Community Calendar

A Return to Espero highlights André Smith’s artistic metamorphosis following a near-death experience. The exhibition features personal letters exchanged with philanthropist Mary Curtis Bok, many of which were illustrated by Smith himself. This exhibition chronicles Smith’s personal journey that contributed to the creation of the Research Studio, known as today’s Maitland Art Center. These artifacts, alongside several of his unseen artworks, explore themes of resilience, friendship, and the transformative power of art. Bok and Smith’s correspondence reflects a shared vision and commitment to pushing Floridian artistic exploration.

Sam Hamilton/Sam Tam Ham (b. 1984, Auckland, New Zealand/Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa) created Te Moana Meridian as a vessel for proposing a radical new United Nations General Assembly Draft Resolution to formally relocate the prime meridian from Greenwich, London, to Te Moana-Nui-ā-Kiwa/the South Pacific Ocean. Since its inception at an 1884 conference in Washington D.C., the prime meridian has functioned to implicitly serve the ambitions of the British colonial empire. Rather than serving as a "beacon of humanity," the prime meridian today more resembles a bygone imperial relic. As an original operatic performance and five-channel video installation, Te Moana Meridian proposes to elect a new "center of the world" while acknowledging that doing so has the potential to reframe the dynamics of global power.

Go nose to nose with Big John, the World’s Largest Triceratops, in an immersive and playful dinosaur exhibit at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Downtown Tampa. Whether you have a child at home or not, all are welcome to visit this colossal exhibit, 66 million years in the making.

La Grande Illusion is a major exhibition of works by internationally acclaimed artist, Brian Maguire. The exhibition spans two decades of work that spotlights the artist’s lifelong quest to draw attention to global injustices, war, and human rights. One of Ireland's leading cultural figures, Maguire has turned the practice and tradition of painting into acts of visual testimony. Maguire’s paintings are global in scope and are derived from projects undertaken between 2007 and 2024 in Mexico, the Mediterranean, Syria, Sudan, the United States, and the Amazon. Maguire's artworks are painted from direct experience and involve the artist spending extensive time on the ground with the communities that welcome him. The results are, plainly put, paintings that visualize the commonality of human suffering and dramatize the plight of people in need.

A Return to Espero highlights André Smith’s artistic metamorphosis following a near-death experience. The exhibition features personal letters exchanged with philanthropist Mary Curtis Bok, many of which were illustrated by Smith himself. This exhibition chronicles Smith’s personal journey that contributed to the creation of the Research Studio, known as today’s Maitland Art Center. These artifacts, alongside several of his unseen artworks, explore themes of resilience, friendship, and the transformative power of art. Bok and Smith’s correspondence reflects a shared vision and commitment to pushing Floridian artistic exploration.

Sam Hamilton/Sam Tam Ham (b. 1984, Auckland, New Zealand/Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa) created Te Moana Meridian as a vessel for proposing a radical new United Nations General Assembly Draft Resolution to formally relocate the prime meridian from Greenwich, London, to Te Moana-Nui-ā-Kiwa/the South Pacific Ocean. Since its inception at an 1884 conference in Washington D.C., the prime meridian has functioned to implicitly serve the ambitions of the British colonial empire. Rather than serving as a "beacon of humanity," the prime meridian today more resembles a bygone imperial relic. As an original operatic performance and five-channel video installation, Te Moana Meridian proposes to elect a new "center of the world" while acknowledging that doing so has the potential to reframe the dynamics of global power.

Brenda McMahon Gallery in Gulfport, FL is proud to introduce the abstract works of Sue Johnson. Sue works in St. Petersburg where she paints emotional abstracts.

She loves to to paint or draw what attracts her in the moment and works in oils, acrylics, and cold wax. It just depends what appeals to her at that moment.

Please join us in welcoming October’s Featured Artist into the gallery!

Go nose to nose with Big John, the World’s Largest Triceratops, in an immersive and playful dinosaur exhibit at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Downtown Tampa. Whether you have a child at home or not, all are welcome to visit this colossal exhibit, 66 million years in the making.

Use clay to build, mold, and sculpt three-dimensional works using coil building, slab building, and other hand-building techniques. All experience levels are welcome; beginners and up.

*Firing costs, essential tools, and glazes included. Clay available for purchase separately in studio.

Saturdays, Sep 13 – Oct 18 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (6 classes)

Ages 55+ | Beginner-Intermediate Level

The MFA welcomes families with children with sensory sensitivities to explore the galleries on the 1st Saturday of every month, from 10 am to 12 pm. During this time, all rotating audio components will be turned down or muted to ensure a calm environment. Visitors can also join our Sensory Saturday Hands-On program for activities filled with sensory play. Explore and experiment with non-toxic, sensory-friendly materials in the Membership Garden and create your own artwork to take home. All ages are welcome, though activities are generally geared towards ages 2-10. When registering, please select a time slot: either 10–11 am or 11 am–12 pm.