Jennifer Ring, Author at Creative Loafing Tampa

An indoor exhibition installation photograph by Dave Decker showing FloridaRAMA in St. Petersburg, Florida on Oct. 27, 2026. Captured in a medium horizontal shot inside a dark gallery illuminated by ambient red lighting, two illuminated miniature shadowbox dioramas sit side-by-side inside clear protective hard cases. The central case resembles a vintage postcard reading "Greetings from FLORIDA" with miniature palm trees, a sandy beach, and small figures against a warm yellow-orange sunset backdrop, while the adjacent case on the right displays a lush tropical scene framed by fluffy white cotton clouds and dried citrus slices.

Arts & Entertainment

FloridaRama Fest and Tigertail Asian Film Festival among best ‘Art Everywhere’ events happening in Pinellas November 12-18

Plus Pinellas Theatre Week, Print Party at the Preserve and more.

by Jennifer Ring November 12, 2026November 12, 2026

Pinellas’ Art Everywhere celebration kicks off with another week of events happening Nov. 12-18, 2026, topped by FloridaRAMA’s fifth anniversary festival, the Tigertail Asian Film Festival and more.

An outdoor mural painting photograph showing artist Tiff Urquhart (R) at Soft Water Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida on Nov. 7, 2026. Captured in a wide horizontal shot, artist Tiff Urquhart kneels on the asphalt while painting a vibrant wall mural of stylized tropical leaves and flowers in shades of teal, orange, pink, yellow, and blue. She wears a striped short-sleeved button-down shirt, dark trousers, sunglasses, and a trucker hat with spray paint cans lining the pavement beside her, while a brown French bulldog stands on a leash in the foreground.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: For week one of Pinellas’ Art Everywhere, creativity really was all over the place

The celebration runs through Dec. 6.

by Jennifer Ring and Ray Roa November 10, 2026November 12, 2026

An exterior architectural photograph by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater showing The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Captured in a wide low-angle shot during twilight under a deep blue sky, the modern concrete building features its iconic "Enigma" freeform geodesic glass bubble structure protruding from the solid exterior wall. In the foreground, tall palm trees line a manicured green lawn with illuminated ground pathways, light fixtures, and low stone retaining walls, brightly lit by warm exterior landscape lighting.

Arts & Entertainment

Dalí’s ‘Disruption & Devotion’ and St. Pete’s ‘SHINE’ mural festival among best Art Everywhere events happening November 5-11

‘Art Everywhere’ runs now through Dec. 6.

by Jennifer Ring November 5, 2026November 12, 2026

A group portrait photograph by Dave Decker showing Creative Pinellas and FloridaRAMA team members in St. Petersburg, Florida on Oct. 27. 2026. Captured in a wide horizontal shot outdoors, a group of eight team members stands on a painted purple-and-blue ground mural in front of a vintage silver Airstream trailer. The group features diverse members smiling and posing in casual colorful attire—including a sleeveless yellow floral top with denim shorts, a white top paired with a orange-and-white striped midi skirt, a yellow minidress, and dark casual tops with trousers—set against a white building with an access ramp under a partly cloudy sky.

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete’s FloridaRAMA celebrates fifth anniversary with November festival and art trailer

CEO and co-founder Liz Dimmitt is also launching FloridaRama Impact, a new nonprofit dedicated to artistic exploration, creative experiences and positive change, at FloridaRama Fest.

by Jennifer Ring November 5, 2026November 12, 2026

An interior architectural and art installation photograph by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater showing Christian Sampson's 'Tempus Volat, Hora Fugit' at MFA St. Pete in St. Petersburg, Florida on May 24, 2024. Captured in a wide horizontal shot inside the Museum of Fine Arts glass conservatory, a figure in a light dress walks across polished stone floors illuminated by vibrant multi-colored bands of light projected from a massive multi-story window wall covered in dichroic tint panels in shades of blue, magenta, yellow, and green, overlooking an outdoor patio with colorful umbrellas under bright natural sunlight.

Arts & Entertainment

Pinellas County’s month-long celebration of the arts returns in November and bigger than ever

Art’n Month launched in November 2022, setting the stage for ‘Art Everywhere’ happening now through Dec. 6.

by Jennifer Ring November 5, 2026November 12, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s theater scene enters a new stage of collaboration for Pinellas Theatre Week kicking off November 9

The grant-funded series features BOGO tickets at six companies and runs through Nov. 22.

by Ray Roa and Jennifer Ring November 4, 2026November 12, 2026

A vibrant, symmetrical illustration of a moth with orange-and-yellow patterned wings set against a black background. The moth is surrounded by celestial and nature-themed elements, including white and blue stars, crescent moons, and green leafy stems at the bottom. The design features bold geometric shapes and a bright pink accent in the center of a top star.

Arts & Entertainment

Seven emerging Tampa Bay artists to watch in 2026 and beyond

The more artists we spoke with, the more we considered what it means to emerge.

by Jennifer Ring January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with a dark beard and a red baseball cap, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. They are wearing a unique, multi-colored button-down shirt featuring yellow and blue tie-dye patterns, a "Yosemite National Park" patch, a "Jake" name tag, and an American flag patch on the sleeve, all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa artist Fary Charles channeled rage, disappointment, and a desire to prove himself into his latest solo show

The artist also known as ‘Junkyard’ mixes music with painting.

by Jennifer Ring January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with dark hair styled in a high bun, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. They are wearing a grey textured turtleneck sweater, bright red lipstick, and small silver fish-shaped earrings, all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Tatiana Mesa Paján was doing well as an artist in Cuba—and had to start over when she fled to Tampa

‘Mio/Mine’, her first solo show on U.S. soil, is at Dunedin Fine Arts Center through Feb. 22

by Jennifer Ring January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with short, curly grey hair and a bright smile. They are wearing vibrant red cat-eye glasses, silver hoop earrings, and a black crew-neck top, posed against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Second-act Tampa artist Mary-Helen Horne discovers printmaking while planning her retirement

Horne describes her work as ‘a celebration of the fragile diversity of our natural world.’

by Jennifer Ring January 29, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with wavy brown hair, a beard, and glasses, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. They are wearing a blue and white vertically striped button-down shirt and have black gauge earrings, all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

New work from Tampa artist Patrick Carew explores what it means to experience HIV in the post-prep era

Art insiders know him as the curator of Reverb, a small gallery in Kress Contemporary.

by Jennifer Ring January 29, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with long, wavy brown hair featuring blonde highlights and a shaggy fringe. They are wearing a black "TIGERSEX" sleeveless t-shirt, bright red lipstick, and multiple facial piercings, including a septum ring and a lip piercing, all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Meet Jesi Cason, St. Petersburg Month of Photography’s Photo Laureate

Cason has photographed Grammy award-winning musicians, Olympic athletes, realtors and more.

by Jennifer Ring January 29, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with curly brown hair and tortoise-shell glasses, looking down thoughtfully at a professional camera they are holding against their shoulder. They are wearing a black crew-neck t-shirt, posed against a solid dark grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Zack Wittman’s latest project documents Tampa’s last cigar factories

His work appears in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and more.

by Jennifer Ring January 29, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with short, curly dark hair and a warm, closed-mouth smile. They are wearing a navy blue ribbed polo shirt, heart-shaped silver drop earrings, and several layered necklaces—including one with a teardrop-shaped pendant—all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa artist Clancy Riehm has a busy year ahead of her

The Rays and Lightning selected her for Black History Month projects.

by Jennifer Ring January 29, 2026January 30, 2026

Two people stand in an art gallery between two large, colorful abstract paintings. One person wears a striped shirt and shorts with white spikey hair; the other wears a dark blazer, jeans, and sunglasses.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: Pinellas arts community celebrates final Arts Annual at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo

Creative Pinellas, which organizes the popular annual showcase of Pinellas County artists, must vacate the county-owned space in February 2026.

by Jennifer Ring November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with short, brown hair and large, light-framed glasses, posing in front of a geometrically patterned backdrop of purple, blue, and red squares.

Arts & Entertainment

Interview: A battle-tested Margaret Murray talks reinventing Creative Pinellas

Arts Annual happens in Largo on Friday, Nov. 21.

by Jennifer Ring November 17, 2025November 17, 2025

Abstract painting dominated by a vibrant red color, overlaid with densely scribbled, illegible black, orange, and blue handwriting.

Arts & Entertainment

‘It forced me to paint from the deepest parts of myself’: St. Pete art show seeks to end stigma associated with suicide

Vevie Dimmitt’s paintings are covered in messages to her late son.

by Jennifer Ring November 6, 2025November 6, 2025

Close-up crop of a painting on wood featuring a woman with dark hair and closed eyes, wearing golden chains and jewelry. A stylized, anatomical heart with roots emerges from her chest.

Arts & Entertainment

‘Cotton Candy Daydream’ brings a blend of contemporary pop art, surrealism and mysticism to St. Pete

Meet Orlando artists Cake Marques and MikeyBear McGrath this weekend at Bayboro Brewing.

by Jennifer Ring October 29, 2025October 29, 2025

Two people stand side by side at an art event with tape over their mouths that reads “DON’T SILENCE ART.” The person on the left has short gray hair, glasses, and a black shirt with bold green text that says “Ditch The Default.” The person on the right wears bright yellow tassel earrings, glasses, and a black shirt with a patch design and a sticker that reads “COMMUNITY BEFORE VISITORS.” Blurred attendees and colorful artwork are visible in the background.

New documents suggest VSPC might work with Creative Pinellas on new competitive arts tourism grants

The arts nonprofit just laid off four staffers after a September vote to defund its efforts.

by Jennifer Ring September 18, 2025September 18, 2025

Stylized artwork of an alligator partially submerged in water, with only its head and back visible. Above the water, a black sign with bold orange letters reads “WALK-INS WELCOME.” The illustration is done in a rough, textured ink style on a beige background.

Arts & Entertainment

‘Tourism follows culture. Culture does not follow tourism’: Co-founder of St. Pete’s SHINE festival responds to funding cuts with art and a plea

Leon Bedore, aka Tes One, wants to know if he’s doing the ‘art for tourism’ thing right.

by Jennifer Ring September 8, 2025September 8, 2025