over 20 years, counting over 80 million records sold worldwide.

TICKETS: McDonald’s® Ticket Office at AMALIE Arena, Ticketmaster outlets  www.Ticketmaster.com. Order tickets by phone by calling 800.745.3000.  Ticket prices are $75, $125, $195, $265 & $355. 

AMERICAN STAGE IMPROV

Training Program 

Winter quarter classes begin  the 3rd week of January for beginner to advanced level students interested in the art of improvisation, sketch comedy, and comedic storytelling. All classes are uniquely crafted and taught by professionals from American Stage Improv, Second City,  The Groundlings, and Upright Citizen’s Brigade. At the end of the quarter, all levels perform in a student show in the American Stage mainstage theatre. This multi-level program guides participants through the foundations of improvisation as a performance medium, and

offers guidance and coaching toward forming improv troupes. Be bold, be playful, do improv! 

CLASS DETAILS – IMPROV4LIFE

Improvisation enhances communication, confidence, wit, problem solving, and encourages laughter and creative risk-taking. If you try it, your life will be changed for the better both on stage and off. Improv4Life is like a club for those who are either new to improv, or are hooked and would like to keep playing. In every session, you will discover new possibilities as you explore the philosophy and practice of  “Yes And.”. Through scenework and short-form improv games like those seen on the show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, this class provides the FUNdamentals and great practice time. Improv4Life will culminate in a student performance for family & friends. Jan 17 – Mar 21 10 weeks,  7pm-9pm

Location: American Stage

Performance in Student Festival: Sunday, Mar 25

Instructor: John Huls

Tuition: $172 with code EARLY (regular price $215)

Wed., Jan. 17- March 21 or Sat., Jan. 20-March 24th

LEVEL 1:

SETTING THE SCENE

This class introduces students to the basics of how to perform long-form improv. Students will learn and put into practice improv concepts like “Yes, And”, “Give And Take”, “Playing At The Top Of Your Intelligence”, and “Object/Space Work”. No matter you have, this ten-week course will show you how to create interesting scenes and explore new ideas.                           

Wednesdays Jan. 17- March 21 (10 weeks), 6:30pm-8:30pm
Instructor: Jenna Felder
Or Saturdays Jan. 20 – March 24
(10 weeks), Noon-2pm
Location: American Stage
Final Performance:  Sunday, March 25, 6pm
Reg Tuition: $230
Lab Fee: $30 

LEVEL 2:

FINDING THE FUNNY

Picking up where Level 1 left off, students will learn and put into practice improv concepts like “The Game Of The Scene”, “Heightening/Exploring” and “Walk-Ons”.  The Level 2 course shifts focus to elevate the artistry of your improv work. It will heighten your technique, storytelling instincts, and wit.

Dates: (Choose 1 of 2 sections) Wednesdays Jan. 17- March 21 (10 weeks), 6:30pm-8:30pm
Or Saturdays Jan. 20 – March 24 (10 weeks), 10am-Noon
Instructor: Gavin Hawk
Tuition: $255

SKETCH: PROLAB SERIES

Learn to write and perform sketch comedy! This elective starts with the  fundamentals of sketch writing with an emphasis on creating a cohesive show. Rather than writing in isolation, we simulate a writer’s room: pitching sketches, slinging ideas back and forth, writing drafts, doing readthroughs, cuts and edits, and narrowing focus to perfect the top sketches.

This class is part of our ProLab Series: unique elective opportunities for intermediate to advanced improvisers to explore a range of skills that hone improv technique and artistry. Sketch Comedy can still be taken as a one-off experience. We recommend, but do not require completion of Improv Level 2 (or equivalent experience).

Sketch Comedy will culminate with a performance of an original sketch comedy show at our Student Improv Festival on March 25th.

Dates: Saturdays Jan. 20-March 24 (10 weeks)
Time: 12:00pm-2:00pm
Location: American Stage
Final Performance: Sunday, March 25 at 6pm
Instructor: Matt Schwartz
Early Registration Price: $204 (use code Early)
Tuition: $255
For more details or to enroll: Phone: (727) 823-1600 ext 204
Walk-up: 163 3rd Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701Online:  www.americanstage.org/education

TO ENROLL:
Phone: (727) 823-1600 ext 204
Online: www.americanstage.org/improv
Walk-up: 163 3rd Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

City Theatre’s  Spring Mainstage show, Jesus Christ Superstar  directed by Christine White, will hold auditions January 7 & 8. Performances March 16 – March 25 (Palm Sunday).  Travis Moore will direct and produce Sunset Limited which will run at City Theatre April 27 through May 6. Also, Roxanne Fay will do a One-Woman Show during 2018. Long standing members of the theatre know how important St. Petersburg Little Theatre was to them over many years. As City Theatre, we are taking the best of our Little Theatre and becoming so much more. City Theatre offers all ages the opportunity to explore their talent on-stage and off helping with productions, developing and honing many business and life skills and providing quality theatrical productions to our community. Our facility offers opportunities for the community to come together.

WEST COAST PLAYERS

Presenting Lucky Stiff, Book and Lyrics by LYNN AHRENS, Music by STEPHEN FLAHERTY. Based on “The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo” by Michael Butterworth, Produced by Playwrights Horizons, Inc. Off-Broadway in 1988. In this offbeat, hilarious murder mystery farce, complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds, and a corpse in a wheelchair, an unassuming English shoe salesman stands to inherit a fortune if he can succeed in passing his uncle off as alive.

Weekend Performances January 12-28, 2018 Fri & Sat. 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm.
West Coast Players, 21905 US 19 North, near the corner of Drew St. and US 19 N.
Box Office: 727-437-2363 or boxoffice@wcplayers.com
TICKET PRICES: $25; Visit https://app.arts-people. com/index.php?show=74601

DUNEDIN FINE ART CENTER

The Dunedin Fine Art Center is currently accepting GENTLY used artwork and art related supplies for the Annual Trashy Treasures Art Sale, Tampa Bay’s BIGGEST and most beloved Art Garage Sale. Though DFAC does some incredible things, this is a personal favorite.  It’s a really fun fundraiser for DFAC and a great way for people to start or add to their art collections.  Artists of course score wonderful deals on art supplies also. But it all starts of course with people donating unwanted art and art supplies year after year.

The sale will take place on Saturday, February 17, 2018, 10am – 2pm. Drop donations to DFAC, Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 10am–2 pm or Sun 1-4pm. through February 10th.

The Trashy Treasures Preview Party is Friday, February 16, 2018 at 6pm.  Preview Party admission is $10.For more information, call Linda Hamilton at 727.298.3322 e.236 or email linda@dfac.org

THE STRAZ CENTER OF PERFORMING ARTS

The Straz Center got $20,000 from The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to help bring skill-building arts learning experiences to more than 3,500 disadvantaged K-12 students through the 2017-2018 Art Education Partnership Program. It provides access to creative learning experiences for youth in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Manatee counties who face economic, geographic and other challenges to accessing the performing arts in their schools and neighborhoods. In all, youths at 45 partnering Tampa Bay area schools and agencies will receive skill-building arts education classes and programs after school, an increase of more than 28 percent over the 35 partnering schools and agencies served in 2016-2017.

Leave a Comment