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Still Looking For Gifts? Art May Be An Option

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 19, 2007

Updated: 12/17/2007 06:35 pm

TAMPA - The question seems to pop up every year at this time: "Where can I buy artsy gifts that aren't too pricey?"

Craft shows are dependable for variety and affordability, and there were plenty of them this year on both sides of Tampa Bay. But if you missed them, several places offer options for artsy gifts.

In Hyde Park, Jules Burt's Art Gallery shares space with Axxents at 500 S. Howard Ave. Inside, you'll find red or black shirts and underwear sporting slightly slanted Christmas slogans such as "Nice & Naughty," as well as Christmas symbols, many adorned with Swarovski crystals.

Gallery owner and artist Burt has hand-painted spoon rests priced at $15. Also $15 each are several hand-painted plaques bearing slogans such as "It ain't easy being glamorous." Burt's hand-painted stemware and glasses start at $20, with bowls, plates and other hand-painted items priced slightly higher.

Call the store at (813) 254-3393 for hours and information.

In Hyde Park Village, two art stores within walking distance of one another opened this year. The Tampa Artist Emporium, 1618 Snow Ave., rents space to about 30 local artists, making for a wide range of offerings and prices in art and crafts.
Jewelry ranges from $8 for a bracelet to $200 for sterling silver pieces. Ornaments, glass balls, pottery stars and Christmas trees are priced from $10 to $15, with wine stoppers at $28 a pair and fused glass plates starting at $50.

Original paintings and sculptures start at $125.

Call owner Shelby Boggs at (813) 254-3443 for hours and information.

Down the street at 1608 Snow Ave. is Hyde Park Fine Arts, where hand-blown glass paperweights start at $15 and reproductions of antique Italian posters are $10, owner Tim Waad said.

Judy Bomberger's hand-painted metal sculptures start at $68 and handmade Venetian masks are $20.

Call Waad at (813) 251-4596 for hours and information.

South of Hyde Park, Michael Murphy Gallery M, 2701 S. MacDill Ave., has set up a new Craft Gallery behind its framing area. Among the offerings is a sculpted and cast pewter key chain by Brooksville artist Nanette Asbury for $25.

New York artist Kathryn Simone has twisted sterling silver into forms she calls "metalace" and embedded small precious stones to create jewelry.

Also available are jewelry creations by Karyn Chopik, fused glass pieces in the Judaica series by Sandi Katz and hand-blown splatter glass bowls by Vitrix Hot Glass in New York.

For information, call the gallery at (813) 902-1414.

At 4105 S. MacDill Ave., Clayton Galleries presents its annual show of small works by gallery artists, with prices starting at $100 for a ceramic vase and $125 for a ceramic plate, both by Florida folk artist Carl Knickerbocker. He also has several oil and acrylic paintings for $125 each.

An acrylic painting by Suza Talbot is $200, and three oils by Kathy Wright are $100 each.

Call the gallery at (813) 831-3753 for details.

A few doors down at 4109-B S. MacDill Ave., The Art Tarts bursts with colorful Christmas ornaments, decorations and gift ideas.

There are hand-crafted jewelry pieces, hand-blown Christmas stemware, ceramic pieces, purses and scarves. Hand-painted silk cards by Deborah Dabinet of Redington Beach are $8, and matted prints by local artist Don Dickson start at $28.

Whimsical snowmen and elves created by an artist in Madison, Wis., range from $4 to $32.

Call the store at (813) 832-5665 for information.

At Nuance Galleries, 804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, there's a wall of Harry Potter paraphernalia, including limited-edition giclee prints by Mary GrandPre for $200. GrandPre created the cover illustrations for the Potter books in the United States.

Also on offer are books on artists such as Alvar, Pino and Sam Park, priced at $100 each. Limited-edition ceramic animals by Russian artist Turov start at $200.

For details, call the gallery at (813) 875-0511.

Correspondent Esther Hammer can be reached at (813) 835-2108 or ehammer@tampatrib.com.

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