Marina
Williams/ARTpool
As I entered the ARTpool gallery I was immediately taken back to a time when Ybor City was cool and the center of the local arts. I was reminded of Dog Eat Dog and Three Birds Bookstore among others. Although I was in downtown St. Petersburg the vibe and ambience was the same. The moment that I entered ARTpool I had a positive vibe, I knew I was home once again, home to real art.
On the right side of the wall space I was treated to ARTpool's last show "Purple Polaroids". On the left side was the delicious artwork of the artists who have supported ARTpool by displaying their artwork. In the back was a wonderful boutique of vintage fashion, which I did not expect.
The artist behind ARTpool is St. Petersburg native, Marina Williams. When asked about her inspirations into creating ARTpool Williams replied, "ARTpool is the love child of a traditional gallery and an underground artist warehouse. I love old school galleries but as an artist myself in the 21st century found that today's artist was being limited in showing, growing and selling work when shows are planned sometimes five years out and high commissions going to their showing establishments. I wanted to create a space for artists to get their work out (change their work as much as they like) and keep 100% of all sales. We rent wall space so that we can rent our building, I work at the gallery Monday-Saturday 12-5 as well as organize, host and help curate a different art show monthly. ARTpool wants everyone in the community to feel welcome, and know that ARTpool is a place for all artists of any medium to show, and be apart of a positive artistic family. We love our artists, and currently are showing works of around 20 local and national artists, from ages 17 to 70."
Marina Williams describes the gallery as organic. "Organic meaning that the gallery changes and evolves continuously. Depending on the show, the layout of the space will move, and we never want to be nailed down to one idea or philosophy that will become outdated or extinct. ARTpool is about creating constantly and being a forward thought, proactive asset, resource and mutually beneficial environment for artistic talent."
In her bio, Williams, describes that she "grew and was inspired by a funky beautiful and smart parental team, Becky and Ken". Her education at New College of Sarasota took her to Spain to complete her thesis. After interning in the Summer at Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, NYC, Marina returned to her native Florida where she exhibited her wearable art at Dunedin Fine Art's Center Wearable Art show in 2006 as well as other galleries. She then moved to London to complete her MA. When asked how here time abroad helped her grow as both an artist and person, she replied, "Living in Europe made me relax and observe the world in a completely different light and perspective. Spain specifically, where siesta's give people the added energy and power to stay up late, create art, host massive art shows, and collaborate artistically until the early hours of the morning. New York was a feast for my soul and grounded me to work hard, never give up and taught me to be passionate about my actions artistically and my interactions with people. Working in a variety of artistic fiends in both locations and then moving to London made my mind a well rounded magnet for anything and everything artistic, experimental and creative. My work became so diverse and opened up into a variety of design directions. Not only was I photographing up to 1,000 frames daily but I was also designing clothing, jewelry, hats and becoming interested in art theory and public art projects. Traveling is one of the most important things to me, so is my love for St. Petersburg - that's why I always return to my birth place. Traveling was not about leaving, for me it was about learning, returning, sharing and creating from my experiences and making my art better, smarter, and new works that were influenced and inspired my the cultures, societies and individuals I met."
Marina's artistic interests reflect her passionate and worldly experiences, besides being a world-class photographer, she says "I also work in the fashion area of recyclable art, hat and jewelry design and other oddities. Additionally, I have created two short film experimental installations and also produced photo installations utilizing found art. I love working in so many different mediums. Growing up I was enrolled in a million art camps and after school programs. Visual art was always a concentration of mine, in addition to playing the alto saxophone, soprano sax, clarinet, guitar and attending vocal training classes. Basically, I've been a renaissance kid since 1984". Thank you Becky and Ken.
While it is always trendy to move to a big name city to pursue one's artistic path, Marina Williams has chosen to return to her home and to work to grow and nurture Tampa Bay's fragile artistic landscape with her ARTpool gallery. When asked why she replied, "With the power of the internet, cheap jet blue flight and cell phones, I don't feel the need to flee to a cramped city to get a metropolitan art fix. Art Basel is in our back yard and a must do drive for me every December. The weather is amazing, great light, and outstanding friends and fellow artists keep me glued to St Pete as a place to call home. My parents also live locally and are HUGE supporters of local art and my new gallery ARTpool. I want to take my experiences and add to the St. Petersburg ART scene and help put us on the map. Florida to me is an "it" place to work and exist artistically. I love downtown, our fellow galleries, museums, studios and art spaces locally. To illustrate such, ARTpool Gallery is putting on a "I LOVE ST PETE" show this January with the help of BlueLucy".
The Boutique
Tampa Bay Muse
Grassroots Support for the Arts
September 2008
serving Hillsborough, Polk, Pasco, Pinellas counties and Sarasota and
Bradenton
www.myspace.com/tampabaymuse
reader discretion advised! some content may not be suitable for children and some adults.
send your listings/comments to info at tampabaymuse.com
Purple Polaroid Party
Ellen Marie Bland.
Artwork by Cindy Linville
Artwork by Saint
Photography by Marina Williams
The A word: writings from the depths of Florida summer 08
The A rtchives: past features, videos and art
The A List: listings for the hottest art spots in Central Florida
5
Silly Questions for
Marina Williams
Q.The
Kinks or the Rolling Stones?
A.Thats like asking me if i had kids which one I loved more. no
can do. ;)
Q.
What are your favorite pair of eyeglasses?
A. Big ones. I really want a pair of Cazal's.
Q.Flip
Flops or Bare Feet?
A. I only do bare feet at home - no shoes allowed past the front
door. Flip Flops rock, I'm wearing "rainbows" now.
Q.Is
Diving allowed in the ArtPool?
A. 6 days out of the week!
Marina Williams at ARTpool
Artwork by Blue Lucy
Make Contact:
ARTpool
919 1st Ave N
St Petersburg FL 33705
727.324.3878
OPEN: MON-SAT 12pm-5pm
Second Saturday hours open 6pm-9pm for Downtown Art Walk. Monthly ART pARTy
open 8pm-12am .
