This document profiles 12 individual artists who have been selected for grants from the 2016 Individual Artist Grant Program. It provides details about each artist's proposed projects, which include photography, sculpture, opera, film, and murals. The projects will take place between June and November 2016 at various art galleries and performance spaces around St. Petersburg, Florida. The grants help support local artists and make the arts accessible to the community.

1. 2016 Individual Artist
Grant Program
THE FINALISTS WILL BEGIN THEIR ARTFUL PROJECTS IN JUNE, AND
LATER PRESENT THEIR PHOTOGRAPHY, PLAYWRITING, DANCE,
SCULPTURE, MULTI-MEDIA, AND MURAL PAINTING.

2. Catherine Woods
v Photo collages 4’ – 6’ in length, to be
exhibited at ARTicles Gallery.
v Printed with durable inks on archival
paper.
v Shows the audience a new way of
seeing and encourages the viewers to
appreciate the surroundings of “our
Florida home.”
'Bright Water Circle’, 2016
Dimensions: 15" h x 42" w
Media: Mixed media

3. Rachel Fearing Stewart
v Three-dimensional wood sculptures made from
found wood pallets and plywood.
v Introducing to the community new ways to use
wood and express conceptual ideas about tree
growth.
v To be exhibited at Studio@620 with a public
discussion event.
Re-Define-constructed reused
wood pallets carved and
painted 29x58x3in

4. James Oleson
v Multimedia sculpture from Japanese/Chinese
paper lanterns and festivals inspiration.
v Illuminated phoenix crafted from rod steel, muslin
fabric, colored dyes, adhesives and LED lights.
v The phoenix is a symbol of rebirth that will
commemorate the growth and revitalization of St.
Petersburg’s artist community.
v Free public presentation at Bloom Art Center,
Sunday, August 7 during International Friendship
Day.

5. Tom Sivak
v Composer/librettist for “Doctor Dilligaff’s Baboon”, a new operatic work
à Comic chamber opera with a cast of four and accompaniment by piano and
cello.
v Generating employment and professional exposure for 4 opera singers and
a cellist.
v August 15, to be performed at the Palladium à No admission fee, making
attendance accessible to anyone.

6. Peter Meder
v Automata artist, maker of moving figures.
v Three-dimensional figures made with new and
unconventional materials and methods, to be
exhibited at Florida CraftArt.
v Teaching the local community about Automata as an
art form and how animated figure’s movements are
used to tell a story or convey emotions.
“Auguste” - automaton, 5-Cam driven
mechanism, OOAK. 28"x9"x10". 2014.
MEDIA/MATERIALS: Mixed media – wood,
brass, metals, cast resin, ABS plastic,
worbla thermoplastic, mohair, fabrics

7. Brooks Peters
v FACES and FACADES, a photography show.
v Series of original, new portraits and
cityscapes, to be exhibited at Studio@620.
v Reflection of the diverse spirit of the people
of St. Petersburg.
v Celebration of the city’s cultural history.
Tropicana Field Storm

8. Ya La’ford
v Two very large exhibits open to the
public, to be presented at the Chihuly
Gallery and the TECO Gallery.
v Exploring the metaphysics of space and
time. Presented with interpretive
poetry readings by Helen Pruitt
Wallace.
v Building consensus to allow
communities to focus on a civic
agenda that enhances the artistic
ecosystem of St. Petersburg.

9. Carlos Culbertson
v Painting a large mural that recalls and honors
the history of the African American community.
v Engaging the St. Petersburg south side
community.
v He will demonstrate the possibility of a career
in the art world to the youth living in the area,
and the positive imagery will echo the history
of the area.
”Curl Power”
10x20ft Aerosol and Latex, St.
Petersburg, FL

10. Wendy Durand
v Helps a segment of our community who work
with families dealing with the life changing
events (cancer, disability, loss of job…).
v “Women with purpose”, a non-profit founded by
the community of women, survivors of
catastrophic challenges.
v Wendy Durand will donate vases to benefit
Women With Purpose to raise money on August
17th at TheStudio@620, using art to expand
volunteer involvement and leverage financial
support.
Photo credit: Nikki Devereux

11. Helen Hansen French
v “The Motherhood Project” seeks to explore the experiences of
artist-mothers.
v Film incorporating artist-mothers from across all disciplines, with
original music by local artist/composer Elizabeth Baker and
original script developed with Maureen McDole from Keep St.
Pete Lit.
v Participants will write about mothering and its relationship to
their art form.
v Final presentation at the Palladium Theatre November 12th.

12. Erin Huelskamp
v Erin is creating the Sunshine City Opera and will
present a first concert during SPFESTIVAL, entitled
OPERA SAMPLER: Musical Excerpts from Living
Composers.
v A hour-long concert setting of selections from
operas and art songs features music for soprano and
mezzo by 6 living composers.
v Includes one premiere, one Cuban composer, 3 female
composers, one St. Pete-based composer and the
winner of the USF Call for Scores.
v To be presented on Friday, September 16 at 7 p.m. at
The Studio@620

13. Mitzi Gordon
v Mitzi is a writer, artist, bookmobile owner
and creative professional who wrote “The
Art of Collaboration” about Arts and
Business partnerships.
v ArtWorks was presented to the Chamber of
Commerce and Suncoasters to promote art
across the city.
v ArtWorks is a featured program of the
SPFestival.

14. The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance is the umbrella organization
serving the arts and cultural community: advocating for the arts;
facilitating the growth of the arts community; and driving arts-
related economic development in St. Petersburg.
Prepared by Célia Autet-Henry
August 4, 2016