Storytelling can bring up embarrassing moments and times we wish we could forget. It can bring tears to our eyes, or make us laugh until we cry. Yet, one thing is for certain: spoken work has the power to evoke empathy and connect us to our human roots.
In coordination with their upcoming Under the Cuban Sun exhibition, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts will be hosting
Voices of Cuba: Open Mic Night on Nov. 3 from 5-7 p.m. to experience Cuba through the authentic spoken word of those who have lived there, from poetry to music and everything in between.
Under the Cuban Sun is a group show of black-and-white photography exemplifying what makes Cuba Cuba from the 1930s to the present from both artists of Cuban heritage and those of an outsider perspective.
“There are several ways we came up with this event to become a productive support of the exhibition. We wanted the community to be heard and create a platform to exchange opinions. Also, we feel that Cuba is such a close neighbor to us and there are many similarities, so there is a natural connection. Photography is already a storytelling medium, so we wanted to create this concert of telling stories through images and community exchange,” says FMoPA Executive Director Zora Carrier.
Moderated by spoken-word artist Andresia “Real” Moseley, this event is free for members and $10 for non-members. “Under the Cuban Sun” will be open through Dec. 31.
“This event brings the focus back to the audience. Cuba is such a broad term and it can be so many things, so it’s about what Cuba means to people in our region,” Carrier says.
Check out other upcoming art-related events here
- USF Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) raises “A Horror” by Jayson Musson this month as part of their year-long Pledges of Allegiance public art project in which they will hoist a different artist-made flag each month. In sync with Creative Time’s national public art initiative as a response to current political issues, this is the fifth flag raised in the series. Be on the look out for the next ones.
- With things lingering in the night around Halloween, Cass capitalizes on this holiday for their “Masked Intentions” exhibition on Oct. 27. A handful of the around two dozen artists include Anthony Lister, Missvan, Patricia Ariel and Tes One, with the show theme revolving around opaque interpretations and masked meanings.
- Black light isn’t just for kids’ laser tag games anymore. “Illuminated” is Illsol’s Halloween-inspired party on Oct. 28, celebrating the holiday with black light art, musicians and competitions for best glowing costume.
- Whittling down the artists in the recent “Skyway: A Contemporary Collaboration” exhibition across three institutions, the Tampa Museum of Art (TMA) will be presenting “Skyway Selections: Curators’ Choice” opening on Nov. 2, featuring the thick, textural paintings of Claudia Ryan and Rob Tarbell’s smoke drawings.
- See the abstracted quilts of Coulter Fussell in her solo exhibition “Four Quilts” at Cunsthaus, through Nov. 11. If you can’t schedule an appointment to visit, you can get in on Nov. 3 during First Friday in the Heights.
- Looking for a good locally made gift for the holidays? Temple Terrace Arts & Crafts Festival might be a good place to start, featuring 100 makers throughout Nov. 11-12.
- Ben Folds brings his “Paper Airplane Request” Tour to the Straz Center in Tampa on Nov. 11. As a king of piano tappin’ and musical improv (if you’re familiar with his Chatroulette work), feel free to toss your song requests at him in the form of a paper projectile.
- If you’re a fan of horror and Monty Python, “The Curse of Frankenstein’s Castle” is the perfect play for you. Enacted by the Carrollwood Players, they bring a sketch comedic sensibility to this classic horror movie. You can find dates on the weekends from Oct. 27-Nov. 4.
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