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Tampa Bay is rich with art, theater events in March

A roundup of visual and performing arts.
 
Leonard Baskin's "Chief American Horse - Oglala Sioux" is included in the "Leonard Baskin: Native American Portraits" exhibition at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs through May 20.
Leonard Baskin's "Chief American Horse - Oglala Sioux" is included in the "Leonard Baskin: Native American Portraits" exhibition at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs through May 20. [ Courtesy of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art ]
Published March 3, 2021|Updated March 16, 2021

Tampa Bay arts organizations are finding creative ways to keep the scene vibrant during the pandemic. Here is a roundup.

Jobsite Theater

Nick Hoop as Jason/Tyrone in Jobsite Theater's production of "Hand to God," which runs through March 14. [ Courtesy of Jobsite Theater. ]

The resident theater company of the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts is presenting its second in-person production, Hand to God. The irreverent comedy follows meek and mild Jason, whose puppet, Tyrone, develops a shocking personality. The New Yorker called it Sesame Street meets The Exorcist. While it involves puppets, the humor is aimed at adult audiences. Runs through March 14. The Straz Center has received seals of approval for safe, socially distanced spaces from Tampa General Hospital and the City of Tampa. Held in the Jaeb Theater. $19.50 and up. 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827. jobsitetheater.org.

From March 3-9, the theater company is presenting a limited streaming performance of its production of Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. The one-woman show performed by Andresia Mosely is based on interviews playwright Anna Deavere Smith conducted after the Rodney King riots. The streaming costs $14.99 and is best viewed on a smart TV. Access it at strazhome.uscreen.io/catalog.

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

The poster for the virtual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts features "Yellow Light," an embroidered artwork by Nneka Jones. The virtual festival remains on view through March 21. [ Courtesy of Gasparilla Festival of the Arts ]

The virtual arts festival is happening online through March 21, using a website called Eventeny that allows viewers to search by category and scroll through artists’ works. On March 6-7, there will be programmed events including entertainment and an awards ceremony that can be watched virtually. Find it all at gasparillaarts.com.

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

Bonnie Schiffman's portrait of James Brown in on display in "About Face: Celebrating Diversity" at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs through May 16. [ Courtesy of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art ]

The small but mighty museum located on St. Petersburg College’s Tarpon Springs campus has several exhibitions on display. “Where You Come From Is Gone” (through May 20) features photographers Jared Ragland and Cary Norton’s large-scale images made through the historical wet-plate collodion process that seek to shed light on the erased Native American history in the South, Alabama and Florida.

“Leonard Baskin: Native American Portraits” (through May 20) showcases the series Baskin created while doing research for a handbook he was illustrating about Custer Battlefield.

“About Face: Celebrating Diversity” (through May 16) features photographic portraits of figures including Miles Davis and Muhammad Ali. The show includes work by local photographer Herb Snitzer.

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$10, $8 seniors, free for students, children 17 and younger and active military. 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. 600 E Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs. 727-712-5762. leeparattner.org.

Mize Gallery

"Bath Time" by Rebekah Lazaridis in included in "Afterlife" at Mize Gallery, which runs March 5-28. [ Courtesy of Chad Mize ]

“Afterlife,” a group exhibition at Mize Gallery, confronts the concept of an afterlife and includes work by Frank Strunk III, Anna Sauer and Rebekah Lazaridis. It opens Friday with a virtual tour at 6 p.m. at facebook.com/mizegallery and at 7 p.m. at instagram.com/mizegallery. Through March 28. The gallery is open to the public with mask requirements and a limit of six people at a time. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday or by appointment. 689 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-251-8529. chadmize.com.

Gulfport

Judith Villavisanis' woodland inspired Adirondack chair is part of "Best Seat in the House, A Chair-ity Auction With a View" in Gulfport. [ Courtesy of Debbie Stevenson ]

The funky beach town is brimming with arts events in March. There are two art walks, one on Friday and the other, the Gulfport Indie Faire on March 20. A special event during both is “Best Seat in the House, A Chair-ity Auction With a View,” benefiting the Gulfport Senior Center Foundation. Artists have embellished 10 Adirondack chairs and six vintage windows. They’ll be on view during the art walk on Friday (5-9 p.m.) and at the Gulfport Recreation Center on Saturday during the Pink Flamingo Tour of Gardens (11 a.m.-5 p.m.). They will be auctioned off on March 20 from 5-7 p.m. during the Indie Faire, at the Tiki Bar and Grill, 5519 Shore Blvd. S. gulfportseniorfoundation.org.

The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art

Laurie Riley's "Green Iguana" is included in "Artists for Conservation: International Exhibit of Nature in Art" at the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg from March 13-May 23. [ Courtesy of the James Museum ]

The museum presents “Artists for Conservation: International Exhibit of Nature in Art” on March 13. Artists for Conservation is a network of 500 nature and wildlife artists. The exhibit includes 60 paintings and sculptures. On view through May 23. $20, $15 students, teachers, seniors and active military, $10 youth ages 7-18, free for children 6 and younger. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except on Tuesdays, when the museum is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-892-4200. thejamesmuseum.org.

Morean Center for Clay

A piece by Shana Fliegel from her solo exhibition, "Tracing Situations," at the Morean Center for Clay in St. Petersburg from March 10-31. [ Courtesy of the Morean Center for Clay ]

The center presents “Tracing Situations,” a solo exhibition from artist Shana Fliegel, who etches designs into works that explore the balance between humanity and nature. On view March 10-31 with an opening reception on March 13 during Second Saturday ArtWalk from 5-7:30 p.m. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. 420 22nd St. S, St. Petersburg. 727-821-7162. moreanartscenter.org.

Off Kilter Theatre

Off Kilter, a new experimental theater troupe in St. Petersburg, is presenting its first independent piece, The Velocity of Gary (Not His Real Name), from March 12-21. The play follows a “young, queer hustler in NYC attempting to navigate his own journey armed only with a leather jacket and a pair of leopard print underwear.” The show contains adult themes and situations. $25. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. The Mar St. Pete. 2309 Central Ave. offkiltertheatre.com.

Studio @620

“Within. Without.” is a dance performance by Project Alchemy choreographed by artistic director Alexander Jones. It explores loss. It will be performed at the studio with masks required and a limited audience capacity. Advanced tickets are required. $15-$20. 7 p.m. March 26, 3 and 7 p.m. March 27. 620 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-895-6620. thestudioat620.org.

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)

MOSI will present its first outdoor art show, “MOSI Night at the Museum Art Show,” on March 27. Curated by Tyler Sirota, the show features local artists including Matt Kress, Carrie Kilgore and Rojo. A DJ from New York City, Lauren “Lolo” Mayhew, will provide the tunes, while magician Cory Van Valin entertains. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The limited ticket event will happen in two time slots, 5-7 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance at eventbrite.com. $25. 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa.