$90 million, five-story art museum nearing completion

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https://stpetecatalyst.com/90-million-five-story-art-museum-nearing-completion/

$90 million, five-story art museum nearing completion

May 2, 2019

Major construction of the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, seen here from 3rd Street N., is expected to be complete by mid-summer. Photo by Bill DeYoung
St. Petersburg’s latest world-class museum – a five-story architectural wonder that’s dominated the corner of 3rd Avenue and 4th Street N. for two years – is finally close to announcing an opening date.

Construction is winding down on the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, a $90 million passion project for Tarpon Springs businessman Rudolfo “Rudy” Ciccarello, whose collection of furniture, metalwork, lighting, ceramics, paintings, prints, photography and other objects d’art produced between 1890 and 1930 is reported to be one of the finest, and most extensive, in the world.

“We expect to be able to move in fixtures and furniture by the end of July,” executive vice president Tom Magoulis said this week. “The collection will not be moved in until all workers have left the site. Our tentative opening to the public is scheduled sometime in November 2019, if and when all exhibit galleries and other studios and departments are ready.”

Rendering by Alfonso Architects.

The 137,100-square-foot facility will be the third self-funded museum to open in St. Pete in recent years, following the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art (built by retired financial titan and art collector Tom James) and the Imagine Museum (owned by art-glass collector and philanthropist Trish Duggan).

The American Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th Century was, in many ways, a reaction to the ongoing Industrial Revolution. From art to architecture, the focus was on craftsmanship, the use of nature as inspiration, and the value of simplicity, utility – and beauty.

Ciccarello, 70, is the retired founder of Florida Infusion Services, a pharmaceutical distributor.  He has been collecting American decorative and fine arts since the mid 1990s, and has amassed more than 2,000 pieces, including such names as Gustav Stickley, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles Rohlfs, Byrdcliffe, Dirk van Erp, Grueby, Alsop Robineau, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen and Alvin Langdon Coburn.

He created the nonprofit Two Roses Foundation in 2004, and endowed it with much of his collection. Ciccarello and the museum staff currently work out of the Two Red Roses headquarters in Palm Harbor.

Except for $6 million in bed tax money donated by the Pinellas County Commission, Ciccarello funded the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement out of his own pocket (and the $90 million price tag does not include the insured value of his collection). “Rudy believes it is important that this pre-eminent collection be shared, appreciated and enjoyed by the public, hence the formation of this nonprofit private foundation, the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement (MAACM),” Magoulis explained.

Rudy Ciccarello and architect Alberto Alfonso. Photo: Two Red Roses Foundation.

Ciccarello worked closely with architect Alberto Alonso on the facility’s complex design. The east-side parking garage was built first, but the museum itself took three years of revisions, Alonso said during a December, 2017 talk with the Downtown Neighborhood Association, because Ciccarello wants things done exactly right, and to his specifications.

In an interview with the art auction site Toomeyco.com, Ciccarello explained his desire for a certain kind of artistic symmetry. “Our goal and challenge was to find a balance between the art and the architecture,” he said. “I believe the final result is a seamless combination of both: contemporary yet mindful of tradition.

“There are unique architectural features evoking the American Arts and Crafts movement throughout — from the spiral, Mackintosh-inspired, rose staircase to the multi-colored, Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced, stained-glass skylight windows to the white, stone-clad, pottery-like ovoids on the building’s exterior.”

The granite-and-bronze building will include an atrium, five elevator shafts, a 100-seat auditorium, a graphics studio, an upscale restaurant, a library, a gift shop and 40,000 square feet of gallery space.

“The brilliant Brazilian granite panels that wrap around the building stand out and provide an unmistakable St. Petersburg landmark,” said Magoulis. “Over 60,000 square feet of rich, quarter-sawn white oak flooring will be installed, preparing the space for installation of furniture, fixtures, and eventually, the collection.”

Already on board, Magoulis said, are a senior curator and curatorial staff, a Director of Education and an IT/Designer. “Most of the other employees will be hired after July 1,” he added.

According to Magoulis, the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement will deliver approximately 18,000 hotel room nights, and 175,000 visitors, annually.

“We will open with two temporary exhibitions,” he said, “and will make formal announcements regarding their titles, content and relevance in the coming months.

Southwest view of the building. Photo by Bill DeYoung.

“In addition, there are a number of temporary exhibitions in the late planning stages that, like the opening exhibitions, will complement the museum’s mission, have significant historic and artistic importance and that, we hope, will be very popular and well received by the local community and visitors from around the country.

“MAACM plans to rely on an ambitious, robust, diverse and entertaining public programming agenda that will include the entire community.”

The City has pledged $500,000 for streetscape improvements in the immediate area.

“This museum is, from a City perspective, just another step in the growth of our arts and culture community,” said City Managing Director of Development Coordination Chris Ballestra. “Both Rudy Ciccarello and Tom Magoulis have done an amazing job. And it’s really in a prominent location in the city.

“It’s more than just art, it’s a movement, and it’s a little bit special and different from the rest of our existing arts culture. So we’ve got differentiation, which just adds to the beautiful collage of everything we have downtown right now. We could not be more excited.”

I’m thrilled that The Burg is continuing to expand it’s art collection. We are becoming Museum Central. I hope memberships and admission will be reasonable and like my much loved Dali they will offer a local day for those of us fortunate enough to live here.

I am so looking forward to the opening of this museum. It’s going to be fantastic! Please post for volunteers, events and membership.

Exciting news. Looking forward to opening

My daughter would love to work or intern this summer and also this coming year. She is an Art Major at Eckerd College. Can you direct her on who she should speak to about this?

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https://stpeterising.com/home/2019/4/18/heres-what-the-dal-museums-39m-expansion-will-look-like

Here's What the Dali Museum's $39M Expansion Will Look Like

April 18, 2019

The expansion would consist of three components — a new digital Dali permanent exhibit, community & education space, and a parking garage

THE EXPANSION WOULD CONSIST OF THREE COMPONENTS — A NEW DIGITAL DALI PERMANENT EXHIBIT, COMMUNITY & EDUCATION SPACE, AND A PARKING GARAGE

One of Pinellas County’s biggest tourism draws, the Dalí Museum, has submitted a capital projects funding request to the county’s Tourist Development Council in hopes of receiving $17.5 million in public funding to construct a $38.6 million expansion. Since opening in its current location in 2011, the Dali Museum has drawn between 360,000 and 450,000 visitors per year, over 75% of whom are from outside the area. The Dalí Museum is the largest single-artist museum in the United States and is the most-visited art museum in Florida.

But the museum has bigger plans for the future. They want to expand to accommodate 50% more visitors and they’re estimating the proposed expansion will bring in an additional 900,000 visitors over a ten year period. The expansion would consist of three components — a new digital Dali permanent exhibit, community & education space, and a parking garage:

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/micheleherrmann/2018/12/30/these-museums-are-opening-in-2019/#5bb59a0a42f4

These Museums Are Opening In 2019

Each new year ushers in new offerings; museum openings are among them. 2019 will welcome in new attractions within this sector, as new buildings or new additions are anticipated to open their doors and greet visitors with a variety of memorabilia, masterpieces or magnificent finds or collections. Here is a roundup of museums set to open in 2019.

The Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement will pay tribute to this 19th and 20th century artform. MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT

Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement, St. Petersburg, Florida

Anticipated to open in the summer of 2019, this $90 million, privately funded museum will celebrate this late 19th- and early 20th-century artistic movement by showcasing the collection of local businessman and collector Rudy Ciccarello. Pieces will encompass metalwork, lighting, pottery, tile, furniture, photography and other decorative arts. Standing five stories tall and having 137,000 square feet, the museum is said to be comprised of granite from South America and feature bronze detailing. Its interior will contain an atrium, a circular staircase and 40,000 square feet of gallery space along with a 100-seat auditorium, resource library, children’s education center, 9,000-square-foot destination restaurant, café, retail store, graphic arts studio and event space.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/05/07/county-denies-st-petersburg-arts-and-crafts.html

County denies St. Petersburg arts and crafts museum's funding request, approves others

Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement under construction in downtown St. Petersburg AERIAL INNOVATIONS

Pinellas County museums sought approval for their projects' eligibility to tap into tourist development tax funds.

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https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/visualarts/Glass-art-shines-at-St-Petersburg-s-new-Imagine-Museum_164752143

Glass art shines at St. Petersburg’s new Imagine Museum

The Imagine Glass Museum on Monday in St. Petersburg. (GABRIELLA ANGOTTI-JONES | Times)

Published January 22 2018
Updated January 24 2018
ST. PETERSBURG

The bay area’s thriving glass art scene adds another member to its ranks today when the Imagine Museum officially opens in downtown St. Petersburg.

Dedicated to the movement of...

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/01/24/st-pete-welcomes-its-newest-museum-photo.html

St. Pete welcomes its newest museum (Photos)

Jan 24, 2018, 2:48pm EST Updated Jan 24, 2018, 3:05pm EST

The new museum is further evidence of the growth of St. Pete's reputation as a cultural center.

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https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/st-petersburgs-new-imagine-museum-opens-tuesday-january-23rd/

St. Petersburg’s NEW Imagine Museum Opens Tuesday, January 23rd

January 22, 2018/0 Comments/in Art, January 2018

The newest museum to join St. Pete’s passionate art community, Imagine Museum, invites the public to celebrate their grand opening on Tuesday, January 23rd at 10:30 a.m. Imagine Museum will showcase the American Studio Glass Movement, that began in the 1960s through present day – the first of its kind in the Southeast United States.

Imagine Museum visually moves the visitor through the history of the remarkable medium of studio glass art, starting with the early pioneers of Harvey Littleton and Dominic Labino, through the groundbreaking heyday of Dale Chihuly, and up through today’s artists creating this transcendent art. What makes this medium so unique is that 94 percent of its artists are living and many of them are still creating. Imagine intends to bring many of these artists to St. Petersburg to share their exhilarating stories of how their art is created.

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https://urbanglass.org/glass/detail/opening-imagine-glass-art-museum

Tuesday February 14, 2017

A brand-new glass museum set for grand opening in St. Petersburg, Florida, by end of 2017

St. Petersburg, Florida, may seem an unlikely hub for glass art, but the city that holds the world's record for the most consecutive days of sunshine is also soon to be home to a new museum devoted entirely to the material as a medium of sculpture. The brand-new Imagine Museum is currently being installed in a repurposed building just nine blocks away from the Morean Arts Center, which boasts a now-permanent collection of Dale Chihuly’s work. The Imagine Museum expects to have a grand opening before the end of 2017, but it is already hosting events even as it undergoes a major renovation of its building, which has in previous incarnations been a bank, nightclub, and, most recently, a charter school. The museum is in the process of installing signage and building out its museum store. The first floor is on schedule to be complete by the end of February, where it will host occasional activities and events before the museum officially opens.

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https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/video/get-inspired-imagine-museum

Get inspired at the Imagine Museum

Get inspired at the Imagine Museum – dedicated to displaying the explosive growth and diversification of the Contemporary American Studio Glass movement. From tiny dioramas to large chandeliers, the more than 580 pieces of studio glass art will leave visitors in complete awe.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT70APRE84Y

Get Inspired at the Imagine Museum

Visit St. Pete Clearwater

Published on Apr 9, 2018

Get inspired at the Imagine Museum – dedicated to displaying the explosive growth and diversification of the Contemporary American Studio Glass movement. From tiny dioramas to large chandeliers, the more than 580 pieces of studio glass art will leave visitors in complete awe.

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https://www.wtsp.com/video/life/imagine-museum-opens-in-st-petersburg/67-2898051

Imagine Museum opens in St. Petersburg

The Imagine Museum is located at 1901 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg.

Published: 10:31 AM EST January 30, 2018
Updated: 10:31 AM EST January 30, 2018

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https://www.abcactionnews.com/morning-blend/imagine-museum

Imagine Museum

Posted: 3:04 PM, Apr 04, 2019  Updated: 3:04 PM, Apr 04, 2019

Imagine Museum is a new museum in St. Petersburg, Florida dedicated to Contemporary American Studio Glass. Currently, the museum is home to more than 600 pieces of American Studio Glass and represents over 55 artists over 55 years who were and are integral to the development of this medium as a fine art form. The museum’s collection is housed in 48,000 sq. ft. of museum space.

Hours: Mondays & Major Holidays CLOSED, Tuesdays thru Saturdays 10 – 5pm, Thursday 10 – 8pm, Sunday 12 – 5pm.

Address: 1901 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33713

imaginemuseum.com

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https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/profile/imagine-museum/7906

Imagine Museum

Imagine Museum is a new fine art institution in the up-and-coming Central Arts District of St. Petersburg, Florida. Its primary collection displays the explosive growth and diversification of the studio glass movement in America since the 1960's, and extends to new directions in contemporary glass.

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https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34607-d13459401-Reviews-Imagine_Museum-St_Petersburg_Florida.html

Imagine Museum

#3 of 99 things to do in St. PetersburgMuseums, Art Museums, Specialty Museums
1901 Central Avenue, St Petersberg Florida 33713, St. Petersburg, FL 33713-8937

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https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/listing.a0t1W00000Ttjc0QAB.html

IMAGINE MUSEUM

Imagine Museum visually takes you through the history of studio glass as a remarkable medium. Our collection features pieces from the early pioneers of Littleton and Labino through to the groundbreaking, transcendent art being produced today. Come explore the richness of thought, concept, technique, and execution of these amazing glass artists and enter into the world of light, reflection, and creative expression at Imagine Museum.

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https://stpeteartsalliance.org/directory/imagine-museum/

LISTINGS >> MUSEUM

Imagine Museum

Contemporary Studio Glass Art

727-300-1700

www.imaginemuseum.com

Glass art museum showcasing 55 years of contemporary studio glass art.

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https://web.stpete.com/Museums-/Imagine-Museum-4296

Imagine Museum

Arts, Culture & Entertainment >> Museums

Imagine Museum
1901 Central Ave
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
Jane Buckman Jane Buckman
(727) 300-1700