Artists' New Exhibit Puts Satirical Stamp On Postal Images

Tampa photographer and mixed media artist Lori Ballard joins forces with Gulfport graphic designer Steve Smith for an inventive exhibit called "Sideshow with Postage Due," opening Thursday at the Hillsborough Community College Ybor Campus Art Gallery.

Ballard takes control of the "Sideshow" part of the exhibit with her mixed media images of the kinds of things usually found at a circus: Ferris wheels, performers and advertising banners. Smith uses a variety of traditional fine art techniques and computer technology to create prints that resemble postage stamps with a satirical side. He calls them "antistamps."

The artist's reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. April 1 at the Ybor Performing Arts Building, Palm Avenue and 15th Street. That is also the opening night for the seventh annual HCC Ybor Festival of the Moving Image.

For details about the moving image festival, call David Audet at (813) 253-7000, ext. 5179, or e-mail him at daudet

@hccfl.edu.

For information about the "Sideshow" exhibit, call Carolyn Kossar at (813) 253-7674.

Prodigy Brings Her Art To Tampa

Romanian-born artist Alexandra Nechita began drawing at age 2; by age 7 she was painting with oils and acrylics. Sound like a prodigy? That's what she has been called.

Now 23 years old, she has an impressive resume that includes representation in museums throughout the world and recognition as the official artist for the World Federation of Nations.

Now she has brought her art to Tampa.

A collection of her paintings, lithographs and sculptures are on exhibit and available for purchase at Michael Murphy Gallery M through Sunday.

Meet the artist from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the gallery, 2701 S. MacDill Ave. To RSVP, call (813) 902-1414.

Learn more about Nechita and her art at www.nechita

.info.

Artist Turns Old Into New

Bleu Acier presents "My Bust Book," a solo exhibition of recent works on paper by Steve McClure, through May 2.

A 1996 graduate of the University of South Florida, McClure creates emotive portraits of women by using - or more rightly appropriating - photographic images from the past. For example, "In his series of monotypes 'Portrait of a Lady with a Hat,' McClure used photographs taken by Theodor Horydczak in Washington, D.C., dating from 1941 as the reference," Bleu Acier owner Erika Schneider writes in a news release.

But looking at the black-and-white contemporary images he creates, one never would guess their old-fashioned roots.

The gallery is at 109 W. Columbus Drive. Gallery hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment by calling (813) 272-9746.

Artist's Landscapes Exhibit Opens

Clayton Galleries, 4105 S. MacDill Ave., will host a free opening reception for an exhibit by Harvard-educated architect and artist Kathy Wright from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Called "Flux," the exhibit features recent interpretive landscape paintings, some of the Florida Everglades that Wright painted during an artist in residence program there in November.

The exhibit continues through April 25. Call the gallery at (813) 837-8750 for information.

Fundraiser Makes Dreams Come True

Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on the University of Tampa campus will host a two-day juried fundraiser called "101 Pieces of a Dream," featuring works by local professional and emerging artists Friday and Saturday.

The signature piece of the event is a donated work for auction by Tampa glass artist Duncan McClellan. McClellan recently won a merit award in this year's Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. The other 100 pieces will be available for purchase.

All sales equally will benefit the artists and the MacDonald Training Center.

The Patrons Party and Sale will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, for which former Tampa mayor Sandy Freedman is honorary chairperson. Tickets are $50 and available at the door, by calling Rita Hattab at (813) 870-1300, ext. 252, or at www.macdonaldcenter.org.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, people may view and buy art remaining on exhibit in the gallery, located in the R K Bailey Art Studios, 310 N. Boulevard. Admission is free.

High School Art Makes Good Fundraiser

Blake High School of the Arts will host the 11th annual Art Auction on Friday to benefit the school's visual arts program.

Purchases may be made through a silent auction from 6 to 7:30 p.m. or a live auction that begins at 7:45 p.m. The artworks - jewelry, paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and sculptures are included - are by Blake art students.

The event will be in Gallery 501 and the Don Thompson Theatre on the school's campus, 1701 N. Boulevard.

Admission is a $3 ticket, which can be purchased at the door. For questions, call gallery director Lori Ballard, (813) 598-3785, or go to

www.loribphotography.com.