Art Talk, Tour Set Focuses On Public Art At Dunedin City Hall

DUNEDIN, FL — Hear and see the inspiration from regional and world-renowned Florida artists who created the artwork exhibited throughout Dunedin City Hall, 737 Louden Ave., on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Dunedin City Hall, which opened in the spring, reflects Dunedin's love of art and culture. Public art has been placed throughout the building, with the most notable being the exterior art sculpture by Heath Satow titled "The See," and the interior lobby printing of renowned Florida painter Christopher Still, "The Sun Will Rise Again."

Throughout the conference rooms, curated works have been selected to support the theme of each room: Caladesi, Coral, Orange Blossom, Mangrove and Magnolia.

The discussion will be moderated by Elizabeth Brincklow. Tours, conversations and light refreshments will follow.

Dunedin City Hall Artwork

In the Magnolia Room, Elizabeth Barenis' 5- by 3-foot commissioned piece, "Magnolia Splendor," stands out for its use of foliage, color and texture. Barenis' piece depicts a soft magnolia blossom in a mix of green background foliage. Barenis is a St. Petersburg artist who is known for painting large-scale realistic and abstract tranquil foliage pieces, outdoor scenes and murals. She was named an emerging artist by Creative Pinellas in 2018 and is a recipient of the 2023 Creative Pinellas Professional Artist Grant.

In the Orange Blossom Room is Steven Spathelf's 5- by 5-foot commission of an orange crate label painting. A Dunedin resident, Spathelf is known as Dunedin's Orange Muralist.

On display in the City Manager Waiting Area is a 36- by 36-inch commissioned work by Nathan Beard depicting water scenes and mangroves. Beard is a St. Petersburg artist, who serves as assistant curator to the Dunedin Fine Art Center. He also teaches art at DFAC and St. Petersburg College. Beard's series of the "Pond's Edge" is representative of foliage surrounding local waterways, similar to the piece at Dunedin City Hall.

In the Mangrove Room is Harriet Monzon-Aquirre's 25- by 48-inch original commissioned painting, "Mangroves." Monzon-Aquirre was born in England and spent some years in Barbados before moving to Pinellas County and opening a studio with her husband in Safety Harbor.

In the Caladesi Room is found object/recycled art depicting a shark and a turtle by 16-year-old Juno Beach artist Ryan Moralevitz. Moralevitz's work is inspired by ocean conservancy and payment for his artwork goes to his charity, The Fishes Wishes, which he started when he was 10 years old.

The Caladesi Room is also home to an 8- by 4-foot mixed media work of glass, metal and photography by Richard Logan of Clearwater. A photo of Caladesi Island was the inspiration for this artwork. Logan fragments images and negative space with etched glass, metal and printed media in pieces and reassembles them to create dimension, texture and life.

Also on exhibit in the Caladesi Room is Rachel Ratcliff's 40- by 30-inch artwork, "Roll of the Kaleidoscope." It details the inside of a wave with Caladesi Island in the background. This is an acrylic art piece in which Ratcliff uses interesting techniques such as heat on acrylic to create unique textures. Ratcliff is a Clearwater resident, who has been involved in Creative Pinellas, and mural painting in Safety Harbor and St. Petersburg.

In the Coral Room are the works of Alice Picket Lewis, which include two custom creations and one purchased piece — all smaller scale to make up a trio on display in the Coral Room. Lewis is a Gulfport artist who works in fiber and textile arts, experimenting with color and texture. The pieces selected for the Coral Room depict underwater scenes with coral, fish and sea life in bright and vibrant colors — all uniquely fabricated with fabric and textiles.

In the Grand Lobby is the original painting,"The Sun Will Rise Again," by nationally renowned Tarpon Springs artist Christopher Still, who grew up in Dunedin. Still paints Florida's wildlife, people and landscapes. This 60- by 108-inch oil on linen painting is part of the private collection of Ralph and Charlotte Jordan for which the city was able to obtain a licensing agreement. Still is known for his 10 paintings at the Florida House of Representatives and his local exhibits at Tampa International Airport, Sand Pearl Resort, Ruth Eckerd Hall and national exhibits in the Governor's Mansion and Smithsonian Institute. Still was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame and is an artist in residence for the Florida Legislature.

In the Grand Lobby, on loan from the Smith Stirling Museum in Stirling, Scotland, is a piece by Scottish artist George Henry called "Spring Has Come." The work came to Dunedin with the Smith Stirling Museum art director in 2022 and it hung in the front hall of the Dunedin Fine Art Center for about eight months before it was removed and prepared for relocation to the new Dunedin City Hall.

In the Commission Chambers is a piece by the first artist as part of a rotating display in the chambers. St. Petersburg artist D YaeL Kelley's pieces are abstract original oil paintings that bring color and provoke thoughtful reflection through the selection of pieces titled "Luminosity."

Contact Nicole Delfino for more information at ndelfino@dunedinfl.net.