AMPED: Creative Conversations Merritt Capurro and Stephanie Chill
October 10 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
To keep connection going throughout the run of AMPED: Turn Up for the Arts, on view at the FloridaRAMA Impact Gallery in St. Petersburg from Sept. 5-Nov. 1, 2026, Creative Pinellas is hosting Creative Conversations panels with our cultural community during Second Saturday Artwalk on Sept. 12 and Oct. 10. They will be moderated by Creative Pinellas CEO Margaret Murray.
On Oct. 10, Merritt Capurro and Stephanie Chill, both Tampa Bay natives, will talk about the role tourism plays in an arts destination like Pinellas County. The timing comes perfectly ahead of Art Everywhere: A Celebration of Culture & Creativity, happening throughout the county Nov.1-Dec. 6.
Chill is a cultural programs and nonprofit professional whose work centers on connecting people through arts, heritage, and international exchange. As Executive Director of Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc., she develops cultural programs and partnerships that create opportunities for residents and visitors to experience Clearwater’s international connections in meaningful ways. Her background spans public humanities, museums, heritage preservation, and community-based programming, including previous work as a Program Officer at Florida Humanities. Chill is currently leading Clearwater Illuminations: Lantern Festival and International Night Market, a new cultural arts festival inspired in part by Clearwater’s sister-city relationship with Nagano, Japan. The event, taking place Dec. 6 at Coachman Park, received funding from Creative Pinellas as part of Art Everywhere: A Celebration of Culture & Creativity.
Capurro is known for stylized realism that uses bold color, lifelike hands, and rich symbolism to stir curiosity and conversation. Her signature Fruity Soirée series features hands bursting through the canvas to grasp fruit and liquid, blurring the line between pleasure and surreal tension. With roots in costume & textile design alongside scenic mural work, her art blends decades of technique with playful exploration. Whether creating large-scale murals or striking canvases, she brings dramatic composition, technical skill, and just enough mischief to make you look twice.
