Muralism — Art Show and Anniversary Celebration
Sat., May 23, 5 p.m.-midnight, Oleson Gallery and Bloom Art Center, 910 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg. $9 includes live music; plus food truck and
donation cash bar. A free community mural
free wall opens at 4 p.m.
bloom.oleson.media@gmail.com
A gift to the community — that’s what James Oleson calls Muralism. The special event this Saturday night at Oleson’s Bloom Art Center will celebrate the fellowship of more than 25 artists, who have given freely of their time and talents over several months to make over the nondescript St. Pete warehouse.
“Everybody is putting a lot of effort and expense into it,” says Oleson. “This project challenges some artists who might not have done something like this before.”
Oleson says that Muralism happened “very organically” over time. “We started on the interior and it started bleeding over onto the outside of the building,” he said. “When we started counting, we were blown away because it had gotten up to 20 paintings, and there are more still coming in. For the opening, we are going to figure out a numbering system to show which artists did which paintings.”
Well known for his sculpture utilizing recycled materials, as well as his paintings on cars, buildings, stage sets and other surfaces, Oleson runs the gallery space — next to new St. Pete performance venue The 910 — with partner Mitzi Gordon, executive director of Creative Pinellas, the county’s arts agency. The couple has taken leadership roles in Pinellas County’s art scene through various art projects, like Carmada, a program that matches artists with car owners to paint their automobiles.
Before opening Bloom, Oleson had a small gallery on Central Avenue. “When I had the Oleson Gallery over on the 600 Block, people were making artwork before the show in that little backyard area,” said Oleson. “I enjoy creating opportunities for artists … I want Bloom to plant seeds.”
Gordon, of course, is in line with Oleson’s community-minded pursuits. “The Bloom Art Center is a multipurpose, inspirational workspace,” she said. “A year ago, when we opened, everything was white, beige, blank …To have come in a year’s time and see the depth of transformation is exciting! All the artists involved have pushed each other to create new techniques. They learn from one another to interact with the art either as a viewer or participant. We want to continue to include that educational thread through everything we do.”
Bloom’s muralists are bringing a range of personal and fantastical explorations to their works. Zulu Painter — who, when asked his age, says he’s “old enough to know what he’s doing and young enough to do it anyway” — is one of the contributing artists, along with Oleson and the ubiquitous Sebastian Coolidge.
“The artists of St. Petersburg are connected by our art and eager to show the world what we can do,” Zulu said. “Bloom was created to give art a place to grow …The diversity alone will make this event interesting.”
Other artists who have contributed include Allen Leper Hampton, Antonio del Toro, BASK, Chon Mosley, Derek Donnelly, James Hicks, Jeff Williams, John Taormina, Justin Wagher, Korey Lightford, Mason Schwake, Nicholas Kekllas, OWCH, Scott Hillis, Stephen Palladino, STOIC, Suzy Schultz, THIRST and Van Der Luc.
Thirty-one-year-old St. Pete artist Eleanor Rigby is working on an adaptation of a piece she had already sold to a client. It shows a regal woman sitting stiffly on a sofa, with an octopus coming up from behind.
The artist, who recently earned a partial scholarship to Ringling, says her inspiration stems from oppression: “As I started, it really reminded me of my mother, who has Alzheimer’s. It grew and I carried this general feeling throughout the piece about people who are in a restrictive situation, or they hold unwanted beliefs so deeply that they don’t know how to uproot the beliefs or themselves. I imagined that an octopus would be great at digging to help them out because it has eight legs …Of course, everyone sees something different when they look at a work of art, and that is part of the beauty.”
Oleson agrees with the up-for-interpretation philosophy, and chooses not to title his murals. “When someone comes and engages a piece of art, it may mean something totally different to them than what it meant to you,” he said. “I want people to interpret my art in their own way.”
A caretaker of sorts, Oleson is keeping the bills paid to help artists nurture their talents. He has been keeping Bloom going from his own funds and effort since the beginning. Some of the artists pay rent for studios in the building, but the responsibility for the building rests on Oleson’s shoulders.
The complex offers a welcoming outdoor patio and houses a gallery featuring the works of resident artists. Oleson and Gordon are in the process of initiating a nonprofit education center as well. Contributions and donations are accepted.
“What I am trying to show people with Muralism is that they can transform what they already have into public art,” he said. “I would love for the artists to get more opportunities based on somebody seeing the work that they did here. They did their part. I am helping the artistic landscape. Hopefully, other people will see it and want artists to paint their businesses and homes. People that have walls, I want them to pick up this idea and run with it.You can be proud to contribute to the city and say, ‘Look, I did this for everyone to enjoy.’”
This article appears in May 14-20, 2015.