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The gift of art
One-of-a-kind gifts - from jewelry to pottery to Christmas ornaments - can be found at bay area museums and galleries.
By BRANDY STARK
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 20, 2001
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Fused glass platter by Marilyn Catlow at the Arts Center.
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For you last-minute shoppers, the Tampa Bay area has galleries and museum gift shops that have shelves filled with finery fit for the most finicky friends and family.
The Museum of Fine Arts, 225 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. (727) 896-2667. Among the jewelry, books and many other gift items, you'll find something that shop manager Ellen Holte says is sold here exclusively: Buccellati ornaments. A prelude to an upcoming exhibit, these ornaments are handmade by Italian goldsmiths from the finest silvers and the richest golds, and sell for $375.
The Glass Canvas Gallery, 146 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 821-6767. For the person who has everything, this gallery offers the solution: Sweeping, a work by Ray Howlett. Using dichroic glass developed by NASA, a hologramlike series of images is produced that seems to change color and direction as the viewer alters position. The piece sells for $2,500. Too steep? Consider colorful glass wine stoppers (under $50), which will be remembered long after the wine is gone.
The Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 822-7872 . Among the most popular items here are Rob Giordano's ceramic snowmen ($49-$350), each a whimsical way to convey the holiday spirit. Another big seller: Meg Leary's angel ornaments ($20).
Gulf Coast Museum of Art, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo. (727) 518-6833. Hand-crafted porcelain pins and pendants ($20), created by Sarasota artist Brooke Andrews, are vignettes reflecting her larger works. Klutz project books, ranging from magic and dreams to face painting and body crayons ($9.95-$24.95, including supplies), are popular for kids.
The Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa. (813) 274-8130. Reflecting the museum's collection of Greek pottery, the Greek shirts ($22.95) are hand-painted works, featuring figures derived from fifth century Athenian pottery. Also available are folk art works by Louisiana artist Lorraine Gidron. Known for her mud people, Gidron also produces whimsical angels playing harps and serendipitous standing Santas ($40).
Hyde Park Fine Arts, 937 S Howard Ave., Tampa. (813) 258-8883 All items in the gallery's current holiday show, "Winter Salon," featuring 125 works from 25 cutting-edge artists, are for sale. Prices range from $20 to $1,500 for one-of-a-kind works, among them metal pieces by Judie Bomberger. Many of her statues, also replicated in smaller ornaments, feature characters taken from the Cirque du Soleil.
Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, (727) 298-3322. Among the center's exclusive holiday gifts are jewelry and miniature metal works of Israeli-born, New York-based jewelry designer Michal Golan. The Judea line includes gold or sterling silver electroplated and gem-encrusted decorative boxes ($42-$62), book markers ($24), and necklaces ($146-$175) laced with semi-precious jewels.
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