By Amey DiSisto
TAMPA, Fla. — Art on the House, a pay-as-you-will exhibition from the Tampa Museum of Art (TMA), is starting up and will continue every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Federico Gonzalez Jr., one of the museum’s Visitor Experience Team Leads, explains that Art on the House is less of a singular night and more of an ongoing initiative to open the door to art for everyone in and around the Tampa Bay community.
“It’s [the program] been around for about — I want to say almost as long as the building has been here — so about 2009, 2010-ish,” Gonzalez Jr. said. “Usually what the program entails, is that it basically gives us, like, a window for people who normally can’t afford our admission prices — or people that just don’t feel like it’s a fair price — to just come in and pay whatever they want as a donation to see our galleries.”
Art on the House takes place on Thursday evenings, with the museum’s regular hours extended from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors are free to roam the museum’s many rooms. Many times, these hours help to ensure that those leaving work or getting done with school have ample time to stop by and appreciate everything TMA has to offer. True to the name, Art on the House works on a donation basis, meaning every visitor can pay as much or as little as they desire.
When asked about what visitors will be able to see when they visit, Gonzalez Jr. said, “Essentially, it just features what we have for whatever art we have on display … it doesn’t really exclude any exhibitions that we normally have.”
For the time being, TMA is featuring In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870-1940 Works from the Bank of America Collection. The current exhibition focuses on impressionism in America, rather than in France, where the movement originated. All of the artists showcased in this gallery were either Americans or have done studies regarding American impressionism as a whole.
Impressionism uses short brushstrokes, pastel colors, and focuses on the feeling — or impression — the artist was experiencing while creating the work. There is also an emphasis on light, bright colors, and more unrefined silhouettes.
TMA’s current exhibition highlights artists such as Daniel Garber, Guy Carleton Wiggins, and Childe Hassam, along with many works from the famous Hudson River and Barbizon Schools.
TMA’s Art on the House makes Tampa’s community its priority. Whether visitors come to donate, explore, or just have a quiet space, TMA welcomes all to enjoy.
“[Having] that extra time after hours, from 5 to 8 [p.m.], allows people who are usually working during those hours to come in and enjoy the artwork –– sometimes as a means to unwind, other times, just to have something to do with family,” said Gonzalez. “[Visiting] doesn’t always have to wait for during the weekend because I believe there really shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoy artwork.”
For more information, visit the Tampa Museum of Art’s website, tampamuseum.org, or by phone at 813-274-8130. You can also find them on social media @tampamuseumofart.