Denis Gaston. Little Boxes. Mixed media on masonite, 20" x 16”. Pictured below: Denis Gaston. Ground Control To Major Tom (Grab 'n Go Art Collection). Ink on paper, 7" x 5". Images courtesy of the artist.

If it’s summer, it must be time for the Cool Art Show. Any other time of year, the region would be lousy with outdoor art fairs—but from July through September, who wants to brave heat, humidity or the chance of an afternoon thunderstorm?

Twenty-one years ago, Dunedin artist Denis Gaston had a simple idea that turned out to have staying power: round up a group of the Tampa Bay area’s most committed professional artists and add air conditioning.

This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2009.