Once a bohemian arts enclave, the historic district of Ybor City dropped into a Bourbon-Street-styled pitfall in the late 1990s, driving out antique stores with high-rent bars and dance clubs. The main drag along Seventh Avenue was closed to vehicles on weekends, and instead flooded with rowdy pedestrians who generally caused trouble and made a big mess. 

Today (thankfully) the area shows signs of a strong artistic revival, as museums and funky independent shops again gain footholds. Seventh Avenue is a regular street once more. Quality restaurants survived the dark times. New cafés are taking root alongside galleries showcasing local art.

I have fond memories of the old days (Blue Chair Music, Three Birds Bookstore) … and I’m quite ready to embrace the new. 

The latest exciting addition to Ybor’s art scene – Jeff Whipple Art Museum, or JWAM – fills a 5,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by the Metropolitan Deluxe ritzy housewares chain. With its white-tiled floors and pressed-tin ceiling, the building seems much more in concert with fine art than it ever was with high-priced bath towels.

Opened in March 2008, JWAM showcases nearly 200 artworks chronicling contemporary artist Jeff Whipple’s creative output from the 1970s to the present day, including paintings, drawings, video and sculpture. The Spasm Gallery presents new exhibitions by Whipple and selected artists each month. 

Whipple, a Tampa resident, creates artwork that is realistic in style, while thought-provoking, perplexing and sometimes humorous in content. His work has appeared in more than 75 solo exhibitions throughout the U.S. and Whipple has taught at several universities. (He once critiqued my photographs, and it really opened my eyes.)

For your own eye-opening experience, visit JWAM during your next trip to Tampa. The museum is located in Centro Ybor near the intersection of 16th Street and Seventh Avenue. Regular hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is just $5. Learn more at the official website, here. 

Meanwhile, stay tuned to this blog as I explore the many facets – both old and new – that make Ybor City a great place.