Tag: Art
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Weird, Tacky Florida On Display– And It’s So Much Fun!
The Fairgrounds in St. Petersburg, Florida, stands as the anchor of a renaissance in the once-seedy warehouse art district of this picturesque Tampa Bay waterfront city. Despite the numerous jokes made about Florida, the Fairgrounds delivers the perfect punchline: “Yeah, the Sunshine State is wacky, but let’s have some fun with it.”
Opened in 2021, The Fairgrounds is an indoor, interactive art museum celebrating the familiar, stereotypical Florida lifestyle: cheap motels, alligators, flamingos, and state and county fairs (hence the name). All showcased in the brightest, gaudiest fluorescent color schemes on the planet. There’s even a bit of a freak show vibe.
Witness the digital chickens desperately running back and forth, trying not to get crushed by human hands. It’s quirky and entertaining—though PETA may not share my sense of humor. It’s a modern twist on the old carnival game of the Dancing Chicken, where a coin would make a chicken dance behind glass for food. Since this new chicken game is digital, no harm, no… fowl? Let’s move on.
At the Fairgrounds, you won’t find anything related to Florida’s most odious reputation as a haven for serial killers. However, the diorama room may come pretty close. This art form showcases many truly interesting and fascinating displays, but some are undeniably creepy and disturbing.
Take, for example, the display featuring an assortment of ghoulish eyeballs. Then there are the big-headed dolls on the beach. To me, it seems like both creators might need appointments with therapists.
Overall, The Fairgrounds offers a whimsical journey through Florida’s unique culture and lifestyle. It provides a thoroughly enjoyable experience, especially if you’re seeking something off the typical tourist path.
Story & Video: Steve Geiger
Photos: Susan Geiger
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Dallas Cowboys: A Work Of Art Off The Field
By Sam IannuzziMellow Wanderer Contributor
Only in Texas can one purchase tickets to an Audio Art Tour to gawk at world-class contemporary works of art at… a football stadium.
AT&T Stadium, also known as Cowboys Stadium before the phone giant threw a bunch of money on the table, is that rare football venue with an art gallery of sorts where visitors can view paintings, mixed media, and sculptures while heading up an escalator to get a beer and some popcorn.
Inside “Jerry’s World,” as in erstwhile oil baron and current billionaire Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, chief promoter of himself, there’s a mash-up of equal parts art museum, sports arena, and Las Vegas glitz, including ten full alcohol “clubs.” Not to mention one of the biggest HD TVs in the world hanging over the playing field like a moored Zeppelin.
Completed in the summer of 2009, the stadium cost over $1 billion to build and sits in Arlington, Texas, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Dallas.Primarily the home of the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium is becoming the venue of choice for some of the sporting world’s biggest events.
In addition to being the home of Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011, the stadium has hosted the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, the WBO welterweight championship fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottney on March 13, 2010 and the 2014 NCAA Final Four basketball tournament, to name a few.“Jerry’s World” is also going to be the site of the first ever College Football Championship game on January 12, 2015.If your travels take you to North Texas, AT&T Stadium is definitely worth a look. The massive structure dominates the landscape. With glistening glass panels and streamline design, the place is hard to miss.
If contemporary art is not your thing, regular stadium tours are available. But then again, here in Cowboys Country, perhaps the only work of art lately is away from the playing field on the ride up and down the escalators.(PHOTOS COURTESY OF AT&T STADIUM)
