Inside Ybor: The Heart of Tampa A Guide to All Things Arts & Culture in the Historic City Written by Hana Abdel Magid Established in 1885 by Spanish entrepreneur Vicente Martinez Ybor, 'Ybor's City' swiftly became a sanctuary for the immigrant communities that formed the backbone of the cigar industry the city was built on. These diverse communities brought with them a rich tapestry of traditions, cuisine, and artistic expressions. Over the years, Ybor evolved into a cultural epicenter, with theaters, social clubs, and cigar factories dotting its landscape. Artisans and performers found ..read more

Crafting Careers: Art Librarianship with Stephanie Jacobs Curating Creativity and Finding Inspiration in Books Interview by: Hana Abdel Magid The world of art professionals is extensive and diverse. In fact, you may be surprised to find just how many opportunities there are beyond conventional artistic pursuits. From museums and galleries to healthcare and education, the influence of art can be found in countless industries and sectors.This month, we spoke with Stephanie Jacobs, University of South Florida Libraries Arts Liaison, to delve into her unique role and connection to the arts. &n ..read more

Embracing the Art of Observation The Secret to Endless Inspiration? Scavenge! By: Hana Abdel Magid The maxim “art is all around you” may be true, but it's important to know where and how to look. The most talented artists don’t necessarily have to have raw talent, but observational skills. Art is a reflection of the world around us, and learning to examine your surroundings opens you up to endless galleries of inspiration. Observation isn’t just a passive act; it’s an art form in itself, one that enriches our understanding and appreciation of the world around us. Take a Look! Learning to o ..read more

An Evening with Colson Whitehead The Real-life Inspiration Behind his Pulitzer Prize Winning Novel by Hana Abdel Magid American novelist Colson Whitehead is a trailblazer in modern literary canon, and his talents are widely recognized from receiving the National Book Award in Fiction to being one of only four two-time Pulitzer Prize winning authors. His works are celebrated for their thought-provoking social commentary and topical subjects. As part of the University of South Florida’s Frontier Forum series, Whitehead discusses his latest Pulitzer, Nickelboys , followed by a Q&A session m ..read more

Ali Scher debuted her first feature film, "Popular Theory", in her hometown of Tampa. By Malaika Hollist Ali Scher/ Popular Theory Tampa native Ali Scher is bringing her hometown pride to Hollywood with the highly anticipated debut of her feature film, "Popular Theory." Born and raised in the Davis Islands area, Scher drew upon her personal experiences growing up in Tampa to create the high school environment depicted in the movie. "Popular Theory" follows the journey of a young girl who challenges the traditional high school hierarchy by creating a chemical formula that catapults her cla ..read more

This is a subtitle for your new post Arts Axis Florida has collaborated with the Black Box Film Festival to celebrate its debut this Friday April 28th. A Look into Making a Film with Jasmine Liaw is a short documentary on Jasmine, a senior student at the University of Tampa. To finish off her 4 years as a Film and and Media Arts major she must complete her Senior Seminar Thesis Film. In this video, she walks us through the process of making her film. From moving from China to Florida for school knowing little about cameras to making a film, Jasmine tells us how she made her way to success. We ..read more

In this video, we speak with DemiGod (Demeree Barth) a mixed media artist based in St. Petersburg, Florida. In this interview we discussher last creation for the recent Dunedin Fine Art Center's Wearable Art Show this past fall and why wearable art is what she loves to create. Follow DemiGod Website Instagram Etsy Shop Youtube ..read more

Keep it Thrifty: Library Discovery Passes Learn How to Harness the Full Power of Your Library Card By Hana Abdel Magid Beyond books, public libraries provide a wide array of resources for patrons, from research workshops to rentable power tools. Many libraries work closely with community-oriented institutions and offer discovery passes that can be used to explore local arts and culture attractions such as museums, gardens, and theatres. Residents of Tampa Bay and surrounding counties have access to many pass programs through their library systems. Museum admission can be pricey, especially ..read more

Strange News Crashes, Counterfeit, and Creative Congressmen written by Hana Abdel Magid Among beaches, theme parks, and a vibrant culture scene, Florida is known for many things, but perhaps most notably by its reputation for weird news. In this month’s Strange News, we examine the "Florida Man" headlines that made it to the art world. From a car accident involving a giant blue bunny to fake art dealers and a congressman in concert, it’s been a busy few weeks.  Man Crashes into Bunny Sculpture to Get Back at Former Mayor  In an act of intentional destruction, Derek Alan Modrok dro ..read more

An Evening with Sylvia Moreno-Garcia In Conversation with the Best-Selling Author of Mexican Gothic Written by Hana Abdel Magid New York Times best-selling author Sylvia Moreno-Garcia is a master of speculative fiction, known for her genre-defying stories inspired by her Mexican Upbringing. In an unforgettable evening hosted by the USF Humanities institute, Moreno-Garcia discusses her latest novel, Silver Nitrate , with Tampa-based book influencer Carmen Alvarez. The two covered topics ranging from media preservation to Hispanic identity, writing advice, and ghosts. Since her critically-acc ..read more