Want to know what the Warehouse Arts District Association is up to? Learn about the latest in this blog with features intended to keep members up to date. Also, members should join our closed Facebook group: the WADA Member Network.
Full-time Position
Hours are not limited to weekdays 9-5
Reports to the Executive Director
Part of the WADA staff leadership team
Property/Facility Management
Point of Contact and management of maintenance of the ArtsXchange property
Vendor Management (Landscaper, Cleaning Crew, Pest Control, Operational Staff)
Provide onsite access to the ArtsXchange during agreed upon business hours
Onsite property management leasing to include ArtsXchange Campus – Studios, Shoppes and Independent Studios:
Initiate problem resolution with tenants
Rent Collection
Problem resolution with tenants
Initiate and track incoming rent payments/manage collection process
Event Management
Oversee the ArtsXchange (AX) exhibits
Assist as project manager between selection committee, artists & art curator
Oversee and process financial transactions
Manage support staff needed to execute events
Manage/Oversee all internal WADA events to include set up, refreshments & cleanup/closure
General Membership Meetings
2nd Saturday Artwalk
Committee Events (Education, Membership, etc.)
Fundraising events to include Arts Festival/Large Donor
Marketing of WADA Events
Digital – website, e-blast, social media
Work with marketing firm on earned media
Financials
Responsible for the processing of all bills/invoices, banking transactions and reconciliation of bank statementsManagement of Account Receivables and Account Payables in coordination with the Quickbooks bookkeeper
Track incoming rent payments/ manage collection process. Assure that tenant are active members of WADA.
Management responsibility for the processing of all bill/invoices
General knowledge of financial databases to include:
Quickbooks
Bills.com (desired)
Oversee the ArtsXchange exhibits
Assist as a project manager between selection committee, artists and art curator
Oversee and process the financial transactions
Manage/Oversee all internal WADA events to include set up, refreshments and cleanup/closure
Committee Events (Education, etc.)
Communications
Internal communications to all tenants on AX Campus on operational topics
External communications to WADA members
Manage all social media accounts to include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and SnapChat (Ideally, this would be 3-5 hours/week to expand our reach. 2-3 posts per week.)
External communication to MailChimp list for weekly WADA Community Digest. Content is provided by ED/Volunteers. (distributed on Tuesdays)
Administrative
Work with the Executive Director on agreed to special projects
Work with the Board Chair and Executive Director on board meeting preparation
Collect and distribute committee reports
Work with Board Chair/ED on agenda, distribute pre-meeting
Arrange for refreshments
Volunteer Committee support to be determined
Attend weekly staff meetings
Attend board meetings
Attend 2nd Saturday Artwalk
Manage master calendar of events for WADA
Except with the permission of the Executive Director, work at the ArtsXchange office at agreed upon hours
Preferred Skills
Work effectively with others to include the ED and BODSoftware and Digital Tools Used
Software and Digital Tools to include:
Quickbooks (willing to train)
Bill.com (willing to train)
Mailchimp
Wild Apricot (CRM database and website)
Inquiries
Please provide resume and cover letter attention to: Renee Dabbs: renee@reneedabbsllc.com 813.382.5378.
Total Compensation: $42,000 - $45,000.
Damien Bertucelli has been a WADA Business Member for quite a few years. Originally from Brooklyn, NY he moved to Carrollwood in 1994 and now resides in St. Petersburg with his son Daxton and daughter Haven. He joined Raymond James as a Financial Advisor in 2001 and has provided private wealth management for retirees, entrepreneurs, and professionals for the last 18 years. Damien is part of the group Vantage Point Advisors of Raymond James with locations in St. Petersburg and Tampa.
The interest in becoming a member of the Warehouse Arts District Association was his passion for the arts. Damien is a member of the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts, better known as TBBCA. He is a board member as well as the previous Chair and President. The TBBCA endeavors to raise scholarship money for high school students who wish to pursue the arts in college and to further connect the business community with the art community. “It just made sense to join the Warehouse Arts District,” he said. “Both of these art communities’ interests overlap.”
Tapping into his passion for culture and the arts, Damien created the Art and Lobbies program at his downtown Tampa branch, giving local artists the opportunity to showcase their work on the branch’s lobby walls. A new artist is selected every few months to promote local artists.
In addition to his love of supporting artists and caring for his family he recently started taking piano lessons. Damien has a passion for travel especially visiting the National Parks. Most recently going hiking/mountain biking in Moab, Utah. And hiked the highest peak in Colorado.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC
211 Tampa Bay Cares, in partnership with Pinellas County, is providing financial assistance grants to families impacted by COVID 19.
If you know someone in the Pinellas area that can benefit, all they would need to do is dial 211 on their phone or text COVIDCARES to 898211. Residents can also apply here: https://covid19.pinellascounty.org/pinellascaresindividual/
Applicants will be asked to provide proof of Pinellas residence, job loss and other information to qualify. Payments are designed to help with rent, mortgage, or utility payments.
Andrea Pawlisz’s art incorporates nostalgic, simple themes and images in a loose, vintage, pop realism style. While Andrea is known for her contemporary works, she draws on a variety of inspirations and many different styles for her work, including coastal themes, urban furniture, and what she calls subway art, which focuses on city signage. She says that vintage toys and icons are among her favorite subjects.
Educated in architecture and graphic design, with over 30 years of experience, Andrea’s skills in advertising, print design, logo design, sign making are evident in her art. Her art is colorful and uplifting, intending to transport the viewer to a better time.
Andrea is a resident artist at the ArtsXchange Studios and you can visit her once Art Walks resume in Studio 119.
We asked Andrea a few questions about her artistry and inspirations.
Where are you from?
I am originally from Chicago and moved to St Pete in 2002. I went to architecture and graphic design school in Arizona. Work has been at an advertising agency, a graphic studio and two sign companies.
How long have you been a full-time artist?
My freelance career exceeds 30 years and self-employment of fine art and graphics for 18. I opened a coffee and art bar on central ave in 2003 that I sold in 2007. (I got lucky, it was right before the crash, an accidental genius)
Where do you draw inspiration?
Inspiration comes from everyday events, tv and advertising.
How has your style evolved over time?
The evolution of my work is in the content, revealing bits of myself which connects to the viewer.
What do you value about part of the WADA and the ArtsXchange community?
The ArtsXchange has introduced me to several artists to which I have become close. Meaningful relationships with like-minded people are incredibly valuable for professional as well as personal growth.
How are restrictions related to COVID affecting you?
It has been difficult managing these last few months in my studio alone, without them. The closing of our building has disallowed my clients from coming to view or purchase art, view proofs or pick up printing for example. It also cut off artwalk which brought people through to view, purchase and commission art. There have been no sales since the first week of March, so I am using my stimulus check from the government to pay my studio rent. Lastly, the gallery where I work has been closed for 2 1/2 months, so I have been without that income as well.
You can learn more about Andrea here:
www.andreapawlisz.com www.facebook.com/andrea.pawlisz www.instagram.com/andreapawlisz www.warehouseartsdistrictstpete.org/event-3752754 www.sarasotavisualart.com/tag/andrea-pawlisz www.thestudioat620.org/events/directors-choice-group-art-exhibition www.twitter.com/CPierDistrict/status/1118627686824468481
Glenyse Thompson is an abstract visual artist who moved to St. Petersburg from Chicago in 2010. Her media include lightfast inks, acrylics and white or gold pen on panels or paper. Glenyse says she draws inspiration from day-to-day interaction with people, conversations, Florida's lively weather, travel and everyday experiences. It all shows up in the colors and movement used to visually illustrate how she enjoys life.
"I create my work with a combination of permanent waterproof lightlast inks, acrylics and water-based media," Glenyse says. "I love a good white ink pen too."
Glenyse joined the WADA for the opportunity to promote and exhibit her art in member shows. She is also a member of @BADGuild, an organization in the bespoke art + design for residential, commercial, and hospitality environments to showcase the many talents of black artists, and designers, colleagues.
Glenyse answered some questions about her art and life:
Why did you move to St. Petersburg?
For love. After spending an inordinate amount of time in the Florida area for vacations, I jumped at the opportunity to relocate when my partner moved to Florida in 2010.
What you think about the arts community here?
When I first moved here, I felt the area was lacking cohesive arts reach. Our arts game has become more sophisticated throughout Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater. Our metros are more culturally recognized. We have wonderful new acquisitions ("Leviathan Zodiac", by Kehinde Wiley purchased by the Collectors Circle of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg) and public art collections gifted to enjoy (Purvis Young:91 Exhibition, 91 artworks gifted to the Tampa Museum of by the Rubell Family Foundation). Those collections are examples that our tri-cities are becoming tour de force. I think this is awesome; culture and the arts are central to metropolitan areas growth.
How do you feel about being an artist during this pandemic?
I was coming off a creative break during 2019 and had started creating again when COVID set in. There was just a breaking point where I had to get some easy, beautiful and simple artwork out, just for me. I signed up the the #100 Day Challenge, it is and was a good push to get me started-I created 40 little works in under two weeks. (I'll post them on my site soon, glenyse.com). I would say to any creator at this time, do a little of anything creative...create with the sole purpose of extending your medium to any visual. Create to relax, to let your mind wander, to let go. This is really the best time to let go of all expectations, impostors, and perfection, to let what flows be your salve.
Why did you join the Warehouse Arts District Association?
I joined WADA to help support the arts and creative communities in St. Pete; I'm glad to be a part of it!
Find out more about Glenyse's work here:
Join The James Museum's Curator Emily Kapes on this virtual tour hosted by the Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA) Education Committee. This one-hour tour lets you seem some of the great art from the 3,000 piece collection of Tom & Mary James.
500 pieces from their entire collection are now housed at the James Museum at 150 Central Ave in S Petersburg. Emily highlights some of her favorite pieces from the Native Life Gallery, Wildlife Gallery and others.
If you haven't been to the James Museum, this is a great intro and -- when things open up again, will be a solid foundation when you visit the 30K square foot museum. Enjoy!
James Museum Virtual Tour
Emily is available if you have any questions. emily.kapes@thejamesmuseum.org
Growing up, Jenny Bleackley dreamed of going to art school. But her parents associated artists with the sex, drugs, and rock & roll of the 60s – not something they wanted their daughter involved in. So her dreams of being an artist took a back burner to an office job and raising a family.
But in 2003 when her kids left home, she began studying watercolor in her native United Kingdom. Discovering techniques enabling her to work on canvas, she explores and pushes boundaries, harnessing traditional form which allows the techniques to have an expression of their own, in a style of impressionistic fine art.
When she met her second husband Adrian, Jenny warned him that in the next phase of her life, she wanted to paint full-time and he was happy to support her passion. In 2011, they bought a home in St Petersburg, initially as a vacation home, realizing only after what a great arts destination was exploding here. She moved here permanently in 2013 and became an artist full time.
“I am finally doing what I always wanted to do,” Jenny said. She has worked from her studio in The ArtsXchange in the Warehouse Arts District since it opened in 2017. “Finally, I am an artist amongst an array of talented artists and in a City growing by the minute with artists and museums and exciting hip venues.”
Her watercolor-on-canvas techniques come into play with her series – Florida Flowers, Cool, Calm & Collected and Petites Fleurs. The series Florida Flowers are inspired by the beautiful, and some exotic flowers she sees in her neighborhood and are painted on canvas prepared with torn tissue paper glued to it. This creates an impressionistic style as if dried flowers were used. Concentrating on three colors she creates stunning paintings offered as duos to brighten any room.
Being surrounded by the sea is a huge source of Jenny’s inspiration – never does the sea or sky look the same, giving endless excitement to her color book. The moods of the sea inspire her in a poetic and spiritual sense and each painting in her Cool, Calm & Collected Series comes with its own poem. This series is created using a wet-on-wet technique and Jenny follows her intuition as to where the painting is going.
For more information on Jenny’s work:
Modern Tampa Bay Homes and Barkett Realty have selected eight contemporary artists to showcase and ultimately commission works for buyers of a new seven-unit development in the Grand Central District, called AD Lofts. These eclectic residences will celebrate local artists in the area, with close proximity to all the Warehouse Arts District has to offer.
The artists selected include: Carrie Kilgore, Dana Killion, Geoffrey Baris, Lesley Jeffery, Mark Mitchell, Nathan Beard, Pamela Van Sant, and Tom Amidon-Rivero.
MTBH and Barkett partnered with the Warehouse Arts District Association (WADA) for a call to artists in April to commission and selected the artists from an extremely talented roster of submissions. MTBH will feature the artists on its website and in a catalogue for its buyers and will give each buyer a credit of up to $3,000 to purchase an artwork from this exclusive catalogue. The purchases also support the WADA mission of promoting a vibrant artist community in the district and the city.
“Since we will be living and working in Grand Central, and admire the beautiful, exciting, and progressive types of artwork done by our local artists, we want to support our neighbors.” WADA Business Member and MTBH owner Richard McGinniss said. “We thought it would be only right to include some of our local artists work to our buyers.”
For more on why McGinniss supports the arts, view this member profile here. See more about the selected artists below.
Carrie Kilgore Kilgore paints vibrant, iconic portraits. She paints the face in a unique way that best captures the spirit and character of that particular individual. The work is visually rich and meaningful, with vibrant color and playfulness.
Shine on Oil on canvas 4 x 4 ft
Dana Killion Killion is an abstract painter interested in bold mark making and intuitive, layered processes.
What's Going On acrylic on canvas 36x36
Geoffrey Baris
Baris is an abstract nature photographer.
Headed Home Photographic Print on Canvas 30x40 or 40x60
Leslie Jeffery
Jeffery’s main interest is large format abstract non-representational acrylic paintings that are about the process and feature layers, texture, line and shapes, and color. She also does large bird nests which are popular with many of her followers.
Taste of Honey Acrylic on Canvas 60"x48"
Mark Mitchell
Mitchell is a Conceptual Pop Painter in the tradition of classic pop artists like James Rosenquist and Tom Wesselman — with his own spin. He believes in art that conveys ideas. By using meaningful juxtaposition and social commentary, his work is intended to encourage viewers to ”look deeper.” Because by exposing things that are hidden, each piece is designed to invite the viewer in, challenge them to find meaning, and ultimately see the world a little differently.
State of Independence Acrylic on Gallery-Wrapped Canvas w/ Black Painted Sides. 2-Coats UV Gloss Varnish. Frameless with Hanging Hardware36" X 36"
Nathan Beard Beard has two main bodies of work: Exit Music and Pond's Edge. He employs a variety of processes to achieve complex, multi-layered artworks inspired by the human conception and experience of Space-Time. The meaning of Beard's work is inextricably tied to the process of its creation, with each color, form and technique chosen for its metaphorical possibilities. He draws inspiration from the density and variety of Floridian flora, the natural and cosmological sciences, as well as mathematics and anthropology.
Exit Music #70 (Life Lines) acrylic and soil on panel, unframed with finished edges60" x 84"
Pamela Van Sant Van Sant loves to create mixed media abstract works that incorporate all kinds of materials, aluminum, salt, image transfers, nail polish and anything else I find interesting. She also loves to paint flowers in oil.
Cave Clubbing Mixed Media on canvas 24" x 46"
Tom Amidon-Rivero Amidon-Rivero paints Impressionistic abstracted reality.
Blue Boat Acrylic/canvas60 x 48
In this time of uncertainty, there's a fundamental truth that gives us hope - that together we can do extraordinary things. Over the past few weeks and months, the entire world has been coming together to stand up, help out, give back, and heal. Whether that's through donations to community organizations, celebrating doctors and nurses, or reaching out to a neighbor to help with groceries, generosity has beenhelping the entire world get through this global pandemic.
As you know, our organization is dedicated to building and sustaining a vibrant arts community in St. Petersburg that supports the success of all artists and the community at-large through a broad spectrum of tools including community revitalization, marketing, advocacy and educational programming. But we can’t do it without you!
To continue delivering on our mission and engaging with our community we need your help and support. Please save the date and consider a gift to the Warehouse Arts District on May 5, 2020, for #GivingTuesdayNow. Give Day Tampa Bay is a 24-hour, online givingevent presented by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to showcase nonprofits like the Warehouse Arts District Association.The Warehouse Arts District will be raising money for a WADA Artists Relief Fund to help those who brighten our community with their exceptional talents and make St. Petersburg an amazing city in which to live, work, visit, and play.
Join the movement on #GivingTuesdayNow. Make a gift, spread the love, and tell your friends and family why you believe in our work and encourage them to support us too!
Together. We unite. THANK YOU for being a part of our team! https://www.warehouseartsdistrictstpete.org/Donate
A special #GivingTuesday is will take place on May 5, 2020, as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
May 5, 2020
#GivingTuesdayNow
- https://now.givingtuesday.org/
Together. We Heal.
Leila Martini is a local artist specializing in the use of color. From abstract to landscape, she uses color to create feeling with her art. From the early age of 5, when she got her first typewriter, Leila was always writing stories and poems, and drawing. When her sister was taking dance classes, Leila preferred drawing lessons at the Tampa Museum of Art.
Leila was introduced to painting with acrylics by her grandmother when she was 12. She wrote her first children’s book in her 20s called Where the Light Shines Through and her second in her 30s called Juni and Freska.
Born and raised in Tampa, Leila is no stranger around town in St. Petersburg, her favorite place to hang out. She has shown her art in WADA member shows, at Black Crow Coffee, and at Tampa Bay Home Furnishings. She has WADA member since 2017. "WADA gives me a sense of community and connection," Leila said. "I love the members and the opportunity to show my work."
While Leila’s academic background was firmly rooted in science not art, she always retained a creative side. She has her Doctorate in Public Health, Masters in Public Health in environmental health and toxicology, and a Masters in Library Science. During one of her jobs designing training manuals for public health workers in epidemiology, a training participant saw Leila’s sharpie doodles and suggested that Leila share them publicly. So, she started creating mulicolored geometrical works with markers.
Always a scientist, Leila was fascinated by the neuroscience concept of synesthesia- a condition in which one sense (such as eyesight) is simultaneously experienced by other senses (such as sound)- so the person with synesthesia might hear color and see sound. Because of the colorful and flowing look of her creations, Leila decided to call her art Synesthesia Artwork.
During a trip in 2016 to Asheville, Leila discovered alcohol ink and fell in love with the medium. Leila currently experiments with using alcohol ink on a variety of surfaces to design colorful abstract artwork.
For more on Leila check out:
Her website: Olive Branch Research, LLC http://olivebranchresearchllc.com/
Her artist page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/synesthesiaartwork/
727-256-0821 | warehouseartsdistrictstpete@gmail.com
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