'Spring for Art'

Tampa's art venues present a streamlined night of open houses for charity.

By MARY ANN MARGER, Times Art Critic

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 2, 2000

Joyce Lazzara, Fruitcake II, oil on linen, 16 by 20 inches, at Artsiphartsi

Call it the essential aesthetic experience. "Spring for Art," Tampa's gallery hop taking place from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday in 13 locations around town, has been pared down to the basics: A group open house and evening of sociability in an atmosphere of mental stimulation and visual delight.

Tampa's hop has reached tonight's format by trial and error. Gone are buses and complicated routes designed to expedite people to galleries throughout the city. You don't have to figure out where to catch the green route bus to Ybor City or wait for the red route bus to Interbay, losing one hour in the process. (And the organizers lost a few bucks along the way, too.)

But also gone are some of the fun gimmicks designed to lure people in: the gallery performances, the entertainment on the buses. Anybody remember the night you could decorate a fan? Or rent a limo? Were you part of the crush at the Tampa Museum of Art's post-hop bash in 1994, when an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people attended the hop?

Saturday's event is free. Most galleries will offer light refreshments, and artists will be on hand at some venues. Donations and a portion of proceeds from sales will benefit the Spring, Tampa's domestic violence shelter.

Make your own route; do a little or a lot. Note that the Tampa Museum of Art is open free only until 5 p.m. You may wish to start your trip there and end it at the Gold Dragon, which will have a guitarist.

The venues:

1. African Art Gallery and Museum, 1711 W Kennedy Blvd.; (813) 258-0223: Broad range of African, African-American and related art.

2. Artists Unlimited, 223 N 12th St.; (813) 229-5958: Non-profit art center in old Channel District warehouse.

3. Artsiphartsi, 2717 W Kennedy Blvd.; (813) 348-4838: Top-rated crafts gallery features Joyce Lazzara and her son, Cayman Lazzara.

4. Beveled Edge, 5202 S MacDill Ave.; (813) 837-6272: Blown and cut glass from regional artists.

5. Brad Cooper Gallery, 1712 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City; (813) 248-6098: Korean artist Cho Kwang Ho.

6. Gold Dragon Gallery, 3508 S Manhattan Ave.; (813) 832-2755: New gallery featuring area artists, who will be present. Guitarist.

7. MacArthur Galleries, 100 E Madison St.; (813) 221-5343: Painting, sculpture, prints. Current show features Peter Pettegrew, Caleb and Barbini.

8. Michael Murphy Gallery, 2722 S MacDill Ave.; (813) 902-1414: Current show features florals by Irene Callard Salley.

9. New Heights Gallery, 6310 N Nebraska Ave.; (813) 234-9758: Studio-gallery of Drew and Kirsi Smith, also featuring Robert Martin, Joseph Sawchuk, Larry Gagner. Glass-blowing demos.

10. Nuance Galleries, 720 S Dale Mabry Highway; (813) 875-0511: Two concurrent shows feature tropical-inspired watercolors by Tampa artist Taylor Ikin and stylized works in several media by Barcelona artist Alvar.

11. Old Hyde Park Art Center, 705 Swann Ave.; (813) 251-3780: Non-profit art center promoting realistic fine art. Some artists will be present.

12. Studio Gallery on Azeele, 3707 W Azeele St.; (813) 875-5160: "Summer Spice II," show juried by Gulf Coast Museum of Art director Ken Rollins, through June 29.

13. Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N Ashley Drive, (813) 274-8130: Closing weekend for Contemporary Art from the Milwaukee Art Museum. Also on view are "Garry Winogrand: Women Are Beautiful," "Art of Recycling" and selections from the permanent collection.