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Art Show Features 'Glorious' Pieces

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By SARAH ROTHWELL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2007

NEW TAMPA - North Tampa Arts League members pride themselves on selling hand-painted, original artwork.

Their creations went on display Sunday at 'Glorious,' the latest art show at the New Tampa Regional Library.

The show will include realistic, impressionistic, surrealistic and abstract paintings priced at $300 or more. The art is all one-of-a-kind.

'These are our very best pieces,' said league member Armida Nagy Stickney.

Since its formation in 2005, the North Tampa Arts League has brought 50 local artists together, including professional painters, new artists and students. They work together, exhibit their paintings together and rely on one another for support. Each brings something different to the group.

The league works to enhance cultural awareness in New Tampa and nearby communities.

'We want to bring more original art to the area,' said co-founder Mary Bitner. 'Some of the children and people here have never been to a museum.'
League members consider the New Tampa Regional Library their home base. They use the library's meeting room as a gallery space. For 'Glorious,' each artist selected one piece to show.
Stickney chose her surrealistic painting 'Man With a Blue Guitar.' A poem of the same name inspired the work. Bitner will display her expressionistic painting 'A Garden for Florence.' The colorful acrylic includes daffodils, geraniums and purple flowers. Bitner, who began painting 20 years ago, was inspired by her childhood.

'The painting is named for my mother,' she said. 'My mother was a master gardener. I grew up with big gardens all around. That's why I paint flowers.'

For her painting 'La Boca,' the league's October Artist of the Month, Maritza Kalantar, reflected on her experiences in the Dominican Republic.

'In the Dominican Republic, there are so many beautiful beaches and wildflowers,' she said. 'You can walk for miles without a soul in sight. That inspires me. 'La Boca,' it's what my hometown there looked like 20 years ago.'

The league will host a reception for 'Glorious' from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 20. The event will include an art sale to benefit a scholarship fund for student artists. Postcard-size interpretations of masterworks will sell for less than $100. In addition to the fundraiser, the event will include refreshments, live music and a chance to meet local artists.

'Glorious' will run through Jan. 20.

Sarah Rothwell can be reached at srothwell@tampatrib.com or (813) 865-4845.

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