ABOVE: Participating Tampa Bay artist Andrea Pawlisz’s submission for “Don’t Ask, Do Tell.” Photo courtesy MIZE Gallery.
“We don’t need an actual parade or all of the events surrounding it to celebrate our Pride,” openly LGBTQ artist Chad Mize says.
It’s something the owner of the St. Petersburg-based MIZE Gallery understands well – the LGBTQ safe space has continued to host lucrative art shows virtually while Tampa Bay’s arts community has grappled with the wide-ranging effects of COVID-19.
Mize understands how fortunate his gallery and the featured artists who have sold work there have been in that regard. He says he’s grateful for the support patrons have shown as the need for social distance keeps them apart physically, forfeiting in-person celebrations like gallery openings and of course, St Pete Pride.
The state’s largest LGBTQ celebration cancelled in-person festivities this year in response to the coronavirus, a necessary but disheartening decision that Mize joined in mourning. It was originally scheduled for June 26-28 with events surrounding it, including MIZE Gallery’s annual Pride exhibit.
As he had with his gallery’s other shows, Mize proudly moved forward with “Don’t Ask, Do Tell.” It will open virtually June 19 and runs through July 5. As social distancing measures are relaxed statewide, it will also feature limited in-person gallery hours.
“I love this month because I love Pride,” the artist and curator says, “the nature of it. We can still celebrate – I feel like we do throughout the whole year in St. Pete, by being individuals and being out. My work kind of speaks to that, to being yourself.”
That mantra is essentially the exhibit’s call to action. Its 21 featured artists were tasked with creating a new piece of work in their preferred medium that speaks of them identifying as both a member of the LGBTQ community and as an artist.
To assemble those featured, Mize enlisted co-curator Kurt Piazza. Like Mize, the Clearwater-based, openly LGBTQ artist has had work featured regionally and nationally.
“I was thrilled when Chad asked me to co-curate his annual Pride show,” Piazza says. “He was familiar with my background as a curator and wanted me to bring some of the LGBTQ+ artists I’ve worked with and who haven’t shown at MIZE before. Likewise, as an artist who identifies as LGBTQ+, he also invited me to show my own work.”
Mize says he enjoys the creative process of working with co-curators, which he did heavily in 2019 but hadn’t yet this year.
“We brainstormed and came up with the name,” Mize recalls, “and he brought in half of the artists – a lot of them that I hadn’t known about which is really cool.”
Piazza included artists like Santiago Echeverry, the University of Tampa’s associate professor of Digital Arts. “His work utilizes ‘mapping’ software, which he applies to the human body to create beautiful line compositions in both 2D and video formats,” he explains.
“Another artist is California-based Diran Lyons,” Piazza continues. “A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, for this show, Diran is creating politically-themed collages based on old master paintings.
It will also feature multimedia artist Gabriel Ramos, a Cornell graduate who “creates gorgeous 2D and 3D works, mostly out of paper and wire,” he says. “His work involves the construction of abstracted compositions aligned to a fusion of tropical landscape elements, architecture and various other representational components. The exhibition as a whole highlights the diversity and range of artists who identify as LGBTQIA.”
Mize says the majority of featured artists call Florida home, including the Central Florida triad known as the Three Bears. “I’ve shown their pieces before,” he says. “Cake Marquez is an amazing oil painter and Michael McGrath or Mikey Bear has an acrylic, kind of surreal style. They do great work.”
Tampa Bay artists include elementary school art teacher Perry deVick, “an amazing oil painter,” as well as designer Andrea Pawlisz. “She’s doing smaller pieces and bringing them together,” Mize explains. “Each one represents a part of her. Also, Lego artist Jay Hoff is featured so he’ll do something neat.”
Mize and Hoff will reunite for “Don’t Ask, Do Tell” after collaborating on “Pride & Love” last year, the SHINE Mural Festival’s first LGBTQ-themed mural. Mize has incorporated a community project into the annual art event every year since 2015 and called it a perfect fit.
He welcomed Hoff to design the piece in the Grand Central District, St. Petersburg’s “gayborhood,” ahead of Come OUT St Pete 2019. “St. Pete is not only known for the arts,” Mize told Watermark last year, “but it’s known for having a large LGBTQ population. It makes sense.”
Tampa Bay’s support for the LGBTQ community is likely to contribute to the success of “Don’t Ask, Do Tell.” In addition to those listed above, including its co-curators, the exhibit will also feature fan favorite LGBTQ artists Saumitra Chandratreya, Christian Cortes, Cole Foust, Chad Jacobs, Lucky LeRoy, Diran Lyons, Spencer Meyers, Juliane Montoya, Gabriel Ramos, Matthew Schlagbaum, Justin Sears and Angela Warren. Watermark’s own creative designer and photographer Dylan Todd will also be featured.
Mize says he aims to represent the entire LGBTQ community in his exhibitions, which he adds has continued to lean on art throughout a troubling year. He looks forward to celebrating Pride with art enthusiasts virtually and in person during “Don’t Ask, Do Tell.”
“Don’t Ask, Do Tell – An LGBTQIA+ Exhibit” runs June 19-July 5 and multimedia art varies in price. Its opening will be held virtually via the gallery’s social media channels June 19 from 6-10 p.m. Visit MIZE Gallery’s Facebook page to stream it live. Limited in-person gallery hours with safety precautions will follow at MIZE Gallery, located at 689 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N., Unit C in St. Petersburg. For hours and additional information, call 727-251-8529 and visit ChadMize.com.
