My Story in Voyage Tampa
……please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I feel so at home in St. Petersburg as it is widely recognized as a major arts hub on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with a particularly dense concentration of galleries, studios, and cultural organizations downtown and in surrounding districts. The city is home to multiple significant museums, including the Salvador Dalí Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, the Imagine Museum, the Chihuly Collection, and newer immersive spaces like FloridaRAMA, all of which anchor a thriving arts ecosystem.
When I moved from the Midwest to St. Petersburg in 1997 my passion for creativity and the arts first drew me to the Salvador Dalí Museum, where I took the docent certification class and discovered the joy of sharing Dalí’s works and story with others. I never tire of leading public tours in the Museum.
Over the years, my dedication was recognized, and I was invited toWhen I moved from the Midwest to St. Petersburg in 1997 my passion for creativity and the arts first drew me to the Salvador Dalí Museum, where I took the docent certification class and discovered the joy of sharing Dalí’s works and story with others. I never tire of leading public tours in the Museum.
Over the years, my dedication was recognized, and I was invited to serve on the Dalí Museum’s Board of Trustees. Today, I hold the title of Lifetime Trustee, a distinction that honors ongoing commitment.
I also hold a passion for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. During the pandemic I made stylish masks that were sold at Deborah Kents boutique in Tampa. They were a way to support a cause I care deeply about, the care of animals. The proceeds of the mask sales went to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. I have continued to support their work in a very personal, hands-on way. I now sew small handmade blankets that are sent home with cats being adopted. I also serve on their Advisory Council to support the organization’s mission.
I hold a Master of Fine Arts degree from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, with a concentration in fiber that is closely coordinated with my interest in painting. I was never the traditional weaver. Over the course of my career, I have created and exhibited large-scale fiber sculptures, using scale, texture, and form to transform spaces and invite viewers into immersive experiences. I still meld classic crafts with contemporary narratives. I collect old textiles, vintage napkins and handerchiefs, needlepoint, embroidered and crochet pieces. I come from a long line of quilters and sewers and I respect that tradition.The dual focus on fiber and painting has given me a strong foundation in both material exploration and visual expression.
I currently maintain an active studio practice at the ArtLofts in downtown St. Petersburg, a long-running collective of working artist studios and galleries that supports a vibrant, collaborative arts community. I also have dedicated studio space in my downtown condo. So I am almost always in the process of “making something” or at least thinking about what next. I often rework past pieces.
Poetry has been a significant source of inspiration in my work, often shaping the themes, rhythms, and emotional undercurrents of my pieces. Another collection is a book shelf of poetry. Favorites are Jane Kenyon, Kay Ryan, Louise Gluck, E. E. Cummings, Alfred Lord Tennyson. This poetic influence weaves through my fiber and painted works alike, connecting language, material, and visual storytelling into a cohesive artistic voice.
I am in a continuous act of creation, from what I wear, what I read, what I do. A work of art doesn’t really have a beginning and definitely doesn’t have an ending.
Tying into my fiber work, interest in fashion has always been part of my life. Today I would describe my style as elegant, clean, minimal. I love luxurious fabrics and muted colors……always muted. Almost always I dress monochromatic. A look into my closets will reveal lots of black, white and ivory, beige and gray. Not just any of those colors but certain versions of them. You will see almost no sign of a print. Many items have something a little unexpected like asymmetrical hems, raw edges, elongated collars, and a touch (detail) adding a bit of complexity. While I don’t follow trends, I keep up with the general flow of fashion and try to look up to date.
Sustainability is something I think about more and more. In the past year, I’ve purchased more second-hand items than new – many from The Real Real. I sell pieces from my closet to give the lesser used items a new home. I like buying pieces made using recycled fabrics and overall I’ve tried to reduce my intake. I’ve started to reach into the back of my closet to pull out older pieces and style them up to prove to my audience you can give old pieces a new lease of life. Another way of saying it is “I shop in my closet”.
I continue to actively collect contemporary art. My favorite New York gallery is Paula Cooper. She has guided me through the collecting process. From her gallery I own Rudolf Stingel, Dan Walsh and Sophie Calle. Florida artists I own are Ezra Seigel, Jason Hackenwerth and Babette Hershberger. I like to say: I support the arts, collect art and am an artist. My life is art!
Being in the later years of my life it would be very easy to close myself off. I cannot and will not do that. I have a perspective that makes me understand how fortunate and privileged I have been. My family—my daughter Jennifer, her husband Kevin, and my grandchildren, Mitchell and Jacqueline—are very dear to me. We live near each other which makes me extremely grateful.
Today it is not about how much work I have exhibited and sold but about knowing I didn’t stop working and I didn’t go away. I hope I have inspired other artists by sharing my thoughts and ideas and rejoiced in the inspiration I have received in return.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have moved several times since getting to St. Petersburg. Moving always causes disruption and anxiety.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am proud of my ability to do installations that treat a whole space as an artwork. Objects, images and light come into play so viewers step into a constructed environment rather than stand in front of a single piece. This puts emphasis on the viewer to navigate, react and be involved.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to keep doing what I do. I am content and happy.
Contact Info:
Website: https://jeanninehascall.com