Lisa Browder

The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg has an eclectic mix of styles and subject matter from multiple eras. Their brochure describes it as an “encyclopedic collection of art from around the globe and across the centuries” and they have about 5,000 years of civilization represented. There are Greek, Roman, Asian, African and Native American pieces, and works by (among others) Georgia O’Keeffe, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, August Rodin, Kehinde Wiley, and Jacob Lawrence.

I love ancient artifacts but since I’m not an artist and don’t know what it took to cast or mold or sculpt them, I find myself, instead, wondering what life was like back then and how the piece came to be in existence in the first place. Were the recipients pleased or did they bitch behind the artist’s back because a vessel didn’t hold enough wine? Did they think the handles were too flimsy? Did they rave about it as the epitome of craftsmanship? Did they order a set of six amphorae for an upcoming party and then plan to send invitations several months later because that’s how long it would take the artist to complete them?

And what about larger, intricate, or even whimsical pieces? Were they commissioned or was the artist working strictly from inspiration? Was he pleased with the finished project or did he toss it and start over?

Paintings speak to me differently. I’ve attempted to draw something recognizable. I’ve attempted to paint and to work with both watercolors and charcoal. I’ll never be an artist. But I have a great appreciation for someone who can (a) capture a face on canvas and (b) give it a “readable” expression. I marvel at landscapes with buildings and trees and rivers. Nuances of shadow and light intrigue me.

Of course, there are always one or two that confound me. If it looks like something I could do, I have a hard time seeing it as art. And I sure as hell don’t know who decided it rises to the level of artistry and craftsmanship as those ancient artifacts and intricate paintings.

Is it art just because he thought of it and I didn’t? If so, get ready. I plan to be famous pretty soon. I think I’ll paint a giant red circle with a slightly smaller bright yellow circle overlapping it and make it sound esoteric by naming “Clash of Primary Bodies.” I’ll explain that red and yellow are the “primary” part of the title and the circles are representative of colliding planets (“bodies”). Someone is bound to think that’s genius at work, I reckon.

Enough. Let’s move on to the special exhibits. I liked these a lot. One included Japanese photographs from the Meiji Era 1870-1900 and Japanese prints from the Read-Simms collection.

The other had Native American photographs by Ho-Chunk artist Tom Jones (1998-2021). Titled “Here We Stand,” the photographs show how the Ho-Chunk have been represented and how the artist sees them.

This museum has a nice gift shop in the main foyer and, like its art, it has an eclectic collection of books, painting materials, puzzles, t-shirts, and more. There is something for everyone’s taste at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, so ignore my total inability to appreciate modern art and go.

• 255 Beach Dr. N.E., St. Petersburg, Florida
• 727-896-2667
• mfastpete.org
• Open Tuesdays – Sundays 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
• $17 for seniors