Art of the Opera
Mirella Cimato Gallery
Opera Central / Opera Box Office
2145 1st. Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
January through February 2027
Get ready, get set, create!
Choose an opera as your inspiration. Lots of fun information online. Search the St. Pete Opera, New York Metropolitan Opera, San Fransisco Opera, Cincinnati Opera to name a few. There are also lots of modern operas to find.
Only sizes of work to be accepted will be 18”W X 24”H and 27”W X 40”H. Pieces will hang vertically. This is the outer dimension, so if you add a frame, the frame has to stay within these dimensions. The Committee looked at the space and decided to add size restrictions. This will also give you experience with other juried shows that have restrictions.
Your work can be any medium, it just has to fit the size dimensions.
Registration fee will be $20 for 1 or 2 pieces and will be juried. The Guild is responsible for the refreshments at the openings, and printing of postcards for marketing, that this fee will help fund. We also plan on displaying this body of artwork at Lewis House (Eckard College) in Spring 2027.
The information needed for your label will be:
Title of Work
Name of Opera that inspired the piece
Artist Name
Medium /Materials Used
Cost of piece
Relevant documents:
Art Dimension Page
Opera Suggestions
TBSDG Gift Boutique and Garage Sale at the November Meeting
On November 9th the Guild’s Gift Boutique and Garage Sale will be held during the monthly meeting at the church in lieu of a mini-demo. This year the sale will be held at no cost to participating members.
Due to a limited number of available tables, sharing may be necessary. If you prefer your own space you may choose to bring your own table (limit one 6’ table).
Please register by 10/31/2026 for a shared table or to bring your own table.
Set-up will begin at 5 p.m. to allow time for all to enjoy shopping during the social hour, as well as after the business meeting.
And even if you choose not to participate by selling, you can help make this a successful event by inviting your friends, family and fellow art lovers to shop our exclusive offerings!
All sellers are responsible for collecting their own payments, please bring cash or credit cards. Not everyone will accept credit cards, please plan accordingly.
TBSDG Member Meeting
Date & Time: November 16, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Location: King of Peace MCC, 6085 Park Blvd Pinellas Park
Please arrive a few minutes early so that we can all socialize and start the meeting on time.
Show-n-Tell: We are all anxious to see show-n-tell items in-person, but please limit your number of items to three, so that everyone will have a chance to "show-n-tell." If you attended last month's workshop, please bring your created items to share.
Mini Demo:
A "Free Table" will be available for the free exchange of no longer needed surface design materials and supplies. Please check the table before you leave the meeting to be sure to take home with you anything you bring that does not go home with someone else.
Date & Time: December 14, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
The 2026–2027 Saint Petersburg opera season is bringing opera up close and personal. The operas will be performed at Opera Central, 2145 1st Ave. S. in Saint Petersburg.
The Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild will bring “Art of the Opera” to the Mirella Cimato Art Gallery at the Opera Central location. This art exhibition is inspired by some of your favorite operas and some of the operas in the current season. Come and be amazed by the many techniques used by this group of surface design and fiber artists.
With this show, the Guild is also celebrating the life of Mei-Ling St. Leger, founding member of the Guild in 1998. Mei-Ling passed away on her 84th birthday, June 21, 2026. As a member of the Guild’s show committee, this was the final show in which she participated in the planning.
The show opens on January 9, 2027 with the opening reception from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and a February reception on the 13th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. These receptions coincide with Saint Pete’s Saturday Art walk. Gallery hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by appointment by emailing to Mirella.cimato@gmail.com.
Mixed Media Collage Enhanced With Thread with Nneka Jones
Date: Friday, January 22, 2027
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: King of Peace Church, 6085 Park Blvd. Pinellas Park, FL
Member Price: $200
Non Member Price: $240
Workshop Description:
Exploring Surface Design Through Paint and Embroidery
Join internationally exhibited mixed-media artist Nneka Jones for an immersive workshop exploring the intersection of paint, pattern, and embroidery. Drawing from her distinctive artistic practice, Nneka will demonstrate how botanical-stenciled imagery, layered color, and hand stitching can be combined to create contemporary textile-inspired artwork rich in texture and meaning.
In this hands-on workshop, artist Nneka Jones will guide participants through her signature process of combining stencil-based painting techniques with hand embroidery to create richly layered designs.
Participants will explore methods for transferring imagery, working with stencils, building color through paint application, and enhancing compositions with simple embroidery stitches. Through demonstrations and guided experimentation, students will learn how to create texture, depth, and visual interest while developing their own unique artistic voice.
This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as experienced makers looking to expand their surface design practice. Students will leave with a completed mixed-media artwork, new technical skills, and inspiration for incorporating paint and stitch into future projects.
Skills Covered:
Design transfer methods
Stencil application techniques
Color layering and paint application
Introduction to embroidery for mixed media
Creating texture and dimension through surface design
Minimum # of students: 10 Maximum # of students: 20
Materials Students are Expected to Bring:
Scissors
Fabric swatches - solid or patterned(optional)
Embroidery hoop (optional)
Embroidery threads
Pencil
Pen
Materials Provided by Instructor:
Fabric or canvas
Stencils/templates
Acrylic paints
Paint application tools (brushes and sponges)
Transfer materials (carbon paper)
Demonstration samples
Instructional handouts
Needles
Needle Threader
Embroidery thread
Needle holder (tubes)
Supply List: A detailed supply list will be distributed to registered students approximately 60 days prior to the workshop. Students should anticipate bringing basic embroidery supplies.
