It’s Giving Gallery: Local Artists Show the Love in Surprising Spaces

Pictured: Curator Jenipher Chandley, artist Aaron Corbitt, artist John Taormina at the exhibit’s opening party.

There are over 30 galleries that participate each month in St. Petersburg’s long-established Second Saturday Art Walk, spanning seven arts districts and representing all disciplines. But not representing all artists. 

New and up-and-coming artists, artists who don’t fit neatly into a category, artists who just want to create and aren’t interested in the hustle… where can they find a place to exhibit? Beyond the dozens of galleries and museums in St. Pete, art finds a home in countless nontraditional spaces like bars and breweries, coffee shops, and restaurants. Who gives these artists their shot to be included? Mostly, other artists. 

Jenipher Chandley is an internationally recognized contemporary visual artist with her own studio in ArtsXchange. James E. Hartzell is a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with his own studio in ArtLofts. Both worked their way up in the St. Pete arts scene, starting with the kinds of exhibiting opportunities they now extend to other artists.  

“We’ve been here almost 15 years, from 2011,” said Chandley of Bar@548, the popular Central Avenue establishment where she curates open monthly group shows. “We all started meeting up out front when it was Sake Bomb. It was a stomping ground for us in our beginnings, getting to learn the ropes. We weren’t good enough, honestly, to really be in any of the gallery shows. But then, as we had this opportunity, it fostered our growth, and we got better.”  

Quite a few recognizable names in the local arts community have exhibited in these monthly shows over the years. To name a few: Derek Donnelly, Zulu Painter, Aurailieus, James Oleson, John Gascot, and James Hartzell. 

“Some of those group shows early on, like Bar@548, that’s where I got started before getting into local galleries,” said Hartzell, who now curates monthly shows at Bayboro Brewing. “I’m very grateful for those opportunities, and it’s nice years down the road to be able to pay it forward.”

“I think it’s really important to give back,” said Chandley. “Foster new artists, show them the ropes, show them that it doesn’t need to be pretentious. I mean we’re all candy makers making different candy – there’s no competition, really.”

Artist Matthew Christiansen found the group show at Bar@548 several years ago. “As an artist, I’m always looking for opportunities. There’s a shortage of them out there.” The piece he exhibited in August’s “Heatwave Haze” group show was an acrylic, but he works in other mediums as well. “That’s the great thing about being an artist – all I need is a piece of paper and a pencil and I’m good to go anywhere.” 

Every medium is welcome in Chandley’s shows, even 3D as long as it can hang from a hanging system. Each month is different, even if some of the artists are the same. Shows are themed with what is meant to be more a prompt and less a guideline. “It’s more important that the artist gets an opportunity to show their work,” Chandley said. “And honestly, who cares?  People are going to come into this bar and they’re just going to be blown away by the art. They’re not going to be like, “Well, this doesn’t fit the theme…””

While Chandley focuses on open group shows that can sometimes have 40+ individual artists in them, Hartzell curates by invitation, homing in on solo exhibits or pairings that create interesting juxtapositions. “I always want it to be a collaboration,” said Hartzell. “You never want to be the art police, you know? Try to help other artists grow and have that platform to express themselves, ultimately.”

Hartzell recently curated a solo exhibit at Bayboro Brewing called My Perspective: Art of Logan Schwab, featuring the work of a local veteran turned Warhammer 40K miniature painter and trained fine artist. Bayboro is a veteran-owned brewery in the Warehouse Arts District with a longtime commitment to the Arts. “Supporting the Arts isn’t just about hanging paintings on the wall,” said Bayboro owner James Coleman, “it’s about giving talented people a platform, helping our community stay vibrant, and creating a space where conversations and connections happen naturally. Beer and art both have a way of bringing people together, and that’s at the heart of what we do.”

The opening of Logan Schwab’s show was a Comic-Con-style, costumed Meet & Greet and tabletop gaming experience. Schwab’s displayed works ranged from classical charcoal and chalk to a skateboard deck heptaptych inspired by Dragon Ball Z. The venue is the perfect fit for Schwab’s work. “I think it brings it more to the people,” he said. “I mean, that’s what it’s made for – it’s made for the people.”

“Not everyone walks into a gallery,” said Coleman, “but almost everyone will walk into a brewery. By displaying art here, we make it approachable, unpretentious, and part of everyday life.”

Bayboro is an intimate space, and Hartzell curates and hangs accordingly. “There’s a really fun opportunity to give people a platform to show more of a body of work,” he said. “Then you can really appreciate their range – you get to deep dive into how much of an energy or vibe their work gives off. The visual jigsaw of laying out work when it gets dropped off… that’s always a very exciting part of the process. Playing around with the relationships between the pieces and how they will activate that space.”

Purchasing the art in these venues is meant to be as simple as possible. At Bar@548, for example, each artist provides their Venmo or Zelle on a card next to the piece. You pay for the piece you want, show an employee the proof of payment, and walk out the door with it. The artist gets 100% of the sale, as compared to a 40-60% commission taken by traditional galleries. Each show hangs for a month, from First Saturday to First Saturday. Artists can pick up their unsold work and drop off the next show’s piece on the changeover day and come back that evening for a party.  

“This is the biggest gallery, in my opinion, as far as getting to see the most diverse stuff,” Chandley said. “Anyone can show here – it gives them a spot to gain an audience and to keep it going.”