It's a little known fact that in 1990, the late famed art critic Clement Greenberg visited St. Pete's Museum of Fine Arts and remarked on its fine collection and the fact that he hadn't known it existed. In recent years David Connelly, the museum's public relations director, has helped increase awareness of the Bay area's best all-around museum. Since opening in 1965 its collection has grown to include fine examples of 17th through 19th century European art, 19th and 20th century American art and photography. The collection also includes ancient Asian and pre-Columbian art. Though SPMFA has never explored the latest slice in cutting-edge art (which USF's Contemporary Art Museum does so well), and lacks TMA's classical edge, we are grateful for its will to balance Gauguin, Renoir and Monet with vintage photography and occasional forays into contemporary work (Rauschenburg, Rosenquist, Red Grooms, et al.), as well as specialized collaborative community shows. The museum experience is multidimensional, with related cultural events such as an excellent chamber music series. Another treat is the lovely small walled garden that whisks us back to another era.
Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive, N.E., St. Petersburg, 727-896-2667.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2003.