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Get Ready, The Big Draw Is Coming

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By LOIS KINDLE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

RUSKIN - On Sept. 15, the South Shore Arts Council will kick off a celebration of art and community hailing back to the days when Ruskin was founded.

Called the Big Draw, the nearly monthlong event invites people of all ages and experience to express themselves creatively by drawing.
English philosopher and artist John Ruskin - the community's namesake - promoted the principle that drawing was a way for people to see and appreciate the world around them.

Arts council members came up with idea of creating a centennial event similar to The Campaign for Drawing, a nationwide project in the United Kingdom that was established in honor of Ruskin, who promoted drawing as both an enjoyable public activity and private passion.

"Fred Jacobson, the president of the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, learned about it online as he prepared for the Ruskin Centennial," said artist Suzanne Prach, arts council member and coordinator of the John Crawford art collection at the SouthShore Regional Library. "Artists Bruce Marsh and Dolores Coe, who are members of the arts council, picked up on the idea and carried it forward as a great project for the council to support."

The Big Draw "season," as it is being called, will include a series of classes in the Big Draw studio in Ruskin's Thriftway Plaza and other sites around the community, Prach said.

It will launch Sept. 15 and end Oct. 11, with the Ruskin Draw-In, an event hosted by the Tampa Museum of Art and others, including VSA-Arts, Community Stepping Stones, John Crawford Studio and the council. Art from all the classes will be on display.

"There's something for everyone, and 98 percent of the classes are free, with materials provided," Prach said. Registration began Tuesday at the Ruskin Library on Dickman Drive.

Another event is the painting of a 20-by-100-foot mural on the south wall of the old Clark Furniture building at 639 First St. S.E. A group of 12 to 14 teens will paint the mural under the supervision of artist Michael Parker.

"Participants will get to experience many styles and art forms," said Steve Stancil, council president. "The Big Draw brings a large, public art activity to South Shore that's international in scope that will generate more of and arts interest in the community."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Big Draw, a communitywide arts event sponsored by the SouthShore Arts Council

FOR: People of all ages and experience levels

WHERE: Big Draw Studio, 613 U.S. 41 N., Ruskin

WHEN: Sept. 15-Oct. 11

INFORMATION: Fred Jacobsen, (813) 298-6028; Bruce Marsh, (813) 641-8635; or visit http://southshoreartscouncil.org

For a complete listing of classes and activities, visit southshore.tbo.com

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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