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Glass of Life – A Refractive Experience

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November 18, 2025

$Glass of Life – A Refractive Experience$

Stained glass is a slow art.

In a modest brick building just off downtown St. Petersburg’s main arteries, light falls differently. It spills across long wooden tables, scattering in fragments of cobalt and amber, slipping between neatly stacked sheets of glass that lean against the walls. This is Glass of Life, a studio where stained glass is not only made but taught—where the shimmer of color and the quiet labor behind it become something that students, hobbyists, and artists can share.

The space hums with the low sounds of work: the crisp score of a glass cutter, the metallic snap as a shard breaks free, the faint hiss of a soldering iron pressed to lead. Instructors move from bench to bench, offering a word of guidance or a gesture to correct the angle of a tool. Students lean over their projects, brows furrowed in concentration, their hands steady as they try to coax order from fragile pieces. It is part workshop, part classroom, and part sanctuary.

Stained glass is a slow art. Unlike painting, where color can be laid down and revised, glass resists correction. A wrong cut means starting over; a misjudged fit can ripple through an entire design. For students, this becomes part of the lesson: the craft teaches patience as much as technique. At Glass of Life, the process is not hurried. Beginners are encouraged to start small—simple sun catchers, geometric panels—while more experienced students tackle complex designs that may take weeks to complete.

The teaching here is rooted in tradition but reframed for modern practice. Students learn to cut, grind, and solder, but also to think about stained glass beyond its medieval or ecclesiastical associations. Instructors emphasize composition, color theory, and abstraction.
The classes at Glass of Life attract a mix of people. Retirees, drawn by the promise of learning a contemplative skill, sit beside younger artists looking to expand their mediums. Some students arrive with a history in painting or sculpture, curious to see how glass might change the way they think about color and form.

There is a communal aspect, too. Unlike solitary studio work, stained glass classes often unfold side by side, with students swapping scraps, offering encouragement, or pausing to admire a peer’s progress. The atmosphere is collaborative, but it is also deeply personal. Each project carries the marks of its maker—an uneven line, a bold choice of color, a willingness to leave the glass’s imperfections visible. The process teaches not just precision but acceptance: the flaws become part of the piece’s character.

In the end, the pieces produced here are not just panels or windows. They are lessons fixed in color and lead, reminders that fragility can be assembled into strength. To learn stained glass at Glass of Life is to learn how light itself can be harnessed, framed, and transformed—and how, in the process, one’s own perception can be altered, too.

Located at 499 7th Avenue North in the Historic Uptown district, Glass of Life serves as both a stained glass gallery and instructional studio, offering a welcoming space for both seasoned artists and new learners.

What They Offer

· Two-Part Introductory Classes Beginners can participate in two-session classes to learn the ropes of stained glass—from scoring to soldering—and complete their very own piece.
· One-Time Workshops Ideal for a creative night out, date night, or trying something new—in just two hours and with all supplies included.
· Studio Time for Alumni & Artists Graduates and local artists can book studio work time with full tool access. Choose from $60 2-hour blocks, multi-session packs, or monthly memberships.
· Custom Pieces & Commissions Founder Jodi Chemes transforms personal photos—especially pet portraits—into bespoke stained-glass artworks. Proceeds support animal rescue groups.
· Wine Experience Class attendees can enjoy curated wine selections on-site—or take a bottle home—adding a relaxed, fun dimension to the creative process.

Studio Hours & Booking

· Hours: Tuesdays–Fridays, 2 PM–8 PM; Saturdays, 11 AM–4 PM (text by appointment).
· Booking: Reserve spots for classes or workshops via their website. Beginner classes are available Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays $150 for two sessions, or $75 for single-session make-and-take workshops.
https://www.glassoflife.org/book-online

Behind the Studio

Jodi Chemes, a CPA turned stained-glass artist, began crafting glass pieces in 2014. Her passion evolved into Glass of Life—offering creative enrichment while supporting animal welfare through donated proceeds and custom pet-portrait projects.

Click logo to visit website

The Curator’s Corner – With Patti Suzette

Patti Suzette

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October 26, 2025

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The Curator’s Corner – With Patti Suzette

The Perfect Portfolio: Curating Your Artistic Evolution

You are not Walmart, and your portfolio is not a list of products for sale. It is the first true telling of your artistic story, and it can make or break opportunities with collectors, galleries, or juried shows. Think of it as a living narrative: it should showcase growth, appeal to collectors, adapt to trends when needed, and always preserve your unique voice.

Celebrate Your Growth
Start by assessing your body of work. Which themes, techniques, or materials define your artistic voice? Create a timeline and highlight milestones that reveal your evolution—style changes, new mediums, or significant commissions. Archive works that no longer fit your vision, unless they hold weight through awards or sales. These moments of growth tell a story that collectors will appreciate.
Curate Intentionally
Aim for 10–15 high-quality works that connect as a whole. Technical mastery is key, but cohesion matters more. If you’ve experimented with different mediums, organize them into series or themes so the viewer understands the through-line. Random subjects can confuse collectors and deter future interest. Think of the impression you want to leave, and make sure your selections align with that narrative.
Market Trends, A Little Influence
Stay authentic, but pay attention to what’s resonating in the art world. Platforms like Art Basel or Saatchi Art can reveal current trends—large-scale abstracts, textured surfaces, or bold figurative work. Artists like Warhol and Picasso incorporated cultural trends without losing themselves. Try testing one trend-inspired piece to gauge its fit before diving deeper.
Know Your Voice and Story
Collectors buy stories as much as they buy art. Define your voice with three to five words—such as vibrant, raw, expressive, textured—and use them as filters for new work. If a piece feels outside your norm, frame it as part of a series to maintain consistency. Update your artist statement yearly to reflect your evolving message and keep your narrative clear.
The Annual Checkup
Your portfolio should evolve alongside your career. Every 12–18 months, review it with fresh eyes. Add new works that strengthen your story and archive those that no longer fit. Pay attention to feedback—what resonates with collectors or sparks conversation? Feature those works more prominently. Responding to your audience isn’t selling out; it’s smart strategy.
Recap

A portfolio is more than a collection of images—it is your creative evolution in motion. It should highlight growth, adaptability, and your authentic voice while presenting a cohesive and compelling story. Curate with care, refine regularly, and embrace the journey. With this approach, your portfolio will captivate collectors and reflect the artist you are becoming. And always, my love, keep creating.

Fashion Underground: MODELING A NICHE

Keith Matter

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October 26, 2025

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The Artisan Magazine presents Fashion Underground — a raw, electric fusion of style and self-expression. Each new issue will bring you looks that lift, images that move, and fashion that says what we look like when we become the art.

Introduction to St. Pete’s Brian James

St. Pete often sells itself as a postcard of sunshine—beaches, murals, and palm trees bending in Gulf breezes. But beneath that familiar surface, another side of the city thrives: a creative community of artists, designers, and photographers finding inspiration in unexpected corners. At the center of this movement is Brian James, a photographer who has become both a documenter and a driving force in St. Pete and Tampa’s growing art & fashion scene.

James’s work doesn’t chase traditional beauty. Instead, his lens focuses on ambition, tension, beauty and the effort behind the style. His photographs are striking not just for the design and style of the clothes, but for the energy around them—the long nights, makeshift studios, lighting, the improvisation that turns alleyways or warehouses into runways, and fashion into identity.
“Tampa Bay has beauty,” Brian explains, “but it’s not always clean. It’s unpredictable. I want my photos to reflect that.”

Raised in Pinellas County, Brian came from skate culture and street photography before turning to fashion. Where others saw limitations, he saw possibilities, staging shoots in unconventional spaces—parking garages, strip malls, beaches, abandoned buildings as well as his “conventional” studio above Florida Craft on Central Ave in St Pete. His images often look less like polished magazine spreads and more like fragments of a story, full of mood and intensity.

Designers praise the edge he gives their collections, setting them apart from resort-wear clichés. Collaborators describe his shoots as spontaneous and high-energy, sometimes demanding but always memorable.

What’s clear is that, while technically precise, Brian’s photography resists the overly polished perfection dominating social media. His images are human, textured, and immediate—capturing both the style and the struggle. A recent series shot in an old Clearwater motel, for example, paired couture gowns with a faded Florida backdrop, sparking conversations online about beauty, decay, and resilience.

Today, Brian is recognized as a catalyst within the region’s fashion community, encouraging designers, models, and stylists to take risks and think beyond the expected. His reputation is reaching beyond Florida, with interest from larger fashion markets, but he remains deeply connected to St. Pete. “This city feeds me,” he says. “It’s messy, it’s beautiful, and it inspires me every day.”

What makes Brian stand out is his ability to connect local fashion to something larger. His photographs speak to the universal struggle of creating art in overlooked places, turning the edges into images that wouldn’t look out of place in national magazines. That duality—local roots, global resonance—has made him an unofficial ambassador for a creative scene still carving out its identity. In many ways, Brian embodies the spirit of St. Pete itself: resourceful, restless, and unwilling to settle for clichés.

What also sets him apart is the way he collaborates. Brian doesn’t treat fashion as a solitary pursuit; he thrives in the intersections, working with musicians, muralists, and performance artists to create visuals that feel layered and immersive.

Photographer Brian James in studio. St. Petersburg, FL. Brian James Gallery Photography.

So what do we look like through the lens of photographer Brian James? Whether it’s street fashion, black tie, museum opening, artist studio wear, beach adornment, gallery opening or dive bar, there is no life experience that does not involve FASHION of some type or another. With, of course, Brian showing us things his way! •

Nancy Cohen – Still Lifes Elevate the Everyday

Keith Matter

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October 26, 2025

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Nancy Cohen – Still Lifes Elevate the Everyday

A late-blooming painter with the skill of a Renaissance master and the spirit of a modern rebel, Nancy Cohen has quickly become one of the most distinctive still-life artists in the region. Her canvases, often dramatic in lighting and saturated with color, are a celebration of indulgence—and a quiet rebellion.

The Artist’s Journey

Born in New York, Cohen spent much of her early adult life in the Northeast, dabbling in a variety of artistic mediums, including pottery and mixed media. But it wasn’t until age 50 that she picked up a brush with serious intent. “I took one oil painting class in New York, and I was hooked,” she says. “It felt like I had found my language.”

After relocating to St. Petersburg, Florida, Cohen immersed herself in the city’s vibrant and supportive arts community. She joined the ArtsXchange in the Warehouse Arts District, where she still works today, and began exhibiting locally.

Unlike many painters who begin with landscapes or portraits, Cohen gravitated toward the domestic—food, kitchenware, and the comfort objects of everyday life. “I love painting things that people might overlook,” she says. “But when you look closely, there’s so much beauty in these ordinary subjects.” She has currently turned to large flower portraits.

Dessert with a Message

Her most well-known series, This Is How I Got Fat, is more than a collection of treats—it’s a meditation on indulgence, memory, and the deeply personal politics of food and body image.

“There’s so much guilt wrapped around what we eat, especially for women,” Cohen explains. “I wanted to challenge that. I wanted to paint desserts not as objects of shame, but of joy.”

Each composition is grounded in Old Master technique—think chiaroscuro lighting and bold, layered oils—but with modern sensibilities. Her cupcakes seem lit from within. Ice cream cones loom like monuments. Macarons float in painterly perfection, poised delicately but powerfully.

Critics and collectors alike have praised the work for being both serious and playful. “These paintings are lush and luscious,” noted curator Amanda Cooper of the Morean Arts Center, where Cohen exhibited the series in 2023. “They seduce you, and then they make you think.”

Light and Shadow

Cohen’s technical abilities come from a deep respect for the tradition of painting from life. She sets up real still lifes in her studio—desserts, dishes, candy in jars—then waits for the perfect natural light to hit. “Photography can’t capture the subtlety of shadow the way your eye can,” she says.

The results are paintings that feel almost cinematic. Deep shadows create a theatrical stage for the subjects, while highlights on frosting and glassware seem to shimmer with emotion.

“Even though I’m painting inanimate objects, they’re full of life,” she says. “I want viewers to feel something—not just hunger, but a kind of recognition, a memory, a feeling of comfort.”
A Place in the Arts Community

Cohen has become a fixture in St. Pete’s creative scene—not just for her art, but for her warm, approachable presence. Her studio at the ArtsXchange is open during Second Saturday ArtWalks, where visitors often linger, struck by the realism and intimacy of her work.
She’s exhibited at the Morean Arts Center, Temple Beth-El, and several local galleries. In 2024, she was featured on Fox 13 News, which praised her ability to turn domesticity into something beautiful and bold.

Despite the attention, Cohen remains refreshingly grounded. “I didn’t go to art school. I didn’t grow up dreaming of this,” she says. “But I think that’s what makes it all feel so real to me. I’m painting from life, literally and emotionally.”
Looking Ahead

Cohen’s next series is rumored to explore another form of indulgence—perhaps nostalgia-laced objects like toys, vintage packaging, or mid-century ceramics. But she’s not in a rush.

“I only paint what I love,” she says. “And I want the viewer to love it too.”

With her rich colors, confident brushwork, and unwavering sense of humor, Nancy Cohen is redefining what still life can be in the 21st century: not static or silent, but vibrant, delicious, and full of soul. •

Visit Nancy Cohen’s studio at the ArtsXchange St. Pete

(515 22nd St S, St. Petersburg, FL)

on Second Saturdays, 5-9pm, or by appointment.

Instagram: @nancycohenstudio

www.NancyCohenStudio.com

Oh Yeah?! – David Downing’s Ride Into Late-Night in St. Pete

Keith Matter

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October 26, 2025

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Oh Yeah?! – David Downing’s Ride Into Late-Night in St. Pete

David Downing has the kind of face you recognize even if you can’t quite place where you’ve seen it before. Maybe it was onstage introducing a panel of city leaders, maybe in a gallery crowd at a St. Pete art opening, maybe tucked away in a corner booth of a bar where he was holding court with a group of locals. Downing has spent years shaping and selling the story of St. Petersburg—first as head of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, later as a cultural connector and civic agitator of sorts. Now, he’s putting himself in the story in the most unexpected way: as the eccentric host of Oh Yeah?!, a scrappy, regionally flavored late-night talk show taping at the Palladium Theatre’s Side Door Cabaret.

This project is a combination of energies of two of his other passions: performing with his jazz trio and hosting his syndicated travel show, Undiscovered America TV (going into their third season).

Oh Yeah?! is being billed, with a wink, as “America’s only regional late-night talk show.” And that tagline says it all: Oh Yeah?! is absurd, playful, and deeply rooted in St. Pete’s offbeat sense of self. Picture Fallon meets public access weirdness, with a house band blasting full-throttle funk and a revolving door of local characters stepping into the spotlight.

The house band isn’t just any band either—it’s The Oh Yeah-Yeahs, better known around Tampa Bay as The Black Honkeys, a nine-piece funk machine with enough brass and swagger to blow the roof off the Palladium. When they kick in, the room doesn’t feel like a cabaret anymore. It feels like the epicenter of something that could only happen in a Gulf Coast city that’s equal parts retirement haven, art colony, and party town.

Downing himself has leaned into the role of eccentric ringleader. He’s sharp, quick with a line, and unafraid to look ridiculous if the bit demands it. This isn’t the buttoned-up tourism exec version of David Downing. This is the version that’s been waiting in the wings—part emcee, part comedian, part wide-eyed kid who can’t believe people actually showed up. His goal isn’t to chase national headlines or drag the culture wars onto stage. Instead, Oh Yeah?! keeps it light, funny, and proudly local. The only politics here are whether you say St. Pete or St. Petersburg.

The show’s cast of oddballs drives that point home. There’s Trevor Pettiford, dubbed the “Chief WTF Reporter,” and Mickey, a straight-faced “Chief of Oh Yeah Security,” along with an audience coordinator who doubles as comic relief. Together, they give the show a late-night sketch energy, equal parts chaos and chemistry.

The first tapings are rolling out this fall, and they’re free if you RSVP. That feels fitting. Oh Yeah?! isn’t trying to be exclusive—it’s trying to be a hangout, a new ritual in a city that’s always inventing ways to gather. Walk in off 2nd Avenue North, grab a seat in the Side Door, and you’re part of the show.

There’s an unspoken rebellion in what Downing is doing. St. Pete doesn’t usually get to be the stage for something like this. Late-night belongs to New York, to Los Angeles, to big networks and slick studio lots. By planting a flag in downtown St. Pete, Downing is saying the quiet part out loud: this city is strange and funny and alive, and it deserves its own spotlight.

For Downing, Oh Yeah?! is less about building a media empire and more about capturing a vibe—something messy, communal, and a little bit punk. The band plays loud, the crowd laughs hard, and the show never takes itself too seriously. Which, when you think about it, feels like the most St. Pete thing imaginable.

So if you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket and find yourself in that cabaret when the lights go up, don’t expect polish or polish-by-committee production. Expect noise. Expect funk. Expect a little chaos. And when David Downing leans into the mic with that knowing grin, expect to say what everyone else is saying these days in downtown St. Pete: Oh yeah?!

Click to visit: Oh Yeah?!

Artist W

Keith Matter

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October 25, 2025

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My name is Wai Ching Schroeder. I grew up in a large family originally from Hong Kong. Due to family circumstances, I was driven to become financially independent at the age of eleven, even while still living under the same roof with my biological family.
At twelve, in the year 2000, I participated in the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration, an experience that sparked my journey toward pursuing my dreams. It was my first step toward America.

When I turned seventeen, I left home with nothing but empty suitcases and arrived in the United States in December 2005—a miracle in itself. My religious teacher took me under her wing and sent me straight to college. With her generous support of $200 a month, and while working two jobs and earning scholarships, I completed my nursing degree. I graduated with high honors from Polk Community College and the University of South Florida by 2010.

Years later, my teacher told me, “It was God who told me to send you to America. I must.”

Since 2009, I’ve been a registered nurse, specializing in emergency care. My passion for life and adventure has taken me across the globe. I’ve worked as a medical officer on cruise ships, witnessing firsthand the complexities—and the absence—of law in international waters.

Living in a foreign country, saving lives, speaking multiple languages, and connecting deeply with people from different cultures have all given me a rare and expansive view of the world.

In late 2016, I began screenwriting, and a few months later, in April 2017, I started painting on canvas. My creative drive was born out of loneliness—a desire to fill my own emptiness with meaning and purpose. Creating art reminds me to keep dreaming.
My first art buyer gifted me an envelope titled “Free Spirit” when he purchased my painting “Arrows Thru Heart.”

What does it mean to be free? To me, it means not being afraid. That’s why I create—because creation itself is my pursuit of freedom.

That is the dream. And my truest passion lies in film, where all artistic forms converge. Through it, I hope to build the kind of culture I envision—one filled with love, imagination, and creativity. •

Artist Statement

“Surrealism, itself, is an insecure expression without explanation.
The Art of Surrealism, itself, is held independent from the Artist, myself.”
Then and there, I could have an actual conversation with a stranger (art of my surrealism) who knows me very well. It’s like confessing unconsciousness into consciousness.
Then, the Art of Surrealism becomes Secured with the Artist.
There is No Confusion nor
Lost Mind in the Artist upon The Power given by the Art.
Yet, Dali is Right that confusion is what gives life. However, the issues of confusion are settled upon destruction of consciousness that ignores the unconsciousness and its connection to reality.
And once that’s realized, confusion is lost.
“Security is Built through Art and Power is given to the Artist, Myself.”
Consciousness of Insecurities then becomes Powerless.
That is what I Consider Surrealism is to be about.
My Favorite Philosophy of my distinctive style is:
“Negative space, to me, is the room for imagination.”
“Paint takes me to whatever; even if I am there, no longer.” I call it my “Can Go” Genes.
“The Moment in Art is sincere. Beauty never withers in my paint.”
“Without Love, there won’t be any music, poems, and paintings – Art
“Without Agony, there won’t be any feelings, emotions, and understanding.”
“Living Love Agony is Living Art.”

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Wai Ching Schroeder

“Lolo” – A Multifaceted ‘Lectric Star

Featured

The Artisan Magazine

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October 24, 2025

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Lolo Mayhew—also known as Lauren Mayhew—is an American singer, DJ, actress, and content creator celebrated for her multifaceted talents across music and entertainment. She’s a dynamic presence in live entertainment.

In the vibrant world of music and entertainment, few artists embody versatility and passion as vividly as Lauren “Lolo” Mayhew. A Tampa native turned international sensation, Lolo has carved a unique path as a singer, DJ, actress, and content creator, captivating audiences across continents with her dynamic energy and creative vision. From the sun-soaked rooftops of Tampa to the pulsating clubs of New York City, Tokyo, and Dubai, Lolo Mayhew is a name synonymous with electrifying performances and an unrelenting drive to push artistic boundaries.

A Tampa-Born Trailblazer

Growing up in Tampa, Florida, Lolo’s roots run deep in the Bay Area’s cultural fabric. A self-proclaimed Berkeley Prep “lifer,” her early years were marked by a flair for performance. Her first major break came with a role on PBS’s The Reppies, filmed in Tampa, setting the stage for a career that would span music, television, and beyond. By her teens, Lolo was already making waves, performing as part of the pop/R&B girl group P.Y.T., signed to Epic Sony. Touring as an opening act for icons like Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, and even Aerosmith at the Super Bowl, she honed her stage presence and musical intuition, laying the groundwork for her evolution into a global DJ sensation.

From Stages to Turntables

Lolo’s transition to DJing was a natural extension of her love for music and connection with audiences. Her vibrant, upbeat, and energetic style has made her a sought-after act, with residencies at some of the world’s most iconic venues, including TAO Group’s Marquee and LAVO in New York, Park MGM’s On The Record in Las Vegas, and the Summer Club in NYC, where she’s shared stages with luminaries like Purple Disco Machine and Sofi Tukker. Her performances are a masterclass in blending genres, from infectious house beats to soulful tropical vibes, often incorporating live vocals, saxophone, and congas for a truly immersive experience.

In Tampa, Lolo has left an indelible mark as the musical director of Next Level Brand’s UNION, Forbici, and Boulon – as she curates specialty playlists for all three of these establishments. She’s also a fixture at local venues like Skybeach Marina, Hotel Alba’s ‘Summer Sol Events,’ and Jacksons where she produces and headlines various live performance experiences and pool parties. Her ability to tailor music to a venue’s vibe—whether for a sunset pool party or a high-energy nightclub—has earned her praise as a master of musical curation.

A Multifaceted Creative Force

Beyond the turntables, Lolo’s talents extend to acting and songwriting. She’s graced screens in hit shows like Showtime’s Dexter, CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted, and FOX’s 9-1-1, showcasing her range as a performer. Her voice also brings characters to life, notably as Val Thundershock in Dreamworks’ Trolls: TrollsTopia on Hulu and Peacock. As a songwriter, Lolo has licensed over 250 original songs for film, TV, and commercials, with tracks like “Hush” (Sony Brazil) amassing over 10 million streams and “Feels So Right” earning acclaim for its vibrant dance energy.

Her latest releases are “Everything” and “Supersize It.” “Everything” is a side DJ duo project she is part of called Electric Lemon with INViDA. “Supersize It” has a music video component and was created with Indy-based duo Lucky Guess. These tracks, released on labels like Tipsy Records and Candy Flip Records, showcase her knack for blending commanding vocals with driving beats, creating music that’s both playful and powerful.

A Global Stage, A Local Heart

Lolo’s career has taken her to stages across the U.S., South Africa, Belgium, Holland, Dubai, and Tokyo, where she’s performed at festivals like Art Basel, Coachella afterparties, and the Sand Dance Festival in Tampa. Yet, her connection to her hometown remains strong. She’s a regular at Tampa’s vibrant nightlife spots, recommending haunts like 511 Franklin for its lively DJ nights and One Of Us Events – which she partners with for special pop-ups.
As an official Billboard Dance DJ reporter, Lolo helps shape the national dance music charts, a testament to her influence in the industry. Her social media presence, with over 350,000 followers, further amplifies her reach, offering fans a glimpse into her creative process and adventurous spirit.

Redefining Entertainment

What sets Lolo Mayhew apart is her ability to seamlessly blend her talents into a cohesive, captivating persona. Whether she’s spinning at a rooftop party, acting in a primetime drama, or curating playlists for high-end venues, Lolo brings an infectious energy and authenticity to everything she does.

Her trio, LOLO & The Vibe, featuring saxophone and congas, exemplifies her innovative approach, creating a tropical, soulful sound that’s perfect for any setting, from corporate events to yacht parties.

As she continues to tour the world and release new music, Lolo remains a proud ambassador of Tampa’s creative spirit. Her journey—from a young performer on local stages to an international star—embodies the power of passion, versatility, and fearless artistry. For fans and newcomers alike, catching a Lolo Mayhew set is more than just a night out; it’s an experience that pulses with rhythm, heart, and the undeniable spark of a true trailblazer.

For more on Lolo Mayhew’s music and upcoming performances, visit laurenmayhew.com or follow her on Instagram at @lolomayhe w.

Blues for the Sake of the Blues

Keith Matter

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October 24, 2025

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Damon Fowler is an American electric blues and blues rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter.

Damon Fowler doesn’t walk onstage so much as he ambles, loose-shouldered and unhurried, like a guy who’s been carrying a guitar longer than he’s been carrying rent money. But the second his slide hits steel, the whole room leans in. Fowler’s guitar doesn’t play licks, it spits stories—dirty, soulful, unfiltered. In a town where cover bands and nostalgia acts can fill a bar, Fowler has carved his own space as Tampa Bay’s homegrown blues outlaw, and maybe the last great slide guitarist who doesn’t care about the spotlight.

He grew up in Riverview, just east of Tampa, where Sunday family barbecues doubled as open-air jam sessions. His uncle’s country band rehearsed on a makeshift stage in the backyard, with amps plugged into garage outlets and kids running around the grill smoke. It was here that Fowler learned the blues wasn’t a genre—it was a language. By his teens he was the kid at jam nights nobody could follow, the one bending strings like Duane Allman’s ghost had possessed him. “He was the kid who could play like he was twice his age,” says a fellow local musician.

Critics have been trying to pin Fowler down ever since. Is he a bluesman? A Southern rocker? A swamp-soaked storyteller with one foot in the Everglades and another in Muscle Shoals? AllMusic calls his music “blues-based, but there are hints of country, swamp rock, R&B, and swing.” Blues Blast Magazine compares his fretwork to Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck, his slide to the late Duane Allman. Fowler shrugs it off. “I play music and I want to create music. I do things I like and hopefully people like it,” he told Blues Blast. “Every time I’ve ever made a specific plan … that has never worked for me. The only time it’s ever worked is when I’ve gone along with the universe.”

The universe has rewarded him. He’s toured with Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers, played alongside Dickey Betts, and swapped stages with Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck. His 2021 album Alafia Moon—named for a local river he grew up around—hit No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. He followed it with Live at the Palladium in 2023, a sweat-soaked set that captured the raw fury of his playing in front of a hometown crowd. Then came 2024’s Barnyard Smile, a record that Americana Highways called “served straight up & filtered like moonshine,” praising Fowler’s voice as much as his guitar.

But Fowler has never chased the mainstream, and maybe that’s the point. While other players polish themselves for Spotify playlists, he stays rooted in the bars and clubs of Tampa Bay, playing to audiences that actually show up for guitar solos. At Skipper’s Smokehouse, a local institution, he’s practically royalty. At the Palladium, his slide guitar becomes a church sermon. “Damon doesn’t just play the guitar—he makes it speak,” says one promoter.

Offstage, Fowler is no caricature. He’s a husband, a father of three, and a working musician who still juggles school runs with studio sessions. “I have to balance my music business with being a husband to a wife with her own solid career, together raising three young children,” he admits. It’s a reminder that bluesmen aren’t mythic drifters anymore—they’re middle-aged Floridians with mortgages, carving out a living note by note.

And yet, every time he steps onstage, Fowler seems bigger than the room. His slide cuts through beer chatter like a blade, his voice rasps with the weight of late nights and long miles. He can summon the ghosts of Muddy Waters, then pivot into a psychedelic freakout, then close with a song so tender it makes the bar hush. He’s a contradiction: humble and explosive, local and world-class, a man out of time and right on schedule.

In an age when blues often feels embalmed in museum glass, Damon Fowler is the crack in the display case—the reminder that this music still sweats, still bleeds, and still matters. He’s not a household name, and he probably doesn’t care. For Tampa Bay, he’s the real deal: the bluesman who never left, the keeper of the flame, the guy who walks into a room and makes the guitar talk. •

’Tis the Season for ‘Messiah’ — and other Holiday Happenings

Carl DiOrio

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October 24, 2025

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’Tis the Season for ‘Messiah’ — and other Holiday Happenings

Anyone looking to get a handle on Handel’s “Messiah” this holiday season won’t have to search long or far.

Joined by the masterful Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, maestro Michael Francis and The Florida Orchestra will perform the timeless sacred-music favorite on Friday, Dec. 5, at the Straz Center in Tampa and on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. Both are 8 p.m. performances.

Later that same week, the Tampa Oratorio Singers and the Palma Ceia Choir will present Part I of “The Messiah” — on Monday, Dec. 8, and Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Tampa, and on Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Church of the Ascension in Clearwater. All are 7 p.m. performances.

Handel wrote “Messiah” in 1741, and the English-language oratorio first was performed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1742, with its London debut following a year later. German-born (in 1685), Handel moved to London in 1712 and in 1727 was made a British subject.
In modern times, “Messiah” has become a fixture in orchestral programs during the Advent period leading up to Christmas and in the pre-Easter season of Lent. Some say it’s been over-done, but I’m not one given to such sacrilege. For most, to experience this Baroque choral masterpiece live is unforgettable.

If you’re looking for a recorded version to enjoy in advance of taking in a live “Messiah” performance, there are several easily available to stream. Among the most popular are Sir Neville Mariner’s recording with the Academy & Chorus of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Christopher Hogwood’s with the Academy of Ancient Music and the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral.

The gloriously sprawling, three-part “Messiah” generally runs about 2 ½ hours. Part I takes up roughly an hour of the total performance time. Each part contains several “scenes,” indicating aural depictions of various elements of the Christian savior tale.

The Messiah, Florida Orchestraand Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Michael Francis conducting, Mahaffey Theater, December 9, 2023

Part I deals with Old Testament prophesies of a messiah’s virgin birth.

Part II covers the life of Jesus Christ from birth to crucifixion, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven. The famous “Hallelujah” chorus closes the section.

Part III is about the implications of Christ’s sacrifice and hope for mankind’s redemption.

The orchestral and vocal staging of the oratorio was originally spare, but in later times the score was greatly embellished — including a rather over-the-top Mozart orchestration. It wasn’t until well into the 20th century that the work was reined in for performances more in line with Handel’s original intent.

“The Master Chorale performs Messiah frequently, but it is a new experience each time, and new interpretations and discovering further nuance make it fresh each year,” said Nate Hettinger, the Master Chorale’s executive director. “It may be familiar to us, but that doesn’t necessarily make it less challenging. Performing Messiah means navigating tricky melismas, careful articulations and building the stamina to sing the lengthy oratorio. We look forward to these challenges each year.”
Hettinger expressed his gratitude for the ensemble’s longstanding partnership with TFO, which he noted has “gained great momentum in recent years.”

Other holiday programs
There also will be plenty of other sorts of Yuletide programs served up by classical ensembles during the holidays.
Suncoast Symphony Orchestra will present “Sounds of the Season” the weekend of Dec. 5-7, performing its arrangements of holidays songs such as “Slight Ride,” Hannukah Festival Overture,” “Winter Wonderland” and more, and there also will be a carol singalong.
Scheduled performances include 7 p.m. concerts on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6 in Largo’s St. Jerome Catholic Church and Clearwater’s Grace Lutheran Church, respectively. And a 2 p.m. matinee is planned for Sunday, Dec. 7, at North Bay Community Church in Clearwater.

The Florida Orchestra will present — under the baton of resident conductor Chelsea Gallo — several “Holiday Pops” concerts the weekend of Dec. 19-21 at the Straz, the Mahaffey and Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall.
The Straz concert is set for 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19. Two Mahaffey performances are scheduled on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. And a pair of REH concerts will be presented on Sunday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Additionally, if its cozy holiday atmosphere you crave, there’s a “Candlelight Christmas Carol on Strings” concert set for Centro Asturiano in Tampa, featuring the Listeso String Quartet, at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21. The locally recruited chamber group will perform a host of holiday favorites, from “Deck the Halls” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” to “Good King Wenceslas” and “Greensleeves,” and many more.

Listeso — accompanied by a concert dance troupe — also will present two evening performances of a candlelit program of music from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11. A local Latino landmark dating to 1902, Centro Asturiano is something of an attraction itself and should be a good fit for both candlelit programs.

And this final note: As usual, there will be several groups offering music and dance performances from “The Nutcracker” during the holiday period. Tampa City Ballet will have performances throughout early-to-mid December; the New Tampa Dance Theatre has performances set for Dec. 20-22; and a Magical Christmas Nutcracker show hits the Mahaffey on Dec. 28.

For ticketing information and additional program details on the many holiday concerts coming to the Tampa Bay area, visit the websites of the various performance groups and concert venues. •

Happy Hols, y’all!

Carl DiOrio is a Tampa Bay area journalist and a lifelong music lover. He can be reached at carldiorio@gmail.com.

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