Summer School · 7.6.23-8.3.23 — Parachute Gallery

Summer School at Parachute Gallery July 6 - August 3, 2023

Parachute Gallery · 1624 E 7th Ave #240, Tampa, FL 33605 · July 6 - August 3, 2023

Opening Reception · Thursday, July 6, 2023 @ 6-9pm · Join us for a special reception treat by Gabby Bakes!

Closing Reception · Thursday, August 3, 2023 @ 6-9pm

Pop-Up Bookstore Events:

GrowHouse Poetry Slam benefitting Andrew Joseph Foundation · Saturday, July 22, 2023 @ 7pm
Heard ‘Em Say Open Mic benefitting Heard ‘Em Say · Friday, July 28, 2023 @ 7pm

Curated and organized by Jessica Todd and Victoria Alvarez

Filmed performances by:

Jay Miah (Tampa, FL)
TeMonet (Tampa, FL)
Apollo Infiniti (Tampa, FL)

Artwork provided by Embracing Our Differences, featuring:

Donna Richardson (Tampa, FL), accompanied by a quotation from Ojasvi “Oju” Ramani (Ashburn, VA)
Clifford McDonald (Sarasota, FL), accompanied by a quotation from Clifford McDonald
Taira Akiko Hiraguri (Ashiya, Japan), accompanied by a quotation from Raaina Chadha (New Delhi, India)
Diego Dillon (Mocksville, NC), accompanied by a quotation from Alexis Morrell (Wolcott, CT)

Book donations provided by Bess the Book Bus, Rohi’s Readery, Mojo Books & Records, Book + Bottle, and Tombolo Books.

Book sales benefit Heard 'Em Say Youth Arts Collective.

Photography and videography provided by Dave Decker Photography.

Summer School is a collaborative, community-based, interactive installation at Parachute Gallery. This program is a celebratory response to the recent censorship of inclusive cultural content in K-12 schools, colleges, and public and private spaces across the state of Florida.

The installation includes:

A library of banned books, available to browse or purchase-by-donation. 100% of book sales benefit Heard 'Em Say Youth Arts Collective, a Tampa-based non-profit that identifies, cultivates, and empowers young people in activism and advocacy through artistic education and expression. Books from Florida’s public school banned lists and books celebrating diversity were donated by the Tampa-based mobile literacy non-profit Bess the Book Bus as well as four independent bookstores in Florida: Rohi’s Readery (a social justice driven children's bookstore and learning center in West Palm Beach), Mojo Books & Records in Tampa, Book + Bottle in St. Pete, and Tombolo Books in St. Pete.
A video screening of storybook readings by local Drag performers. Performers Jay Miah, TeMonet, and Apollo Infiniti were paid a stipend for their time, as Drag bookings have been negatively impacted by recent hostilities. These stipends and other production expenses are fully funded by generous donors to our GoFundMe campaign! Dave Decker Photography provided videography, photography, and production services in-kind.
An exhibition of artwork that has faced censorship and backlash due to inclusive content. We have on view a selection of artwork that was created for Embracing Our Differences, a Sarasota-based non-profit that uses the power of art and education to expand consciousness and open the heart to celebrate the diversity of the human family. The artwork—created both by children and professional artists—made the news for being censored from display on State College of Florida’s campus in Bradenton, as well as a piece that was vandalized earlier this year at Sarasota’s Bayfront Park. The included artwork is positive, inclusive, and reflects an earnest hopefulness for a better, more loving world.