Creative Pinellas to Host Xavier Cortada Exhibition at Former Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo

90N:  Main  | Event | GalleryPress Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2018

CONTACT:
Christopher Hubbard
Creative Pinellas
Programs Manager
727-582-2242
christopher.hubbard@creativepinellas.org

Creative Pinellas to Host Xavier Cortada Exhibition at Former Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo

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Largo, FL – Creative Pinellas is pleased to present “90N: North Pole Installations and Florida Is Nature”, an exhibition of artwork by internationally-acclaimed artist Xavier Cortada. Open June 29 in the Gallery at Creative Pinellas (former Gulf Coast Museum of Art), this show is the first independent artist exhibition in the gallery in 10 years. Cortada is a Florida-based artist who has developed numerous art projects globally, including art installations at the North and South Poles to address environmental concerns at every point in between.

“It is very compelling to us to bring an artist of Cortada’s caliber to the gallery,” says Barbara St. Clair, executive director of Creative Pinellas. “His work is visually and experientially powerful, bringing over 400 pieces together in an interactive and immersive collection at the intersection of art and science. We think it’s a great fit with our mission and our location at the Pinewood Cultural Park.” Taking place on the 10th anniversary of Cortada’s expedition to the North Pole, “90N: North Pole Installations and Florida Is Nature” will feature works from these two collections, as well as never-before exhibited Arctic ice paintings created during his 2008 North Pole expedition. The artwork exhibited in “90N: North Pole Installations and Florida Is Nature” is rooted in science and oriented toward social engagement.

“I want people to see this work and to get a sense of the alarming connection between the Arctic and our peninsula,” says Cortada. “Melting ice will have catastrophic effects across our state, leading to sea level rise, coastal flooding, stalled tropical storms, and more extreme weather in the coming years.”

The artist will be present at the opening reception on Friday, June 29 from 6-9 pm. Gallery hours are Friday and Saturday, 10-5, Sunday 12-4 and by appointment through September 2, 2018. For additional information please creativepinellas.org/gallery or contact Creative Pinellas programs manager Christopher Hubbard at 727-582-2242 or christopher.hubbard@creativepinellas.org.

About Creative Pinellas
At Creative Pinellas our mission is to facilitate a vibrant, integrated, collaborative and sustainable Pinellas County Arts Community and cultural destination. We strive to be the premier Local Arts Agency, recognized locally and globally for our contribution to arts and culture. We are focused on creating vibrant communities; supporting artists, arts organizations and the creative community; supporting economic development; showcasing Pinellas County as a cultural destination; and making arts and creative expression and experience available to all.As the County’s Local Arts Agency, Creative Pinellas and the programs we deliver are funded by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, Visit St Petersburg / Clearwater, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and by sales of the State of the Arts specialty license plate in Pinellas County.

About the Artist
Xavier Cortada created art installations at the North Pole and South Pole to address environmental concerns at every point in between. He’s been commissioned to create art for CERN, the White House, the World Bank, Miami City Hall, Miami-Dade County Hall, Florida Botanical Gardens, Port Everglades, Florida’s Turpike, the Museum of Florida History, the Frost Science Museum and Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse. Locally, his work is in the permanent collection of the Frost Art Museum, PAMM and the NSU Art Museum of Ft. Lauderdale. Cortada has also developed numerous collaborative art projects globally, including peace murals in Cyprus and Northern Ireland, child welfare murals in Bolivia and Panama, AIDS murals in Geneva and South Africa, and eco-art projects in Taiwan and Holland. His studio is located in Pinecrest Gardens. For more information please visit www.cortada.com

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