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By ESTHER HAMMER, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 7, 2007

TAMPA - Although art is the focus of "Pavilion," the yearly gala fundraiser for the Tampa Museum of Art, the hefty ticket price - $600 - can be a deterrent for artists hoping to attend.

This year, a South Tampa business has found a way to get grass-roots artists involved.

Aerial Innovations, an aerial-photography company at 3703 W. Azeele St. in South Tampa, is offering a hand-painted mannequin for the live auction. Called "Ruby," it's a slender 6-foot tower of exceptional looks and exotic designs.

Aerial owner Colette A. Eddy obtained the mannequin, named her Ruby Athena Sunshine and then handed out pieces to her employees. There was no theme, no instructions.

"We just kind of did whatever we thought would be best for each part and put her together," said Amanda Rigby, who painted the left hand. "I was thinking of Ruby Sunshine and sunshine bright."

Ken Bartram, who works the front desk and accounts receivable, is a part-time cosmetologist and makeup artist. He painted the head.

He said Ruby looks a little like Grace Jones, the Jamaican-born singer, model and actress.

Jones "was known not only for her stature but also for her fierceness," Bartram said. "I tried to soften her up a bit, but she's very tough-looking. I think the headband speaks for itself with the flames coming out of it."

Eddy painted the torso. The right hand was done by Kelli Stanko, who changed jobs and left Tampa before the project was completed, taking the hand with her. It was shipped back in time for reassembling.

The other artists are Matt Eichelberger, Mike Fulkerson, Laura Russo, Tracy Briggs-Troncoso and Candace Cressor, who owns a neighboring business.

The artists' names are included on a birth certificate created for the mannequin.

Ruby is the third in a line of painted mannequins. In 2005, "Carmen" sold for $5,100 to benefit the Southern Arts Foundation. "Roxy" followed in 2006, with her sale at Tampa's Starry Starry Night event netting $1,100 for the Mental Health Care Foundation.

Eddy started the mannequin project so her employees could stretch their artistic limbs. The fundraising was a serendipitous side effect.

"We didn't intend for it to be like this, but now it has taken on a life of its own," Eddy said. "We just hope someone will fall in love with Ruby and think she is just perfect for a house or a business."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: "Pavilion," the Tampa Museum of Art's annual gala fundraiser
WHEN: 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday

WHERE: Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N. Ashley Drive

COST: $600 a person

INFORMATION: Call Bobbie Williams at (813) 274-8074.

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

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