Five new exhibitions open at the Dunedin Fine Art Center on Friday, Sept. 4, filling seven galleries with painting, photography, sculpture, video and fiber arts through the end of the year.

Tickets for the opening night reception cost $10 online or $12 at the door. The public event runs 6 to 8:30 p.m., with members getting early access at 5:30 p.m., according to DFAC's announcement published Thursday, Aug. 13.

The fall lineup arrives as Dunedin's tourism economy is surging. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater president and CEO Brian Lowack said in a July 28 report that "Dunedin has emerged as one of Pinellas County's fastest-growing destinations," with the county posting more than $36.2 million in tourist development tax collections from February through April, up 7.7% year over year. DFAC was also among nearly 30 Pinellas venues that recently won grants through a new $350,000 county arts program.

Countywide, the nonprofit arts and culture sector generated $294.7 million in economic activity in 2022, supporting 4,528 jobs, according to a City of Dunedin analysis citing the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study.

The shows

The Only Lasting Truth takes its title from science fiction author Octavia Butler and features six artists, including Katina Bitsicas, Deon Blackwell and John Steck Jr. The works transform, deteriorate and disappear through crumbling, fading, melting and decay.

Intimate Monument explores grief, memory and the impulse to create in the face of loss through photography, installation, video and sculpture. Artists include Bitsicas, Desiree Moore, Kristin Roles, Steck and Eszter Sziksz.

The Tender Weight brings together six Black male painters connected to the Tampa Bay area: Jay Coachman, Raheem Fitzgerald, iBOMS, Dallas Jackson, Zulu Painter and Marlon Tobias. They explore family, spirituality, masculinity and joy.

Guiding Stars: Quilter's Crossing 2026 Quilt Challenge is DFAC's annual fiber arts competition. This year's theme marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, using stars as symbols of guidance and hope.

Legacy is a juried show guest-judged by Blackwell, who also serves as DFAC's adult education director. It runs through Sunday, Oct. 18, a shorter window than the other four exhibitions, which remain on view through Thursday, Dec. 24.

What's next

The Sept. 4 opening is DFAC's first major public event since its summer exhibitions closed in mid-August. The center sits at 1143 Michigan Blvd. in Dunedin. It has operated for more than five decades.

Tickets and details are available at dfac.org.