The Best Thing You Can Do Today: See The American Dream and mural art on the ArtWalk
The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance is telling us to expect the “Spooktacular” at tonight’s Second Saturday ArtWalk from 5 to 9 p.m. But, truth be told, you really can’t ever predict what you’ll find when the 45 studios and galleries in this monthly art smorgasbord open their doors to public perusal.
The variety is at least spectacular. The work of more than 200 artists in multiple genres will be on view in five arts districts — Central Arts, EDGE, Grand Central, Warehouse Arts and Waterfront Arts — from ceramics at Charlie Parker Pottery to glass at Duncan McClellan to crafts at Craftsman House, plus openings of new exhibitions at many participating galleries, where you also may find live music and refreshments. There’s an ArtWalk Trolley to take you to all the districts, and a handy map at stpeteartsalliance.org/artwalk, which lists all participating galleries, studios, trolley stops and free parking.
And make sure you catch these two shows in particular:
El Sueño Americano: The American Dream. ArtsXchange Gallery, 515 22nd St. S. in the Warehouse Arts District, 5-9 p.m. Photographer Tom Kiefer was working as a Customs and Border Protection janitor at an Arizona processing center near the Mexican border when he began shooting pictures of items confiscated from undocumented migrants — objects they had valued enough to take with them in their dangerous journey. His photos, which add a profoundly personal dimension to the immigration debate, have been covered by the New Yorker, the New York Times and PRI’s The World, and his nationally touring exhibition is making its Southeast debut at the ArtsXchange. Tonight’s the official free-to-the-public opening; the show stays up through Nov. 3.
