Brad Cooper has offered consistently fine art for 20 years at his eponymous gallery at 1712 E Seventh Ave. in Tampa's Ybor City. That is no small accomplishment, especially in a location that has seen other galleries yield to tattoo parlors and nightclubs. To celebrate, Cooper ramps up his annual auction on Saturday with an impressive and larger-than-usual roster of artists in various media: painting, drawing, photography, prints, ceramics, glass and jewelry. Willard Lustenader, Tanja Softic, William Pachner, whose 1956 self-portrait is shown above, Roberto Rodriguez, Yvonne Petkus, Carlos Manuel Soto, Tanya Tewel and Edgar Sanchez Cumbas are among the 40 or so contemporary artists whose work will be sold, along with prints by such masters as Peter Paul Rubens, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. You never know where the prices will go during auctions, but you will know you're getting very good art from this one.
The gallery is open for previews from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The previews are free, but tickets to the live auction, which begins at 8 p.m., are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. A reception for ticketholders begins at 7 p.m. and includes complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres and door prizes.
Space in the gallery is limited; reservations are recommended.
Part happening, part art exhibition, Gala Corina makes its annual appearance beginning Friday and continuing through Nov. 20. Started in 1999 by a group of young artists and architects, it rotates to a new (but always old) building in Tampa each year and takes on a new theme. This time around, Gala Corina's "ser Libre" takes place in the former Badcock Furniture showroom beneath the historic Arlington Hotel, 1219 N Franklin St.. More than 100 artists will be represented in media ranging from painting, photography and sculpture to installations and video, most of it for sale.
The opening night party, with free snacks, wine and live music, is always a festive affair drawing a young, cool crowd numbering several thousand. The event is free but you are encouraged to make a $2 donation or more!. The party is from 4 to 11 p.m.; a street party commences after that until 2 a.m. Saturday gallery hours are 1 to 10:30 p.m. with an outdoor film festival beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday hours are 1 to 6 p.m. For information and hours during the remainder of Gala Corina's run, go to www.galacorina.org
