If you grew up in the Tampa Bay area, you no doubt have wonderful memories of going to shows at the Bayfront Center, now the site of the Mahaffey Theater. I myself went to circuses, ice skating shows there as a kid. In the 1980s and '90s, I saw Brian Boitano and Katarina Witt (who fell on her lovely keyster) perform Carmen on Ice there with my mom. I attended my first R.E.M. concert there (Lifes Rich Pageant tour) and the last Smiths concert in the United States — ever — at the Bayfront Theater (an attached mid-size performing arts venue, where the Mahaffey that exists today). I also saw Adam Ant, New Order, the Thompson Twins and a slew of other back-in-the-day acts there.
The facility opened in the spring of 1965 as part of St. Petersburg’s Bayfront Center complex. The next-door arena was demolished in 2004, but The Mahaffey – through city and community support and a series of luxury renovations is now the centerpiece of Pinellas County’s waterfront arts district.
As part of its 50th Anniversary Celebration, The Mahaffey Theater is seeking "eye-catching original artwork" for a 2015 commemorative poster. Artists and graphic designers are invited to submit a piece that creatively sums up and illustrates the excitement of 50 years of shows at The Mahaffey, St. Petersburg’s premier performing arts venue.
The winning artist will receive a cash prize of $2,500, and the original work will not only be displayed inside The Mahaffey throughout the 50th Anniversary Celebration, it will proudly represent the theater throughout the Bay Area on a wide variety of promotional materials.
“We want original, inspired, local art that embodies the spirit of performance, and relates closely to The Mahaffey’s five decades of cultural service to the community and the Bay Area,” said Joe Santiago, the theater’s general manager. “Because everybody is going to see it.”
The design may be in the form of an original painting, mixed media, graphic art or illustration, in color or black and white.
The winning artist will be notified by Dec. 1, with the commemorative poster revealed by Jan. 1. Click here for more details.