Exhibits & Events | 2025
Holiday Open House
When
December 14, 2025 from 1-6 PM
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Get ready to wander through the twinkling lights of our transformed Legacy Garden and enjoy festive holiday treats at this year’s Holiday Open House!
Join us on December 14 from 1–6 PM to explore our current exhibition, “The Art of Collage” by Ken Falana, vote for your favorite Christmas tree, and make your final Toy Drive donations.
This joyful, family-friendly gathering is the perfect way to celebrate the season and embrace the holiday spirit!
PJs, Popcorn, and Pictures with Santa
When
December 20, 2025 from 10 AM-1 PM
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Registration is now closed for this year’s PJs, Popcorn, and Pictures with Santa!
We look forward to celebrating the holidays with everyone who will be attending.
At the Feet of the Elders
When
November 15, 2025
Where
The President Barack Obama Main Library
Admission
Free
What
Join us for a community celebration to mark the grand reopening of The President Barack Obama Main Library with family-friendly activities, interactive programming, including our exciting series of At the Feet of the Elders.
The event will be held Saturday, November 15, from 10 AM to 3 PM.
The conversation with the Elders begins at Noon.
Veterans Day at The Woodson
When
November 11, 2025 from 11 AM-3 PM
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Join The Woodson in honoring our country’s Veterans.
“The Art of Collage” by Ken Falana and “Harriet Tubman: The Beacon of Hope” by Wesley Wofford will be on view.
The Woodson’s Annual Toy Drive
When
November 4 – December 14
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Share in the joy of the season, please donate books, balls, dolls, trucks, games, and gift cards for teens to The Woodson African American Museum of Florida.
October’s Second Saturday ArtWalk
When
October 11, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Join The Woodson from 1-5 PM for Second Saturday ArtWalk!
Enjoy refreshments and appetizers while viewing The Woodson’s newest exhibition, “The Art of Collage” by Ken Falana.
St. Pete Reads Lit Fest
When
November 1, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
The St. Pete Reads! Literacy Festival, presented by the Cultured Books Literacy Foundation, is dedicated to entertaining, engaging, and educating children through literature. This festival also highlights literacy programs and resources available for youth and families in South St. Pete.
SOLD OUT! Third in a Series: At the Feet of the Elders
When
October 28, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
SOLD OUT
What
Thank you to everyone who has shown interest in this exclusive series by The Woodson African American Museum of Florida that explores St. Petersburg’s history through the eyes of our elders—those who have lived through pivotal moments that helped shape our city into what it is today.
Clergy Appreciation Breakfast
When
October 13, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
What
In honor of local pastors, priests, rabbis, ministers, Imams, and clergy members, whose spiritual leadership, sacrifices, and dedication continue to uplift and strengthen our community.
The Art of Collage – Ken Falana
About the Artist
Ken Falana is a contemporary printmaker and retired art educator, born and raised in Florida, who began drawing as a child in the 1950s. He fondly recalls that an aunt and uncle, with whom he sometimes lived, often took him to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. There, he became fascinated with the Classical and Renaissance nude sculptures on display and began sketching them. Although his aunt and uncle were initially surprised by his interest in drawing nude figures, they encouraged him to continue pursuing his passion.
Ken was the first in his family to attend college, earning an Associate of Arts degree from Gibbs Junior Community College in 1962. He then enrolled at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Art Education in 1964. After graduation, Ken moved to Hollywood, Florida, where he taught art in public schools at what was then known as Attucks Junior–Senior High School. He also worked as an Art Specialist at the Communication Art Center, BBPI, in Fort Lauderdale.
In 1970, driven by a desire to deepen his knowledge of printmaking, Ken entered the graduate program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning an MFA in printmaking in 1972. Soon after, he returned to Florida to accept a teaching position at his alma mater, Florida A&M University, where he spent more than 30 years as a Professor of Art while continuing to create and exhibit his own work.
Ken’s artwork is represented in both public and private collections, including the Museum of the National Center for Afro-American Artists in Boston, the Daytona News-Journal, the NCCU Art Museum, Florida A&M University, the Metro-Dade County Building of Public Administration, Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the St. Louis Artists’ Guild, and the Wisconsin Union Art Collection.
He retired from teaching in 2011 and now devotes his time to creating new works of art, exhibiting, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Artist Statement:
“I am and have always been an artist. My journey into the world of art began as a child when I started drawing nude Renaissance sculptures that I admired during frequent visits to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. Later, I studied printmaking in college and became an educator, teaching art for over 30 years.
My work spans many media and has involved the creation of prints, mixed media collages, conceptually based on my cultural inspirations from Africa, the Civil Rights Movement, and many of my personal reflections.
I consider myself an abstract experimentalist, working with techniques that use bold, colorful selections. My silkscreen constructions, such as Red Field, are where I call upon silkscreen printing inks on large sheets of paper, cut into shapes and assembled into large-scale patterns representing my approach to painting.
I use texture to evoke mood and an improvisational arrangement to create a sense of space and depth. My latest series, Mono Panels, combined with time-based results, addresses the chaos and uncertainty I find in our current environment: climate change, political crisis, and social unraveling.
Now living in these uncertain times, I observe, maintain, and dream.”
Artwork Descriptions
“Lilies”
A warm and vibrant collage of flowers on a hot summer day. Purple lilies in all their glory, standing tall in the noon-day sun and cooled by pools of blue water.
“Rain”
Rain is the first piece using the silkscreen collage technique I created in 2010, constructed from an unsuccessful edition of abstract water lilies prints. I decided to use the prints as materials for a new collage, using a paper cutter. I cut vertical strips allowing them to fall to the floor, randomly creating varieties of patterns. Then, I selected patterns of interest with movement, color, harmony, atmosphere and experimented with different compositions, using the whole picture space and an overall color pattern of the rain forest in cool blues and emerald greens with black. Adding the magic of improvisation to the collage, “Rain” was created. This collage captures in abstraction a moist tropical rain forest and all its luxuriant untouched natural beauty during heavy rainfall.
“Storm Surge”
This vibrant abstract is part of a larger series of art on the environment. Created in late 2017 after the Super Hurricanes “Harvey and “Irma’s devastation caused by coastal and inland flooding in the Caribbean. “Storm Surge” is a collage using the monotype techniques of printmaking to create its parts. A destructive scene of mass flooding is depicted in deep bright flowing greens and danger red.
“Firestorm”
“Firestorms in Paradise” California, a “monotype collage inspired by the California wildfires of 2018. It is a prelude to the current climate changes occurring on the west coast of the United States where wildfires burn out of control. It is part of a triptych of collages about the wildfires that destroyed the town of Paradise, California.
“Blue Wave”
Blue wave is about global climate change. It is a scene of a massive glacier meltdown with the melted water gushing from an ice cap. A blue wave of water flows across the middle of the picture space reminiscent of the first blue wave 9,000 years ago. As climate changes warm the planet, the ice loss has increased rapidly. If we do not address the global climate change, the ice will continue melting, and coastal cities and low line areas will be underwater in our lifetime.
Website: KenFalanaFineArt.com
SOLD OUT: Second of a Series: At the Feet of the Elders
When
September 23, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
SOLD OUT
What
Join us as we explore St. Petersburg’s history through the eyes of our elders—those who have lived through pivotal moments that helped shape our city into what it is today.
These rich, first-hand narratives by Rev. Ted Lockhart, Ms. Barbara Shorter, and Ms. Delceda Thompson will be shared in recorded interviews and preserved as part of an ongoing oral history project, ensuring that their legacies endure for generations to come.
2025 Free Museum Day
When
September 20, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
In partnership with St. Petersburg Art Alliance, join The Woodson for Free Museum Day to explore our current exhibition, stroll through the Legacy Garden, and enjoy activities for both adults and children.
In addition to the exciting plans in store for Free Museum Day — including face painting, storytelling, and drum circles — we invite guests to join us at 9 AM to help ReIMagine the Black History Matters mural that once resided in front of The Woodson.
Participants are encouraged to wear yellow, green, or red tops and dark bottoms.
Second Saturday ArtWalk
When
August 9, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
Join us from 10am to 2pm at The Woodson to explore our current exhibition, including the powerful showcase “Harriet Tubman: The Beacon of Hope.”
Enjoy live music, complimentary refreshments, and the opportunity to engage with artwork that brings our shared history to life through compelling visual storytelling.
WOW: Working on Wellness
When
July 19, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Capacity Reached
What
Capacity Reached!
Join us for WOW: Working on Wellness, a day catered for women that includes healing, restoration, and empowerment centered on the mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
Don’t miss out on workshops, lectures, and conversations led by wellness practitioners aimed at improving your thoughts and practices around self-care.
ASALH St. Petersburg Branch Meeting and Book Talk
When
June 26, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
This month’s ASALH meeting will feature a talk by Dr. Basha P. Jordan about his book, The Legacy of Elder Jordan, Sr.
No reservations required
Black Wall Shoppes
When
June 21, 2025
Where
833 22nd Street South, St Petersburg, FL, 33712
Admission
Free
What
From kid-friendly activities to unforgettable moments, this event is more than a marketplace—it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and togetherness.
Come for the food, stay for the fun, and support the best of St. Pete’s local gems. We’ll see you there!v
Juneteenth Celebration
When
June 19, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free
What
The Woodson will be open on Juneteenth and offering guests the opportunity to view the current exhibition, “The Beacon of Hope,” and participate in family-friendly activities!
Jazzy Juneteenth Jubilee
When
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Where
The Coliseum
Admission
SOLD OUT
What
Dust off your cowboy boots and slip into your most dazzling white attire—you’re invited to an unforgettable evening celebrating Juneteenth!
Join us for an All-White Party where friends and family will share in fun and fellowship over a beautifully curated cultural culinary experience by the table’s host.
Then get ready to hit the floor—all boots on the ground—as we dance the night away to Jazz, R&B, and timeless soulful sounds.
First Saturday Offering: Artist Talk by Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks
When
June 7, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
FREE
What
Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks, one of the 11 artists featured in our current exhibition, “Beacons, Griots, and the Journey to Freedom,” will speak about her artwork and the exhibition.
This event will take the place of our usual participation in the monthly
Second Saturday ArtWalk.
Hair Wrapping Session by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
When
May 13, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
FREE
What
Join us for this informative session about head wrapping.
May Week is a national program by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where one week in May is set aside each year for programs, highlighting academic and professional achievements and the events which emphasize the importance of higher education in the community, especially for Black women.
Reenactment of The Underground Railroad
When
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Where
The Legacy Garden at The Woodson
Admission
FREE
What
Join us for this moving reenactment of the Underground Railroad in The Woodson’s Legacy Garden.
Limited Edition Harriet Tubman Beacon of Hope T-Shirts are available for purchase while supplies last!
ArtWalk: Meet the Sculptor
When
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
FREE
What
Wesley Wofford will be present during April’s ArtWalk to share his vision and process behind the statue, The Beacon of Hope, which is currently in The Woodson’s Legacy Garden.
This bronze sculpture of Harriet Tubman symbolizes her impact and legacy in the Underground Railroad, and American History, becoming an inspiration to many due to her bravery and resilience.
Beacons, Griots, and the Journey to Freedom
When
April 7 – September 26
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
FREE
What
EXHIBITION EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
In a time when truth must rise above silence, the groundbreaking exhibit “Beacons, Griots and the Journey to Freedom,” curated by Black Art in America and hosted at The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, convenes an extraordinary group of artists—Jamaal Barber, Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, Phyllis Stephens, Curlee Holton, Stefanie Jackson, Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks, Mel Edwards, Steve Prince, Daphne Arthur, Najee Dorsey, and David Wilson.
This exhibition deepens our discourse on resilience, memory, and liberation, with each artist offering a distinctive perspective that weaves narratives of struggle and transformation with the power of storytelling and creative imagination. Their works transcend mere artistic expression, emerging as cultural beacons that guide us to remember the vital chapters of American history too often overlooked or erased.
First Ladies in African American History
When
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Where
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art
Admission
$65
What
Space is limited — Get your tickets today!
Collard Green Competition Tasters Wanted
When
February 15, 2025 at 12pm
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
$10
What
If you have an appetite for Collard Greens, there is a limited opportunity for judges. Space is very limited so register today!
Books, Bubbles & Brunch with Tanya LaReese Jackson Green
When
Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 10am
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
$25
What
Books, Bubbles & Brunch returns Saturday, March 1st with author Tanya LaReese Jackson Green. Participate in a fascinating conversation about her book Your Mental Health is the Most Important thing while we enjoy a delicious brunch!
The History of an African American Family – Presented by the St. Petersburg Branch of ASALH
When
Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 6pm
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
FREE
What
The History of an African American Family is a presentation by Monica Scott, descendent of 18th century African American intellectual and scientist Benjamin Banneker. Presented by the St. Petersburg Branch of ASALH, a Black History Month Celebration, the event will be on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 6pm at the Woodson African American Museum of Florida.
iBOMS: iMAGiNE NATiON
When
February 20, 2025 – August 10, 2025
Where
The Gallery at Creative Pinellas
Admission
FREE
Presented by the Woodson African American Museum of Florida and Creative Pinellas
Step into the boundless world of iMAGiNE NATiON, where artist iBOMS redefines imagination as an infinite, unexplored land—a motherland of all knowledge and the birthplace of spirituality, science, art, and philosophy.
Often seen as a realm of childhood, iBOMS views imagination as a vital, lifelong force. In this exhibition, he builds a “nation of imagination,” bringing ideas to life through objects and figures crafted with graphite, spray paint, resin casting, digital design, and even elements from nature.
iMAGiNE NATiON invites viewers to rediscover the power of imagination beyond childhood, exploring its potential as a tool for understanding life’s complexities and opportunities. For iBOMS, imagination is not just a creative outlet but a foundational force that shapes culture, structures, and the human psyche.
A multidisciplinary artist, iBOMS uses his craft to inspire, challenge, and transform perspectives. His work reflects his belief that imagination is not merely an escape but an essential means of shaping the world we live in.
Don’t miss this transformative journey into the vibrant and uncharted iMAGiNE NATiON!
Jabari Reed-Diop (iBOMS)
Based out of: St. Petersburg, Florida, Jabari Jahi Babatu Reed-Diop, otherwise known as iBOMS (illegal. Beauty. On.My.Streets) is a 25-year-old artist based in St. Petersburg, Florida. His artistic acumen comes from personal experience and formal education at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville and Gibbs high PCCA magnet program here in St.Petersburg. Despite constantly pushing his craft and experimenting with new mediums, iBOMS’ style is immediately recognizable. At first glance, his work may seem like simple illustrations or…… Read More
Black History Trivia Night at The Woodson
When
Wednesday, February 5
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
FREE
What
All spaces filled — Registration Ended
Gather your team or register as an individual for an exciting night of Black history trivia.
Admission is free and prizes are waiting for winning teams.
Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony
When
Friday, January 31, 2025 at 9am
Where
St. Petersburg City Hall
Admission
Free
What
Join us at noon on Friday, January 31 for the annual Black History Month Flag Raising ceremony.
We look forward to gathering with the mayor, elected officials, and members of the community to kick off Black History Month in St. Petersburg once again.
Opening Reception – Invisible Labor
When
Saturday, January 11, 5pm-8pm
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
FREE
What
Celebrate the opening of our new exhibition with us this Saturday, January 11 from 5pm to 8pm. Invisible Labor features the artwork of Krystle Lemonias and Sharon Norwood. Experience this powerful exhibition that explores the value of Black labor during the next St. Petersburg Second Saturday Art Walk.
Exhibition Special Preview with Artist Krystle Lemonias
When
Friday, January 10, 2025
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
FREE
What
You’re invited to a special preview of our new exhibition Invisible Labor featuring the artwork of Krystle Lemonias and Sharon Norwood.
Krystle Lemonias will deliver a special presentation followed by questions from the audience, light refreshments will be served.
RSVP for free here.