Armature Works Art Walk showcases local artisans and crafters
At Armature Works in Tampa, artists have teamed up to showcase and sell their work to the community.
At the Second Sunday Art and Vendor fair artists, jewelry makers, woodworkers and other vendors gather to sell their hand-crafted products. This is an opportunity for locals to cultivate their artistic literacy and for artists to gain exposure.
“It’s hard to be an artist and get your name out there, get your art out there, get people to really see your work,” said Janna Doughty, a Tampa portrait artist.
Doughty went on to express her gratitude to Armature Works, explaining how the location works in favor of the artists for countless reasons. Beyond its aesthetically pleasing hipster vibe, the venue is located in a family-friendly neighborhood with multi-purposed event spaces that captivate visitors with cocktails, history from the city of Tampa and a high-end food hall.
“There’s so much foot traffic that comes around here that so many new people get to see my art. And it started out slow at first. And now they’ve been doing it for a couple months. So it’s really picked up and there’s been a lot of amazing artists that have come through,” Doughty said.
The year-round event is held once a month, with the next event coming up on Dec. 12, 2021. If you want to support the local artists and enjoy the music, culture, and atmosphere, find more information at armatureworks.com. For more information to participate as a vendor, email secondsunday@armatureworks.com.
“Art does so many things, it’s a way to connect people. It’s a way to get people to react to things, to think it’s really important in this world to have Art,” Doughty said.
Armature Works is accepting applications for the Art Walk and Vendor fair schedule, according to their website. They are looking for artisanal artists and makers to sell handmade goods. However, they are not looking for any food vendors or food trucks at this time.
St. Pete’s Mermaid Star Motel celebrates ‘weird, wacky and wonderful Florida’
Downtown Tampa and South Howard Avenue (SoHo) have a few picture-worthy walls. But now a new immersive art exhibit in St.Petersburg encourages guests to take as many Instagrammable photos as possible.
The Fairgrounds exhibit was founded two years ago by Olivia Mansion, Mikhail Mansion and Liz Dimmitt. The former factory has been refurbished into the fictional “Mermaid Star Motel” where viewers “check in” and begin their interactive adventure.
“The inspiration for Fairground St.Pete is about celebrating the weird, wacky and wonderful Florida that we live in,” said Olivia Mansion, the director of communications and co-founder of Fairgrounds.
The enchanting art experience was opened to the public on Sep. 2 with the help of 60 artists who teamed up to create the digital media display. The idea is to highlight these local artists within the interactive, story-driven art exhibit.
“I think our name references the traditional Fairgrounds where you would go and see the best of the best. And we want people in this area and those visiting to see the best artwork that this area has to offer, that Florida has top talent and that every medium of art can be appreciated and can be experienced in this really unique way,” Mansion said.
Olivia’s husband, Mikhail Mansion, is the co-founder and creative technology officer at Fairgrounds. He helped traditional artists by incorporating technology into their work to display at the exposition.
“We’ve collaborated with them to show them that it’s possible to have technology and art because tech is very creative,” said Mrs. Mansion.
According to Travelawaits.com, attendees should “feel good knowing that not only are the artists paid for their work, but they get a portion of the profits from ticket sales while their work is on display.”
General admission to the museum costs $27 for ages 13 and older. For children ages, 4 to 12, entry fees are $22, and children under 4 may enter for free. The location provides a discounted fee of $25 for Florida residents, senior citizens, college students, active military, police, firefighters, and EMTs.
