It is a rare occasion when an artist throws paint abstractly at a canvas to the beat of a live drum solo. Rarer still is when the artist tears up her painting when it is finished.
The real beauty was not the final product, but the collaboration.
Local visual artist Laura Spencer and drummer Chris Trull of the St. Petersburg band Danfield performed together at the Studio@620 on Feb. 18 for New Roots News’ third Contribute event, where collaboration was the theme.
New Roots News holds recurring Contribute events to inform and educate people in the Tampa Bay area, and to get them to connect to their neighbors. The events include panel discussions with local leaders and presentations from lesser-known bay area residents who are working to make it better.
This panel included Hampton Dohrman, director of Creative Pinellas, founder of Hampton Arts Management, and co-founder of Philanthropic Young Tampa Bay; Larry Biddle, principal at SweetSpotAds and director of the Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival; James Howard, publisher of Creative Loafing and member of the Ybor City Museum Society Board of Directors; and John Morrow, president of Morrow Consultants, LLC.
The conversation was led by Mitch Perry, Creative Loafing’s news and politics editor, and covered topics including Florida politics, local art and the entrepreneurship program at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
But the real stars of the night were the presenters.
“We have this network of people, and I always hope to get people involved that no one knows about,” said Lily Reisman, co-founder of New Roots News. “It’s not about highlighting people who are already known about—a lot of those people are great and we want them involved—but in St. Pete, it’s going on, and it’s because of collaboration and support and people realizing, ‘Oh, hey, I really like what you’re doing and it’s only going to thrive if we help you, and hey I’m doing something too and I really want it to thrive so maybe you can help me too.’ ”
A short video about collaboration from Charlie Diaz, a local filmmaker, was the highlight of the show. Succinct and charming, the film was a potent look at the power of collaboration at a local level.
Later in the event, spokespeople and Tampa Bay residents from the St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, Metro Wellness and Community Centers, Crunch Time Sports and LocalShops1 encouraged collaboration to improve the area.
Visit newrootsnews.org to learn more about Contribute and how to collaborate to improve Tampa Bay.
