Tampa and Detroit share a common history of booming assembly line industries; the former was once the cigar center of the world while the latter put the world on wheels with its mass production of automobiles. Of course, both cities have changed drastically since their "glory days," but they still share common goals: an improvement of urban life and a rebirth of the arts.
With this in mind, Covivant Gallery launches 313 vs. 813, an exhibit that showcases the pop surrealist paintings and sculptures of three artists from Detroit (7teen, Kurt Halsey Frederiksen and Anna Cangialosi), three from Tampa (Diran Lyons, Josh Taylor and Ryan Prado), and one from both (Bask). Each presents his or her interpretation of the place they like to call home.
Also opening this weekend in The Boutique (the small gallery) is L'Agent des trios, a display of multimedia artworks and installations by Trong G. Nguyen and Art Hijack, including the "Humanitarians Not Heroes" project, the "Art Collection of Rick Haatj" and "Messages from Guantanamo."
An opening reception for both exhibits occurs from 7 to 11 p.m. Sat., Dec. 10, and features live music by local hip-hop group Red Tide ($5 admission).
313 vs. 813 and L'Agent des trios, through Jan. 1 at Covivant, 4906 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-234-0222, www.covivant.com. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
This article appears in Dec 7-13, 2005.
