Afternoon Outing to Arts Annual 2022

My husband and I were thinking of an activity to do with the kids on Sunday afternoon when we decided to combine art and nature by visiting The Gallery at Creative Pinellas and the Florida Botanical Gardens. 

Madeline in love with the work by Emily Stehle

A great opportunity to introduce young minds to the talents of multiple artists, Arts Annual 2022 is showing until December 31st. When we walked into the first room to the right, Madeline was drawn to the mixed-media work of Emily Stehle who weaves unconventional materials to make decorative sculptures. Madeline herself loves to shred, cut and paste so it was nice to show her that a love of crafting and weaving can flourish.

William transported by Elizabeth Barenis

We viewed the peaceful and calm nature work of Elizabeth Barenis before William and Madeline stood hand in hand as they examined ‘Three Carbon Catchers’ by Carol Mickett and Robert Stackhouse. “It takes a forest. Be the change” is written on the back of these two collaborators’ postcards. There is so much to change but everything is easier when you’re holding hands. 

Madeline and William holding hands in front of Three Carbon Catchers by Carol Mickett & Robert Stackhouse

In the adjacent room William and Madeline had a lot of fun locating the hair samples replicated in the large drawings or ‘Hair Doodles’ by Babs Reingold. Each hair sample and small sketch is dated. Working together, William and Madeline went back and forth. They really enjoyed the puzzle nature of this work. 

Madeline and William working together to find redrawn samples in Hair Doodles by Babs Reingold.

Thomas looking up at ‘information age’ by Mark Mitchell

Meanwhile Thomas enjoyed the sound of his own voice as it echoed through the space. I was impacted when he stood in front of Mark Mitchell’s “Information Age”. He wasn’t looking into the distant future but more like a mirror reflection. Can someone please explain when cyberspace became the metaverse? What are the implications of driving futures where we are tethered to technology indefinitely, or are we already there?

What I really love about the Gallery at Creative Pinellas is the Drawing room, a space for attendees to sit and reflect about some of the themes in the exhibition. In this instance the prompted themes were line, color, and nature. We spent an ample amount of time coloring before proudly adding our drawings to the display wall.

Statues at the Herb Garden of the Florida Botanical Gardens

I have only touched on a few of the artists showing their work at the Arts Annual  2022. I encourage you to take your loved ones to see the exhibition. There is something for everyone. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, one of the best Christmas light displays in Florida light up the Botanical Gardens, so we will be returning to Largo to enjoy another late afternoon/early evening of art and nature soon.