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ST. PETE'S COOL ART SCENE

by Anne Jenkins

Sculpture at entrance to Grand Central District.JPG (122014 bytes)

Sculpture at entrance to Grand Central District

The atmosphere in Florida's St. Pete's oozes laidback cool and casual. Everyone knows the Salvador Dali museum is there and St Pete has long had a good arts vibe. Now there's a new surge of awareness of the arts and St. Pete's art district grows ever larger.

The revival of the crumbling Grand Central District in to a burgeoning arts destination is pure genius. The general feeling is arts-centric just driving in and seeing the architecture. And within the Central District is another gem, historic Kenwood. This neighborhood claims to have the biggest collection of bungalows in Florida, some dating from the 1920's and they're all well preserved. If you love snooping about houses, try to get to the Bungalow Fest on the first Saturday in November each year.

Potters studio in Craftsman House drive.JPG (118100 bytes)

Potters Studio in Craftsman House Drive

After you've cruised historic Kenwood, a number art galleries or antique-arty places make the leisurely drive down Central Ave. most enjoyable. The Craftsman House is as good as any place to start. This lovely gallery and cafe, with a quaint potters studio in the side drive, is a beautifully restored craftsman cottage and filled to the brim with a huge range of cool art from pottery to gourd art.

They proudly display their award from the Florida Trust "for meritorious achievement in the field of Restoration Rehabilitation," and the friendly staff happily share their knowledge and information about the area. Their exhibits change regularly and the quality and standard of their artists is very high.

Central Ave Antique Marketplace exterior.JPG (131454 bytes)

Central Ave Antique Marketplace exterior

Central Ave Antiques Marketplace.JPG (119918 bytes)

Central Ave Antiques Marketplace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further along Central Ave., heading towards downtown, is Central Avenue Antique Marketplace. This is a 3,000 square foot cornucopia of the old, the interesting, the artsy and the just plain weird. A leisurely browse could turn in to a long visit.

 

A sculpture in Interior Motives Gallery.JPG (133007 bytes) A stack of art in Interior Motives Gallery.JPG (127448 bytes)

A sculpture in Interior Motives Gallery

A stack of art in Interior Motives Gallery

Interior Motives Gallery offer art, framing and antiques in a colorful jumble of intriguing art - a mixture of fine art and folk art and they mesh together effortlessly. They host exhibits by various artists from Florida and the South East region, often with opening receptions to meet the artist.

They are also part of a group working to restore Williams Park in to a community friendly area. Starting Saturday, October 4, they will hold an art market there from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The name of the event is possibly changing to Saturday Art Market - Art in the Park   (but not confirmed at time of going to press). It would be best to contact Interior Motives or check their website for updated information.

 

The Arts Center gift shop.JPG (116672 bytes)

The Arts Center gift shop

ArtSpace Studios is a collection of up to 18 working artist's studios who show their work during the Second Saturday art walks from 5:30-9:00 p.m., or by special appointment. Such a concentration of artists is always a good sign a neighborhood is expanding and flourishing.

The nearby Arts Center is housed in an impressive building and is a magnificent anchor to the St. Pete arts community. Founded back in 1917 as the Arts Club of St. Petersburg, it has grown in to a large business dedicated to advancing the arts, raising awareness and educating artists and art lovers. They offer workshops, changing exhibits, a gift shop and much more. It's worth dropping in even if you don't know their current exhibit title. I stopped by between exhibits as they were changing them out, and it was still enthralling.

A display in the gift shop at The Arts Center.JPG (91836 bytes)

A display in the gift shop at The Arts Center

The Arts Center is also working to establish a Dale Chihuly permanent display of his incredible glass sculptures in the new Beth Morean Arts Center they are setting up. It will be interesting to see how that develops and an incredible coup for St. Pete‘s.

It's definitely worth the short drive to round the day off with a delicious meal in Peg's, a cantina located in a renovated cottage in Gulfport, Florida. They display and sell local artists work on their walls and are the staff are friendly.

I had the shrimp burrito and everything was scrumptious. The garden is a perfect place to while away some time as you enjoy your meal. It's on the main street down to the water and is a good people watching spot. Gulfport is a relaxed, laidback little town, reasonably alternative and independent. I just loved it.

A view of Peg's garden in Gulfport.JPG (115486 bytes)

A view of Peg's garden in Gulfport

Gulfport advertises itself as an arts town but I thought it has quite a way to go before that's a reality. It is, however, utterly charming and a step back in time. It's just the sort of place that will develop in to a creative and interesting art-town - as long as they maintain their own individual character.

Life can be very good indeed…sitting in the Peg's garden, sipping a cool glass of wine and watching the world go by - I can think of no better way to end a day of glorious art and creative energy.

RELATED BUSINESS WEBSITES & PHONE # FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.historickenwood.org

www.grandcentraldistrict.org

www.theartscenter.org               Tel: (727) 822-7872

www.craftsmanhousefgallery.com     Tel: (727) 323-arts

www.centralavenueantiques.com      Tel: (727) 321-1576

www.interiormotivesstpete.com    Tel (727) 898-6061

www.artspaceartists.com

www.pegscantina.com    (727) 328-2720

 

Anne Jenkins

Anne, a British citizen born and raised in South Africa, also lived in six European countries for 25 years and traveled the world extensively before settling in the United States. New Orleans  was Anne's beloved adopted city for a few glorious years until Hurricane Katrina.

Anne now operates The Point of Art gallery & studio at 604 Sibley Ave., Union Point, Georgia  30669, situated half-way between Atlanta and Augusta. Here she can be found painting in her large new studio doing anything from soft watercolor house portraits, funky folk art on 1895 tin roof tiles or painting acrylics on big canvas full of vibrant color and movement.

A self-taught artist, her acrylics and watercolors can be found in many private collections in Europe, Canada, all over the United States and among her corporate clients are Universal Studios, Hollywood, California; Datacert Inc., Houston, Texas; and Entergy Power Company, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Among many other things Anne has been a reporter, photographer, banker, English teacher, housecleaner and a truck driver. Her travel writing has been published in a variety of publications, including the Los Angeles Times and Opera Now. 

She and her husband, Lee, also spent five years on a sailboat in the Mediterranean; many months in a VW van in Central America, Canada and Alaska; months touring Asia on a shoestring budget, plus a couple of crazy years driving a big rig around the Lower 48 and Canada.

Anne's main interests are art, writing, music, travel and good food enjoyed with wine and friends.

Her mission statement simply put is: To have fun and beat the starving artist rap.      

www.ThePointofArt.net      www.artistsingeorgia.com/annejenkins

Click to learn about Anne Jenkins

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