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Art planner: Walking mural tours in St. Pete and new gallery shows around Tampa Bay

 
A mural completed by Brazilian artist Arlin Graff adorns a wall in St. Petersburg’s Central Arts District. The popular mural walking tour  will resume on Saturday.
A mural completed by Brazilian artist Arlin Graff adorns a wall in St. Petersburg’s Central Arts District. The popular mural walking tour will resume on Saturday.
Published Oct. 19, 2016

CELEBRATE FALL: WALK THE MURALS

Now that the worst muggy days are over (we hope), the Central Arts District in downtown St. Petersburg has resumed its popular Saturday mural walking tour. It covers those within a four-block area with about 30 examples. These are not all the newest ones from the recent SHINE Mural Festival; those spread well beyond the district and would make for an arduous transit on foot. There are some of the new ones, though, examples from last year's festival and ones privately commissioned. Having taken a tour, I attest to its fun factor. It's also informative, with the guide imparting the stories behind the murals' creation. Selfie fanatics will have a blast!

The tours start at 10 a.m. each Saturday and end at 11:30 a.m., just in time for lunch. A bonus of the tour is that you'll see restaurants, cafes and shops along the way to visit. Wear comfortable shoes and consider a hat or sun visor. All tours begin at Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

Tickets are $19 adults, $11 for youths 6 to 18, free for ages 5 and under. Some of the proceeds are used to fund future murals. Reservations are required. (727) 821-7391. floridacraftart.org.

DARKNESS VISIBLE: LYNN SAVILLE AT FMOPA

Lynn Saville is well-known for her photographs taken in twilight and darkness. She's an expert at teasing out the nuances of dusk and finding elements of light to contrast with the night to create mysterious, often moody landscapes. "Dark City" is an exhibition of her work at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (and also the name of a book published in 2015) that captures urban areas in a state of vacancy and vulnerability.

Meet Saville at an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the museum, 400 N Ashley Drive, Tampa. Light refreshments will be served and an artist's talk is at 6 p.m. Admission is $10.

Join her afterward for a twilight photography workshop in downtown Tampa from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All skill levels are welcome, and it costs $95. The show continues through Nov. 20. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (813) 221-2222. fmopa.org.

GO WEST: FALL HARVEST ART SHOW

The Plainsmen Gallery specializes in contemporary western and wildlife art and represents popular practitioners in those genres. Works by 23 of them, including some members of the Cowboy Artists of America, will be on view at the "Fall Harvest Show" at the gallery, 2141 Main St., Suite H, Dunedin, beginning Saturday with a free champagne reception from 1 to 4 p.m. Media include painting, sculpture, jewelry and prints. Painter Terry Smith will be on hand for a demonstration and there will be a drawing for a limited-edition print. The show continues through Nov. 26. Hours are 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

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SOFT LANDING AKIKO KOTANI AT HCC/DALE MABRY

Akiko Kotani's immersive installation, Soft Walls, will shroud Gallery 221 at Hillsborough Community College's Dale Mabry campus with 800 square feet of crocheted strips made from white plastic bags, shown at left. You will enjoy the work for its minimalist beauty alone but the artist's transformation of a traditional, homey craft into a sophisticated work of art that references the repetitive nature of chores and the worth to be found in them. The gallery, 4001 W Tampa Bay Blvd., Tampa, is in the Learning Resources Center. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Free. (813) 253-7386. hccfl.edu/gallery221.