CONNECT TO THE ARTS ANDCULTURAL EVENTS THIS WEEKFebruary 11 - 18
Connections Project Pop-Up Reception, Islamorada Chamber After Hours
Tuesday February 17, 5:30 - 7 p.m. The Islander Resort (on the beach) 82100 Overseas Hwy., Islamorada
Join
us for a Pop-Up display of almost 150 canvases by Keys Artists
during the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce Networking event. Beer, Wine
and Hors d'oeuvres along with live music by Adrienne Z.
CALLS TO ARTISTS
Click on image above to view this year's Magazine
Call for Artists and Writers: Culture Magazine 2027
Deadline: February 28, 5 p.m.
The
Florida Keys Council of the Arts invites visual artists and writers to
submit artwork and articles for Culture 2027 Magazine, a publication of
the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and the Cultural Umbrella
of the Florida Keys & Key West.
Call to Visual Artists
Deadline: February 28, 5 p.m.
Artwork
selected for the cover will receive $1,200 for one-time usage in
Culture Magazine 2027. (Additional artwork chosen for the magazine will
receive a caption with artists' name.) Artists may submit up to three
images by completing the online application. Please name your uploaded
files as instructed in the application.
Two
Florida Keys writers will be selected and paid a $1,200 each for
research, writing, related photography and any necessary revising (based
on recommendations from the committee) of an article of approximately
1,200 words. Articles assigned will be factual, informational and
primarily designed to introduce visitors to the art, culture and
heritage of the Florida Keys.
Writers may choose from these topics:
1. The Keys Music Scene - an overview of all genres playing in diverse venues.
2.
The Art of Keys Cuisine and Culture - how Island culture influences the
signature dishes in our causal and fine dining spots throughout the
Keys - hidden treasures and decades long favorites.
This
exhibit is an exciting experience, kicking off I.CARE's Annual Trash
Debry in Islamorada. It marks the beginning of an incredible event
dedicated to action, stewardship, and community engagement. Opening on
April 16, this hybrid at exhibition and advocacy initiative aims to
transform awareness into action.
Calling All Artists, 31st Annual Judged Art Show: Tropical Pallet
Delivery Deadline February 21 & 22, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Artists in Paradise Gallery 221 Key Deer Blvd., Big Pine Key
Painting,
photography, mixed media and 3D accepted. The requirements are: all
artwork shall be created within the last year. It shall be original and
not have won any previous awards. Entries shall be ready to hang, no saw
tooth hangers, no nails, string or staples showing. Mats shall be
fresh, clean and unspotted. Artists may enter up to 2 pieces of original
art.
Music, Poetry and More to Mark “Arts Builds Community” Program
Wednesday February 11, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Crane Point Museum and Nature Center MM 50 Gulfside, Marathon
The
History of Diving Museum and local performing artist Adrienne Z, in
collaboration with students from Coral Shores and Marathon High Schools,
is set to celebrate “Art Builds Community” with musical
performances for the Marathon Chamber of Commerce “Business After
Hours.” The evening will include a performance by Adrienne Z and
blackout poem readings by students from Marathon High.
Thursday through Saturday, February 12 - 17 Harry S. Truman Little White House 111 Front Street, Key West
Celebrate Key West history at Happy Hour at Harry’s
Thursday February 12, 6 - 8 p.m.
Sip
beer, wine or a specialty bourbon cocktail (nonalcoholic options),
enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, mingle on Harry’s Bar, living room and Poker
Porch, and play presidential trivia — winning team rides in the
presidential limo.
Meet & Greet with the Presidential Descendants
Friday February 13, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
There
will be Heart Starters (Bourbon drinks) and mimosas to drink and baked
goods and hors d’oeuvres to snack on. Please come and celebrate with us!
Presidential Families Weekend Forum
Saturday February 14, 4:30 p.m.
Join
us in welcoming Amy Carter, James Carter IV, Josh Carter, Susan Ford
Bales, and Clifton Truman Daniel, all descendants with a direct lineage
to one or more of the 45 U.S. presidents as they share stories and
historical perspectives on how their relatives used the power of the
presidency to influence the U.S. Government.
Give ‘Em Hell, Harry
Sunday & Monday February 15 - 16, 4:30 p.m.
Give
‘Em Hell, Harry!, by Samuel Gallu, is a faithful and often humorous
portrayal of President Harry S. Truman’s life and presidency. It spans
his childhood, his “political apprenticeship” as a judge in Jackson
County, MO, his years in the U.S. Senate and his momentous two terms as
President. Actor James Whitmore originated the role in 1975. Clifton
Truman Daniel took up the mantle in October of 2017, marking the first
time in history a U.S. president would be portrayed onstage by a direct
descendant.
Presidents' Day Cookout
Monday February 16, 11:30 a.m. –1:30 p.m.
Join us on the lawn of the Little White House for a very presidential cookout! Come while supplies last!
Friday & Saturday February 13 & 14, 1 - 4 p.m. Oldest House Museum & Gardens 322 Duval St. Key West
Step
inside local historical homes and experience architectural gems,
eclectic art, transformed cigar-makers cottages, re-imagined Victorian
mansions, and the stories behind the facades.
Saturday & Sunday February 14 - 15, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Sat.) 5 p.m. (Sun.) Truman Waterfront Park, Key West
Experience
the vibrant flavors of the Florida Keys at the Seafood Festival! Enjoy
fresh local seafood, live music, family-friendly activities, and unique
island crafts. Savor the best of the Keys’ culinary traditions and
coastal culture in a lively, festive atmosphere. Don’t miss out!
Arts & Eats: You Are What You Collect: The Slightly Surreal World of Konstantin Bessmertny
Sunday February 15, 5 - 7 p.m. Studios of Key West 533 Eaton St., Key West
Konstantin
& Gala Bessmertny join us at the elegant home of Jon and Eliza
Lewis for a free-ranging discussion of art – its ownership, history and
vulnerability – against the backdrop of the controlled chaos and
colorful characters that inhabit Konstantin’s work.
Mondays through March 9, 6 p.m. Aqua Bar and Nightclub 711 Duval St., Key West
This
FUN-Raiser supports our esteemed Waterfront Playhouse. A dozen or
so vocalists are giving of their time and talent for this wonderful
Cause! Guest Judges, and singers, weekly themes, hilarity and
super talent await you every single week.
GALLERY OPENINGS & ARTIST TALKS
In Conversation with… Roberta Marks
Thursday February 12, 5 p.m.
An
artist, instructor and lecturer with hundreds of solo and group
exhibitions to her credit and with work in numerous public and private
collections, Marks is perhaps best recognized internationally as a
pioneer in object infused artwork. Roberta will discuss her
fascinating life, world wide travels, career, inspiration, beliefs and
more.
A Fringe Theater Fundraiser: Sealed Bid Art Auction
Monday February 16, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Join
us at the Jag Gallery for a fundraiser that supports the arts with art
from the collection of Wende Shoer and Michael Lonergan. Artwork on
display all day. Bubbly and music.
Images From Everyday Life: The Art of the Quotidian
Wednesday February 18, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Duval
Square’s Jag Gallery welcomes two artists who put new twists on what
many think to be simple, mundane and everyday drawing inspiration from
nature to cereal brands. Nataliia Nosyk, whose work was
enthusiastically applauded during her outing at The Studios of Key West
last year returns with plain air oil paintings exploring light, color
and atmosphere, capturing the quiet and ordinary moments found in
nature, emphasizing their subtle beauty and emotional
presence. Brendan O’Connell, dubbed by The New Yorker Magazine as
the “Warhol of Walmart” merges contemporary and traditional styles to
reimagine familiar subjects, from grocery aisles to pop culture icons.
Opens Wednesday February 11 through March 31, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Oldest House Museum and Garden 322 Duval St., Key West
By
combining seemingly disparate Conch traditions, like art and baseball,
we can discover how varying interests can intersect in unique and
whimsical ways.
Discover
art by Cuban-American artist and Key West native, Julie Arroyo, mother
of MLB All-Star and musician, Bronson Arroyo. Cuban contemporary
caricaturist, Reynerío Tamayo. Plus baseball bat art by Key West locals.
Artist Demo with Peter Sterling Turner and Meeting
Friday February 13, 3:30 - 5 p.m. Key West Arts Center 310 Front St., Key West
Seaside Floral with Chinese Porcelain: Peter Vey
Saturday February 14, 5 - 8 p.m. Gallery on Greene 606 Greene St., Key West
Returning
from Ambassador Michelle Quan's Embassy in Belize is Peter Vey's
"Seaside Floral with Chinese Porcelain" Peter Vey's work has shown in
embassies in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean in ambassadors
residences and the embassies themselves.
Singer,
songwriter, guitarist, storyteller, traveler and road warrior are all
words that aptly describe Scott Kirby. Finishing songs while driving
through the Italian countryside, performing 100 plus live shows
throughout the US and Canada, touring Ireland with 50 fans in tow, and
recording his tenth album in Nashville, all keep the barnacles off this
modern-day troubadour.
Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Friday February 13, 8 p.m. Main Stage
Benmont
Tench is a founding member of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and one
of contemporary music’s finest organ players, piano players, anything-
with-keys players.
Ben Harrison in Concert
Tuesday February 17, 7 p.m. Backstage Listening Room
Key
West-based singer-songwriter and story-telling icon Ben Harrison is set
to bring his irreverent humor, original music, and 47 years of
storytelling magic back to the stage.
Yachtley Crew
Wednesday February 18, 8 p.m.
A
seven-piece SoCal band who burst onto the club scene in 2017, selling
out countless local venues before starting a nationwide Yacht Rock craze
and being noticed by the legendary Jimmy Buffett, who signed them to
his own Mailboat label prior to their new deal with Earache/Universal
Records.
Sunday February 15, 4 p.m. Tennessee Williams Theatre 5901 College Rd., Key West
Giving
performances that are “lithe, persuasive” (The New York Times),
“eloquent and enthralling” (The Boston Globe), and described as “the
most compelling American group to come on the scene” (The New Yorker),
the Horszowski Trio has quickly become a vital force in the
international chamber music world since their formation in 2011.
Monday February 16, 7:30 p.m. Marathon High School Performing Arts Center 350 Sombrero Beach Rd., Marathon
Tuesday February 17, 7:30 p.m. Coral Shores High School Performing Arts Center 89901 Old Hwy., Tavernier
At
the age of 17, Canadian pianist Sophia Liu is rapidly emerging as one
of the most compelling artists of her generation. Liu’s “extremely
clear, delicate, refined and almost supernaturally fluid” touch (Le
Monde) coupled with her “phenomenal virtuosity” (Bachtrack) have
captivated and mesmerised audiences worldwide.
Tuesday & Wednesday February 17 - 18, 7 p.m. (Tues.) 6 p.m. (Wed.) Studios of Key West 533 Eaton St., Key West
A
vibrant force in folk-pop, Rachael Sage has spent her career defying
categories and expectations. Since founding her own label, MPress
Records, the New York-based artist has released a steady stream of
colorful, heartfelt albums that blend poetic lyricism with infectious
melodies.
Mondays, 8:30 - 11:30 p.m. William Weech American Legion 803 Emma St., Key West
Accomplished
Key West Pianist Larry Smith has taken up residency in the newest
historic music venue in town, creating a Jazz Lounge at the William
Weech American Legion at 803 Emma Street on Monday nights.
The
Spotlight Series is helping us shine a light on stories that matter.
Our February Spotlight Series celebrates Black History Month by pairing
film with community impact.
This
week, the organization in the spotlight is Coral City Elks Lodge No.
610, continuing a powerful tradition of service, community, and
advocacy. Sarah’s Oil is a quiet, powerful drama set in the Deep South,
where a small Black community rallies to save a family-owned business
threatened by outside forces.
Wednesday February 11, 6 p.m. Florida Keys History & Discovery Center 82100 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada
Lecture by Dr. Heather Gonyeau.
Happy Hour with the Historian: Outpost in the Storm: Key West and the Civil War’s Southernmost Front
Saturday February 12, 5 p.m. Comedy Club Key West 218 Whitehead St., Key West
While
most Civil War battles raged far to the north, the island of Key West
stood as a critical — and often forgotten — Union foothold deep within
Confederate-leaning Florida. This lecture delves into the strategic and
symbolic importance of Key West, examining how Fort Zachary Taylor
became a linchpin for the Union Navy’s blockade of the South.
Friends of the Library Speaker Series- Mirta Ojito
Monday February 16, 6 - 8 p.m. Key West Library Palm Garden 700 Fleming St., Key West
Mirta
Ojito is a journalist who has worked at the Miami Herald, El Nuevo
Herald, and the New York Times as well and the author of two nonfiction
books, Finding Mañana, and Hunting Season. Deeper than the Ocean is her
debut novel.
Tuesday February 17, 6 p.m. Mel Fisher Museum 200 Greene St., Key West
There
were many people who supported Mel Fisher’s quest to locate and recover
the riches from Spain’s 1622 Treasure Fleet. Shaughnessy will initiate
and guide a lively exchange with some of the key figures who worked for
Mel Fisher during his search for the famed Treasure Fleet galleons –
Nuestra Señora de Atocha and Santa Margarita.
The Shipwreck, Secret War and Stolen Jade with Author John Christopher Fine
Wednesday February 18, 7 p.m. History of Diving Museum 82990 Overseas Hwy., Islamorada
In
this presentation, John will take us through the story of the SS
Springfjord, a ship sunk by the CIA as part of a coup designed to
overthrow the elected government of Guatemala. The program will also
cover the destruction of a protected biosphere by organized criminals to
steal jadeite, the most valuable gemstone in the world found now only
in quantity in Guatemala.
Saturday February 14, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. La Brisa Poolhouse, 1901 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West
Key
West Writers Guild Meets monthly for writers’ critiques, fellowship and
provides workshops and advice for new writers. Newcomers welcome.
484-889-6182. Meeting location and/or Zoom link on Facebook.
Keys Writers Meeting
Wednesday February 18, 1 p.m. Big Pine Library Conference Room Winn-Dixie Shopping Plaza
Explore
writing in a fun, supportive environment with the Keys Writers Group!
All styles and abilities are welcome. Participants may bring up to five
pages, double spaced, to read aloud. If you can, bring 5-7 copies to
share. The group offers feedback in a friendly, constructive way. Not
ready to share? Come to a meeting to get acquainted and offer feedback.
"Writers need readers!"
Generative Poetry Weekend at the Elizabeth Bishops House
Friday - Sunday February 20 -22, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Feb. 20 evening) Elizabeth Bishop House 624 White St., Key West
Get into the spirit of creativity with a group of poets writing and sharing work in the newly restored Bishop House. Led
by multi-genre author Rosalind Brackenbury, former poet laureate of Key
West, this weekend intensive will leave you with a batch of new poems
and refreshed ideas about what to do next.
Annual Tennessee Williams Poetry and Short Story Contests
Deadline: March 1, Midnight
Drawing
inspiration from the 2026 Festival theme, all contest submissions must
reference Williams’s seminal work “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” in some
manner. Writers are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly.
References may include the play itself, Williams during the
writing process, one or more of its characters, or actors and actresses
associated with the stage or film adaptations.
Friday February 13, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Tennessee Williams Theatre 5901 College Road,Key West
Pilobolus’s
Other Worlds Collection traverses the spaces we inhabit—from the realms
within ourselves, society, and the universe—with wit, wisdom, and
whimsy. The collection features collaborations with visionaries who see
life through the lens of theatre, music, and dance. Pilobolus’s Other
Worlds Collection is a journey through the multitudes of the human
condition, fusing sensuality, humor, and extraordinary physical prowess
into a performance that will leave audiences spellbound.
Friday & Saturday February 13 - 14, 8 p.m. Studios of Key West 533 Eaton St., Key West
In
1963, a new librarian secretly checks out a controversial book to a
teenage patron. Local tempers flare against the library as the staff
must choose how far they will go to protect their ideals and each other.
Sunday February 15, 8 p.m. Main Stage Key West Theater 512 Eaton St., Key West
Gabriel
has made numerous television appearances including Comedy Central's
Live at Gotham, Nickelodeon's Nickmom Night Out, Laughs on FOX, and
Inside Joke streaming on Amazon Prime Video. His Dry Bar Comedy special
“A Third of the Room,” as well as his YouTube special “Nectarine” have
garnered millions of views online.
Opens Wednesday February 18 - 20, 7 p.m. Fringe Theater 600 White Street at the Key West Armory
This
poignant and deeply intimate play premiered off-broadway in 2023 at
Signature Theater in NYC. Witty and deeply human. It explores the
emerging friendship of a professor and her student Max.
Through February 14, 7:30 p.m. Waterfront Playhouse 407 Wall St., Key West
This whimsical and heartfelt series of vignettes explores the joys and
sorrows of love in a mythical town in northern Maine. The New York Daily
News wrote: “Almost, Maine’s charm is real. It packs wit, earns its
laughs, and, like love, surprises you.”
Through February 14, 7:30 p.m. Red Barn Theatre 319 Duval Street -Rear, Key West
Patrons
will be cordially invited to a Northern California wedding and meet
Carlo, an agent of comedic chaos, as she attempts to make it through the
night without drinking too much, talking too much, or trying to win
back the bride.
Daily 90 minutes prior to sunset The Dock at Mallory Square, Key West
Come watch the world-famous sunset! Meet the
local makers & purchase local arts & crafts. Experience
the music, mayhem & magic of our street performers and feast on
freshly prepared food & drinks.
"The Annex" - 804 White St. & "By the Bay" 3340 N. Roosevelt Blvd. #2, Key West
Classical
ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, tap, Latin, hip-hop, musical
theatre and more for children and adults, beginner to professional. Home
of the CoffeeMill Young Dance Collective student dance company
(performing group). Year ‘round workshops.
Mondays, February 16 - March 2, 2 - 4 p.m. College of the Florida Keys 5901 College Rd., Key West
Led
by artist Gail Harrison, will teach the basics of glass slumping and
guide students in creating their own glass bowl creations. Participants
will explore simple design ideas, safety practices, and the slumping
process while working directly with glass to make a unique finished
piece.
It's
time to renew your membership or join. 100% of your membership supports
the artists & arts organizations living and working in the
Florida Keys. Thank you for supporting our vibrant, diverse
creative communities.
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