A powerful pairing

By MARY ANN MARGER

Jesse, Untitled, mixed media, at Creative Clay. The artist participated in the Youth Art Corps at the Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center.

DUO AT DUNEDIN -- Few Florida artists have attained the stature of Hiram Williams, retired University of Florida professor emeritus and member of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. His powerful yet delicate works, from the collection of the LeMoyne Art Foundation, reflect his ongoing theme of human despair. Exhibiting with him at the Dunedin Fine Art Center today through Aug. 13 is well-known artist Shirley Frank of Seminole, who has chosen tombstones as an enduring symbol of the material versus the spiritual. A gallery talk today at 6 p.m. by LeMoyne director emeritus Richard Puckett will be followed by a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. The shows continue during regular hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Free. 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin; (727) 298-3322.

CREATIVE CLAY -- "Independence and Freedom: Life, Liberty and Justice for All" opens with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at Creative Clay, a non-profit art center serving disabled students and inner-city youth. The show presents student work submitted by teachers at bay area schools. It continues through Aug. 2 during regular hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free; 333 First St. NE, St. Petersburg; (727) 825-0515.

VANN AT TECO -- James Vann exhibits "geometric jazz" paintings at TECO Plaza Public Art Gallery Saturday through July 30. The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free. 702 N Franklin St., Tampa; (813) 251-3688

Around the nation

Van Gogh: Face to Face, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, July 2-Sept. 24. Major exhibition of Van Gogh's portraits. (617) 423-6000; Web site http://www.mfa.org.

Around the state

Against Design, Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art, Lake Worth, June 30-Sept. 10. Second show at new museum explores functional design versus fine art. (561) 582-0006, http://www.palmbeachica.org.

Fame game

Crystal River artist James Langston is exhibiting several works at Benedict-Smith Design Gallery in Lake Wales throughout the summer . . . Seminole watercolorist Tom Demperio was exclusive artist for the recent Belmont, N.C., historic home tour.

Ongoing and upcoming

July 7 -- Gulfport Gallery Walk. Galleries south of 28th Avenue on Beach Boulevard hold monthly open house. Free. (727) 321-0830

July 8 -- Downtown St. Petersburg Evening Gallery Walk. Downtown Arts Association venues open their doors for a monthly event. (727) 894-2111

July 22-23 -- Cool Art Show. Thirteenth annual outside-in show of the Professional Association of Visual Artists. Free. USF Activity Center, USF-St. Petersburg; (727) 556-0550

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