Clay artist Charlie Parker was
instrumental in helping create
the Morean Center for Clay,
which has grown from a small
studio with 12 members to one
of the largest working potteries
in the Southeast. It’s also in a
cool location in the city’s historic
Seaboard Coastline Train Depot.
The clay center’s innovative
artist-in-residence program draws
potters from around the country to
study and create in the ‘Burg.
Charlie Parker says St. Pete’s art
scene is booming, completely
transformed from when he ��rst
moved here from Minnesota 35
years ago. But in some respects
it’s stayed true to its roots. “This
is a city that has managed to
retain a focus on local artists and
a quaintness that is unique to St.
Petersburg,” says Parker.
CREATIVE CULTURE
St. Pete’s passion for creativity is
evident at Et Cultura, a ��ve-day
festival of the arts that celebrates
local and national artists, musicians
and ��lmmakers, as well as innovative
thinkers. The event includes
“maker” craft markets, indie ��lms
and music concerts, as well as
workshops exploring such topics
as social justice, urban farming and
healthy eating, affordable housing,
sustainable design and public
education.
“This is a whole community of
artists and businesses, creative
and innovative people working
together to showcase what St.
Petersburg is all about,” says
Lea Umberger, Et Cultura cofounder.
“Our model is Austin’s
SXSW Festival. We hope to
grow Et Cultural into a similar
destination event.”
ARTIST INCUBATOR:
GROWING LOCAL TALENT
St. Petersburg’s commitment to
the arts extends to providing
support for emerging artists. In
2017, the ArtsXchange of��cially
opened as the city’s nonpro��t arts
incubator. A former warehouse
has been transformed into small
affordable studio space for visual
artists, sculptors, photographers,
jewelry makers and writers. The
venue also includes event space
for gallery openings, special
events and educational classes.
The goal of the ArtsXchange is
to make sure that St. Petersburg
continues to be affordable and
sustainable for working artists,
says Mark Aeilng, a nationally
recognized sculptor, founder
of MGA Sculpture Studio and
president of the Warehouse Arts
District. The ArtsXchange sits at
the gateway to the Warehouse
Morean Arts
Center &
Hot Shop
Et Cultura ArtsXchange
STPETE.COM/BURGLIFE 21
/BURGLIFE
