Abandoned buildings, empty warehouses, a train baggage claim area — all represent a cultural trend that's become prevalent in the Bay area arts scene: the use of vacant, alternative spaces as places to display artworks to the general public.
The Ellis-Van Pelt furniture company building, housed in the historic former Santaella Cigar Factory, is one such example. The company operates from the ground floor and rents out studio space to local artists on the empty second and third floors. Once or twice a year, Ellis-Van Pelt gives the artists run of the place for group shows, and the latest event, Evolucion Art Exhibition, occurs at "Gallery 1906" this Friday.
At this single-night event — which features live spins by DJ Brian Taylor and tasty appetizers by an assortment of West Tampa eateries — works in various media by more than 40 artists will be featured on the walls of the upstairs hallways, and resident artists open their studio doors to the public to show off what they've been working on most recently. Don't miss it.
6-10 p.m. Fri, Dec. 1, Gallery 1906, Ellis-Van Pelt Building, 1906 N. Armenia Ave.,Tampa; $2 suggested donation, 813-390-3422.
This article appears in Nov 29 – Dec 5, 2006.