Tampa Bay Newspapers

June 14, 2018

LARGO – Creative Pinellas will present “90N: North Pole Installations and Florida Is,” an exhibition of artwork by internationally-acclaimed artist Xavier Cortada, running June 29 through Sept. 2. in the gallery at Creative Pinellas, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo.

An opening reception for the exhibition will take place Friday, June 29, 6 to 9 p.m., in the gallery. The artist will be in attendance.

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,” said 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” 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” 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,” said 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.”

Read more here: A&E News Around Pinellas: June 14