We’re extremely excited to welcome four talented artists who will be moving into the studios at the ArtsXchange: Nick Davis, a Digital Artist; Saumitra Chandratreya; a fiber-installation artist; iBOMS, an illustrator and muralist; and Zulu Painter, a scenic artist, muralist and painter. We’ll be profiling these artists in greater depth over the weeks. 

Nick Davis 

Nick is a Digital Artist from Saint Petersburg, Florida. Inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kerry James Marshall, Kehinde Wiley, and Kara Walker, to name a few, he uses his art to express everyday life. Nick's goal is to encourage his community and others to know that they are not alone and that their Black Is Beautiful.

Learn more about Nick here: www.ndartlife.com

Saumitra Chandratreya 

Saumitra is a Fiber-Installation artist who lives in St. Petersburg, FL, and Chicago, IL. He was born in Mumbai, and he considers Bangalore, India, his second home. He graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago with a Master of Design in Fashion, Body, and Garment. He also has a BFA in Textile Design from the Srishti Institute of Art, Design, and Technology in Bangalore, India.

Learn more about Saumitra here: https://www.saumitrac.com

Jabari Reed-Diop 

Jabari is what his mother calls him, but his artist's name is iBOMS.  IBOMS is a 20-year-old artist from St. Petersburg, Florida, whose experience and skills stem from his education at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, located in Jacksonville, Florida, along with his consistent determination to better his craft. Upon first glance, his work may seem like simple illustrations and graffiti. However, each piece has a unique story to tell of self-love, destruction, and discovery. It exposes the viewer to a glimpse inside his world of being a young African American male.

Learn more about iBOMS here: https://thisisiboms.com 

Carlito Culb 

Carlito is better known by his artist name, Zulu Painter, and is an international multi-media artist who works in traditional mediums and body paint, special effects, and scenic art. Zulu’s large-scale mural work contributes to the art revitalization in communities throughout the United States. Zulu has worked as a Scenic Artist for The Science Channel, Disney on Ice, Home Shopping Network, Sea World Parks & Entertainment, national ad campaigns, and as a representative artist for Visit Florida. ​

Learn more about Carlito Culb here: Carlito Culb - Zulu Painter

The arts community is mourning the recent passing of Patton Hunter, talented artist, teacher and beloved friend.  Patton was a founding member of the ArtsXchange and an ardent supporter of the The Warehouse Arts District.   She came to painting later in life after a successful career as a writer and journalist. A favorite early job was reporting for the European office of the US military paper, The Stars and Stripes. She turned to art originally as a diversion during her late husband’s struggle with early onset Alzheimer’s. 

 Her first love was watercolor. Her exceptional talent became evident early on in her studies of this medium.  She evolved rapidly and was soon sought after to teach classes at different venues around St Pete. Eventually she turned to acrylic as a primary medium of expression but she never stopped growing and experimenting in her art, continuing to try different approaches throughout her life. She was a prolific painter, appreciated throughout our community by other artists and by the public at large. In her art, she worked representationally and abstractly, large and small, on canvas, paper and panel.  Her self-portraits are wonderful examples of her joy in painting and her ability to play in her work. 

Patton honed her art skills and indulged her love of travel by taking workshops around the world. Her sense of adventure was a wonderful part of her personality.  She wasn’t shy about taking on a challenge both in art and in other areas of her life. She once took a year off to sail with a friend exploring the European coastline and its many ports.  Her last travel adventure was just over a year ago when she crossed Africa off her bucket list. 

Patton’s life was a work of art. She cherished her friends, was open to new experiences, loved to teach, reached out to help and support other artists, and was a wonderful companion. She never stopped learning, and was in art classes to the very end. We will miss her, her lively banter, her sense of humor, and her generous nature. She enriched our lives.  Rest in peace, dear Patton.

• Sue Johnson
  

Like so many others-I am absolutely heartbroken! I met Patton 10 years ago and knew instantly she was an Angel sent to be with us. There was always a warm smile and gentleness about her spirit. She touched my heart, I’m a better person for having met her.  

•  Rita Bateman 

What a positive, encouraging artist and teacher! Always tried to stop in and say Hi to her and several other artists, there. Loved her in your face fore-shortened, colorful painting style, R.I.P. sweet lady!

• Rick Whalen, ArtLofts

Alsace moved to St. Petersburg from Asheville, NC where she had managed a bookstore for 16 years.  In St. Pete, she was in search of a contemporary bookstore which also brought in authors from out of state to give lectures about their work.

There was a need for a bookstore involved with the community.  The year was 2015 and she spent the next two years researching, taking courses at the Green House, and producing a business plan.  In 2017 she became an LLC.  She had a pop-up shop in the Edge District for 5 months, facilitating book clubs, and partnering with local non-profits to sell books for them as well as events and book signings.  The little 100 square foot shop helped to get her name and business on the local literary map. The shop performed special ordering along with delivery service all over the country. 

 She began to save money and locate investors to aid in opening a real brick and mortar store.  The young entrepreneur was finally able to locate a physical store at 2153 1st. Ave S., right here in the Warehouse Arts District. 

 Alsace came from a family of painters and her father is a woodworker.  Her interest falls heavily into the literary arts.  Words as an art form that cover everything from details, font, thought, artistic covers, to the incredible way words and stories are formed out of the imagination.  She says WADA has always been supportive and her physical store location is practically right at the entrance of the district off 22nd St. S.  But, she states, she would have been a member even if physically she wasn’t near the district. 

 Her family and wife worked on coming up with a name for the store.  It needed to be a name unique to the locale.  Tombolo is defined as a type of sandbar that connects an island to the mainland.  And lastly she added, “Books help people connected to other people.  People connected with great literary minds.”  And thus, Tombolo Books was born.

Andrée Tracy uses painting an an expression of energy, a way to tap into all of her senses using paint as the medium. Like words for the poet or notes for the musician, she says that brush strokes become a vehicle for transmitting her emotions. Andrée layer colors and textures to explore sensory impact, embracing or reworking the “accidents” while trusting the painting to lead the way.

She says she draws inspiration from the complex forms of beauty seen in our less than perfect world, distilled in her memory. Each painting is a unique journey, filled with new discoveries, always open to individual interpretation by the viewer.

Andrée was born in La Jolla, California. Her family moved to Iowa, however, and she grew up on her father's miniature golf course, on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River.  After many holes-in-one, blizzards, tornadoes and a BFA from the University of Iowa, she hastened back to sunny Southern California and a career in the arts. There she found inspiration in the tropical light, the "anything can happen" mentality, the thrift shops and the fantasy of Hollywood's cinematic culture. Her paintings and collage work have been widely collected and exhibited, and her illustration work has been utilized by advertising clients as well as corporate groups and private individuals.

Andrée recently moved to St. Petersburg, Florida and gives thanks every day for the opportunity to pursue her passion for a life in the arts.

"Night Blooms"

Acrylic paint on canvas

48" x 48"

"Reflections at Midnight"

Acrylic

36" x 48"

"Kiku"

Acrylic

48" x 36"

"Imperial Water Lily"

Acrylic

48" x 48"

"Tremor"

Acrylic paint on canvas

42" x 36"

You can more about Tracy here: 

• www.andreetracey.com 
  
• www.Instagram.com/andreetracey 
  
• www.graphitegirl.etsy.com 
  

Thank you for your submission to the WADA Artist Member Show with the theme, I need a drink! Cocktail Hour! Due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and the skyrocketing number of positive cases, WADA does not yet have plans as to when it will be able to hold future events in person. For the time being the member show is postponed until further notice. We have accepted current submissions and are displaying them here below! We will accept more submissions on a rolling basis.  

Congratulations to these artists, and additionally, thanks for your patience! 

As announced previously, Damien Bertucelli of Vantage Point Advisors of Raymond James has sponsored this member show and thanks to him, we will have prizes of $300, $200 and $100 for best of show paintings! It's our first sponsored member show, but hopefully not our last! Awarding of prizes will take place when we have a live show.

Mirella Cimato

Rose Hip Syrup Please!           

Oil

14.5 in x  18.5in

$450.00

Zhanna Thomas

A Sip Of Wine

Acrylic

20x20

$300

Pamela Joy Trow

Wine-ing In-Place

Acrylic + Ink

18 in x 16 in

$210

Pamela Joy Trow

Dying For Tequila

Embellished digital print

18 in x 16 in

$175

Dacota Maphis

Happy Hour With Friends in 2020

Oil 

20"x17"

$300

Don Silvestri

PRANZO ABBONDANTE

Oil

18in X 20in

$500.00

Don Silvestri

MYSTERY OF BORDEOUX

OIL

18in X 20in

$750.00

Patricia Tierney Moses

Sauvignon Sunset

Acrylic

20 in X 16in 

$300.00

Deserie Valloreo

Tuscan Gold

Acrylic 

16in x 20in

$747.00

Darlene Meisenholder

Missing You

Acrylic

16in x 20in

$300.00

Gregory Irwin

Wishful Dreams

Elaine Chambliss Dogan                           

"I'll have One of Those"          

Oil and Acrylic on Canvas       

20 x 16

$600.00

Leila Martini                                      

Bombay Sapphire

Alcohol and india ink on yupo paper

12 x 15.5

$100

Terry Scopelliti

Martini Bath

Photography/ Ink Jet Print on Metal Paper   

16 x 20 55

Qing Wang

It’s time to drink

Acrylic 

20 x 10

$220

Annette Blocker

Last Call

Oils

11 x 14

$500.00

Meredith Rodgers is the COO of Sapphire Audio Visual Experts. It is a local family business here in St. Petersburg, Florida. Sapphire AV Experts specializes in commercial and high end residential properties covering everything from surveillance systems, multi-zone audio systems, commercial satellite, custom home theaters to automation and WIFI issues. Two years ago they purchased land at 2950 5th Ave. S, inside the Warehouse Arts District, as of 2019 their new headquarters. She also owns an organic pesticide business - ATLAST! Organic Products.  

Meredith is married to John Rodgers, the lead Engineer and co-owner for Sapphire. They are also the parents of two children, Jake who is 5, and Skyler is 4. John was Meredith’s first kiss in the 6th grade in Winter Haven Florida where they grew up. But, they ran in different crowds. She went on to attend Florida State and he to the University of Wisconsin. Fast forward twenty years and they found themselves living in St. Pete a few streets away from each other. They met for lunch and the rest is history.

They are so excited to be a part of WADA  and all it entails. John grew up around the arts, as his father was a professor of theater at Rollins College. Meredith loves art in all forms and knew this was a great opportunity to get involved with a blossoming new district known as the Warehouse Arts District. She enjoys its culture, the sense of community and they were landowners. According to Meredith, “It just made good sense to become a [business] member of the Association!” 

There are just 12 more hours to apply for $500 grants.  Get your application in to be considered for these grants.

You do NOT have to be a member of WADA to apply -  all artists who have been negatively affected by COVID-19 are encouraged to apply. 

For more details and access to the Application Form go to:

https://www.warehouseartsdistrictstpete.org

As a nation, we find ourselves divided again by racism, fighting for human rights, all while in the midst of a global pandemic. The senseless murders of far too many African American men and women – most recently of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery – weigh heavy on our hearts. We share the hurt, fear, anger and frustration so many are experiencing. 

The Warehouse Arts District Association is committed to a future where black people and people of color in this nation and everywhere live freely, comfortably and securely. 

We stand against racism, by any means.

We are committed to providing a safe space, promoting equality and justice and serving our entire community. 

We support the fundamental rights of black lives and insist that Black Lives Matter.

It is our duty to call out, denounce and to stand against acts of racial injustice and hate.

We have always been and remain committed to working with the black community to improve the Warehouse Arts District, to create an environment of safety, which uplifts every member of the community, promotes creativity and serves the needs of the entire community. 

We are proud of the residents of our city who are peacefully protesting to demand racial justice. We are proud of every American and our supporters overseas who are standing up for what is right. We stand with you.

 

The Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA) Artist Relief Fund Deadline for applications is now Midnight, Friday June 26, 2020. 

You do NOT have to be a member of WADA to apply -  all artists who have been negatively affected by COVID-19 are encouraged to apply. 

For more details and access to the Application Form go to:

https://www.warehouseartsdistrictstpete.org

Francine Michel’s art combines the delicate Chinese approach to painting while using the encaustic wax technique. She says that encaustic painting enhances the Chinese approach with its luminous inherent quality.  She has been working with those two art forms for over a quarter of a century now.  

Born in New York, she moved to St. Petersburg for professional reasons.  She said the thriving art community here was an amazing surprise. With a Ph.D. in rehabilitation counseling, Francine spent her career helping individuals with injuries return to work. She set up departments within the insurance industry, as an assistant vice president with Swiss Re and and as an occupational consultant with MetLife.  She also taught college as an adjunct. Now, she splits her time between Florida and New Mexico, which offers her varied inspiration from the mountain and coastal scenes. 

Her journey to find her artistic style began with a friend bringing her rice paper from China.  Browsing and drinking tea for hours in a Brush Store while seeking just the right brushes followed. “Chinese painters describe floating in and around their landscapes and capturing what they see.  This magic carpet technique spoke to me,” Michel said. She added that touches of a hot wax pen layered on top recalls the brush movement on rice paper.  Rich colors and textures emphasize details in the work.  Inspired by combining both techniques, Francine began to explore the trees of Florida and their various roots, bark and branches, which you can see in the paintings shown here.

Francine has long been a member of the Warehouse Arts District Association and a cherished member of the association’s Education Committee, which puts together free professional development programming for artist members and has been working on community art programs for local youth. 

We asked her about her life and unique artistic style: 

How did you develop your artist style?  

Encaustic wax gives the work, texture and effects that I wanted. Encaustic wax is a responsive medium that welcomes touch when producing it and after it is finished.  Chinese painters describe flying into and through a landscape.  This approach suited my taking others along with me to see what I am seeing.  This included using rice paper and outlining forms to suggest movement and make the brilliant encaustic colors more vivid.  

How has your style evolved over time?  I worked in both encaustics and Chinese painting about a quarter of a century ago.  Afterwards, I explored everything from watercolor to ceramics.  Now I am back to both encaustics and Chinese painting and have found that combining the two is perfect for the present time.

How long have you been an artist? 

Art has always been  part of my life. Just saying and writing here that I am a full time artist makes me happy.  I am thankful that obtained a Ph.D. that allowed me to contribute and be rewarded for my career.  

Where do you draw inspiration?  

Residing in St. Petersburg and New Mexico, I am challenged to be able to create beach scenes as well as mountains that nature has made quite special.

What do you value about part of the WADA and the ArtsXchange community? 

Serving on the Education Committee has been a part of WADA that I cherish.  It has taught me how much can  be accomplished by a small group that works hard and well together.  

How are restrictions related to COVID affecting you? 

One artist said instead of "shelter in place," we should say "artist-in-residence."  I put that sign on my door.  Both the Education Committee and my Florida Wax group have been meeting by Zoom.  Since artists love to share their work and ideas, I have found this form of communication to satisfy that need.

 

Learn more about Francine’s work: 

• www.femencaustics.com.  
  
• www.shelleyjean.com/florida-wax 
  
• www.facebook.com/Francine.Michel.90