Arte Party
Published: Nov 2, 2007
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TAMPA - For the next two weeks the Tampa area will serve as a gateway to the Americas, using the arts as a road.
Arte 2007: Tampa Bay's Festival of the Americas splashes across both sides of the Bay beginning Saturday, offering a cornucopia of events infused with Latin flavor.
Dubbed the largest cultural event on the west coast of Florida, 40 arts venues are showcasing visual and performing arts from South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The festival features an array of events, from Mexican folk dancers to cigar tastings, high art to informal gatherings. Organizers say it's a celebration of the Tampa area's cultural diversity.
"Arte doesn't reflect any one particular country, and neither does the programming," says Nancy Kipnis, executive director for Arte 2007. "It's an opportunity to celebrate what our community is about, and it's a group of fabulous people with influences from their [home] countries."
One of the exhibits, "Homing Devices" at the University of South Florida's Contemporary Art Museum, considers the ways contemporary Latin American and Caribbean sculptors connect with the idea of "home" in an environment of increasing globalization, mobility, exile and migration in the Americas. The exhibition asks how artists can preserve their identity in a transient society.
"I think it's very important to recognize the [cultural] heritage we have in Tampa," says Noel Smith, curator of Latin American art and education for the USF Institute for Research in Art. "Point your finger at a place in Latin America or the Caribbean and there's a community here. It's the history and the current reality."
The show boasts pieces from Brazil to Haiti, and supports the institute's commitment to Latin arts.
"We don't trot out our [Latin exhibit] every October, we have a really strong program here," adds Smith. "People don't always understand how the arts contribute to their understanding of the world, but artists deal with real-world issues and contribute to the dialogue."
The Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo is premiering "Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray," a collection of rarely seen photos of the legendary Mexican artist. Prints and an assortment of love letters that Muray wrote to Kahlo during their affair are on display through Jan. 6.
"I think people should come out and experience all of these organizations' programs to see the depth of what we're trying to do," says Michelle Turman, executive director and chief curator at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. "It's about having a heartbeat and a purpose."
EVENT PREVIEW
Arte 2007: Tampa Bay's Festival of the Americas
WHAT: A showcase of visual and performing arts from South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
WHEN: Saturday through Nov. 17 (certain exhibits and events extend beyond this time frame)
WHERE: Multiple venues across the Tampa area
TICKETS: Admission prices vary depending on event and location
MORE INFO: artefestival.org
Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832 or shoye@tampatrib.com.
