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Ybor starts monthly gallery hop

By LENNIE BENNETT
Published September 14, 2005

Ybor City hopes to burnish its reputation as an arts hub with a new event on the second Wednesday of each month, beginning today. Arts Ybor is a big art hop with more than 30 galleries and gift shops open from 6 to 9 p.m. throughout the area.

Costumed actors will provide walking narratives of the historic district, entertainment will be featured at some of the galleries and several restaurants will offer special entrees. Also open will be the Ybor City State Museum, 1818 E Ninth Ave., and the Columbia Restaurant Centennial Museum, 2029 E Seventh Ave.

Free parking is available at the Palm Avenue and Centro Ybor municipal parking garages using passes given out at the visitors' center in Centro Ybor, 1600 E Eighth Ave., and at participating galleries and businesses.

Some highlights:

- Arnold Martinez Gallery, 1909 N 19th St., located in one of the restored historic houses, called casitas, is packed with paintings by Martinez, who works in a highly realistic style, often portraying Tampa's past using a paint formula that includes extracts made from cigar leaves or coffee.

- Mermaid's Slipper, a gift shop, is next door in another casita at 1911 N 19th St.

- HandMade in Florida Craft Gallery is one casita down at 1903 N 19th St., offering fine crafts by Florida artists. Don't miss the big decorative chicken that greets you at the door and clucks politely when you feed her a quarter.

- Brad Cooper Gallery, 1712 E Seventh Ave., is one of the area's best, with rotating exhibitions of fine contemporary art. Just opened are recent paintings by Yvonne Petkus and mixed media by Thom O'Connor.

- Hillsborough Community College-Ybor Art Gallery, 14th Street and Palm Avenue, is a small treasure that often exhibits work by distinguished alumni. On the walls now is "Black & White & Grey Matter," the thought-provoking, witty word sculptures of Bradley Arthur.

[Last modified September 14, 2005, 02:15:34]