Fissures and Cracks: Visual Works of and by the Homeless of Tampa Bay

On Oct. 23, The University of Tampa’s Scarfone/Hartley Gallery will open Fissures and Cracks, an exhibition of visual works by the homeless of Tampa Bay, including Janet Saunders and Larry M. The exhibition will also feature The Faces of a Million Meals, a photography portrait series by Tim Kennedy, UT professor of communication, originally created for Trinity Café. The exhibition runs through Nov. 4.

The works in the exhibition were created through Art Space, a partnership program of the UT art therapy program, the Tampa Museum of Art and Hyde Park United Methodist Church/The Portico. The Art Space program provides opportunities for homeless individuals to explore the arts at the Tampa Museum of Art, then provides them with art supplies to create their own visual works with the assistance of UT art therapy students at The Portico in downtown Tampa.

On Oct. 26, from 6–8 p.m. there will be a panel discussion on homelessness in Tampa Bay, the Art Space program, as well as the various resources and programs area organizations are implementing to help with this societal issue. Panelists include representatives from the UT PEACE Volunteer Center; Vicki Walker, minister of missions and outreach from Hyde Park United Methodist Church/The Portico; Joseph Scarce, UT art therapy instructor; and Mandy Cloninger, executive director of Trinity Café. A reception with light refreshments will follow.

Developed by the Las Damas de Arte foundation in partnership with the gallery, Hyde Park United Methodist Church/The Portico, Trinity Café and the UT art therapy program, the exhibition is sponsored through a Community Arts Impact Grant from the Arts Council of Hillsborough County and the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners, as well as the Friends of the Gallery.

The gallery is located on campus at the R.K. Bailey Art Studios at 310 N. Boulevard. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. There is no charge for admission.

For more information, contact Jocelyn Boigenzahn, gallery director, at jboigenzahn@ut.edu or (813) 253-6217.