New York Times best-selling author John Prevas will kick off tonight at 6 p.m. a series of free “fascinating programming experiences” at Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave. in downtown St. Petersburg.
The additional programming accompany Florida CraftArt’s current free exhibition of fine craft entitled “Oh, the places we can go!” that runs through Aug. 28.
“As engaging the community is part of Floria CraftArt’s mission, the public is invited to attend the exhibition and programming free of charge,” said Board President Tyler Jones. “It is made possible with support from the exhibition’s sponsor Elizabeth Reilinger, along with David and Becky Ramsey, Regions Bank, the City of St. Petersburg and Florida’s Division of Arts & Culture.”
Below is information about the new free programs at CraftArt:
Thursday, July 29 at 6 p.m.: Are you a history buff? Enjoy an evening at Florida CraftArt with New York Times bestselling author John Prevas. A professor of classics at the University of South Florida, he will share his thoughts and insights on how travelling in the footsteps of great leaders from the ancient world has helped in the historical research and writing of his six books. He will cover Spain, Tunisia and the Alps with Hannibal, Asia Minor with Xenophon, Iran Afghanistan and Pakistan with Alexander the Great and France and Italy with Julius Caesar!
Saturday, July 31 at 2 p.m. Textile artist Elizabeth Neily will tell the fascinating story of travel clothing from 1528 to today. Journey with Elizabeth’s character Maria Velasquez as she sails from Spain to the New World and then follow the interesting history of travel attire.
Thursday, August 5 at 6 p.m. Enjoy an “ekphrastic*performance” by local writers who have interpreted art in the exhibition to weave stories or poems about them. Led by Keep St. Pete Lit founder Maureen McDole, it is a creative, imaginative experience, not to be missed! The event is free. (Ekphrastic is a Greek word defined as the use of detailed description of a work of visual art as a literary device.)
Tuesday, August 17 at 6 p.m. Author Dave Seminara will talk about the pleasures and perils of wanderlust featured in his book Mad Travelers: A Tale of Wanderlust, Greed and the Quest to Reach the Ends of the Earth. He delves deep inside the subculture of country collecting, taking readers to danger zones like Mogadishu and geographical oddities like Norway’s nearly impossible-to-reach Bouvet Island. Along the way, this raucous tale of adventure and international intrigue illuminates the perils and pleasures of wanderlust while examining a fundamental question: why are some people compelled to travel, while others are content to stay home?
Florida CraftArt is located at 501 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.FloridaCraftArt.org or call (727) 821-7391. Fine craft art is presented in its 2,500-square-foot retail gallery and curated exhibitions are featured in its adjacent exhibition gallery. Florida CraftArt is a nonprofit organization founded in 1951 and headquartered in St. Petersburg. Its mission is to grow the statewide creative economy by engaging the community and advancing Florida’s fine craft artists and their work. Florida CraftArt is the only statewide organization offering artists a platform to show and sell their work.
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