Join us every 4th Saturday from 6-9pm to see what all the artsy buzz is about in Pinellas Park!
Do you love Art? Literature? Cupcakes? Well, you'll fit right in at the new Pinellas Park Creative District! I have the honor of being one of the six studio artists currently in residence at the Studios at 5663 , the red hot center of all the creative buzz in Pinellas Park. This Saturday, 5.28 from 6-9pm we will open our doors to the public as a neighborhood for the first time, giving you all that we have to offer! Located at 5663 Park Boulevard, our studios are behind the glorious murals crafted recently by the insanely talented artists at the Bloom Arts Center. One of Bloom's founders, Derek Donnelly , who is a local celebrity due as much for his work with the creative community as for his stunning mural art, happens to be a Pinellas Park native, and will soon reclaim his home turf becoming our neighbor at the ultra cool shipping container artist live/work space (recently featured on HGTV!). He'll be living upstairs and exhibiting his spectacular work in the gallery space below. Behind him is the future home to Wordier than Thou, a literary troupe bringing storytelling and prose open mics, while spearheading projects such as Florida Book Store day, giving local authors a chance to shine. The works of their collective authors have been published in their own literary magazine, and performed by local actors on stage. An indie book store featuring local authors will be in the works once they've moved in. If that's not exciting enough for you, drop by Vince Pompei's metalworks workshop/gallery complex where whimsy and grit, rust and fantasy clash into work that comes to life before your eyes. His original electric bicycle rickshaw whose hand crafted wood trim and metal bars are reminiscent of the carriage which carried the naughty Pinocchio away from dear Gepetto. Step into his menagerie of creations and be transported into the artist's vision, a twisted, beautiful and brilliant world. Down the way you'll find another fantastic creator, Mr. Clayton Swartz whose public art graces the front of Barbara Ponce Library, as his stunning silver sculptures enhance the beauty of the far side of our block. Step inside his posh white box gallery to see tropical colors bursting from dynamic metallic shapes. You may be wondering about those cupcakes right about now- well get to wandering instead, down to The Complete Sweet Shoppe, where you'll find the most delectable delicacies in town, served by two sweet sisters who are only slightly less sugary than their delicious fare. If the treat your looking for is slightly more fermented in nature, Bottles Pub will be where you want to end your night, the legendary local watering hole. End your night? Is it over already? Gosh only 3 hours to see, hear, and experience all of that? Did you sit a moment with the electric presence of my portraits, or get a chance to see me perform my light paintings live in complete darkness, proving once and for all that none of my effects are photoshop? Did you even get to see the peaceful and playful Buddhas of Loy Khambay-Correa? Did you get a chance to check out Isis Navarro's lovely flowers, her raw documentary photographs of homeland of Honduras, or her intense moon inspired paintings? Did you find yourself falling in love with one of John Gascot's colorful, eclectic narratives at his Latin Pop Shop? What about Kim Alderman's soothing sculptural objects or her arresting mandalas that steal your breath reminding you to breathe? Tell me you at the very least absorbed the epic, timeless Cowboys and Indians painted by the talented and experienced hands of the man from Durango himself, Mr. Bob Canning? If you missed something, don't worry. We're your new arts destination in Tampa Bay! We'll be here from now until the next 4th Saturday waiting patiently for you to experience it all over again. Or you can always come back sooner for a more intimate connection with us as we craft the works that will blow you away next month on the 4th Saturday!
Don't get lost, Find yourself as you enjoy world class art in your own backyard!