“THE ART OF GIVING” Offers Open Studios In St. Petersburg, Gulfport

From the City of St. Petersburg:

ST. PETERSBURG FL - Consider an artful, local and exciting alternative to “Black Friday” for holiday gift buying. Shoppers and art lovers can find something for almost everyone on their list, and themselves, during “The Art of Giving,” an open studio event set for Saturday and Sunday, December 3rd and 4th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. Over 50 artists in St. Petersburg and Gulfport are cleaning their studios and welcoming the public. These creative communities will share their love of fine art and craft during the two-day event.

Artists participating include dozens of ceramicists, painters, sculptors, jewelers, photographers, glass artists, mixed media artists, wood crafters and more. Open studios offer visitors an opportunity to see ‘behind the scenes’ in art studios, gaining an understanding of everything that goes into the creative process. In addition to that insight, the artists will offer discounted prices for holiday gift items as well as great deals for serious collectors. The St. Petersburg area is redefining itself as the Studio Arts Community of Florida’s west coast. It has the exciting, burgeoning Warehouse Arts District, the well-known Gulfport Arts Community and the newly established Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood. Artists in each of these communities are working together for “The Art of Giving” for the first time and hope to make it an annual holiday event.

Stops include:

Artist Enclave (19 artists; tour maps available here): 2121 3rd Ave. North, St. Petersburg

Brenda McMahon Ceramics & Michel Tsouris (2 artists): 1519 53rd St S., Gulfport

Charlie Parker Studio (10 artists): 2724 26th Ave. S., St. Petersburg

Clay Center of St. Petersburg (10 artists): 2010 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg

Morean Center for Clay (10+ artists): 420 22nd Ave. S., St. Petersburg

Owen Pach Glass Studio (1 artist): 2700 23rd St. N., St. Petersburg Pitzen Studios (2 artists): 5425 30th Ave. S., Gulfport

The event is coordinated by ceramic artist Brenda McMahon. While living and working in New York, McMahon organized two professional open studio tours and believes communities are stronger together. “I have always believed in the idea that when we work together, we are greater than the sum of our parts,” says McMahon. For more information, contact Brenda McMahon at brendamcmahonceramics@gmail.com or visit the Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/347641395597297.

Image via Brenda McMahon