If you choose to forgo the big ruckus-filled blowouts this weekend — i.e., the Florida State Fair and Ybor's Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade — there's a bevy of wonderful gallery crawls and fresh-air art walks tonight and tomorrow night — in Dunedin, Ybor, Gulfport and Downtown St. Pete. Here's a handy list to help you make you plans:
Artpool's The Muse and Body Art Show: Celebrate love, sex and St. Valentine with living breathing canvases; a variety of works and music. Sat., Feb. 12. 919 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg. 727-324-3878. artpoolrules.com.
Don't Break My Art: Find the perfect artsy gift for your loved one and join the Artlofts artists at their opening reception of the new exhibition. View the eclectic work of paintings, metal work, jewelry, stained glass, photography, and mosaic. Then visit with artists in their working studios. Exhibition runs Feb. 12-28. Artlofts, 10 Fifth St. N., St. Petersburg. 727-391-8908.
Errata: Dunedin Fine Art Center's biggest show of the year, featuring more than 300 works representing some 300 artists, including DFAC students, members and faculty. Works in painting, jewelry making, pastel, colored pencil, watermedia, 35mm and digital photography, clay, printmaking, mixed media, stone carving, book arts, enameling and more. Opening reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. Fri., Feb. 11. Admission is $5. DFAC Members admitted free. Admission is free for everyone during regular hours. Exhibition runs Feb. 11-March 13. DFAC, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. 727-298-3322. DFAC.org.
Second Friday Dunedin Art/Wine Walk : The weather's nicer, so how's about a little fresh-air fun in quaint and charming downtown Dunedin. More than 30 merchants participate with discounts, give-aways and more when you purchase a $10 wristband at select locations & also be eligible for the drawing in Pioneer Park on Douglas Avenue and Main Street at 8:30 p.m. Event features wine tastings, art exhibits, food and entertainment. Second Friday of every month, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dunedin Main Street, Main Street, Dunedin. (Image, left — painting by Michael del Nero)
Hairy Beasts and Unlucky Love by Wade Slater and Jennifer Koshaek: See the whimsical results of painting and thinking about the old Irish saying that deems it it unlucky to accept a lock of hair (or a four-footed beast) from a lover. Sat., Feb. 12, 6-9 p.m. Eve 'N' Odd Gallery, Crislip Arcade on the 600 Block, 645 Central Ave., Suite 11, St. Petersburg.
With Reverence to My Predecessors: Solo exhibition featuring the works of local Cuban-born artist Noel Aquino. Working in a neo-modernist style, Aquino's connection with the past displays vividly and imaginatively on the canvas (pictured right). Opening reception Sat., Feb. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 12-April 23. Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, 101 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. 727-942-5605. tarponarts.org.
The Art of Pastel, an Evening with Barry Rothstein: A contributing artist to several magazines, Rothstein's works have been widely exhibited at numerous galleries and art shows in New York, Atlanta and Florida, as well as featured in Tampa Bay Magazine. Opening reception Sat., Feb. 12, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wine and appetizers will be served. Exhibition runs Feb. 12-19. ArtOn Central Gallery, 645 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-320-7245.
Downtown St. Petersburg Art Walk: St. Petersburg's Downtown Arts Association invites the public to "Take a Walk on the Art Side" at its monthly gallery hop, an evening of art appreciation, artist meet and greets, and fun, arty events. For a list of participating galleries or more info, go to stpetearts.org. Art Walk spans 30th St. to the waterfront. Second Saturday of every month, 5-8:30 p.m. Central Avenue, St. Petersburg.
Dreams and Visions: P.E. Cooney presents paintings, encaustic, and drawings. She has roughly two bodies of works, one she regards as psychologically lighter, the other more on the shadow side of things (pictured left). An opening reception will be held on Sat., Feb. 12 from 5-9 p.m. Exhibition runs Feb. 12-March 9. Cakewalk Gallery, 1114 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. cakewalkcoop.org.
Gulfport Art Walk: More than 40 local artists and crafters line Beach Boulevard to show off their wares while live music is performed at surrounding venues, with glass blowing by master Owen Pach at the Industrial Arts Center and more. For more info or to reserve a space, call 866-art-walk or visit gulfportma.com. From 6 to 10 p.m. every first Friday and third Saturday of the month.
Seance for No One Art-photography duo and "Tampa power couple" Kym O'Donnell and Joe Griffith have a studio of vintage oddities and treasures — among them early photographs that have inspired them to research the techniques and tools that went into developing photos, such as the use of cyanotype. Don't know what it is? See for yourself at Seance for No One, an exploration of spirit photography (as practiced from the Victorian period through the 1920s; pictured right) and other paranormal phenomena. Opening reception for the show is Fri., Feb. 11, from 7 to 11 p.m. Exhibition runs Feb. 11-25. Tempus Projects, 5132 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. tempus-projects.com.
Ybor Art Colony Open House: Peek in on the artists in their private studios. The Ybor Art Colony is home to 12 painters, sculptors and clothing designers. This month’s open house will be from 5 to 7 p.m., before the Sant’ Yago Illuminated Knight Parade. Hear music from Zimnock and Crew and see artwork by YAA-featured artist Samantha Churchill.For more information, call 813-495-4649. Second Saturday of every month. 1521 ½ E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City.
My Dark HeART: 30 different artists in a variety of media — includes wire sculpture by Samantha Churchill, photography by Bob Pomeroy and Michael Bowles; paintings by Anita Wexler and Bonnie Smith; the digital art and independent films of Johnny Brajdic, six DJs: Legion, Rec*Star, Skillz, Godspeed, Kaos and Logik, and the band, Push Button Press. Dark burlesque performances by Babydoll as well as live surrealists portraits by Bonnie Smith and erotic tarot readings by Madame Kasey. Noon-midnight; entertainment in the evening. Fri., Feb. 11. Capricorn Studios, 1313 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. 813-802-7809.
