Triple Threat: New Exhibits at FMoPA

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Tampa is coming out swinging in 2018, with three excellent exhibitions opening Friday. The Family Acid are actor, author and reggae archivist Roger Steffens' photographs of America in the 1960s, '70s and '80s, that feature Vietnam, musicians, hippies and LSD. Former high fashion photographer Jean Pagliuso found a muse in chickens, which star in Poultry, Raptors, Places of Ritual. Celebrity portraits get humorously twisted by Chris Buck in Magnificent Hurt. All three exhibits remain on display through March 16. Admission is pay-as-you-choose at the opening reception 5-7 p.m. Friday; otherwise it's $10 or free for members. 400 N Ashley Drive, Tampa. (813) 221-2222. fmopa.org.

Highly Anticipated: Art Festival Beth-El

Artists and collectors alike wait all year for the annual fine art show at St. Petersburg's Temple Beth-El. The show began in 1973 with a mere 20 artists. But it has grown to include more than 170 award-winning artists from around the country, with works including painting, photography, sculpture, glass, ceramics and some of the most fabulous jewelry ever. Saturday kicks off with a cocktail reception, $25 at the door. It's free to attend Sunday and Monday. 400 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg. (727) 347-6136. artfestivalbethel.com.

Changing Tides: When the Water Rises

Upon first glance, Julie Heffernan's paintings look serene and beautiful, perhaps of another world or a fantasy land. But get a little closer, and you'll notice things aren't so serene. Everyone's living in trees or on rafts, in the process of evacuating the rising water levels. She's created these microcosms in response to environmental disaster and planetary excess in a collection of paintings called When the Water Rises, which opens Friday at the University of Tampa's Scarfone/Hartley Gallery. A reception and curatorial tour with Francesca Bacci, associate professor of art, is from 7–9 p.m. 310 N Boulevard. ut.edu/scarfonehartleygallery.