Clothes make the art show

By MARY ANN MARGER, Times Art Critic

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 31, 2000

Notes from the art beat

HYDE PARK FINE ARTS - "Ready to Wear," a multimedia show of real clothes and art based on clothes, opens with a reception, 7 to 10 p.m. today at Hyde Park Fine Arts. On view are works by bay area artists Enee Abelman, Cat Thompson, Kathie Olivas, Tom Murray and others. The show continues through April 22 during hours 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Free. 937 S Howard Ave., Tampa; (813) 258-8883.

KOMATER SISTERS ENCORE - Komater Sisters and Friends, a group of local artists who exhibit together, holds its spring show and sale Saturday at the Friday Morning Musicale, 809 Horatio Ave., Tampa. Among the assemblage are eclectic hats by Sue Komater, vintage-inspired clothing by Carol Komater, jewelry by Mary Day and wearable art by Andrea Beane. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. Web site http://www.komatersisters.com; phone (813) 251-0197.

LIVIN' AND LOVIN' ART -- Enjoy a progressive brunch while visiting five artists' homes in north Pinellas on a daylong bus tour, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. En route you'll tour the homes of five Pinellas County artists and see how they have personalized their living space. The tour is sponsored by Something Fishy, a Clearwater art gallery and gift shop. All-inclusive cost is $60 and benefits Research Funding Inc., which focuses spinal cord injuries. For information and reservations call (727) 461-3474.

Sites to see

You can sample the newest medium at the ongoing Whitney Biennial in New York without leaving your home computer. Just click on http://www.superbad.com, http://www.redsmoke.com, http://www.rtmark.com, http://ouija.berkeley.edu and others listed at the exhibition Web site, http://www.whitney.org.

At http://www.nga.gov/feature/stieglitz/asmain.htm you can see a portion of the Alfred Stieglitz show from the National Gallery of Art in Washington. The photos on the "online tour" will change every four months through January 2002.

Competition for artists

All-media Open Show, Beach Art Center, 1515 Bay Palm Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach 33785; phone (727) 596-4331; April 8 to 28. Deliver entries 4 to 6 p.m. on April 3, 4 or 5.

Ongoing and upcoming

• Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5:30 p.m. -- Santa Fe Community College Spring Arts Festival, Gainesville. Billed as the oldest and largest cultural event in north-central Florida, it is a longtime favorite. (352) 395-5355.
• April 7, 6-10 p.m. -- Gulfport Gallery Walk. Galleries south of 28th Avenue on Beach Boulevard hold monthly open house. Free. (727) 321-0830.
• April 8, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Children's Art Festival/VSA, Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota. Annual event combines with Very Special Arts festival. Adults, $3; children, free. (941) 359-7776
• April 8, 5:30-9 p.m. -- Downtown St. Petersburg Evening Gallery Walk. Downtown Arts Association venues open their doors for a monthly event. (727) 528-9331.
• April 8, 9 -- Tarpon Springs Arts and Crafts Festival, Craig Park, Tarpon Springs. Local color adds to the atmosphere on the bayou's shady banks. (727) 937-6109.
• April 15, 6 p.m. -- Tampa AIDS Network Art for Life Auction. The popular AIDS benefit, previously held in the fall, features art by local, national and student artists. Tampa Convention Center. Tickets, $30 in advance through Ticketmaster, (813) 287-8844 or http://www.ticketmaster.com, or $35 at door. (813) 914-8888.
• April 15-16 -- Mainsail Arts Festival, St. Petersburg. Attractive art show on the downtown waterfront celebrates its 25th anniversary. (727) 892-5885.

Email: marger@sptimes.com