The Tampa Museum of Art and seven downtown Tampa art galleries present the Downtown Art Encounter, a gallery hop to promote the area as a hub for art and culture.The event takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 20, with HartLine trolleys shuttling folks from one stop to the next.
Tampa's downtown doesn't have the buzzing arts scene it could, but this is certainly a prime opportunity to take some time after work and get acquainted with the galleries. Each one offers fine exhibits throughout the year and has something unique at the moment.
Art by Architects Gallery (200 N. Tampa St., Suite 100, Tampa, 813-229-3411) perennially has pieces that explore the relationship between art and architecture.
Artists Unlimited (223 N. 12th St., Tampa, 813-229-5958) is showing its 12th annual Black & White Show: black-and-white juried artworks of various media.
Baisden Gallery (442 Grand Central Ave., Suite 100, Tampa, 813-250-1511) has elegant and organic glassworks by the collaborative team of Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg.
Digital Purr: Computer-Aided Kunst, an exhibit of work influenced by technology, is at The Beaker Gallery (401 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa, 813-221-6876). The wide range of work includes sound and video installations, digital prints, movie stills and gorgeous paintings by Leslie Lerner. The recently opened gallery is run by artist A.A. Rucci and Amber Evans, and is worth a look-see.
Matthews Art Gallery (119 Hyde Park Ave., Tampa, 813-259-0305) exhibits the original postcard artworks of Mark Mothersbaugh, formerly of the famed new wave band Devo. Mothersbaugh has created his postcard pieces for more than 20 years and exhibited them widely to some acclaim.
Las Damas de Arte, a Tampa group dedicated to celebrating women in the arts, holds its annual exhibition and sale to benefit art scholarships and grants at Scarfone/Hartley Galleries (corner of North B Street and Brevard Avenue on the University of Tampa campus, 813-253-6217). The exhibition showcases works by 50 female artists.
The heavy in this group, Tampa Museum of Art features an exhibit of Greek Art from South Italy and Sicily, Magna Graecia. It includes masterworks of terra cotta and marble sculpture (reliefs, busts, figurines) as well as painted vases.
TECO Plaza Gallery (704 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-251-3688) presents Media Hopping, 20 digital images by A.A. Rucci, shown in a series as the development of a script for a live video.
Park at any of the galleries and ride the trolleys, but the most accessible parking is in the garage of the Tampa Museum of Art, located at 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. 813-274-8130.
An after-party takes place from 9 to 11 p.m. at Artists Unlimited, with light fare and refreshments.
This article appears in Mar 19-25, 2003.