The splendors of the bay area don't end with the "Splendors of Ancient Egypt" at the Florida International Museum. Dozens of other art experiences are within an easy drive.
Complementing and running concurrently with the show from the Pelizaeus Museum is the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts' exhibit "The Lure of Egypt: Land of the Pharaohs Revisited," paintings of Egypt by European and American artists of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
The area is also home to five other art museums: the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa Museum of Art and Museum of African-American Art in Tampa, and the largest, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, with its renowned collection of baroque art.
Many non-profit art centers, several college galleries and scores of commercial showplaces round out the area's ongoing offerings.
In addition, weekend art shows fill the calendar. Florida is a favorite state for outdoor show artists. Thriving art communities exist in downtown St. Petersburg and Sarasota, Ybor City and Gulfport's Beach Boulevard; all hold periodic happenings. Check Weekend in the Times each Friday for information.
Exhibits scheduled during the course of "Splendors of Ancient Egypt" include:
- Ongoing -- Barnett-Aden African-American art collection, Museum of African-American Art, 1308 Marion St., Tampa; 272-2466; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4:30 Sunday; $2 adults; seniors and children K-12, $1; free Saturdays before 1 p.m.
- Through May 12 -- Dali Under the Sun: The World Premiere of the Florida Collection. Entire collection of the museum's oil paintings on display for the first time. Salvador Dali Museum; 1000 Third St. S, St. Petersburg; 823-3767; 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday through May 12; adults, $8; students, $4; adults 65 and over, $7; children under 10 free when accompanied by adult.
- Through June 10; date may be extended -- The Lure of Egypt: Land of the Pharaohs Revisited, Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg; 896-2667;10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on third Thursday monthly; $5; 65 and older, $3; students older than 6, $2; under 6, free.
- Through Feb. 23 -- Lynn Davison, Figurative Paintings. Works by one of Florida's foremost artists. Dunedin Fine Art Center; 1143 Michigan Blvd.; 738-1892; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday; free.
- Through March 16 -- Inside Out: Recent Works of Kathran Siegel. Jacksonville artist painted wood at gallery for statewide organization. Florida Craftsmen, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; 821-7391; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; free.
- Through Feb. 24 -- Perfect Speed. Exhibit explores techniques and narratives of film as art form. University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, W Holly Drive, University of South Florida, Tampa (stop at campus information center for parking permit); 974-2849; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday; free.
- Feb. 16-March 31 -- Botticelli to Tiepolo: Three Centuries of Italian Painting from Bob Jones University. Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; (941) 359-5700; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily; $8.50 adults; $7.50 seniors; children under 12, students and teachers free.
- Feb. 17-April 7 -- Ken Falana: New Works. Falana, professor at Florida A&M University, explores pattern and color. Florida Gulf Coast Art Center, 222 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Belleair; 584-8634; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; free.
- Feb. 18-April 21 -- Metamorphoses: Photography in the Electronic Age. Contemporary photos explore convergence of computers, photography, art and technology. Tampa Museum of Art; 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa; 274-8130; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 4; adults $5; seniors and students with ID $4; children 6-18 $3. Free after 5 p.m. Wednesday and all Sunday.
- March 2-3 -- Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. Top bay area outdoor show spreads out along Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa; times to be announced. In 1995 it was from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; free.
- March 11-May 11 -- Mark Stock. Local transplant to California returns to alma mater to exhibit. University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, W Holly Drive, University of South Florida, Tampa (stop at campus information center for parking permit); 974-2849; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday; free.
- April 20-21 -- Tarpon Springs Arts and Crafts Festival. Outdoor show in woodsy Spring Bayou adjacent to downtown Tarpon Springs. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 20; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 21. Free.
- April 26-May 24 -- All-Florida Spring Juried Exhibition. Prizes include John Eckert Memorial Award for artist working in clay. St. Petersburg Center for the Arts, formerly the Arts Center, 100 Seventh St. S; 822-7872; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; free.
- May 5-June 30 -- The Graphic Art of Philip Pearlstein, 1978-1994. Prints and etchings by noted contemporary artist. Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa; 274-8130; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 4; adults $5; seniors and students with ID $4; children 6-18 $3. Free after 5 p.m. Wednesday and all Sunday.
- May 4-5 -- Mainsail Arts Festival. Major outdoor show, North Straub Park, St. Petersburg. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 4 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 5. Free.
