Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Established

2001

27°56′50″N 82°27′37″W / 27.947272°N 82.460182°W / 27.947272; -82.460182
Location 400 North Ashley Drive, Tampa, Florida 33602
Website www.fmopa.org

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) occupies the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Cube, adjacent to Rivergate Tower in downtown Tampa, Florida. FMoPA is part of the Waterfront Arts District, along with the Tampa Museum of Art and Glazer Children's Museum, all located alongside the Tampa Riverwalk. [1]

Museum History

In the spring of 2001, Cynthia L. Flowers put forward the idea of starting a photography museum in Tampa. Shortly thereafter, Charles J. Levin (an attorney), Vincent Sorrentino (an art dealer) and Cynthia L. Flowers (a business owner) established the Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts, a museum dedicated to photography. Working in close cooperation with Madison Marquette, the owner of Old Hyde Park Village, exhibition space for the museum was secured. "Masters of Black & White," the first show, consisted of 50 iconic black and white images borrowed from private collections. With many of the early shows curated by Vincent Sorrentino, critical acclaim followed. Since its inception, the museum has qualified as a not-for-profit entity under the provisions of s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

In the fall of 2001, Ms. Flowers began the museum’s first children’s outreach program. It involved reaching children at the USF/Patel Partnership Elementary School located at the University of South Florida in Tampa. From this first program, the museum developed many ongoing community programs and workshops such as the Children's Literacy Through Photography Program for at-risk children, and fee-based adult photography classes, workshops, lectures, and children's summer camps. In the Children's Literacy Through Photography Program, children are inspired through hands-on workshops and field trips where photographs are taken, discussed, printed and written about by the participants. An annual reception for the children is also held at the museum.

The museum relocated to the upper floors of the cube building adjacent to Rivergate Tower in 2012

In the summer of 2006, the museum was renamed the FLORIDA MUSEUM of PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS and relocated to downtown Tampa. It then moved to its present location in the Waterfront Arts District in Rivergate Tower's architecturally significant Cubes, with soaring six-story atriums, recognized as one of the most impressive interior spaces on the west coast of Florida. The exceptional location and exhibition space is a catalyst for community involvement and FMoPA's outreach programs. [2]

Permanent Collection

The photographic works in the growing permanent collection include an entire suite of Harold Edgerton's landmark works using his invention, the strobe light. Also in the collection are Len Prince's celebrity portraits, a notable Dorothea Lange, a portrait of Ansel Adams by Judy Dater, scenes of Pittsburgh by Charles "Teenie" Harris and a body of work by Dianora Niccolini, a pioneer in the photographing of the male nude. The female nude is well represented in a work by Ruth Bernhard. Burk Uzzle's iconic Woodstock scenes as well as Bud Lee's unforgettable views of the 1960s and 1970s counterculture document important moments in American history. More historical moments are found in an expanding collection of panoramic (or "Cirkut") photographs taken in the early 20th century, including views of the construction of the Panama Canal and of early Tampa history.

Past Exhibitions

Since 2001, past exhibitions include:[3]


Visiting

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is open seven days a week. Monday-Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the museum is free for museum members and there is a suggested donation for non-members, students and military.[4]

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References

  1. ↑ Amy Scherzer Florida Museum of Photographic Arts finds perfect location in Tampa's Beer Can Building February 17, 2012 Tampa Bay Times
  2. ↑ FMoPA's website
  3. ↑ FMoPA's website - Past Exhibits
  4. ↑ FMoPA's website - Visiting Information
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