Where to spend the day immersed in art in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Pete is an art lover’s paradise with dozens of museums, galleries, and outdoor art installations. This thriving arts mecca is also a city full of art- centric culture, restaurants, unique shops, and trendy bars. More than a few streets, walls, and buildings have served as a canvas for local artists and are painted in vibrant and provocative street murals. When time is an issue, three stops are essential to any art tour of St. Pete.
Chihuly Collection
Your first stop should be the Chihuly Collection, where you can check out a treasure trove of unique creations by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. This stunning permanent collection of thought- provoking glass artwork is presented by the Morean Arts Center and is housed in a 10,000-square-foot building explicitly designed to show his work. Award-winning architect Albert Alfonso set out to create a visitor experience, unlike any other exhibition of Chihuly’s masterpieces where the art and the architecture work together.
Reminiscent of sea creatures on a brilliant coral reef, this overhead installation greets patrons after entering the Chihuly gallery. Photo: Debbie Snow
There’s a thriving interest in glass art in this town, and Dale Chihuly’s thrilling, whimsical, and abstract art brings that sentiment home. An iconic 20-foot sculpture created especially for the site is seen at the gallery as you enter the space. The collection showcases more of Chihuly’s spectacular large-scale installations, like the Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier, along with several popular series that have thrilled his followers around the world, including Macchia, Ikebana, Niijima Floats, Persians, and Tumbleweeds. Each space has been designed individually to complement the respective installation.
This bowl of colored balls, Chihuly’s 2007 Float Boat, was installed in St. Pete in 2017. Photo: Vashon Sarkisian
This magnificent gallery showcases much of his themed work over the years and allows a glimpse into his mind, heart, and fascination with colors. As he has commented, “I never met a color I didn’t like.” this is evident when you pass under the ceiling of multi-colored glass from his Persian collection that seems to represent creatures from the sea in red, orange, blue, green and yellow spheres of calculated and serendipitous whimsy. The collection uses ribbed optic molds to create repetitive patterns transforming into swirls and irregularly shaped rondels with fascinating details. His work of five decades is dreamy and imaginative, drawing inspiration from the world around him and his enchantment with landscapes and gardens. The final room of the Chihuly Collection houses the massive installation of Mille Fiori, translated to “Thousand Flowers” from Italian, and it’s only fitting name once you see this elaborate garden of bold hues and fantastically colored glass sculptures. For more details: https://www.chihuly.com/exhibitions/morean-arts- center/chihuly-collection
Shapes of the flowers and grasses make up the massive installation of Mille Fiori by artist Dale Chihuly. Photo: Vashon Sarkisian
Morean Glass Studio
Just across the street from the Chihuly works, you’ll find the Morean Glass Studio, a working atelier where local artisans give visitors a glimpse of the science of glasswork. Several shows during the day offer the curious an opportunity to watch resident glass artists as they heat, mold, twirl, and swirl, creating unique works of art. Steps in production and how design influences the process are also shared. Known as the “Hot Shop,” pieces made in the studio are available for purchase at the Hot Shop Store, and if you are creating a wall of one-of- a-kind glass art for your home, the studio offers complimentary curation services.
Resident glass artists demonstrate the art of hot glasswork at the Morean Glass Studio. Photo: Debbie Snow
You can also make your very own piece of glass art in a personalized glass experience. Work one-on- one with an artist, and you’ll gather molten glass from the furnace and shape it into your design of spiral sculptures, flowers, teardrops, and more. The experience is 30 minutes, and you’ll create one hand-blown piece of art in that time. The studio also offers ongoing classes with resident experts for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students. To find out more, https://moreanartscenter.org/morean-glass-studio- location/
Walls of glasswork made by resident artists at the Hot Shop are on display for sale in the shop. Photo: Debbie Snow
Dalí Museum
A must-see in St. Pete for every art enthusiast is the Dalí Museum. Since the original space opened in 1982, the collection has been wowing visitors a first- hand look at the Spanish surrealist’s works. As of 2011, the current building overlooks Tampa Bay and was designed by architect Yann Weymouth, known for creating the glass pyramid at the Louvre, which combines the rational with fantasy. This simple rectangle building boasts 18-inch-thick hurricane- proof walls for practicality but fancies a giant free- form glass bubble that seems to erupt from the main structure. Known as the “enigma,” the dome comprises 1,062 triangular pieces of glass and reaches 75 feet at its tallest point and pays homage to the dome that embellishes Dalí’s museum in Spain.
The Dalí Museum celebrates the life and work of the Spanish surrealist and features works from his entire career. Photo: Debbie Snow
The Dalí Museum Store and the Café Gala are on the ground level and lead out to the Avant Garden, each with a whimsical Dalí imprint. All the masterworks are located on the third floor, reached via a winding staircase, recalling Dalí’s obsession with spirals and the double helical shape of the DNA molecule. The collection includes over 2,400 works in every medium, including oil paintings, drawings, watercolors, sculptures, textiles, and photos, all taking spectators through the various periods of the master’s life.
Overlooking the waterfront of Tampa Bay, in a building that erupts into a giant free-form glass bubble, sits the Dalí Museum. Photo: Debbie Snow
The latest installation in the mesmerizing world of Salvador Dalí is the Dalí Dome, a 39-foot high by 60- foot diameter sphere that houses Dalí Alive 360°, an immersive multi-sensory art experience with surround sound and digital displays of the dreamlike landscapes, iconic melting clocks, and mind-bending illusions that take visitors on a journey through his artistic career. More details: https://thedali.org/
