ST. PETERSBURG, FL \u2014 When artist and curator Chad Mize shut down his Uptown arts venue, the Mize Gallery, at the end of last year, he was looking forward to having the time and space to focus on other projects. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was ready for a break from that,\u201d he told Patch. <\/p>\n
Then St. Petersburg Distillery approached him about transforming a large industrial space at their 28th Street S. property into an arts destination. <\/p>\n Mize couldn\u2019t say \u201cno\u201d to the opportunity and jumped into creating the new venue at 855 28th Street S.<\/p>\n \u201cThis just came into my lap. This was kind of a dream to have a space this size,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n He named the venue, which formerly housed a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus depot, Space. <\/p>\n \u201cBecause I wanted to be open ended to all types of things,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m calling it \u2018barebones authentic.\u2019 I love being at the Space. I love the size of it. I haven\u2019t installed any lighting. \u2026 You can be messy in it. I pressure washed soot off the walls, but didn\u2019t want to paint it. It\u2019s so much larger than my gallery. I was so confined in my small 900-square-foot spot.\u201d<\/p>\n The building\u2019s size with its high ceilings allows Mize to explore other types of art projects, including sculptural works, projection, large-scale installations and theatrical elements.<\/p>\n He said, \u201cFor me it’s like a dream to think big and offer more than just 2-D artwork on the wall, which is what I’ve done for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n He started off by hosting quarterly events at Space and kicked them off in March with a show headlined by the artist Bask, who he represents. <\/p>\n His next show is LGBTQ+ pride-themed, which he\u2019s hosted every June no matter which venue he\u2019s run, whether Mize Gallery, his previous gallery, Blue Lucy, or now, Space. <\/p>\n The show, \u201cHot Box,\u201d opens this weekend. The name is a nod to the theme, as well as the space itself. <\/p>\n \u201cThe meaning is two-fold. We knew it was going to be hot in the summer and we knew we didn\u2019t have AC in the spot,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it also refers to the hot-button issues happening currently in the LGBTQ+ community \u2014 banned books, trans rights, drag queens.\u201d<\/p>\n Many, but not all, of the artists participating are part of the LGBTQ+ communities. <\/p>\n The show, featuring works by 40 artists, kicks off Friday night, from 7 to 11 p.m., with performances by Dirty John\u2019s, literary readings hosted by Tyler Gillespie and featuring Gloria Mu\u00f1oz, Ripp Lee and Patrick Arthur Jackson, food trucks and vendors, and more. <\/p>\nFind out what's happening in St. Petewith free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/h2>\n
Find out what's happening in St. Petewith free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/h2>\n