Weekend: Tampa shows kick off onslaught of openings

Tampa shows kick off onslaught of openings

By MARY ANN MARGER

Thank goodness everything doesn't happen at once. Press releases of coming events are crossing this desk at a pace not seen since last spring. The heaviest weekend for openings is Sept. 8-10. So gallery goers have a little time to enjoy two new shows, both in Tampa, before the rush.

CONTEMPORARY FOLK ART -- The Tampa Museum of Art opens the season with "Contemporary Folk Art: Treasures from the Smithsonian American Art Museum," on view Sunday through Nov. 26. On view are 70 works by self-taught artists, often working in isolation and apart from the trends of the mainstream. Among exhibitors are Rev. Howard Finster, Felipe Archuleta and Thornton Dial Sr.

For maximum insight into the show, time your visit to take advantage of related events: Art for Lunch, noon Sept. 7; storyteller Ken Rivers, 2 p.m. Sept. 10; and Art after Dark, 5-8 p.m. Sept. 21. Call the museum for events scheduled through mid November and for children's events.

Or treat yourself to the museum's Fall Party on Saturday. Members pay $45; non-members, $55. Call the museum by Sept. 6 to reserve.

Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Adult admission is $5; discounts for others; admission by requested donation 5-8 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m.-noon Saturday. 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa; (813) 274-8130; Web site http://www.tampamuseum.com.

USF COLLECTS -- In the contemporary art world, these are a few names to drop: Georg Baselitz, Chuck Close, Jim Dine, Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Nevelson, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Andy Warhol.

Connect them and others to their art produced at the University of South Florida's acclaimed print workshop, Graphicstudio, and with additional works from the permanent collection at USF Contemporary Art Museum, on view now. A reception for the exhibit takes place 7-9 p.m. Friday, or you can see it during regular gallery hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday through Sept. 29. Free. W Holly Dr., University of South Florida, Tampa; stop at campus information center off Fowler Ave. for parking permit ($2). (813) 974-2849; Web site http://www.usfcam.usf.edu.