In the 1960s through early ’70s, there was a saying about Ybor City’s main thoroughfare:
"You could take a nap in the middle of Seventh Avenue and not worry about traffic," said Paul Wilborn, a 1975 ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ graduate. "It was empty."
The situation was so dire that in 1970, Tampa officials proposed turning the district into a bullfighting arena.
Ybor was ultimately saved by bulls, but a different kind: the ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ Bulls.
Artists – many from what today is known as ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬â€™s College of Design, Art & Performance – took over Ybor, opening galleries, staging shows and throwing parties that revived the district and laid the foundation for today’s entertainment and residential hub.
ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ turns 70 this year.
And Ybor is celebrating its 140th anniversary.
Though their births are decades apart, their art history remains deeply connected.
Continue reading on ÊÖ»ú¿´Æ¬ Newsroom.