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ST. PETERSBURG - It's still cool after 15 years, though perhaps not in the hip sense of the word. No, the 16th annual Cool Art Show on Saturday and Sunday is more a comfortable event, in its offerings and atmosphere.
Staged in the air-conditioned climate of the Activities Center at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, the show is not threatened by inclement weather. Far smaller than Mainsail, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts and Dunedin's Art Harvest, with about 50 participants, it has the intimate feel of a minimall of artists' stalls. And though some respected names are on the roster, the Cool Art Show, like its bigger cousins, generally offers works of art and craft that are more easy than edgy.
That said, Denis Gaston, Jack Breit and James Michaels can usually be counted on to present us with provocative, interesting works, so check them out, along with other well-known artists such as Rebecca Skelton, Bill Renc, Susan Rollins Gehring and John Costin. Paintings, prints, photography, ceramics, fiber and mixed media works will be for sale. And look through the bins of unframed art that many artists put out. You can often find gems priced ridiculously low.
Bear in mind that the Cool Art Show does not have entertainment, food or children's activities. Parking on streets or in designated lots should provide convenient access.
PREVIEWThe 16th annual Cool Art Show, sponsored by the Professional Association of Visual Artists, is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Campus Activities Center, Second Street and Sixth Avenue S, University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. Admission is free.