Grass, Grit, and Global Truths
Why Poynter Park is the Only "Gallery" That Matters This Month
Video by Adam Bounds
There’s a specific kind of magic that happens when you take high-level art and put it in the path of a humid Florida breeze. Most "prestige" art is locked behind glass, guarded by a hushed silence that feels more like a library than a conversation. But at Poynter Park right now, the art is loud, it’s large-scale, and it’s staring you right in the face while you look at the USF St. Pete campus or the shimmering Bay.
We caught up with Patrick Arthur Jackson of Embracing Our Differences while they were setting up the latest exhibition. Standing among the massive banners, you realize this isn’t just a "pretty park" project. It’s a defiant response to the walls we build—both literal and metaphorical.
"We’re in a time of great division," Patrick said, his glasses catching the St. Pete sun. "To be able to just have a peek into someone’s perspective really allows me to widen my lens."
The work ranges from whimsical (think a child in a Godzilla suit) to the gut-wrenching (vivid depictions of the borders and bars that separate us). Because it’s outside, the "parking lot conversations" are baked into the experience. You aren't just a passive observer here; you’re sharing the space with the art. You’re seeing it while a jogger passes by, or while a family has a picnic. It’s art as a living, breathing part of our region’s identity.
Why it Matters
In an era where "culture" often feels like something you only find on a screen or in an expensive zip code, Embracing Our Differences is a reminder that the most vital stories are the ones we share in public spaces. They’re even paying for the buses to get local students there. That’s not "fluff"—that’s real community building.
When/Where
- Where: Poynter Park, Downtown St. Petersburg (next to USF St. Pete).
- When: Now through April 12. Open whenever the park is.
- Cost: $0
Avery Anderson
Avery Anderson