What's happening in Tampa Bay art: USF popup performances, grand opening of creative space Venus

POPPING UP: Kaprow Reinvented

Performance art as we know it really started in the 1950s and 60s by pioneer Allan Kaprow, who invented the happening, semispontaneous performative works. His Six Ordinary Happenings were part of a project called Pose. It was designed to be repeated by others so that the iterations would change. That was 50 years ago, but now Tampa-based artist Vince Kral and the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum will carry on the project through a series of popup performances. Kaprow Reinvented: Pose 1906-2019 will happen every Wednesday through July 10. Kral is calling it the Pop Up Meditation Post, and he will engage passers-by to carry on the reinvention. There is a script with actions for people to perform, like "carry chairs through USF" or "share location and pix." It's an especially clever project for the museum to embark on over the summer, while the building is closed for renovations. Free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. USF business building atrium. 4202 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. (813) 974-4133. cam.usf.edu.

SHE'S GOT IT: Venus grand opening and exhibition

The St. Pete Women's Collective has been active for a couple of years, providing programs and studio space to creatives. But a few months back, the collective nabbed a new space for an arts incubator in the funky area loosely referred to as the Fringe District. That space is called Venus, and it officially opens from 4-7:30 p.m. Thursday and with an art exhibition this weekend. "Visions of Venus" features work by an inspiring number of women, including Jujmo, Emily Stone and Mitzi Gordon. Free. 6-9 p.m. Saturday. 244 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. stpetewomenscollective.com

FREE WITH ID: Blue Star Museums

Tampa Bay museums offer free admission to active-duty military and up to five family members over the summer in a program called Blue Star Museums, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families. It extends the offer not only to the armed forces, but also members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S Public Health Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Corps. The program runs through Labor Day (that's Sept. 2). Don't forget your ID. Here's a list of participants:

Tampa Museum of Art: 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. (813) 274-8130. tampamuseum.org.

Imagine Museum: 1900 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 300-1700. imaginemuseum.com.

Chihuly Collection: 720 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. (727) 896-4527. moreanartscenter.org.

Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg: 255 Beach Drive NE. (727) 896-2667. mfastpete.org.