Daily Loaf

[5]art Gallery continues its mid-week pick-me-up art events with another installment in the Sleep of Reason Cinema Series, which was curated by Brian Taylor and Bradley Valentine with a dream of “providing a contemporary venue for a delirious brand of cinema.” Tonight’s offering is a variety of short movies by Kelly Benjamin, Todd Lynne, Jeffrey Ruble and other local filmmakers, accompanied by live soundtracks by Then and Than and Haves and Thirds, and S2K. Thurs., Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., Old Santaella Cigar Factory, 1906 N. Armenia Ave, #210 Tampa, five-art.com.

Like a modern form of alchemy, scientists struggle to create and purify an element necessary for human life: water. Diana Leavengood and Paula Allen have found the secret formula, and collected it in Recipe for Water, an exhibit of photography, ceramics, drawings and paintings with a common bond of “intuitive interpretations of the unseen energies around water.” (Pictured: “Recipe for Water” by Diana Leavengood) On display through Oct. 23, West Tampa Center for the Arts, 1906 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, $3.

Read the rest of this entry »

This week’s installment in the Sleep of Reason Cinema Series includes two new arthouse films, Liquid Sky and Ms. 45, curated by Brian Taylor and Bradley Valentine with a dream of “providing a contemporary venue for a delirious brand of cinema.” Visit five-art.com for more info. Thurs., Oct. 8, 7:15 p.m., West Tampa Center for the Arts, 1906 N. Armenia Ave. #210, Tampa, $5 suggested donation.

At Walk A Mile Her Shoes, the men of USF rally around the idea that you can’t begin to understand someone until you’ve, well,  walked a mile in his or her shoes. They take it a step further by marching a mile in high heels in support of victims of rape, sexual assault and battery, and gender violence. Visit usfnite.com for more info. Thurs., Oct. 8, 12 p.m., USF Marshall Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave.,  Tampa. Read the rest of this entry »

Tes One (nee Leon Bedore) returns to Tampa for Repeat Offender, his first solo show in five years. The artist’s prints are familiar to local gallery-goers (and to CL readers — he did our Obama-inauguration cover in January), and his new collection contrasts “nature with technology, grime with grace.” The results are immediately striking and visually interesting, but require closer inspection to fully digest. More often than not, what’s underneath the surface is even more important than the clearly visible — like the snarling grizzly bear screenprinted over a sign advertising “space available.” Ironic, of course, because we’re cutting down the trees in the grizzly’s space to make our signs. Best of the Bay-winning DJ Mega and Nak 1 scratch at the opening reception. Sat., Oct. 3, 7-11 p.m.; on display through Nov. 30, Redletter1 Gallery, 1510 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City, free, 813-241-2435, tesone.net. –Franki Weddington

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when buxom lasses and dudes in lederhosen lift steins to praise the amber liquid that will sustain us through the cold, cold winter — Oktoberfest! But how will you be able to take advantage of the two simultaneous brew celebrations this weekend? No worries, you won’t have to.  Do you like the crisp and simple taste of American and international macro-brews, sampled in refined comfort while sharks and rays look on in jealous hunger? Head to the CL-sponsored Brews by the Bay: Oktoberfest 2009 at The Florida Aquarium. Along with the full repertoire of Anheuser-Busch, you’ll be able to sample beers from Magic Hat, Boddington’s, Stella Artois and many others, all while noshing food from restaurants like Datz Deli. Smoke, and more. If local craft brew floats your sudsy boat, then Dunedin Brewery’s ninth annual OktoBEERfest is more your cup of tea. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. The busy bees at the Best of the Bay-winning [5]art Gallery live up to the title this weekend, and we enjoy the sweet reward of their work with two interesting interdisciplinary events.

On Friday, the gallery debuts cumbas:echeverry:torres, a collection of recent works from Tampa-based artists: paintings by Edgar Sanchez Cumbas (also a BOTB winner); new media and printmaking by UT professor of art Santiago Echeverry ; and drawings by Alex Torres. A one night-only exhibit at the opening reception also includes mini-masterpieces from 5by5 that you can own for just $20 a pop. These small works on paper let even those of us on a Ramen noodle budget take home original art by hometown heroes like Allen Hampton, Rebecca Skelton, April Childers and many more. Our other local artisans – of beer, that is – from Cigar City Brewing provide suds and hors d’oeuvres.  Up next: Sleep of Reason Cinema Series. Read the rest of this entry »

DFAC’s myriad new fall exhibits include The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, a group exhibit by Shihoko Amano, Lanny Bergner, Deon Blackwell, Ladislav Hanka, Timothy Horn, Adrienne Outlaw, Yuka Saito and Tanja Softic, who “explore the theme of Albertus Seba’s eighteenth century natural history classic by the same name.” It inspired a variety of media, including sculpture, printmaking, painting, wood, ceramics, jewelry and fiber. (on display through Dec. 23.) Then,  Rachel Simmons: Wonders of the Sea explores just that: the beauty and intricacies of coastal life, portrayed in multimedia. (on display through Oct. 18.) Critters God Left on the Drawing Table is a bedazzling array of weird and intriguing creatures created by DFAC jewelry instructor Susan Maxon and her students. (on display through Oct. 18). (Pictured: “Sea Eyes” by Rachel Simmons, part of the Wonders of the Sea exhibit) Dunedin Fine Arts Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, 727-298-3322, DFAC.org.

Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition includes a slew of cool new exhibits at [5]art, where they don’t let the sticky summer heat stop them from putting on a kickass autumn art debut this Friday.

The air is getting crisp, the leaves as starting to fall, and everywhere you go, the smell of autumn is in the air…oh, no? Wait, we live in Florida, so our sad excuse for a pre-winter season won’t be here for a few months, but that’s not stopping the [5]art folks from debuting a fantastic new fall collection of exhibits, including Fresno G25, which features original works – paintings ranging from abstract to graphic, organic sculpture, wall art and more — by a dozen resident artists of Gallery 25 in California. Next up is a, um, revealing exhibit by Keith Thomas called Haven’t I Seen You Online? It includes large-scale paintings and drawings that explore his “life as a gay boy in the sprawling suburbs of Tampa,” and was inspired by the wide world of internet sex and dating sites. The final exhibit is a one-night-only affair in honor of the opening reception, and includes works by April Childers, whose small-scale sculptures have graced previous [5]art exhibits; photo art by Rion Sabean, and more. DJ Oblivion puts dancers in a trance at the reception, catered by Cigar City Brewing – providing a welcome break from the humdrum of house wines with a selection of microbrews, including Jai Alai IPA and Maduro Oatmeal Brown Ale. (Pictured: a work from Keith Thomas’ Haven’t I Seen You Online? exhibit) Opening reception, Fri., Aug. 28, 7-10 p.m., Fresno G25 and Haven’t I Seen You Online? on display through Sept. 18, West Tampa Center for the Arts, 1906 N. Armenia Ave., #211, Tampa, free, 813-245-1034, five-art.com. – Franki Weddington

"That's Weird," by Bluelucy at ARTPool.

FRIDAY
Fever Fakers. Opening night for an exhibition of five artists from Young Blood Gallery in Atlanta — notable, says CL art critic Megan Voeller, for fine examples of figurative drawing and painting. April 24-May 22, with opening reception 7-10 p.m. Fri., April 24 at [5]art, #210, West Tampa Center for the Arts, Tampa, 813-340-9056, five-art.com.

International Cinema Series. This week’s selection is My Winnipeg from wildly imaginative Canadian director Guy Maddin, who reinvents his own childhood in via a “docu-fantasia” fusing history with surrealist images and metaphorical myths. Fri., April 24, 7 p.m., Miller Auditorium, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, free.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Chicago. You may have seen the movie, but you haven’t fully experienced the down-and-dirty razzle-dazzle of this classic Kander & Ebb musical about murder and showbiz in the Roaring 20s until you’ve seen it on stage. Apr. 24-26, Progress Energy Center for the Arts/Mahaffey Theater. Fri. at 8 p.m.; Sat. at 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun. at 2 & 7:30 p.m. 800-982-2787 or BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

SATURDAY
Super Saiko! The latest show from Bluelucy (Chad Mize and Phillip Clark) includes work (like “That’s Weird,” above right) inspired by Japanese pop culture and by music — “from Of Montreal to Animal Collective, Kanye West to TV on the Radio,” says Mize. April 25-May 7, with opening reception 7 p.m. to midnight, Sat., April 25 ($10 cover) at ARTPool, 919 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-324-3878, artpoolrules.com.

Tampa Does Dallas. What’s not to like about hot chicks on roller skates? This weekend, the badass babes of the Tampa Tantrums meet the Dallas Devils in a roller derby bonanza. This may prove to be the dirtiest day Dallas has seen since Debbie left. Sat., April 25, 8:30 p.m., Skateplex, Temple Terrace, $10 in advance/$12 at the door, 813-989-2122, tampabayderbydarlins.com. (Franki Weddington) Read the rest of this entry »

Britney Spears w/The Pussycat Dolls Over the past few years, Britney Spears has been through the media gauntlet. But the superstar songstress picked up the pieces, clocked some hours in the dance studio and got in svelte shape, hit the studio with the right producers, and got her pop groove back.  Sun. Mar., 8, 8 p.m., St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa.

Jessica Simpson The Strawberry Fest’s concert closer features the country-music-friendly curves of Simpson, who makes up for her limited singing ability with  sun-kissed girl-next-door sexiness. Sun. Mar. 8, 7:30 p.m., Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City.

Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts More than 300 artists and crafters take part in the 39th annual fest, displaying paintings, ceramics, fiber, jewelry and more along Franklin Street and throughout Lykes Gaslight Square Park. March 7-8, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Lykes Gaslight Square Park, downtown Tampa, free admission, gasparilla-arts.com.

GASP!Arilla. If you’re looking for the after-dark, floral-free alternative to the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Café Hey presents GASP!Arilla. The single-day art party features live music by Acho Brother, Bay Area Klezmer Konnection and DJ Fuego, and work by up-and-coming artists. Sat., March 7, 8 p.m., Cafe Hey, Tampa, free admission, myspace.com/cafehey. (Leilani Polk)

Verdi Requiem The Florida Orchestra and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay present a Progress Energy Masterworks concert of Verdi’s powerful operatic work. More than 200 musicians and singers perform. Sat., March 7, 8 p.m., Progress Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg, and Sun., March 8, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, $19-$65.

After the jump: Whitest Kids, Pen Is Mightier, Abilities, Emerge, Urban Dare and more. Read the rest of this entry »