Local Tampa Artists meet Nationally Acclaimed Print Maker to Create "Scapes" Credit: Shinohara courtesy of Kokol

Local Tampa Artists meet Nationally Acclaimed Print Maker to Create “Scapes” Credit: Shinohara courtesy of Kokol

Landscapes have been a trendy aspect of art since the beginning of time, but Kokol Art Studio and Gallery are revamping the stereotype this weekend (Feb. 12-14), in its art show, Scapes. This show features interpretations of city, land and seascapes through different mediums such as photography, oil, prints and more. The artists include gallery owner and artist, Beth Kokol, as well as local cardiologist-turned-photographer, Dr. Fadi Matar, local artist Beth Garcia and famous print maker Keiji Shinohara.

I was able to talk to Beth Kokol. Here, she answers some questions about the upcoming show.


Local Tampa Artists meet Nationally Acclaimed Print Maker to Create “Scapes” Credit: Garcia courtesy of Kokol
When asked what the audience can expect this weekend, Kokol said they can expect to visualize and interpret landscapes in a different way than they've ever seen before. Instead of the artwork focusing on the artist’s personal style, this collection focuses on subject matter, being all forms of scapes. These include realistic, abstract and photographic styles that are all over the board in different sizes and mediums. Kokol’s work has an Asian ambiance to it, but the rest of the work is definitely not limited. 

When asked what inspired the artists to create the theme of Scapes, Kokol explained that she had taken an art class with Shinohara and the two became friends, discovering that they had landscapes in common for art ideas. They collaborated with Matar and Garcia to develop the entirety of the show.

When asked what the most important aspect the audience should get out of Scapes, Kokol hopes that people think, “Wow, I’d never thought of it that way,” because these pieces push the envelope of classic perceptions of landscapes.


Local Tampa Artists meet Nationally Acclaimed Print Maker to Create “Scapes” Credit: Fadi Matar courtesy of Kokol


Mark your calendar's for an artistic twist to your weekend whether it's a date with your better half or for some good ol' "me time".

The events take place at Kokol Art Studio and Gallery in Tampa. The artist reception is from 5-9 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 12), the public lecture presented by Keiji Shinohara takes place at  11 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 13), and gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday (Feb. 13 and 14). 

This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2016.