Arts Talk

By Times staff

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 5, 2001

Sarasota film festival

Hedwig and the Angry Inch will be the opening night showcase Aug. 24 at the Sarasota Gay and Lesbian Film Festival at Burns Court Cinema. The film, based on an off-Broadway musical, won two prizes at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, including the opening night movie, live entertainment, champagne and hors d'oeuvres. The festival continues through Aug. 30 with eight feature films, including Big Eden, The Girl and All Over the Boy. Burns Court Cinema is at 506 Burns Court in downtown Sarasota. Call (941) 364-8662 for ticket information.

A second 'Sacco'

In the wake of the March premiere of Anton Coppola's Sacco & Vanzetti at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, a second opera on the same subject is set to make its debut this month. It's Marc Blitzstein's Sacco and Vanzetti, which was incomplete when the composer died in 1964. The opera has been completed by Leonard Lehrman and premieres Aug. 17-19 at the White Barn Theatre in Westport, Conn. Blitzstein composed The Cradle Will Rock and Regina, and his adaptation of The Threepenny Opera ran for years on Broadway. His opera on Sacco and Vanzetti was commissioned by the Ford Foundation for the Metropolitan Opera.

Applauding business in the arts

Nominations are open for the 2001 Business in the Arts awards and Impact through the Arts Awards, both sponsored by the Tampa Bay Business Committee for the Arts Inc.

The Business in the Arts award honors both businesses and individual business volunteers whose exemplary support has had a significant impact on bay area arts and culture from Sept. 1, 2000, to Sept. 1, 2001. Self-nominations are welcomed.

The Impact through the Arts Award, sponsored by TBBCA and Synthesis Fine Arts, recognizes an artist, visual, performing or literary, or arts educator who voluntarily shares time and talent to inspire and help others in the Tampa Bay region. The award carries an honorarium of $1,000.

Awards will be presented at the annual gala Nov. 8 at the Hyatt Regency Westshore, Tampa.

For nomination forms with more details, contact the TBBCA Office, P.O. Box 559, Tampa 33601-0559; (813) 221-2787; or e-mail TBBCA@yahoo.com. Deadline for Business in the Arts awards is Sept. 7; for Impact awards, Sept. 19.

Festivals directory available

Art festival followers may now order the 16th edition of Florida Festivals: Who, What, When & Where, a listing of nearly 400 arts and crafts shows throughout Florida, scheduled for release this month.

Published by the Pinellas County Arts Council, it includes dates, locations and other information on shows between September 2001 and December 2002. Though originally compiled for artists, the directory has become popular with art lovers who want to know when favorite shows will take place.

To order, send $12 plus $2 postage and handling to the Pinellas County Arts Council, 14700 Terminal Blvd., Suite 229, Clearwater, FL 33762.

Fame game

Kevin Grass of Clearwater is exhibiting paintings at the Governor's Office Gallery, Capitol Complex, Tallahassee, through August 9.

Nancy Markoe Gallery in St. Pete Beach has been named one of the top 10 retailers of American crafts by Niche magazine. Galleries were selected by more than 26,000 crafts artists from throughout the U.S. Markoe is one of four galleries to have won the award for five consecutive years, and of those four is the only one to have just a single location. Criteria include courtesy and respect to artists, presentation of works, promoting and marketing of handmade American crafts and mentoring emerging artists.

Beyond Tampa Bay

"Cleopatra of Egypt: From History to Myth," Field Museum, Chicago, Oct. 20-March 3. The truth and myth of Cleopatra are explored through 350 objects borrowed from three continents. Information, (312) 922-9410; tickets through Ticketmaster, (312) 902-1500 or Web site www.ticketmaster.com.

Competitions for artists

27th International Miniature Art Show, sponsored by Miniature Art Society of Florida at Dunedin Fine Art Center, Jan. 20-Feb. 10, 2002. Works must conform to miniature art guidelines. Most mediums (painting, graphics, sculpture and calligraphy); no crafts, photos or photo techniques. First-time entrants should send a no. 10 stamped, self-addressed envelope to MASF Prospectus, P.O. Box 867, Dunedin 34697-0867 or download application at www.masf@miniature-art.com. Works due Oct. 12; deadline to request prospectus, Sept. 1.

"Mermaids on Tour," exhibit of mermaids Nov. 15-April 12 at Mahaffey Theater in conjunction with production of Webb's City, the Musical. Any materials may be used to create a mermaid; please include artist's bio and statement. Mermaids will be auctioned at St. Petersburg Museum of History on April 19. Information, call (727) 894-1052 or e-mail mathias@museumofhistoryonline.org. Deadline: Oct. 15.

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