THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PAGES

Contributors
& Team

Writers, editors, curators, artists, photographers, and cultural voices—connected by a shared commitment to telling Tampa Bay’s creative stories with intelligence, curiosity, and care.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Voices of the arts

Independent perspectives from people who participate in—and understand—the cultural life they cover.

Ashley Burke

Ashley Burke

Author

Ashley Burke is a fine art appraiser at Burke & Co. Fine Art Consultants, and museum professional with 20 years of experience. She is Accredited by the Appraisers Association of America with a specialty in Postwar, Contemporary and Emerging Art and holds a master’s degree in museum studies from George Washington University. Burke has worked extensively with collectors, museums, and auction houses around the Tampa Bay Area. Her practice focuses on the stewardship of collections including developing documentation protocols and long-term preservation plans, exhibition project management and oversight, and providing appraisal services for charitable contributions, insurance, and estate planning.

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Brian James

Brian James

Contributor

Brian James Gallery Photography | Professional Portrait Studio & Visual Content Creator in St. Petersburg, FL Brian James Gallery Photography is a professional portrait studio and photo gallery located in vibrant downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Led by photographer Brian James, the studio specializes in customized photography and video content for individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses seeking elevated branding and marketing visuals. From creative headshots and editorial-style portraits to full-service brand campaigns and advertising content, we tailor each assignment to align with your unique vision. Our process is collaborative, thoughtful, and creatively driven.

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Cindy Stovall

Cindy Stovall

Author

Writer, Digital Creator,former registered nurse. Columnist - The Artisan Magazine, Weekend Top 10 at Registry Tampa Bay. Independent Contributor at Contributor, Creative Pinellas Arts Coast Magazine. Contributing Arts Writer at St. Pete Life Magazine. Lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida. From New York, New York

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Danni Matter

Danni Matter

Author

Danni is a writer & photographer living in Miami, Florida. She has shot for and assisted in studios in numerous cities in Florida. She attended Florida International University in Miami.

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Deborah Bostock-Kelley

Deborah Bostock-Kelley

Author

Deborah is a Tampa native and University of Tampa alumna, is a new columnist for The Artisan Magazine, a Watermark Online, a Florida Women Magazine reporter, and a Broadway World – Tampa theatre reviewer.

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Donna Sorbello

Donna Sorbello

Author

Professional Actress, Writer (Playwright/ Historical Novel/ Articles,Interviews) Professor (Acting/Playwriting) As an actress, Ms. Sorbello's roles have ranged from those in Shakespeare to Contemporary playwrights in theatres primarily in New England, across the U.S. and briefly, in New York. Her film/TV work includes Independent films, and a few higher profile offerings such as Invention of Lying and See Kate Run,a Disney project. Ms. Sorbello has one book published, Daughter of Liberty, as well as poetry, and several articles for New England Film and Actors Equity Newsletter. As a playwright, she was the recent recipient of the Honegger Prize for Best Short/ New Works Festival. Her work has been staged at the New Market International Festival in Canada and the Boston Theatre Marathon, among other venues. In Florida, her work has been seen in the Odyssey Shorts Festival, held at Asolo Theatre, Sarasota, the Tampa Bay Festival, and in St. Pete at The Studio 620 Radio Hour. A professor of Acting/ Playwriting (20 years) she was also the Director of the Emerging Playwright Program, a grant funded writing program for inner city High School students, associated with Wheelock Theatre.

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James Briggs

James Briggs

Author

James Briggs is the co-founder of Carroway + Rose, a creative public relations firm that focuses primarily on the intersection of art and business. Prior to the founding of Carroway + Rose, Briggs spent more than 20 years working with some of the largest clients in the world, including Pfizer, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Wells Fargo and AT&T. Now he specializes in working with smaller organizations that make up the fabric of communities, including the Carter G. Woodson museum and the Brenda McMahon art gallery.

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Joe Legrand

Joe Legrand

Contributor

Joe LeGrand doesn’t just make art—he lives it like a series of restless reinventions, each chapter folding into the next with the intensity of someone who refuses to coast. He’s the kind of artist who doesn’t settle, who won’t let a single medium define him, who turns his life into a continuous experiment in seeing, shaping, and transforming. To talk about LeGrand is to talk about movement—through schools, through industries, through mediums, through galaxies. His story reads less like a straight biography and more like a setlist, a career of riffs and solos that still somehow form a single song.

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John Curtis and Mary Knosh

John Curtis and Mary Knosh

Author

John Curtis and Mary Khosh support the St. Petersburg Art’s Alliance and promoting the benefits of arts for seniors in the community. They are working to encourage St. Pete’s artistic seniors to join the St. Pete Arts Alliance.

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Jovian Browne

Jovian Browne

Author

Jovian Browne is a contemporary art curator whose exhibitions and projects span painting, sculpture, performance, and new media. Founded in New York in 2019, Browne Art is a contemporary gallery and advisory now based in St. Petersburg, Florida's Museum District.

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Julie Haura

Julie Haura

Author

Julie is a self-taught abstract painter and primarily uses shades of black and white to depict her sensual images and hopes you feel an emotion when you view her work. Julie is also co-curator of the monthly guest art exhibit that takes place in the main gallery.

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Katherine Robinson

Katherine Robinson

Author

My name is Katherine Robinson and I am a big fan of The Artisan Magazine. I recently went through two evacuations and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Milton in the Tampa Bay area. I was inspired to write a poem and thought of you and your magazine. I wrote this poem with the intention of helping others process their overwhelm, stress and trauma from these horrific and historic events

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Keith Arsenault

Keith Arsenault

Author

General Manager of the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC). The center was created as a cultural centerpiece where the arts can be enjoyed, celebrated, and taught – enriching the lives of people in the community. NTPAC opened to the public in 2023 and is owned and operated by Hillsborough County as a function of Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation.

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Leslie Farrell

Leslie Farrell

Author

Journalist, media relations, book editor and public relations specialist. She has a degree in Journalism from the University of New Mexico, and currently owns Farrell Communications, Inc., She recently was awarded the Excellence in Writing award from Religion Communicators’ Council.

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Lisa Lippincott

Lisa Lippincott

Author

Multi-hatted creative type: designer, editor, writer, curator, artist. Extensive experience in artwork curation, collecting and consultation, magazine production, branding/identity, copy writing, production of marketing collateral, and art direction. Currently with Soft Water Gallery in Saint Petersburg, Fl.

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Maggie Duffy

Maggie Duffy

Author

Journalist - Graduated from USF in 2004 with a degree in Art History. Worked professionally in the local art scene for years as a gallery manager and curator.

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Mark Aeling

Mark Aeling

Author

Currently the President of Saint Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District Association – a vibrant and diverse cultural center – he has helped to shape the area through active leadership advocacy in the arts and an understanding of the need for community involvement.

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Markus Gottschlich

Markus Gottschlich

Author

Markus Gottschlich is a dedicated nonprofit executive and arts advocate with a passion for cultivating educational programs that broaden access to arts opportunities for diverse audiences. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Warehouse Arts District Association in St. Petersburg, Florida, Markus plays a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant artistic community. He supports and promotes local artists and initiatives that enrich the district’s cultural tapestry, creating culturally unique programming that engages and inspires the community.

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Matthew McGee

Matthew McGee

Author

Matthew McGee is an actor known for Misconceptions (2008), Waiting on Mary (2016) and Life's Rewards (2021). Currently at freeFall Theater in St. Petersburg, FL At freeFall we are committed to improving the lives of the citizens of Tampa Bay through our efforts to provide broad access to theatre that represents a high level of artistic achievement, and through enrichment programs that increase the community’s understanding and enjoyment of live theatre.

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Nina Kenney

Nina Kenney

Author

My professional publishing career began during my undergraduate studies at La Salle University (Philadelphia, PA), as a Publishing Assistant Intern for GLOBAL LEGAL GROUP in London, UK. During my graduate studies at the UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK (Coventry, UK), I was the publishing liaison for the Writing Programme's annual anthology.

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Patti Suzette

Patti Suzette

Contributor

Patti Suzette, a Florida-based visual artist and muralist, creates artwork that exudes raw energy and intensity. She is a curator and artist rep. She has been a keynote speaker for the Women in the Arts for Raymond James, is on the Zodiac committee for the Dali Museum, and was honored to be the official artist for the 30th Annual Spring King of the Beach and Mad Beach Boatstock.

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Paul Wilborn

Paul Wilborn

Author

Paul Wilborn is executive director of the Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College, where he programs dance, chamber music, jazz, blues, comedy and other performances. His fiction collection, Cigar City: Tales From a 1980s Creative Ghetto, won the Gold Medal for Fiction in the 2019 Florida Book Awards. His debut novel, Florida Hustle, released in June, earned a coveted “starred review” from Kirkus Reviews. Both books are published by St. Petersburg Press. A pianist and singer, he produced and performed his American Songbook Series for 10 years at American Stage. and headlined major events around Tampa Bay with his band, Paul Wilborn and the Pop Tarts. He lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, the film actor and teacher, Eugenie Bondurant.

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Robin O'Dell

Robin O'Dell

Author

Experienced Curator of Collections with a demonstrated history of working in the museums and institutions industry. Skilled in Archival Research, History of Photography, Curatorial Projects, Photography, and Museums. Strong arts and design professional with a Master of Arts (MA) focused in Photographic Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University/George Eastman House.

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Rosemary Walsh

Rosemary Walsh

Author

Rosemary has a background in artist and collections management, sales, and office administration set the stage for a multi-faceted career in arts administration and marketing. Is the owner of Easel Management and Amazing Art Printing.

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Stacie Steinke

Stacie Steinke

Author

Stacie Steinke is a vocal professional who teaches, directs and produces shows with a nostalgic bent in the Tampa Bay Area with her ensemble, Festive Florida Singers. Since studying opera in Washington, DC at the Catholic University of America, Stacie has performed in opera, musical theater and oratorio regionally and throughout the US and in Mexico.

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Susana Darwin

Susana Darwin

Author

Susana Darwin is a lifelong political activist and filmmaker who spent decades in Chicago developing cat-herding skills in educational and reference publishing and the law. In 2018, she moved with her wife to St. Petersburg, a notably film-supportive city, where she made her second and third short films. Longer (2020; 11 minutes) appeared in 28 festivals, and Flag Act (2023; 10 minutes) is currently on the festival circuit. She is at work on several short and feature-length screenplays, in addition to other forms of visual art and a novel.

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Thomas Sayers Ellis

Thomas Sayers Ellis

Author

Poet, photographer, and bandleader Thomas Sayers Ellis is the author of The Maverick Room and Skin, Inc.: Identity Repair Poems. He co-founded The Dark Room Collective and The Dark Room Reading Series in 1989 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has published, both poems and photographs, in numerous magazines and journals, including The Paris Review, Tin House, Poetry, The Sun, The Nation, and Best American Poetry (1997, 2001, 2010, 2015). In 2015, he co-founded Heroes Are Gang Leaders, a literary Free Jazz band of artists who were awarded the American Book Award for Oral Literature in 2018. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship in Poetry. Crank Shaped Notes was published by Arrowsmith Press in 2021. In 2023, TSE was named the first Photo Laureate of St. Petersburg, Florida. He writes a bi-monthly column for The Artisan Magazine and his most recent book is Paradise Paradise Layered. In 2024, a solo exhibition was held at The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) in Tampa. View the exhibition: https://spmop.org/online-exhibitions

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ADD YOUR VOICE

Interested in contributing?

We welcome thoughtful story ideas and perspectives connected to Tampa Bay’s arts and cultural community.

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