Gulf Coast Museum of Art, which has struggled to stay afloat in the cultural wasteland of Central Largo since it opened in 1999, will close its doors indefinitely this upcoming January. In a recent interview, GCMA Executive Director Michelle Turman said the plan is to shop around for more user-friendly digs, re-organize and re-open 2012, possibly with a new name, though at this point, the future of the museum is uncertain. Presently, it's business as usual, and locals have a few more months to take in one last exhibition in the current facility. Christopher Still: Coming Home is a 30-year retrospective of a prominent Bay area native. Artist Christopher Still explores themes of Florida life, history and culture in his paintings, which are produced after extensive hands-on research and feature much meticulous detail and vivid color. Still lifes, landscapes and history-inspired pieces are on display at the museum along with studies from mural projects commissioned by the Chambers of the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee, the Tampa International Airport, and the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater. Through Jan. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., Gulf Coast Museum of Art, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo, $10 adults/$8 seniors/$5 youths 7-18 and college students with I.D., 727-518-6833, gulfcoastmuseum.org.
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2008.