If you’re a fan of the many outdoor art shows offered throughout St. Pete, it’s disappointing that there aren’t many during the hot summer months. Rest assured you can look forward to the annual PAVA Cool Art Show held in the cool and comfortable Coliseum on July 22 and 23.
The show started back in 1988 when a group of local artists got together to commiserate that there were no art festivals to showcase their work during the summer. They formed the Professional Association of Visual Artists (PAVA) and launched the first Cool Art Show at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
“This is a juried show, and this year we had 90 applicants for 62 booths,” reports PAVA President and show chairperson Linda Stump. “Our judges consist of museum curators and art professors at local universities. We are attracting more and more artists every year and hope to expand our reach to other parts of the state in the future.”
Fun for All Ages
Be sure to bring along the whole family as there will be many art activities for kids. Back by popular demand will be a “scribble wall” where future artists can express themselves freely. Elementary art teacher Lauren Miller will lead other creative activities such as making foil marker prints, reverse perspective galleries, optical illusion weaving and inkless printmaking.
For all ages, award-winning artist Lorraine Potocki will demonstrate techniques for pastels on Saturday. Rebecca Skelton, a St. Pete artist and adjunct faculty member at St. Petersburg College, will demonstrate figure drawing on Sunday. She will also provide a free, 10-minute portrait for any show attendee.
For a Good Cause
PAVA donates to the Pinellas County Regional National Art Awards and the Pinellas Education Foundation, where high school students receive scholarships for art training. PAVA artists have also done plein air painting at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo, where their finished work was for sale on site. You can view and purchase members’ artwork at their Cool Art Shop in Dunedin, where special exhibits in the past had themes such as a “Clothing Optional” and “Photographs and Memories.”
“We look forward to seeing everyone at the Coliseum in July and appreciate the great support we receive from art lovers throughout the St. Pete community,” Stump says.
The free Cool Art Show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 22 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 23. Visit pava-artists.org/cool-art-show to view the entire schedule of activities. The Coliseum is at 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. The Cool Art Shop is at 1240 County Road 1 in Dunedin in the Winn-Dixie Plaza. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
