Starting this summer, a slate of exhibitions, performances and installations will invite the community to reflect on the many stories that define America as part of the America250 commemoration.
Earlier this year, in recognition of the United States of America’s 250th anniversary, Creative Pinellas selected six Pinellas County Artists to receive 2026 National Endowment for the Arts 2026 grants, totaling $60,000. The first of those artistic experiences will debut to the public on July 11, with others continuing throughout the year.
Following is a look at upcoming experiences:
“The Citrus Wizard: Gim Gong Lue,” by Kirk Ke Wang, at Heritage Village Park & Museum, 11909 125 St. N., Largo.
Unveiling of the project will take place on Saturday, July 11, at 11:30 a.m. It is part of Heritage Village’s All-American 50 at 250 Bash, a park-wide celebration, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kirk Ke Wang, Shanghai-born multi-media artist and professor of Visual Arts at Eckerd College for 32 years, will unveil a new 3D installation that explores the historic role of Lue Gim Gong and what his example may teach us about the future of American innovation. Gong was a Chinese-American horticulturist known in the early 19th century as “The Citrus Wizard” for saving the Florida citrus industry.
During the event, attendees can enjoy live performances by Rebecca John and Riona John and Erhu music by Baozheng Li and Zhaorui Sun.
Wang has exhibited his art in galleries, non-for-profit institutions, and museums locally, nationally, and internationally, such as the Museum of Modern Art, PS1 in New York City. His works have been collected by museums, galleries and private collectors in the United States and Asia. He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards from many distinguished institutions, such as the National Endowments for the Arts, the Freeman Foundation, Ford Foundation, National Asian Network, and the Florida Arts Council.
“Paths Like Past Exhibition,” by Vanessa Cunto, at ARTicles Gallery & Fine Art Services, 1234 Dr. Martin Luther King St. N., St. Petersburg.
Vanessa Cunto will premiere a group of large-format drawings on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. Her work examines the intersection of nature and human impact in shaping the future identity of the United States. A first-generation American with roots in Italy and Venezuela, Cunto’s self-taught technique uses graphite powder, specialized papers and original references that allows for hyper-realism.
Cunto is known for turning concepts into captivating visual experiences across mood, space, and object.
On her website, she states: “My hybrid background in fine art and commercial design shaped the way I think about creativity: not as one fixed discipline, but as a process of turning concepts into compelling visual language. This training lets me easily blend the depth of classical thinking with the precision of commercial execution, so the work is always conceptually clear and beautifully realized for the client. I’m here to ensure that every visual element we create builds meaning and tells a story that is as sophisticated as it is memorable.”
“The Women of My Life,” by Dave and Heather Hamar, at St. Petersburg City Theatre, 4025 31st St. S., St. Petersburg.
This concert will be presented on Friday, Aug. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. Attendees will experience an evening of original music, personal storytelling, and the world premiere of a song created through a collaboration between Creative Pinellas NEA artists Dave and Heather Hamar and 25 Pinellas County residents. The presentation will explore the history, present, and future of America. The husband-and-wife duo have worked for decades in performance arts, with Dave as a musician and Heather as a vocalist and actress. Reserve a free ticket online at www.eventbrite.com.
Two other NEA America250 artists — filmmaker/writer/theatrical director/producer Erica Sutherlin and Colombia-born filmmaker Felipe Zamudio — are working on a film and documentary, respectively, that will be shown in the fall. Event details will be announced at a later date.
Sutherlin, artistic executive director of Studio@620, is working with dozens of Pinellas County community members on a new short film that focuses on the role of Black women in shaping the future of national identity. Zamudio, also a director of photography/editor, will present a documentary that follows his fellow 2026 Creative Pinellas NEA artists collaborating with community members to create their new pieces that explore American identity for the semiquincentennial.
To support the participating artists and community members, in early June, Creative Pinellas NEA artist Dr. Tyler Gillespie and his team presented an orientation to nearly 80 attendees on the history of American identity in art at the President Barack Obama Main Library in St. Petersburg.
“We are honored to be able to support these projects to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial by exploring themes of innovation, identity, and shared history through many wonderful, different artistic perspectives,” said Todd Wellman, Creative Pinellas funding director. “Each work encourages meaningful conversations about ourselves and our country.”
Organizations supporting the Creative Pinellas NEA artists include Heritage Village Park & Museum, Learning Ground Foundation, United Chinese Americans Community Foundation, ARTicles Gallery & Fine Art Services, Toftegaard Design, St Petersburg City Theatre, and Studio@620.
For more information, visit www.creativepinellas.org.