St. Petersburg is Florida's unofficial (and self-titled) "City of the Arts." Anyone who doubts this assertion should join area folks this Saturday at the Downtown Arts Association's Gallery Walk, a monthly event of art appreciation, gallery meet and greets, and fun, creative activities.
The 26 participating venues offer extended evening hours so that attendees can peruse the assorted media, which include blown glass, watercolors, pastels, metal works and much more. Highlights include A Song in My Heart, an exhibit of song-inspired artwork by members of the St. Petersburg Artists Cooperative (Artists Gallery Royal, 200 Second Ave. N.); and Spheres of Influences, a ceramics exhibit featuring the works of three Georgia-based artists that comes to a close following the gallery hop (Florida Craftsmen Gallery, 501 Central Ave.).
Park your car anywhere in downtown St. Pete and hop aboard one of the city's Looper trolleys, which offer rides for only 25 cents. Loops are made every 20 minutes until midnight on Saturdays, and stops are centrally located so you can enjoy several galleries at each one.
If you can't make it to the Gallery Walk, don't fret – DAA hosts the event every second Saturday of the month. For more information, call 727-821-6767 or visit www.stpetearts.com.
St. Petersburg Downtown Arts Association Gallery Walk, 5:30-9 p.m. Sat., July 9, downtown St. Pete.
-Christina Knop
This article appears in Jul 6-12, 2005.