Art often offers glimpses into other places and times, but it’s rare to see an artist dive into history and then recreate it incredibly vividly. That’s the case with the exhibition at The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg. In “Perseverance: A Woman’s Journey West,” American artist Heide Presse details a family’s journey west in the 1840s. Working from the highly descriptive journal of Keturah Belknap, Presse translates the trek from Ohio to Iowa and the eventual move to Oregon via the famous Oregon Trail in luminous paintings and intricate drawings.
With the added bonus of excerpts from the journal, the exhibition has a literary, narrative quality. Presse heavily researched the items and clothing of the era, working with historical reenactors and using them as models. She also learned to make the clothing; some examples are in the show. But the way Presse has rendered them in paint gives the show the authenticity that took me on a fascinating voyage. On view through Sept. 28. 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-892-4200. thejamesmuseum.org.
There are mixed reactions when it comes to immersive digital art experiences. For the record, I think they’re cool. If they might be someone’s first interaction with art, that’s also a good thing, and why I’ll be checking out “Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet” at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. It features beloved works from the post-impressionist and impressionist artists set to an original score. It’s on now through Sept. 14. 1010 N. Macinnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827. strazcenter.org.
Get yourself to the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, for the must-see exhibition, “Nina Yankowitz: In the Out/Out the In.” The retrospective of the New York-based artist spans six decades and a staggering variety of media. Her series of sound paintings was created by correlating color to sounds. A few have an audio element only heard when standing in the right place. A great deal of the show features textiles that have been wonderfully pleated and draped into sculptures.
Yankowitz was a founding member of the feminist Heresies Collective that was active from 1976-1993, and through her work illuminates overlooked female figures throughout history. Yankowitz’s art is spread throughout the museum, including in the Great Hall and in an intimate gallery just off the hall. There, you can play her interactive “Criss-Crossing the Divine/Spiral Vortex Paint Game,” which culls text from Scriptures from the Bible, the Hindu Vedas, the Quran and Buddhist texts that are prompted by the player’s word selections. The point is their similarities, rather than the differences that tend to divide us.
That’s just one example of the nuanced, exciting experience that awaits. On view through Sept. 21. 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. 727-896-2667. mfastpete.org.
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