Fine Arts and Blown Glass in St. Petersburg, Florida

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The city of St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to many cultural and artistic institutions. I had the opportunity to visit two of them on a recent visit.

St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts


Shiva Nataraja - India 18th century

 

The Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1961 by Margaret Acheson Stuart. The city donated a four acre, waterfront site, and it opened its doors in 1965. The MFA was the first fine arts museum in St. Petersburg.


Leviathan Zodiacs by Kahinde Wiley


Today, the museum has pieces that cover over 5000 years of human endeavor, from all around the world. In my opinion, it is strongest in its collection of 20th and 21st century art. These include some wonderful impressionist and post-impressionist works. These include pieces by Georgia O’Keefe and Kahinde Wiley.

Susanna and the Elders by Frans Floris

Juliet and her Nurse by John R.S. Stanhope


The Houses of Parliment, Effect of Fog by Claude Monet

Reading by Berthe Moriset

Gathering at Church Entrance by Richard Hall

Innercity Industrial Scene by Virginia Cuthbert

Poppy by Georgia O'Keefe


When I visited, the museum was hosting two special shows. One was Creative Freedom: Women as Decorative Arts Entrepreneurs 1900-1940. These included some wonderful ceramics created during that period.



Ghostly Wood by Daisy Makeig-Jones

Jardinière by Lajos Mack


The second was In Caravaggio’s Light: Baroque Masterpieces from the Fondazione Roberto Longhi. Caravaggio pioneered the use of light and shadow to create amazing picture. This exhibit highlights many artists who were inspired by his work and styles.




Boy bitten by a Lizard by Caravaggio

Penitent Magdalene by Domenico Fetti

Annunciation of the Birth of Sampson by Mathais Stom

Denial of Saint Peter by Valentin de Boulogne



Chihuly Center - Morean Art Center



In 1917, a group of artists joined together to form the Art Club of St. Petersburg. Over the next decades, this group formed one of the largest centers of art creation in Florida. In the 1990’s they opened the Morean Art Center on St. Petersburg’s Central Ave. Today that building includes a gallery, classrooms, a glassblowing studio, and the largest clay center in the southeast U.S.

In 2010 the Morean Center reached out to Dale Chihuly to open a permanent collection of his work in St. Petersburg. The Chihuly Collection is home to 18 installations that highlight several of the artists most popular series.


Seaforms

Float Boat

Persian Ceiling

Ruby Red Icicle Chandlier

Muted Raspberry Ikebana

Fiore



Nuts and Bolts


  • The Museum of Fine Arts is located at 225 Beach Drive NE
  • It is open Tues - Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (selected Thursdays until 8:00 PM)
  • The entrance fees are Adults $24/ Seniors and College Students $19/ Youth $12
 
  • Chihuly Center is located at 720 Central Ave
  • It is open every day - Mon - Sa 10:00 AM - 5:00, Sun 12 noon - 5:00
  • The Entrance fee is Adults $22/ Seniors $20/ Students $16
Location: 255 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

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