Community

March 24 at TECO Plaza: Fourth Friday, first-class art

Golden Flow, by Beth Kokol
Golden Flow, by Beth Kokol

Just as we relish the art of providing you with safe, reliable and affordable electricity and natural gas, we also believe in the power of showcasing outstanding local art for the community – especially in a spectacular setting (and for free!).

This Friday, March 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., add TECO Plaza to your Fourth Friday plans downtown and let local artist Beth Kokol wow you.

In the latest exhibit our headquarters is proud to showcase, we welcome artist and teacher Kokol’s first solo exhibition in downtown Tampa. It’s a painting and mixed media exhibit called Indigo Blue, inspired by her love for the environment – a love we share.

“As TECO represents the largest public art gallery in Tampa Bay, I feel honored to have been selected to show my work in this incredible space,” she said. “I’ve spent the past six months creating new work for this show, and I’m very excited for our opening Friday night. For those who have seen my prior work, what I have done for this event will be very different; TECO Plaza’s large space allows me as an artist to paint much larger than most galleries.”

Road Less Traveled, by Beth Kokol
Road Less Traveled, by Beth Kokol

Kokol’s art on display now is part of a year-round effort to highlight local art at TECO Plaza by Debra Radke, curator of the TECO Public Art Gallery.

“TECO is a strong community partner and has been a continuous supporter of local and regional artists and arts groups for over 30 years, beginning in 1982 with the acquisition of a permanent collection of artwork by many accomplished Florida artists,” Radke said. “TECO’s mission is to educate our community about artists who live and work in the Tampa Bay area by providing a gallery space for individual artists and art groups that is open to the public.”

That art is on display alongside a permanent work of art itself. Suspended from the top of the cavernous, skylight-topped roof of the TECO Plaza Atrium is Solaris – 32 bronze tubes, each 60 feet long, built with the ability to rotate based on the amount of power they receive from the sun. It’s a reminder that we were thinking about solar power at the time of the building’s construction in 1981, and only more so with our recent and growing projects to help the community realize the value of solar power.

Even as the sun goes down, the power of art to create a stronger community never diminishes at TECO Plaza. It’s there waiting for you this Friday, along with the countless other ways – sometimes unexpected – that we’re committed to adding brightness to your life.

TECO Plaza is at 702 N. Franklin Street in downtown Tampa, across from Tampa Theatre – another participating Fourth Friday venue! Check out the Fourth Friday website for a full rundown of exciting events happening throughout downtown, and look for TECO volunteers along the Riverwalk; they’re glad to answer questions and provide assistance to Fourth Friday attendees.  

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