Free Event To Celebrate Move By Tampa Artist Emporium

Tampa Artist Emporium in Hyde Park Village is throwing a party from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday before closing its doors and moving to a new location.

Highlights of the free event include a photography exhibit by Richard Stewart called "One Night in Istanbul," which documents in black and white about four decades worth of the artist's travels in Turkey. Turkish appetizers and refreshments will be provided by Gengiz Khan Restaurant.

Throughout the evening, Chad Cordoza and Tatum "Disco Bean" Llewellyn will take Polaroid portraits for $5 each. Llewellyn is the model for many of Cordoza's photos.

The evening also includes a silent auction of "Artwork by Animals," with proceeds going to the Lowry Park Zoo Enrichment Program.

The artwork was created by chimpanzees, orangutans, penguins, elephants, rhinos and more. Buyers get the art, a picture of the animal artist and a certificate of authenticity. Prices start at $10.

Shelby Boggs opened the fine art and craft gallery in June 2007.

"It's like a new chapter of the book," she said of the move. "I'm excited."

Though expected, the move has caused some concern among customers and artists.

"Honestly, I am amazed how many people we've touched," Boggs said. "People were calling me out of nowhere to donate time or money. Our artists are giving me artwork to help raise money for our move. Everybody's sticking behind us and urging us not to shut the doors but open a new place."

The gallery will remain open at 1618 Snow Ave. through Sunday. It will reopen Nov. 1 at 3415 Bay to Bay Blvd. For information, call (813) 254-3443.

Receptions Set For Trio Of Exhibits

An exhibit of paintings by artists from the Life Enrichment Center will close with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Tampa Museum of Art, 2306 N. Howard Ave.

The 14 paintings were selected by Noel Smith, curator of education at the Contemporary Art Museum of the University of South Florida.

"We feel this exhibit will give exposure to our program and hopefully attract some local people," said Ronna Metcalf, director of the Life Enrichment Center, which offers classes in art and life skills.

Call the center at (813) 932-0241 or visit www.lifeenrich menttampa.org for information, or call the museum at (813) 259-1721.

•The newly formed Coalition of Hispanic Artists will exhibit more than 30 paintings through October at the TECO Plaza Art Gallery.

Called "Celebrating Our Hispanic Heritage," the exhibit opens with a free reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 702 N. Franklin St. Musical entertainment will be provided by The Key of Life.

Reservations are suggested; contact President Luis Rodriguez at (813) 782-9599 or luisitotheartist@yahoo.com.

•The artist collective 5art will host an opening reception for its exhibit "White Box Group Show 2" from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday in room 211 of the West Tampa Center for the Arts, 1906 N. Armenia Ave.

The exhibit can be viewed by appointment through Oct. 31 by calling (813) 340-9056.

Exhibit Documents Cuban-Jewish Life

Miami photographer Randi Sidman-Moore brings her exhibit "Lox with Black Beans and Rice: A Portrait of Cuban-Jewish Life" to the Kotler Art Gallery at the John F. Germany Public Library, 900 N. Ashley Drive.

The photos in the exhibit will be featured in a book Sidman-Moore is working on with writer and anthropologist Ruth Behar.

"The goal was to make a contemporary, in depth, educational exhibit, and every subject I photographed was interviewed extensively," Sidman-Moore said in a prepared statement.

The exhibit continues through Nov. 14.

Festival Of The Arts Extends Deadline

The deadline for artists to apply for the 39th annual Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts has been extended to Tuesday. The outdoor show will be held March 7 and 8 in downtown.

For application information, go to www.gasparilla -arts.com.