Love Letters to Tampa Bay
A shoppable art exhibition at the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
Open to the public Black Friday - Christmas 2025
Artist Kai Tomalin invites you to experience Love Letters to Tampa Bay, a heartfelt exploration of estuaries as sacred spaces where land, water, and life converge. Through myth, memory, and vibrant papier-mâché sculptures, Kai celebrates the estuary not only as a cradle for wildlife but as a spiritual and cultural lifeline for our region.
Each sculpture, whether a pelican mid-flight or a mangrove rooted in quiet strength, is adorned with colors and symbols that echo the rich history and spirit of Tampa Bay. This exhibition is a tribute to the delicate, vital web of life that thrives in our waters and along our shores.
Where: Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
When: Black Friday to Christmas 2025
Presented by Red Apple Group and Residences at 400 Central, with additional support from Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille, and Harvey’s 4th Street Grill.
All artworks will be available for purchase. A portion of proceeds will benefit Tampa Bay Watch’s mission to protect and restore the bay’s estuarine ecosystem.
About the Artist
Kai Tomalin is an adventurer, folklorist, and storyteller. His art blends magical realism with ancestral memory, where each brushstroke echoes myth and the natural world.
Each piece Kai creates plants a seed of wonder and memory. His work reminds us we are not just stewards of nature, but co-authors of its story.
With every piece he shares, Kai gives back—supporting conservation efforts that protect the sacred places he honors. Because to tell a story is to help it endure.
Opening Night
Join us for the opening of Love Letters to Tampa Bay, a creative celebration of our region’s estuaries as sacred spaces where land, water, and life converge. Through colorful, myth-infused papier-mâché sculptures, artist Kai Tomalin honors the spirit and ecology of Tampa Bay.
Black Friday (November 28th, 2025)
5:00–7:30 PM
at The Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
Festive casual attire encouraged
Enjoy wine, beer, hors d'oeuvres, and a special artist talk
Free for Tampa Bay Watch members, $10 for non-members
Be among the first to view and purchase Kai’s stunning works, with a portion of proceeds supporting Tampa Bay Watch’s mission to protect and restore our estuarine ecosystem. The Discovery Center's gift shop will also be open to kick off your holiday shopping in support of conservation.
Space is limited, so reserve your tickets early.
At 6:00 PM, guests will enjoy the artist’s storytelling of the collection’s original folklore outside in our pavilion (weather permitting).
Tampa Bay’s estuary comes to life through the art and original folklore of native son and artist Kai Tomalin. Against a setting sun and painted sky, Kai will share his stories about the waters and ways that shaped his childhood and inspired this one-of-a-kind collection that celebrates Tampa Bay, the beautiful marine life that defines it, and the conservation efforts that will ensure it continues to thrive for generations to come.