SRQ Magazine | Love Local October 2019

BRAND STORY

OCTOBER 2019

SELBY GARDENS’ MASTER SITE PLAN

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TRANSFORMING LIVE LOCAL. LOVE LOCAL SARASOTA | BRADENTON L I V E LO C A L | LOV E LO C A L

CULTURE PREVIEW IT’S OPEN SEASON ON THE CULTURAL COAST, AND THERE’S NO LIMIT

TRANSFORMING HOW WE LIVE LOCAL SARASOTA | BRADENTON AREA

MUSEUM NEXT DOOR SARASOTA BALLET DIRECTOR IAIN WEBB’S PRIVATE COLLECTION

CONFIDENT COLORIST LYNN OUELLETTE PAINTS THE RAINBOW

PENGUIN CAKES’

SUGAR COOKIE PARADISE

OCTOBER 2019

DOING TIME AT THE HERMITAGE

BRUCE RODGERS TAKES A TURN IN THE MIRROR

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contents October 2019

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OPEN SEASON

DIVE INTO THE BOLD AND BRILLIANT WORLD OF BEETHOVEN ALL SEASON LONG. WITNESS THE REBIRTH OF THE WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE, DISCOVER THE ORIGIN STORY BEHIND ONE OF SARASOTA’S FAVORITE (ADOPTED) SONS—SYD SOLOMON, RELIVE THE ROMANCE OF ROMEO & JULIET NO FEWER THAN FOUR TIMES, PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GENIUS OF JOHN WILLIAMS AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND EVEN ATTEND THE LATEST WORLD PREMIERE THEATER PRODUCTION FROM A TEAM OF TONY AWARD WINNERS AT ASOLO REP. IT’S OPEN SEASON ON THE CULTURAL COAST, AND THERE IS NO LIMIT. Written by Phil Lederer

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SARASOTA BALLET DIRECTOR IAIN WEBB PRESERVES THE BALLET ARTFORM THROUGH HIS ARCHIVED ENSEMBLE. THE COLLECTION SPANS THE COMPLEX HISTORY OF BALLET AND IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE BALLET COLLECTIONS IN THE WORLD, DUE TO ITS QUALITY AND RARITY. AND IT ALL STARTED WITH THREE BOOKS ON THE MERCURY THEATRE AT THE RAMBERT SCHOOL, HIS FIRST MAJOR STAGE. Written by Olivia Liang. Photography by Wyatt Kostygan

THE HERMITAGE ARTIST RETREAT ACCEPTED ITS FIRST VISITING ARTIST IN 2003, SOON FINDING ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN BRUCE RODGERS, A RESIDENT PLAYWRIGHT AT WHAT WAS THEN CALLED THE ASOLO THEATRE COMPANY AND THE MAN WHO WOULD, OVER THE COURSE OF 15 YEARS, LEAD THE HERMITAGE FROM UNDERDOG DREAM TO INTERNATIONAL INCUBATOR. Written by Phil Lederer

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BRANDSTORY FEATURE POWERED BY THE BARANCIK FOUNDATION | SRQ MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2019

THE SELBY GARDENS STORY GRO W I N G TH E L E G A C Y O F S E L B Y G A R DENS A N D P R O TE C TI NG I TS F U TU R E

Left: Jean Goldstein Welcome Center and Lily Pond Garden. Below right: Koi pond.

As Marie Selby Botanical Gardens engages in a visionary ten-year, three-phase Master Site Plan, sharing the positive cultural, environmental and preservational impacts of the next evolution of this treasured cultural institution has never been more significant.

“A TREE IS A SEED THAT NEVER GAVE UP ON ITS DREAM TO FLOURISH.” — Matshona Dhliwayo

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SINCE TAKING THE HELM more than four years ago and moving to Sarasota from previous posts at the New York Botanical Garden and Guggenheim Museum in New York City, it’s been my pleasure to work with the Sarasota community to realize the magnificent potential of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

With your support, we’ve transformed Selby Gardens into a debt-free Living MuseumSM that offers more exhibits and programs for the City’s residents and visitors to enjoy.

And now, our transformation is set to continue with a Master Site Plan that will preserve our past, protect the world’s best scientificallydocumented collection of orchids, and sustain our future. The Master Site Plan process began two and a half years ago and it was clear that we needed to move forward urgently when Hurricane Irma threatened our precious collections and land.

From the beginning, our team has taken care to involve the community in our planning process.

While Selby Gardens is a privately owned nonprofit, we knew that asking for neighborhood input on the plan was of utmost importance. To this end, we’ve held 60 community meetings, and as a result, we’ve incorporated more than $2 million worth of improvements into the plan.

Changes include traffic improvements, reductions in the size and scale of buildings, improved public access, and noise mitigation.

We also included a list of proffers — promises that become part of the code related to our zoning.

These range from transforming the external walls of the Sky Garden parking structure into Green Living Walls to installing plantings at the cityowned pocket park adjacent to our property.

I am confident that this plan will provide a tremendous improvement to Selby Gardens’ infrastructure and, in turn, the community.

It is my hope that you’ll take some time to learn about the benefits of this plan, and my team and I are happy to answer any questions you have, knowing that your support is critical for our success.

JENNIFER O. ROMINIECKI PRESIDENT & CEO, SELBY GARDENS

E XP L O R I NG TH E PLAN SINCE 2017, THE LEADERSHIP AT SELBY GARDENS HAS PARTICIPATED deeply with its surrounding neighbors and other Sarasota citizens, hosting more than 60 meetings and workshops, listening to the input from neighborhoods and developing key components of the plan to be responsive to feedback from community stakeholders. Selby Gardens is commi ed to presenting the facts of the Master Site Plan in a transparent manner, thoughtfully addressing concerns and thoroughly articulating the opportunity to strengthen its mission to build on its preeminent position as the world’s only botanical garden focused on epiphytes. As a direct result of these conversations, Selby Gardens has invested more than $2 million in improvements to the Master Site Plan.

In realizing the Master Site Plan, Selby Gardens will expand on the legacy of Marie Selby and her family by increasing accessibility to the gardens, piloting innovative educational, cultural and research programs on the 15-acre campus and protecting and preserving historical and botanical treasures. Selby Gardens is on track to become an international model for the latest green building technology by being one of the first to earn the Certified Living Community PETAL Certification reflecting the summit of energy related aspiration and a ainment.

Solar energy, roo op gardens, stormwater management systems that return clean water to Sarasota Bay and resilience standards up to a Category 5 hurricane position Selby Gardens to be the world’s first certified Net Positive Energy botanical garden complex, Net Positive Energy Living Community and Net Positive Energy restaurant. By consolidating the parking into a single sustainable envelope, the Master Site Plan increases the square footage of garden space by 50% to allow for space to build a state-of-the-art botanical library as well as house and properly preserve, expand and digitize the world’s most extensive scientifically documented collection of orchids and bromeliads, advancing educational programming and improving historical structures currently vulnerable to climate change.

The Master Plan also enhances public access by improving and maintaining a City-owned pocket park and a multi-use recreational trail, welcoming thousands of visitors who can not currently be accommodated and ensuring the longevity of the living museum’s historic structures for generations to come. Selby Gardens will remain focused on the significant and long-term benefits that will be realized once the Master Site Plan is fully implemented.

CARING FOR THE TREES An International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborist inspected all 315 trees and palms located on the east side of Palm Avenue, where much of the expansion of the Selby Gardens campus will occur. In keeping with the findings of the inspection, Selby Gardens will be relocating some trees and removing others.Trees that were found to have structural defects will be removed as a safety precaution. No historically significant trees or species of trees, such as the beloved Bunya Bunya tree, are intended to be removed. For every tree that is removed, Selby Gardens plans to replant a new mature, large specimen tree.

BRANDSTORY FEATURE POWERED BY THE BARANCIK FOUNDATION | SRQ MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2019

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For more information about Selby Gardens, visit selby.org/about/selby-gardens-master-plan

INVESTING IN NOISE MITIGATION During the neighborhood engagement process, concerns regarding noise levels emerged as an area of conversation.

Selby Gardens has made a commitment to invest in, and implement, technological solutions to reduce noise coming from the events hosted on its campus by the end of 2019.

They have already prohibited live bands outdoors after 5pm, with the exception of the annual Orchid Ball and four remaining events already booked with live bands through April 2020. Additionally, fireworks are now prohibited at any Selby Gardens event. The noise mitigation improvements also include permanent sound meters and an integrated sound system that will monitor and limit the overall volume of noise automatically. Additionally, no outdoor amplified music will be permitted east of Palm Avenue (this includes the new Sky Garden restaurant). Full buyouts of the Sky Garden restaurant will be limited to no more than five occasions per year and Selby Gardens will continue to only hold events in their current on-site event locations.

THE BUNYA BUNYA TREE STANDS THE TALLEST In programming the Sky Garden structure at the corner of Orange Ave. and Mound St., the Master Site Plan gives thoughtful consideration to several goals: to accommodate a growing visitor base, to transform under-utilized land currently relegated to surface parking into more meaningful purposes and to cultivate earned revenue through a new restaurant fueled by an edible rooftop garden—all significant to Selby Gardens’ capacity for long-term sustainability. The Sky Garden parking structure and restaurant will be five stories tall with the majority (approximately 76% of the total footprint) at 53 feet tall and a portion of the restaurant roof (approximately 19% of the total footprint) at 69 feet and 6 inches high. The 20,000-square-foot solar panel array, which will provide more than the expected power needed for the entirety of Phase One, will be at 65 feet, 6 inches and will cover 82% of the parking and restaurant. The top of the elevator shaft is 83 feet, 6 inches, representing only 0.3% of the total height of the Sky Garden. The entire structure is shorter than the State Champion Bunya Bunya tree nearby.

Above: The Steinwachs Family Plant Research Center Houses the Elaine Nicpon Marieb Herbarium and Laboratory and Nathalie McCulloch Research Library. Le : The Childrens’ Rainforest and an orchid specimen.

IMPROVING THE TRAFFIC AT THE MOUND ST. AND ORANGE AVE. INTERSECTION

EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY The plan proposes nearly 50,000 square feet of Selby Gardens’ private property be made accessible to the public —a significant increase over what is available today. Of this, 13,354 feet will be walkable area, including an Oak Oval Parklet and the arrival court, 8,928 square feet will be a public sidewalk easement along Orange Avenue, and the remaining 3,502 square feet will be part of an improved Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT). The MURT will be located within a 20 foot dedicated pedestrian access easement and will be continuous along the property frontage on Orange Ave. and Mound St. (US 41) and will tie into the existing Bayfront MURT at the north end of the property where Selby Gardens plans to work with the city to improve the area by providing amenities such as bicycle racks and plantings. Meanwhile. the extent of the MURT along its property will be enhanced with landscaping consistent with Selby Gardens’ world class botanical gardens. Access to the gardens and venues located on the west side of Palm Avenue will continue to require admission.

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There will continue to be two entry and exit points for visitors to Selby Gardens, with entry and exit from southbound US 41 directly into the Sky Garden, housing the parking facility, and ingress and egress from Orange Avenue. Based on the City of Sarasota’s traffic studies, Selby Gardens is estimated to account for approximately 3% of the traffic on Orange Avenue. The expanded visitor amenities are expected to increase that figure to 3.8%.

Although this 0.8% change in traffic volume isn’t expected to be noticeable, the plan includes numerous improvements funded by Selby Gardens to improve traffic flow for everyone on Orange Avenue. Dedicated turn lanes will be placed on Selby Gardens’ property and traffic engineers will improve signal timing to lower wait times at the intersection—increasing the number of cars that can go through the intersection by 20%. Additionally, exiting visitors will be prohibited from turning southbound on Orange Avenue to significantly reduce potential cutthrough traffic for communities to the south.

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Le : Palm Promenade Preserves Existing Historic Augusta Block. Right: Interior of the Jean Goldstein Welcome Center.

B E N E F I T S TO O U R C O M M U NI TY Currently, Phase One of the Master Site Plan involves environmental and economical benefits including growing the walkable garden space by 50 percent within the footprint, codifying and designating its privately- owned 15-acre property as a botanical garden in perpetuity—protecting it from future high-density development all the while safeguarding and showcasing the world’s best scientifically documented collection of orchids and bromeliads in a new state-of-the-art plant research center. Selby Gardens will serve as an international model for green building technology worldwide and return clean water to Sarasota Bay through a major storm water management system and a 20,000 square foot solar array atop the Sky Garden powering the entirety of Phase One of the project.

Phases Two and Three include new greenhouses, a new education pavilion and the restoration of Payne Mansion.

Preservation efforts will ensure the historic imprints of these buildings are more resilient to hazardous wind and

weather conditions. Selby Gardens will also preserve the historic Selby House and Augusta Block along Palm Avenue.

Beyond the sustainable implementations, recreationally and fundamentally, the Plan calls for the significant addition of free public access through the creation of the 12-foot wide Multi Use Recreational Trail (MURT) and waterfront park space around the perimeter of its property, while also offering more diverse opportunities for paid visitors to engage with the interior grounds. Traffic conditions to its site, and for surrounding public areas, will be improved to accommodate Selby Gardens’ growing visitor base. Between the Sky Garden restaurant, visitor parking structure and safegaurding world-class collections, the Plan will also diversify revenue streams for the abiding survival of the institution, and generate more than $78 million of economic impact for our region—supporting nearly 3,000 jobs, with hiring priority given to city residents.

MA ST E R P L A N F U ND I NG The great news for tax-payers is that Selby Gardens plans to fund the Master Site Plan improvements and enhancements to benefit our city primarily with underwriting from the private sector. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost $42.5 million— $35 million of which has already been raised from supporters of Selby Gardens who want to invest in this cultural institution’s far-reaching contributions to the community. Selby Gardens has also received a $500,000 appropriation from the State of Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity.

If you would like to engage in conversation regarding our plans for the future, we invite you to contact Selby Gardens at MasterPlan@selby.org.

900 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Florida | 941-366-5731 | selby.org | @selbygardens

BRANDSTORY FEATURE POWERED BY THE BARANCIK FOUNDATION

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contents

SRQ360 16 Inside the Brand 124 CocoTele 126 RSVP MARKETING FEATURES 7

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Brandstory Feature Selby Gardens Provisionist Neighborhood Spotlight: Rosemary District Nosh Restaurants Culture Primer

This page: Van Wezel

Foundation CEO Cheryl Mendelson shares her plans for the future. Peguin Cakes creates sugar cookie paradise.

Photography by Wyatt Kostygan. Previous page: Rosa papillonacea (Butterfly Rose), Salvadora Dalí, 1968, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

Cover: Zoe Austin of Sarasota Contemporary Dance, photography by Sorcha Augustine.

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Sarasota Metropolis Football Club looks forward to its second season rising. Tony Fenn forges a connection between local blacksmiths. From hand to head, Lynn Ouellette magnificently paints the rainbow as ‘The Confident Colorist.’ Van Wezel Foundation CEO Cheryl Mendelson has big plans for the incoming Sarasota Performing Arts Center. Gary Galati and Arnie Seitel want to put a spotlight on public art in Sarasota. Grabbing a word with Reggie Fils-Aime, former President and COO of Nintendo of America.

culture city 30

As Newtown becomes the southernmost stop on the US Civil Rights Trail, Sheila Sanders

looks back on a life of activism.

Under the guidance of Charles Miano, amateurs become artists at the Southern Atelier. Take a guided tour of the future of local museums with Anne-Marie Russell, executive director of the Sarasota Art Museum, Steven High, executive director of The Ringling, and Brynne Anne Besio, CEO of The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

agenda

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Film incentives could turn an industry exodus from Georgia into a Florida opportunity.

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Enjoy the exhibitions, but don’t forget to score one-of-akind souvenirs at the gift shop.

Step back in time at the Farley Residence & Art Studio on

Venice Island. The Reef + Ledge brand stitches quality and care into every seam.

forage

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With filling, clean bowls and fresh ingredients, SoFresh has something for Instagram users and bellies alike. Penguin Cakes’ sugar cookies are a hit at any party.

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Joe and Mary Kay Henson donate their treasure to learning academies in Sarasota schools, looking to put the brakes on the dreaded summer slide.

last flight 128

Troy Quinn, Music Director of the Venice Symphony, steps into the hot seat for the first entry in SRQ’s latest Q&A series. srq magazine_ OCT19 live local | 11

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OCTOBER 2019

CEO / PRESIDENT / EDITOR IN CHIEF

LISL LIANG

SENIOR EDITOR

Phil Lederer

ART DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER

Wyatt Kostygan

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Brittany Mattie CONTRIBUTING SENIOR EDITOR

Jacob Ogles CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Andrew Fabian

EDITORIAL INTERN

Olivia Liang

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

WES ROBERTS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT

Ashley Grant ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Ashley Ryan Cannon

SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVES

Suzanne Munroe Julie Mayer Magnifico

CLIENT SERVICES AND MARKETING MANAGER

MARKETING INTERNS

Ashley Jimenez Chelsea Jobity Aidee Rodriguez

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GET SRQ DAILY The magazine in your hands offers enormous insight into our community, but the most informed in our community follow our constant coverage of Sarasota and the Bradenton Area in SRQ Daily. The electronic newsletter is a must-read in thousands of inboxes. Check our special editions: the Monday Business Edition, the Wednesday Philanthropy Edition, the Friday Weekend Edition and the much-discussed Saturday Perspectives Edition, featuring a diverse range of opinions from the region’s top pundits and newsmakers. SIGN UP ONLINE AT SRQMAG.COM/SRQDAILY

ORIGINS OF “SRQ” The “SRQ” in SRQ magazine originates from the designated call letters for the local Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

“SR” was the original abbreviation for the airport before the growth in total number of airports required the use of a three-letter code. Letters like “X” and “Q” were used as filler, thus the original “SR” was revised to “SRQ,” much as the Los Angeles airport became “LAX.” As a regional publication committed to the residents of and visitors to both Sarasota and Manatee counties, SRQ captures the place that we call home.

PUBLISHERS OF SRQ MAGAZINE. LUX LIFE MAGAZINE. ROCKET KIDS MAGAZINE. MODERN HOME MAGAZINE. SHE ROARS MAGAZINE. LOVE LOCAL MAGAZINE. SRQ DAILY 331 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 | Phone 941-365-7702 Fax 941-365-0853

SUBSCRIBE TO THE PRINT AND DIGITAL EDITION Join our readers in the pleasurable experience of receiving SRQ magazine in your mailbox every month. To reserve your subscription, provide your information and payment online. You can set up multiple addresses, renewals and special instructions directly through your online account. When you subscribe online, your first print issue will arrive in your mailbox in 4–6 weeks. For immediate access to the digital edition, subscribe directly at our flipbook. Subscribe online at SRQMAG.COM/SUBSCRIBE. Contact us via email at subscribe@srqme.com Vol. 22, Issue 220 Copyright © 2019 SRQ MEDIA. SRQ: Live Local | Thrive Local. Sarasota and Bradenton is published 12 times a year. IMPORTANT NOTICE: The entire contents of SRQ are copyrighted by Trafalger Communications, Inc. Column and department names are property of Trafalger Communications, Inc. and may not be used or reproduced without express written permission of the publisher. SUBSCRIPTION: Subscriptions to SRQ are $36 for 24 issues.

Single copies are $4 at area newsstands.

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Inside the Brand NEXT—SB2: Philanthropic Agenda and Good hero Awards Luncheon, Monday, December 9, 2019

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FALL INTO SEASON WITH SRQ

BE SOCIAL WITH SRQ

reserve your seat at these signature programs.

Follow us on social media and join the conversation to see your comments here!

Facebook @The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime Thank you SRQ Magazine for sharing the news about one of our newest family members, Elegant Style Boutique & Design

SKILLSHARE: MENTORING AT THE SPEED OF LIFE Thursday, October 17, 2019, 5-7:30pm SRQ STUDIOS

MODERN HOMEMODERN SYMPOSIUM HOME MAGAZINE SYMPOSIUM Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 5:30-7pm JOIN SRQ MEDIA FOR *INSPIRE—MODERN HOME MAGAZINE SYMPOSIUM. HEAR ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND SOME SRQ STUDIOS OF SARASOTA’S MOST ICONIC HOME DESIGNS. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 AT 5:30-7:30PM

SRQ STUDIOS, 331 SOUTH PINEAPPLE AVE. SRQ MEDIA hosts the annual Modern Home Symposium featuring panelists who represent the top modern architecture and design gurus from the region to share their most memorable structures. Taking the audience into the design process, each panelist shares their source of inspiration in creating some of the area’s most significant spaces. Joining us as Modern Home Panelists: Nathan Cross, NWC Construction; Steve Murray, Murray Homes; Jonathan Parks, Solstice Planning & Architecture; Mark Sultana, DSDG Architects.

5 COVER INCLUDES ONE GLASS OF WINE OR BEER AND LIGHT BITES PLEASE RSVP AT SRQMAGAZINE.COM/MOHO

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Powered by the SRQ Women In Business Initiative, SkillSHARE aims to engage and empower women in the Sarasota-Bradenton region through conversation and deep relationship-building. Taking place at SRQ Studios, SkillSHARE is a networking-focused program that engages insightful interactions between local women professionals. SRQMAG.COM/SKILLSHARE

MODERN EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 5:30-7pm SRQ STUDIOS As the 2019-2020 school year is now underway, join SRQ MEDIA for the annual Modern Education Symposium, featuring panelists from Sarasota and Manatee private and charter schools. The five panelists will engage in a discussion about education in our region by sharing the teaching philosophies, curriculum and programs at each school. Panelists include: Christine Bradford, Sarasota Christian School; Cindy Hoffman, Island Village Montessori School; Laura Murphy, The Out-Of-Door Academy; Tim Seldin, Newgate School; Siobhan Young, St. Martha Catholic School. SRQMAG.COM/MOED

DAVID YOUNG DWY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

STEVE MURRAY MURRAY HOMES

NATHAN CROSS NWC CONSTRUCTION

MARK SULTANA DSDG ARCHITECTS

@Firmo Construction We’re so excited to be this month’s SRQ Magazine BrandStory Partner! Take a peek at the article below to learn about how we’ve worked to revitalize, improve, and take care of our community through our projects.

JONATHAN PARKS SOLSTICE PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE

SB2: THE PHILANTHROPIC AGENDA Monday, December 9, 2019, 11am-1:15pm THE HYATT REGENCY SARASOTA The SRQ Philanthropic Agenda luncheon and panel discussion will explore the dynamic and ever-changing world of nonprofits. What’s trending, who’s innovating, why are donor-advised funds growing so rapidly and what exactly are donors looking for? The luncheon will culminate with the Local Good Hero Awards honoring individuals who have meaningfully impacted our community in the past year. SRQSB2.COM

Vote for your favorite local luminaries, dining hotspots and experiences—Best of SRQ Local Ballots Open on October 15. Celebrating the best locally owned establishments in the region, SRQ MEDIA asks our astute readers to vote for their favorite local eats, shopping, arts, luminaries and hotspots culminating in the buzzworthy special “Best of SRQ Local” awards feature published in the April 2020 edition.

We look to highlight local experiences—from new restaurants to memorable theatre productions, from our community’s best achievements to seriously talented chefs. SRQMAG.COM/BESTOFSRQ

@Suncoast Science Center Thanks for including us in your #3D printing feature, SRQ Magazine. @Karen Chandler I opened up the latest copy of SRQ Magazine and was delighted to see the article about Bavaro’s restaurant and my mural!

Instagram @elleleblanc totally blown away by this absolutely lovely feature in @srqmag @2besammy Had a real blast with @srqmag in this month’s feature of “Trendsport.” Pick up a copy and support all things local @the_copper_acorn @revviesluxury I love that we are in the issue together!

How cool!

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STORIES ABOUT THE LOCAL PEOPLE, PLACES AND EXPERIENCES THAT DEFINE OUR HOMETOWN

Connect Check out the May 2020 season’s schedule, including a highly anticipated, friendly rivalry game with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, at sarasotametropolisfc.com. #GoBlueDragons

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GAME ON Sarasota Metropolis Football Club’s debut sparks fire-breathing local pride.

Brittany Mattie

AFTER BECOMING ONE OF THE 72 TEAMS COMPETING in the USL League Two (USL2), Sarasota-Bradenton scored its first-ever minor league soccer franchise for the region with the Sarasota Metropolis FC Blue Dragons. “Once we discovered the soccer community in the area, we decided to include Metropolis in our name because of our commitment to embrace and unify soccer fans,” says Club Founder and President Victor Young. Leading the Dragons as the Head Coach and Director of Soccer is Italian soccer legend and retired professional footballer Massimo Marazzina, who played as a striker for Italy’s national team. “We felt like we won the lottery when we were able to land Massimo Marazzina,” says Assistant General Manager, Jordyn Young. “His unique style of play mixes well with the elite athletes in the area.” Since its breakout season, the football club has garnered boundless opportunities for top local talent and international recruits on the path to pro. “The United States Soccer League picked Sarasota Metropolis FC as one of the teams to showcase on their new television docu-series that will air this Fall,” shares Young of the behind-the-scenes footage, shot at the team’s IMG Academy homebase. And with 2020 Season Tryouts around the corner this month, continuing into December, Metropolis will also host a series of scouting events for players to be seen by other professional teams in the Southeast Division. “The other teams are excited to see the talent we will have to showcase on the west coast of Florida,” he says. SRQ IMAGE COURTESY OF ROD MILLEN

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CARRY THE FIRE

Local blacksmiths keep the old ways alive while making new friends. Phil Lederer “COAL IS IN MY BLOOD,” SAYS TONY FENN, owner of Fish N Chips Foundry and local organizer for a budding group of practicing blacksmiths that meets once a month to trade tips, share work and collaborate on joint projects. The latest? Constructing six homemade and mobile coal forges that the group can truck from location to location for spontaneous smithing and public displays of metalworking— and opportunities for families to come together and try their hand at forging a special bond together. Created from old smokers and shaped steel—and based off Fenn’s design—these blacksmiths use their forges to create everything from hardware and tools, like nails and tongs, to elaborate artistic creations, such as octopus sculptures. Retired firemen, ex-military, each comes for their own reason— some find it therapeutic, others just find it fun—but all find satisfaction in the old ways and the flames. “Why reinvent the wheel?” asks Trez Cole, master blacksmith and de facto leader of the bunch. “This all started with two rocks and a hammer.” SRQ

This page: A member of the Southwest Chapter of the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association crafts a new pair of tongs at a public event at the Crowley Museum and Nature Center.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

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WIELDING THE COLOR WHEEL From hand to head, Lynn Ouellette magnificently paints the rainbow as ‘The Confident Colorist.’ Brittany Mattie

CERTIFIED MASTER COLORIST AT ALCHEMY DAY SPA. Creative Director for Alkali Beauty hair care products. Color educator and

member of Beauty Launchpad Education Team. Lynn Ouellette comes with a full sleeve of colored tattoos and a wealth of industry knowhow. “The chemistry and science fascinated me early on,” she says. “And the gratification of giving someone a completely different look using my knowledge of color theory was ultimately why I fell in love with haircolor.” And when abnormal “fantasy colors” came onto the scene, “I knew I had to tap into it,” she says. “It excited me because it was an opportunity to express not only my clients’ individuality, but mine as an artist. So, I dove into it (literally) head first.” While the lifting and coloring can take 4-6 hours, Ouellette never tires and effortlessly brushes paint onto each strand using balayage (freehand) techniques. Once her canvas is saturated, a kaleidoscope of polychromatic hues becomes an entirely custom and personalized look for each guest. There is no “typical” client for this type of dye service either. “Clients that get fantasy colors are of every age group and walk of life,” she shares. Senior citizens, pharmacists, teachers, models, nurses and business owners, “they all have a desire to stand out and feel beautiful.” Clients have shown her photo inspo of brightly feathered parrots, iridescent gemstones, prismatic cocktails and vibrant florals. From there, Ouellette mixes a few bowls, gets lost in the magic and somehow manifests identical tones and highlights onto the hair as the desired reference photo. “As long as fantasy color lives on in Sarasota, I will be here behind my chair, painting rainbows,” she says. SRQ 22 | srq magazine_ OCT19 live local

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NEW STAGES ON THE HORIZON CEO Cheryl Mendelson on what to expect from the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center. Phil Lederer

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WITH THE PURPLE COW PUT OUT TO PASTURE, all eyes turn toward its

effective replacement, The Sarasota Performing Arts Center, and the woman placed at its helm, Van Wezel Foundation CEO Cheryl Mendelson.

Former executive vice president with the Harris Theatre in Chicago, Mendelson brings “the speed of the east coast and the pragmatic abilities of the mid-west” to this new endeavor—a state-of-the-art, multi-venue performing arts center smack dab in the heart of the Bayfront development—as well as a veteran hand with the nature of public-private partnerships and an innovator’s eye for cultural programming.

Why is the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall no longer sufficient to the needs of this community? Mendelson: The Van Wezel Hall itself has been an enormous anchor for the performing arts and arts education for 50 years, but there is a reality that a 50-year-old building cannot continue to compete and meet the demands of a vibrant world-class performing arts center.

What will be the overarching mission of the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center? The civic mission is to ensure that Sarasota remains in an elevated role as a cultural mecca. Contemporary performing arts centers are now really about gathering places for the community, not just a place where people come and buy tickets. Our concept is to build a performing arts center that becomes a place for ideas, a place for arts and a place for everyone.

As part of that, we’ll be taking a look at ways we can expand education opportunities, lifelong learning in the building, in addition to structurally creating flexible spaces within the building to be able to do a variety of performances 12 months out of the year.

The Van Wezel stage was often criticized for being inflexible.

Will the new center improve upon this? There’s an enormous amount of precedent around the country taking a

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look at flexible spaces that have movable seats, the ability to transform theater spaces into multi-use activity spaces.

There’ll be a main hall for our mainstage performances, and that will have stateof-the-art technology to to attract the best performers and Broadway shows.

Then, in addition to that, we’re looking at a 400-seat flexible space, and an additional 125-seat education opportunity space. We currently serve 30,000 students a year and our goal is to be able to increase that.

What does your experience with Harris Theatre bring to this mission? The Harris Theater was intentionally designed as sort of a blank canvas, with the idea that it’s art on the stage that brings life to the organization. And we had over 30 resident companies that called the Harris home. They were small and midsize music and dance organizations that were operating in storefronts and didn’t have a place to call home. Once they anchored at the Harris Theatre, it was a game changer for their organizations. We were able to provide infrastructure and experience to help them grow. That could be something really exciting for the future here.

Any ideas for these educational opportunities or new programs you’d like to see attempted here in this community? At the Harris Theatre, I founded a program called Access Tickets.

Chicago was fairly robust, with many organizations doing arts education with the public school system. So I didn’t feel it was necessary to reinvent the wheel, but what I did see was a lack of partnership with health and human service organizations. And so that was the basis of what Access Tickets did.

How did that work? We partnered with a range of heath and human services—hospitals, Gilda’s Club for cancer treatment, Brain Injury Clubhouse, Lighthouse for the Blind—to be able to make performances and interaction with artists accessible to them. The key idea was that it was less about education, as empowering the human spirit, using the arts in a healing capacity and a way to bring families together.

What kind of opportunities are you looking at here? I would love to focus and work with our director of education to create a space for social service organizations to be able to participate.

The other place for expansion is that so much in Sarasota is focused around in-season. Over the summer, social service organizations are really in desperate need, wanting to have more programming to enrich their mission. There’s a place for us to grow there.

Will programming see any drastic change? We’ll be in a position to be more competitive. The Lion King was an enormous success because of the ability to take on a larger performance, have it run for three weeks and allow for educational programming, community outreach and people just to come and enjoy the performance. It’s that multi-tier approach to be able to mount larger programming that we’ll see the biggest dynamic shift on. There’s also having a building where we can do multiple performances at the same time, which help with the idea that you can dabble in risk. And having a state-of-the-art performing arts center will significantly increase our competitiveness with Tampa for the bigger shows and the bigger names.

“A place for ideas, a place for arts, a place for you.” What does that mean? Engaging the community to find out what they envision for a performing arts center: accessibility for everyone; more variety of pricing; artistic programming that meets multigenerational needs.

This is a community that’s thirsty for intellectual stimulation. We can incorporate the arts and integrate it into key areas to solve problems in our community. Sarasota is known as the cultural coast, and we believe it’s part of our responsibility to continue to make that thrive.

This is a really incredible opportunity for this community to invest in the legacy of Sarasota, of their families, of the next generation. SRQ

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This page: Gary Galati (right) and Arnie Seitel pose with Ba’al & Yizhaq, a sculpture from the late Israeli artist Boaz Vaadia, on Ringling Boulevard.

KEY TO THE CITY

How to put public art and overlooked beauty in the spotlight. Phil Lederer

AS PUBLIC ART EXPLODES IN SARASOTA—thanks in no small part to the city’s roundabout project—Gary Galati and Arnie Seitel want to

make sure not a single sculpture or mural gets overlooked. As the duo behind GS Resources, Galati and Seitel have been responsible for the growing dedications and ribbon-cuttings surrounding new public art—and have become the city’s preferred vendor—but now the pair looks to take the next step, and memorialize the city’s entire public art collection in an online and interactive database that pays tribute to the art and artists that make Sarasota’s streets shine. Despite 84 pieces in the collection, documentation surrounding Sarasota’s public art remains scarce, and curious tourists and locals alike are too often left clueless as to a work’s provenance and history. “It doesn’t do justice to a considerable collection,” says Galati, and he and Seitel have a three-part plan to fix the problem. Start with serious research and basic documentation, says Galati, but giving that extra bit of effort for a Sarasota touch, and including artist bios and contextual information about what was happening in Sarasota at the time of installation. Then hire a professional photographer to visually document each piece under daylight and at night, to showcase each piece in its best light. Next, create a website and an app to put everything online in an easily accessible location for those at home or on the go. An app could even lead users on customizable or preset public art tours of the city. “It can draw attention to a city that, culturally, in the arts, is above 95% of cities in the US and sure could match up one-for-one against any city its size,” says Galati. “What defines Sarasota is what an art gem it is. Get this city the recognition it deserves.” SRQ 26 | srq magazine_ OCT19 live local

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REGGIE PLAYER ONE

Former president of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime comes to Ringling College of Art & Design. Phil Lederer

OVER THE COURSE OF 15 YEARS AT NINTENDO OF AMERICA, Reggie

Fils-Aime rose from vice president of marketing for a giant in decline to president of a company back at the forefront of gaming—all the while endearing himself to millions of fans with his exuberant personality and obvious passion. Retiring in early 2019, Fils-Aimé embarked on a select series of public speaking engagements to engage the next generation of gamechangers, including stops at University of California, Cornell University and the Ringling College of Art and Design 2019 Commencement, where his own daughter earned a degree in illustration. With the game on pause, SRQ picked up a controller to go head-to-head on non-linear progress, a fear of public speaking and the future of gaming.

What is the through-line in these student addresses?

Fils-Aimé: I’m constantly reinforcing to young people that life is not linear, and you have to constantly be thinking about alternatives in order to progress forward.

You have to have a sense of curiosity.

Always being open to alternatives, always thinking about the “what if” scenario is tremendously important.

How do you train yourself to spot those opportunities? There needs to be thoughtful introspection— how you view the landscape, how you view your own strengths and weaknesses, and how you can best position yourself to be effective in the marketplace. Nintendo is over 130 years old. It started making Japanese playing cards called hanafuda cards.

Its orientation from its beginning was about fun and entertainment. Oftentimes the company refers to itself as a toy company, because it has that mentality of cre-

ating unique forms of entertainment. As you know yourself and what you do well, it drives a thought process on how you can continue to build on your strengths.

When did you have to face your fear to make that pivot?

I used to be deathly afraid of public speaking. When I started my career at Procter & Gamble, I was right out of undergrad, and I was working alongside people who were five to 10 years older than I, doing exactly the same work.

I tended to be quiet, to hunker down in taking my notes and collecting my thoughts. And I was challenged. “Reggie, you’ve got to be a little bit more out in front. You’ve got to speak more.”

What did you do? I took some classes. I challenged myself to be put in situations where I would have to be that person out in front and to do more public speaking. It was through that learning, that discov-

ery, that I turned public speaking into an asset. The ability to give press conferences, the ability to off-the-cuff play video games with Jimmy Fallon. It’s something that I’ve enjoyed. It really is being conscious about your own fears—your own areas of opportunity—and challenging yourself to make progress on them.

When did you know you’d mastered that fear? I was making a presentation in Europe and the teleprompter died. I had a thousand people in the audience and I needed to keep going. I had rehearsed the speech. I knew the content.

I essentially plowed forward. Eventually the teleprompter caught up.

While Sony and Microsoft competed to make the most photorealistic games possible, Nintendo did not seem to make that the priority. Is there an underlying principle or lesson that people can learn

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This spread: Reggie Fils-Aime shares his story as the commencement speaker at the Ringling College of Art and Design graduation ceremony. Working with the Ringling students.

So clearly not focused on high resolution graphics, but completely focused on fun.

And what happened? Nintendo went on to sell about 100 million machines.

Wii Sports is still one of the top all-time sellers in video game history. And it was through that differentiated approach that Nintendo was able to really succeed in the marketplace.

What is the difference, if any, between a boss and a leader? Leaders create a culture where the organization wants to follow where the leader is identifying. So when a leader says, “We’re going here,” the organization says, “We’re with you.” To me, a boss simply states, “Here’s what we need to do.” And the organization doesn’t necessarily rally around that direction. A leader can inspire others to do things that they never thought they could do. That’s the difference.

from that decision? Absolutely.

Nintendo’s philosophy was always that the content is what motivates the consumer. And in the end, the content needs to be fun, the content needs to be compelling, and the content needs to be differentiated. In the video game space, more visual power and more processing power isn’t differentiated. Having prettier pictures by itself is not going to create compelling content. So Nintendo’s philosophy was always, “How do we make it fun? How do we make it more interesting?”

When did you learn from a mistake to move forward? I’ve made a tremendous amount of mistakes.

Any leader who says that they haven’t is just kidding themselves. For me, I was [Senior Director of National Marketing] at Pizza Hut, and one of the products that I launched was a product called Bigfoot Pizza. This was during the recession.

Consumers were gravitating toward Little Caesar’s and the value proposition that they offered. So we launched Bigfoot Pizza—two feet of pizza for one low price.

And it put tremendous competitive pressure on Little Caesar’s as a business. It really hurt them over the course of what would be almost 10 years.

How do you? The best case in point was when Nintendo launched the Wii. The PS3 was about to launch, Xbox was coming out with its own next generation machine, and Nintendo took a very different path. Its compelling proposition was based on the Wii remote—the first motion-based input device. The key game that it launched was Wii Sports.

But it was a mistake? The reason I frame this as a mistake is, as a young executive, I didn’t think through the full consequences of launching a product that didn’t deliver on the core premise of what the brand stood for, which was quality. It wasn’t a very good quality product in the end. And the consumers fed that back to us. This product did quite well in the

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marketplace for its first two, three years of availability, but then we saw that it was having a negative impact on the brand’s perception. And in the end, Bigfoot Pizza went away because it was hurting the core equity of the brand.

What did you take away from the experience? You really need to be thoughtful on whatever business initiative you’re launching, to think about what might be unintended consequences.

Do you have a favorite game?

Favorite game of all time: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the Super Nintendo system. And my favorite franchise is Breath of the Wild. In my hotel room I have a Switch. On the plane I play Breath of the Wild. Even though I’ve completed the game twice, I’m still on the hunt for every Korok Seed in the game. Even though I’m retired, I still play Nintendo content.

What will the video game experience be like in five years?

I had the opportunity to meet one of the executives that was involved in building the Nintendo Entertainment System. This was the system that launched with Donkey Kong and the original Mario Brothers game. I asked him about the creation of this system. He said, “Reggie, what we were trying to do was to build a system that the consumer could play Donkey Kong at home.” At the time, Donkey Kongwas only playable in the arcades.

“Our thought process was that we wanted to create a system that would be a parasite to the TV. Because the TV was the one thing that was ubiquitous in everyone’s home.” What’s video game content or a video game system going to be like five or 10 years from now? How do you create a system that’s a parasite to whatever is the most ubiquitous form of entertainment out there that consumers have? How do you create a method to deliver content directly to the consumer? SRQ

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LOCAL PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS+CULTURE

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Opposite page: Sheila Sanders at the site of the Lido Beach wade-ins.

A PATH TO FOLLOW

Celebrating a legacy of activism with the Newtown African American Heritage Trail. Phil Lederer LOOKING BACK ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE 1950S AND ‘60S, distance tends to simplify matters. The current of history becomes reliant on those few rocks that breach the surface and break the waters in dramatic fashion, forging a narrative checklist of milestones and icons, glossing over the importance of widespread community action and grassroots activism that made it all possible. And as the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 captured the nation’s attention and entered the history books, black citizens from Newtown and around Sarasota County were fighting their own battle to desegregate area beaches, including arriving in caravans to stage “wade-ins” on Lido Beach as protest.

Locally, these events have been commemorated by the people of Newtown through the Newtown African American Heritage Trail, but the community’s proud history of activism only officially enters the national narrative this year, with the site recognized as the southernmost stop on the national US Civil Rights Trail. Newtown marked the occasion with a reenactment of those famous wade-ins, as original participants and their descendants strode into the waters off Lido Beach.

SRQ talked with Sheila Sanders, a lifelong Sarasotan who went to Booker Elementary School at the time, where she began her own life of activism. “I see myself as that little child that said the emperor has no clothes,” she says. “Fortunately, I was always surrounded by people who did not think my eagerness to participate should be stifled.”

You led your first boycott in the third grade, against a bank?

Sanders: Yes. Because they declined to

give us a tour of their bank. They were supposed to be helping us learn to manage money and how to save, and they gave us accounts with special terms so that we would deposit money. Well, I found out that children from other schools were getting school tours. Booker was the only black school at that time and we asked them for a tour, and they declined.

How did you respond? I was a babysitter, and I had earned a quarter babysitting on two different times. So I had 50 cents. I went to the grocery store just down the street and got a roll of pennies and suggested that everybody either not put any money in, or that they only put in a penny, thinking it would cost the bank more to process than it was worth.

My logic only got me in trouble because when the teacher asked why people were only depositing one penny, they said, “Well, Sheila Sanders told us. Said if they won’t give us a tour, we shouldn’t give them our money.”

Even then, as young as third grade, it was clear to you that something was unfair there. My principle is PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.

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fairness. Because if you always do what is right, what is right will eventually happen to you. You may have some challenges, but what’s right will eventually happen for you.

At this time, the beaches were still segregated, right? They never had a sign like the stores, restrooms and restaurants—and even the courthouse water fountains that said “white” and “colored.” But it was implied that if you were not white you were not welcome.

And not just the beaches, the golf courses, everything. If you were not Caucasian, you were not welcome. Even trying to check out a book at the public library. If you were black, you had to show that your family owned property in Sarasota County. However, tourists could check out a book. So I used to go sit in the stacks at the library. I’d sit there and read for hours.

Because you couldn’t go to the beach. What was said was that the tourists would be offended if they had to see your naked body. And then the same thing with shopping on Main Street. There were stores that would tell you, “If I let you put this dress on your back, who do you think is going to purchase it after?” or “If you put your foot in this shoe, who do you think is going to purchase this shoe?” People used

to literally trace your foot and buy a shoe based on that trace. And this was in the ‘50s, here in beautiful Sarasota.

What did it mean to you, as a child, to see people moving to desegregate beaches in Sarasota? I felt it was right. We lived here all the time. Why is it people who were visiting could go to the beach any time they wanted to and we had to go at sunset? At that time, believe it or not, in Sarasota, to be in a certain neighborhood, you had to have permission. You had to say who you were working for, what you were doing there.

What does it mean to see the Newtown African American Heritage Trail officially added as the southernmost stop on the US Civil Rights Trail? It means that we were not asleep. We were aware, engaged and that we cannot nap now. My concern is that too many of us are now napping. It’s important that you know your history, you appreciate what those who have gone on before you have done and that you have no fear about being involved.

What do you make of the state of things today? We can do better. We must do better. SRQ srq magazine_ OCT19 live local | 31

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culture city

This page: Replicating the works and techniques of the Old Masters is just one part of the rigorous training at the Souther Atelier.

RENAISSANCE REDUX

Old Masters meet New Talents at the Southern Atelier.

Phil Lederer

FOR AN ASPIRING ARTIST LIKE PAMM CIUPA, The Great White North proved a Great Big Wilderness. With the Canadian landscape

as her teacher, she would paint plein air every free moment she had. She bought the art books and read them until she fell asleep.

She found the videos and watched them until she fell asleep. She even took trips down to Tennessee to study with the American Impressionist Lori Putnam, but returning to Canada she found herself back where she started—with that Great Big Gap between her potential and her painting. Even worse, no one else seemed to recognize it. To them, the work was always good enough. “It was so frustrating,” she says. “I wasn’t getting the guidance. And if you don’t have somebody tapping you this way and tapping you back that way, you don’t know if you’re doing it right or wrong.” So when the kids flew the coop and the time came to sink or swim, Ciupa kissed her husband, told him she’d be back soon and swam to Sarasota for a four-year apprenticeship with the artist Charles Miano at the Southern Atelier. It’s been nine months, she says. “It’s been eye-opening,” she says.

Tucked away near the Sarasota-Bradenton border, the Southern Atelier remains a hidden gem in the local cultural landscape, but perhaps by design. Inspired by and fashioned after the Renaissance workshops of old—the type that produced masters such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo—the Southern Atelier apprenticeship program operates under the principles of rigorous and individualized instruction in the classical sense.

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IMAGES COURTESY OF LI VOLK AT SOUTHERN ATELIER.

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This is not the place for retired hobbyists to leisurely “find themselves” or youthful upstarts to skip the fundamentals—and abstraction is essentially off the table—but apprentices at the atelier join knowing one thing: if they put in the work, they will leave the program with a working mastery of shape, form, color and light in the realist tradition. Charles Miano, a recognized master by the Art Renewal Center, founded the atelier in 2008 and has honed the program in the intervening years, focusing on a tripartite approach to instruction— theory, practice and guidance. His students come from all over the world.

Li Volk, today the executive director of the Southern Atelier but also an apprentice finishing her third year of study, came to Sarasota from China so that her son could study at IMG Academy. A successful entrepreneur with her own graphic design and marketing firm in Beijing, she had no prior training in the arts, but after spending a summer at the Southern Atelier with her son, he received eight scholarship offers from arts schools around the country and she was hooked on the atelier practice. “You just realize that this is all you want to do,” she says.

And that’s exactly what an apprenticeship at the Southern Atelier calls for.

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This page,l-r: A charcoal on paper portrait, Jian Li, by Charles Miano. Southern Atelier faculty member Anthony Stokes puts the finishing touches on one of his latest paintings. Jockey, oil on canvas, by Charles Miano.

group sketching with a live model. Highly individualized, each pupil develops at their own rate, but each also goes through the same fundamentals-focused training that progresses through four levels of complexity.

Beginners start by “working from the flat,” aka training their hand-eye coordination by copying master sketches of various forms and parts of the body, learning to make marks and control their medium. The next step involves what are called bargues, or small, antique sculptural forms, such as hands, that the apprentice must themselves translate from three-dimensional space to the flat of their paper. Only once these basics of form are mastered will an apprentice move on to incorporate color into their work, first working in grisaille painting, meaning monochromatic, before finally graduating to full color for their final studies. And as the students progress through their curriculum, they attend group sessions every Saturday where they may make as many as 50 sketches in a matter of hours, working from a live model in the atelier studio.

Miano, or one of his former pupils, is always in attendance to offer instruction and guidance every time, and the emphasis becomes almost Aristotelian: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Unlike art programs that offer one class a week and then leave the student to their devices, an apprenticeship at the atelier keeps the art at the forefront

of a student’s waking life. “I don’t want to waste people’s time,” says Miano. “That’s like taking one piano lesson without practicing every day.” He only takes on 12–15 apprentices at a time, and he expects dedication.

For students like Volk, who just recently completed her first masterwork—a recreation of Rembrandt’s 1631 St. Peter in Prison—the proof is in the painting. “You can see your improvement, and really quick,” she says.

Art had been a dream of hers, but one that seemed to have slipped away before she came to the atelier. “Life is busy,” she says. “You get married and start a company and then it’s just one thing after another.” Now she hopes to become a professional portrait artist and maybe even teach at the atelier herself.

Importantly, though the training focuses on mastering the fundamentals of realism, the aim is for every student to move beyond them. “The goal is to get beyond technique,” says Miano. “We’re getting them to speak with their own voice with confidence, which comes from their craft.” Apprentices will not emerge from the atelier painting just like Miano or as carbon copies of one of the Old Masters, but with their own artist voices, whatever those may be. “Rembrandt said there’s only one master, and that’s nature,” Miano says.

“So every single day we’re studying nature, and, for me, that’s the most exciting and most rewarding and noble endeavor that I could ever do. You’re immersing yourself in beauty and in truth.” SRQ

IMAGES COURTESY OF LI VOLK AT SOUTHERN ATELIER.

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interview with

anne-marie russel,l, steven high and brynne anne besio

This page: Anne-Marie Russell, Executive Director of Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College.

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IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

Cultural leaders take readers behind the scenes of the modern day museum. Phil Lederer SARASOTA ART MUSEUM THOUGH THE SARASOTA ART MUSEUM OF RINGLING COLLEGE has been offering

lectures and screenings in a nearby facility for more than a year now, this December 7 marks the grand opening of the official museum space within the repurposed Historic Sarasota High School, with more galleries coming online throughout the year.

Executive Director Anne-Marie Russell talks the special role of contemporary art in today’s community, the power of “third spaces” and what it means to be the new kid on the block.

How will this museum fit into the cultural fabric of the community? Russell: We’ve got so many wonderful institutions, museums, scientific institutions, art museums, all sorts of attractions, wonderful symphonies, opera—it goes on. What we don’t have is a museum dedicated exclusively to contemporary art. That will be our primary contribution.

What is the importance or advantage of having an institution solely devoted to contemporary art? We are living now in this period. The oldest work of art that I teach in my art history classes is 480,000 years old—it’s a carved shell—so we humans have been at this art-making business for quite a long time, and I love art from all eras. What is particularly wonderful about art from the era that we’re living in is that we understand the world we’re living in.

We don’t have to try and imagine. We don’t have to think the past presently, as we do when we’re looking at older work, where the artists are no longer alive. That’s not the world we’re living in.

This is the world we’re living in right now, which means that everyone living in that world has something to bring to the work, and something to get from the work. That dialogue is just naturally there.

What can people expect from this debut season? First of all, while we have 15,000 square feet of dedicated, properly conditioned and secure art museum gallery exhibition space, the entire museum campus will have touchpoints and moments of art experiences. We have a dozPHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

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en curatorial zones, where art can happen, and about half of them will be activated at opening.

And then over the next year and a half, the other six will come online every quarter. So there’s going to be a constant rolling evolution of new wonderful things that will happen. We’ll have upwards of three different exhibitions at a time, and the exhibition galleries will have another dozen sculptures outside. Site-specific, site-responsive installations inside, outside, here, there, everywhere.

So there’s a lot going on and a lot of intersection, interaction, dynamism, among and in between the things that are going on.

What does it take to build a museum in an old high school? What we’ve been able to achieve with this project, is to retain enough of the historic character. We’ve modernized the building so it can function as a high-performance art museum, and that’s a very specific thing from a environmental conditioning and security standpoint. But we’ve managed to create a wide variety of curatorial conditions that artists will continue to be delighted to respond to, and we will be delighted to see how they respond to them.

How do you balance preservation of the old with the needs of the new? Adaptive reuse is so exciting, but a downfall can be when historic buildings are overdone and they look new.

We have retained a great deal of history, nuance, texture, idiosyncrasies in the building, and therefore we’ve created all sorts of wonderful, special little moments that artists are incredibly excited about working with and responding to. So while there are many beautiful new museums that are big gleaming spaces, boxes aren’t that interesting to artists. So we have provided a wide range of interesting moments for artists to intersect with.

Obviously, the most monumental is the Tower Gallery. That’s a really wonderful and surprising space. The tower on the exterior of the building is the most dramatic, and it’s been opened up on the interior, so that, without question, is the big ‘Aha’ moment. But, equally important, we have a beautiful loggia that will have a site-specific mural that you can see from the outside and then be in the painting. We’ve got something called the arcade, which has a site-specific installation that you will be inside. There are little niches here and there.

We have so many different spaces that will unfold and you will encounter.

The museum has identified as a kuntshalle, what does that mean and what are the pros of that model? It means a contemporary art museum without a permanent collection. So the pros are perpetual revolution, constantly new, exciting, dynamic. Interestingly, in this day and age, museums with permanent collections need to do temporary exhibitions as well as their permanent collection. So a museum with a permanent collection has to do both, and that’s a lot of work. We just have the temporary exhibitions.

How will the museum experience benefit from sharing space with the college experience? This is truly a community campus. In the language of urban planning, they’re called third spaces; home and work being first and second spaces. These are community spaces where a variety of people can come and gather and feel at home. You can come and have lunch in the cafe. You can come and see a film. You can come and take a continuing studies class. You can come and see an exhibition.

You can come and walk the grounds. The Meander is one of my favorite spots on the whole campus, which is the meandering path named after the river in what is now modern day Turkey.

What are the important steps to be taken in the first few years, as the museum establishes itself in the community? We’re rather obsessive researchers, and we have extensive research around the project in terms of financial and business sustainability and seeing the evolution of the project. We’ve built a very strong foundation. The key in any cultural institution, a museum, is about two things. And you can remember this by minding your Ps and Qs. It’s about permanence and quality. And when you create a museum, you anticipate it will be there permanently, in perpetuity, for many, many generations to come. So you want to build a really strong foundation, because you can build on that scaffolding.

So we’ll see. “Vamos a ver,” as we used to say in Tucson. All will be revealed in time.

Looking forward five, ten years, when people say “The Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College,” what immediate associations do you want them to have? If there’s a single operative word, it’s curiosity. We want to pique everyone’s innate curiosity and expand minds.

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THE RINGLING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVEN HIGH

on cultivating wonder, a newly accredited Arboretum, and the past, present and future of contemporary art at The Ringling.

The last few years at The Ringling have seen a marked investment in contemporary art. What’s the thinking here? High: The Ringling has always had a foot in contemporary art, as well as in the Baroque and European work.

John Ringling bought the Baroque and Asian work, but our first director, Chick Austin, came from the Wadsworth Atheneum in Connecticut. He was not only a Baroque scholar, but he was also interested in the art of his time and was very engaged in contemporary theater. When he came down here, he brought some of those interests to Sarasota. We look at Chick as the foundation of that. He’s also the one who got the idea to create the Circus Museum. That was not John’s dream at all.

Really? He converted John Ringling’s old garage into the first circus museum in the United States, in the late ‘40s. He also was the person who bought the Historic Asolo Theater and started doing contemporary performances. During the ‘70s and ‘80s there was always contemporary art.

But it slowed down through the ‘90s, right? What brought it back? With the commissioning of James Turrell’s Joseph’s Coat, we had this major contemporary art piece—a major investment—and we needed to put it in context. We began doing The Art of Our Time.

We began introducing more contemporary work within our traveling exhibition program. Then, over the last few years, we’ve begun dedicating space to contemporary programming. The Monda Gallery was the first. We dedicated the East Wing of the Searing Wing to our contemporary collection. Simultaneously, there was an effort to launch the Ringling International Arts Festival.

The launch turned the Historic Asolo Theater into a program area for contemporary performance.

We have over 15,000 square feet of contemporary programming. Plus, we added the glass pavilion a year and a half ago; that adds another 2,500 square feet. We’re at full speed now, but it’s been literally a decade to get to this point. Attendance has gone up quite a bit. When I came, it was about 230,000–240,000 people and now this last year we ended the year at exactly 414,695 visitors.

So a substantial increase. We’ve been right at the 400,000 mark for about three years now. Our next goal is to clear half a million. But I

don’t think it’s driven by contemporary art. I think it’s driven by the way we’re reaching out into the community better, and all of our programs. We’ve really expanded our education programs. There are lots of opportunities for people to engage, to come and take part. You can do a workshop or you can hear a lecture. That brings people in.

We really emphasize the fact that it’s never the same. Even though people think museums rarely change, we’re changing all the time. We’re building new buildings. The collections change out every three months. Anything on paper can only be hung for three months and then we have to take it down and put it in storage.

What is the role of the Arboretum and how has this grown? When we rebranded the museum, it was about trying to show that it’s not just an art museum, it’s much more. The official name of the museum is the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and that’s forever.

But we refer to ourselves as The Ringling and the reason why is that it’s so much more than an art museum. It’s a historic house, it’s contemporary performance, it’s the circus museum, it’s the history of the circus—and now this whole campus is held together by an Arboretum that features over 200 species of trees and over 400 wooded shrubs. We’ve been working toward that stature for about four or five years now and we’re really pleased that we were able to get that accreditation this year. It used to be you come in and say

nice grounds. Now you say nice Arboretum. To be able to achieve Arboretum status, you have to document your collection. You have to treat it like any other collection. We have a database that documents every tree. You can go on the website, pull up a GPS map of the property and every green dot is a tree. And the dot pops up an image of the tree, its scientific name and then you can learn more about it and where it comes from.

Culturally or experientially, how does the Arboretum complement the old masters and the contemporary work?

My goal is that everyone who comes here has an extraordinary experience and I think that’s something we can do better than any museum in the country. We’re never going to have a collection that can match the Met’s, but we can create the most extraordinary experience. The Arboretum is part of that, but it’s one of many experiences that people have when they come here. When you come, you may not care at all about the circus, but you walk into the model in the Tibbals Learning Center and people are just blown away. Or they walk into the Rubens Gallery and see those massive paintings in such a beautiful hall and that becomes this wow moment. I want people to have these wow moments and that’s what the grounds are. That’s why we care about our architecture as well. Every building we’ve built here has won the design award for Florida. We’re building buildings that are architecturally significant and visually

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This spread: Steven High, Executive Director of The Ringling and Brynne Anne Besio, CEO of the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

THE BISHOP AT THE NEWLY REBRANDED Bishop

Museum of Science and Nature, CEO Brynne Anne Besio promotes community literacy and builds the educational institution of the future.

What’s in a name? Besio: The name South Florida Museum, which originated back in the ‘40s, was given to this place because they wanted to broaden the audience. They didn’t want to be the Bradenton Museum, because they figured that wouldn’t be sustainable. That name was retained for over 70 years, and we were kind of invisible. We did a market research study in 2016, and we found out that people just didn’t know who we were, where we were. They might have known Snooty but they just didn’t connect that we were a museum. So we knew we had to do something different. And honoring the Bishop family has been important to us because we would not be here today without the funding support of the Bishop family for over 70 years. And then add the description of science and nature so that people knew what we were. stunning. The museum today plays a lot of different roles. Our exhibitions are political—all art is political. That can create dialogue. And that’s what we really want. We want people to come have a great experience, but also have an experience that makes them think about the world today. There’s lots of opportunity here for contemplation and questioning and wondering.

What’s next? The final thing right now on my list is [The Banyan Café]. That’s a Bill Rupp building and Bill was one of the Sarasota modern architects. He built that in the early ‘60s to be our restaurant. That was the first restaurant on campus and it’s still there, but it’s been added to over the years and that’s now the Banyan Cafe. It looks like a big Tiki hut right now, but underneath all that stuff is that building. I want to take it back to the way it was and that’ll be our new mid-century modern gallery. It’ll be a little boutique gallery in the middle of campus in this mid-century modern building.

More expansion? Our focus is not expanding necessarily; it’s making sure we are taking full advantage of the spaces we have, that we’re programming them actively, bringing in interesting exhibitions, buying work that we can feature and working with collectors for gifts to the museum.

That’s really the fundamentals of our direction over the next decade or so—fully utilizing all the investments we’ve put into the property to the benefit of our community.

You’ve said that The Bishop does not focus on STEM or STEAM, but STREAM, with the R representing reading. Why the additional focus? There are 15 Title One schools in a six-mile radius of the museum. 50% of the kids in Manatee County aren’t reading at grade level at third grade. Our problem as a community is having a local citizenry that are not literate. And so that’s our responsibility too, as an organization, to bring literacy into everything we do, whether it’s math literacy, science literacy or reading literacy.

They are all intertwined. That’s our community.

How can a museum engage this literacy problem? By partnering with the organizations that are working with those kids. We have a regular field trip program for schools, and we serve anywhere from eight to 10 counties’ worth of schools in natural history. There is help coming from the Campaign for Grade Level Reading. And we are a host site for some of the reading programs. We have a reading nook downstairs. In the summer science camp, we have a reading component.

What is the role of a museum in a community like this? An elementary school teacher has to be an expert on every topic. But most of the time their strength is not in science. And so we can be the place that has the expertise to help augment or supplement what’s going on in the classroom.

interview with We have for years done professional development for teachers. First it was through what we called the Institute For the Scientifically Timid. And we ran about 200 or 300 teachers through that every year. They would take courses here and that was all funded by Lockheed Martin. We also take teachers out to the Badlands of Nebraska, and they dig for fossils. So they get real-time science and can take that back to the classroom.

What programs are coming down the pipeline? The biggest thing is opening the Mosaic Backyard Universe. We hadn’t stepped into the early learning. And all the research is looking at early learners and how important that is to set the foundation for success. Not every kid has a backyard. So we’re trying to create a safe, intriguing place for kids to ask questions. There are no signs.

It’s all about the kids thinking about what they’re seeing, being able to ask questions.

What are the museum trends? More mobile exhibits. When you put an exhibit up on that wall, just like our diorama downstairs—Priscilla sitting in the middle of the hall and the bison and the Paleo-Indians over there—you put a text panel on it, it’s not going anywhere. Museums are putting more exhibits in mobility so you can move things around. The other way is to do it virtually. So we have digital tours that connect people through this app, the Pathways app.

How will the Bishop stay abreast of the digital age? Several thousand of our artifacts are being 3D-scanned, so people eventually will be able to look at our collection online and turn them around, look at them 360 degrees. You can see details on it that you might not even be able to see here at the museum because you can’t pick it up and turn it around. And a lot of museums are doing that. The Smithsonian’s doing that, especially with the archeological collections. We have a few new halls we’d love to build, a Florida geology hall and a hall of planet Earth, and get a big science hemisphere. Those are all in the works.

Beyond the surface level, what is the difference between a fine art museum and a science and nature museum? The difference is just what we’re educating from. They can do STEAM and STEM and STREAM. They’re just educating the public from a different set of collateral. I’ve always viewed Selby, Mote, Ringling, and now the Sarasota Art Museum, as just pieces of the puzzle of how we’re working to educate our community. We complement each other; we’re not competing. SRQ

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agenda INSIGHT ON POLITICS, GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS

FILM MIGRATION Film incentives could turn an industry exodus from Georgia into a Florida opportunity. Jacob Ogles

AFTER GEORGIA PASSED A CONTROVERSIAL “HEARTBEAT” BILL, outlawing abortions six weeks into a pregnancy, actor-producer Leonardo DiCaprio announced he would produce his new series The Right Stuff, in Florida instead of Georgia, passing up Georgia incentives to shoot here even when no such program remains in Florida. Executives at Marvel have signaled they, too, may stop producing their blockbusters in Atlanta, and corporate owners Disney just happen to own some sound stages still attached to theme park operations in Lake Buena Vista. Some of Sarasota’s state lawmakers see a chance to attract Tinseltown’s attention once more. “We need to embrace this industry and do all that we can,” says state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota. For the fourth year in a row, he’s filing legislation to rekindle a long-dormant film incentives program in Florida.

But will any program coming out of a Legislature that’s grown averse to incentives be enough to woo Hollywood? And in this age where politics factor so heavily on the actions of Hollywood stars, does a state with a Republican-dominated government have a chance to woo filmmakers shutting down projects over an abortion bill?

Jeanne Corcoran, director of Sarasota County’s Film and Entertainment Office, thinks so. “We have very politically savvy lawmakers,” she says. Specifically, she things political leadership in Southwest Florida can show the way to bringing film back to Florida in force, and that Sarasota specifically will feel the rewards.

CONSERVATIVE INCENTIVES The fact Republicans have dominated state politics in Florida for more than 20 years doesn’t mean there have been no philosophical shifts. During the eight-year administration of Gov. Rick Scott, no fight made headlines with such frequency as his battle with the Legislature over incentives. And it’s a battle the Governor largely lost in 2017 when the House gutted Enterprise Florida’s 42 | srq magazine_ OCT19 live local

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budget. Then-Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran has since joined the administration of new Gov. Ron DeSantis, and House Speaker Jose Oliva has largely continued Corcoran’s free market philosophy.

But state Rep. James Buchanan, R-Venice, feels there’s still an argument to be made for incentives done right. The last iteration of Florida’s film incentives program proved front-heavy with little accountability. In 2010, Florida budgeted about $300 million in transferable tax credits to attract projects to the state over a six-year time frame. All the money was gone by early 2014. Worse, as the money disappeared, the film industry that lawmakers hoped would become permanently entrenched in the state largely pulled stake and moved to Georgia. In a particularly embarrassing episode that made headlines, the Ben Affleck film Live By Night, planned and set in 1920s Tampa Bay, elected to move to Georgia and entirely rebuild a façade of Ybor City, which thanks to Georgia’s uncapped incentives program was a more economic choice.

If incentives come back in Florida, Buchanan doesn’t want such an insecure foundation. He filed legislation in the 2019 Legislative Session that would require 70 percent of cast and crew to be Florida residents. It would also demand 60 percent of all money spent on a project be spent in the state of Florida.

“The whole goal is for this to be the most conservative program of its kind throughout the U.S.,” Buchanan says.

Gruters sponsored the Senate version of the bill, which passed in the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee he chairs. But it never went anywhere after that. Buchanan’s bill never got a committee vote.

Now, the lawmakers are looking for ways to add further accountability without making the program unworkable. Part of what Buchanan wants to do is make sure payments don’t all come up front. A project must actually create the jobs before the state offers tax credits reimbursing the work. That offers filmmakers the promise of a break on costs but doesn’t give the money away. The hope is for a sustainable and accountable program that not only attracts filmmakers to work in Florida but encourages them to plant roots. But will directors and producers themselves take notice?

DIRECTORS’ LENS Erin Gaetz, founder of SouthPaw Content, has closely followed the incentives battle in Tallahassee for years. A Panhandle-based filmmaker, she’s been frustrated in the past by how much money went to out-of-state players who cashed checks and left. But she sees promise in the plans advanced thus far by Gruters. The first-come, first-serve model helped attract some major series, such as Netflix’s Bloodline

and the USA Network’s Burn Notice. But plenty of other quick-hit productions came and left, delivering little gain to the industry in the state or to Florida in any broader sense.

“Under that system, something like MTV's Floribama Shore might get a tax credit instead of, say, a docu-series on Hurricane Michael, just because it got in line first,” says Gaetz.

"I like Senator Gruters' bill because it incentivizes production companies not just to bring projects to Florida, but to keep doing so."

—Erin Gaetz, SouthPaw Content “Judging ‘merit’ in the creative world is a little tricky, but it seems insane to hand out tax credits based on timing alone.”

She sees potential in a program that can pick and choose who it funds. And she likes that idea of weighing local economic impacts.

“I like Sen. Gruters' bill because it incentivizes production companies not just to bring projects to Florida, but to keep doing so,” she says. “But since that proposal requires a production company to film something like 70 percent of their projects in Florida to get the tax credit, it remains to be seen whether that will entice big-budget companies that make films all over the world to come to Florida. Still, I think this is an incredibly worthwhile proposal.”

Tony Stopperan, a Sarasota-based filmmaker who recently founded the Skyway Film Institute, says film provides significant and long-lasting benefits to the local economy. His institute seeks to leverage private equity investment into film projects for regional benefit. That has already led to projects like the just-wrapped I Saw a Man With Yellow Eyes, a film starring Katherine Heigl and Harry Connick, Jr. that filmed largely in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

But he says state incentives play a big role in production budget. He’s financed some projects doing their post-production at facilities at Ringling College of Art & Design, but which will film elsewhere to take advantage of economic opportunities.

“You want to have value-added incentives, and there is value in having film here,” he says Gruters notes that some series and movies inspire tourism by fans who want to visit locations where scenes were shot. Regardless, just showing Florida’s lush landscapes and environments to any audience may inspire them to visit or move to the Sunshine State. But Stopperan also notes that simply

having a creative class in place inspires further investment in the field. “There’s an opportunity for growth in a big industry at a time when there are huge demands for film and episodic content across all platforms,” he says.

So what works? Gaetz knows there’s political nuance to passing any incentives program. Her father, Don Gaetz, once served as president of the Florida Senate and her brother, Matt Gaetz, represents the Panhandle in Congress. But there’s some way out there to create a program with accountability and an attractiveness to film itself. “Without layering too much bureaucracy onto the process, I think the state could create a Florida film commission that awards tax credits based on artistic value and economic impact,” she says.

GREENLIGHT? Of course, there’s still the question of whether film indeed wants to move to Florida. If conservative politics are driving Hollywood from Georgia, does Florida offer a great alternative, incentives or none? Gruters notably also sponsored a “pain capable” abortion restriction as his first bill in the Legislature three years ago, legislation that if it ever passed would outlaw abortions at around 20 weeks. Of course, one key difference may be that even with a Republican Legislature such a bill hasn’t made it to a vote in Florida.

Regardless, Stopperan can’t say how eager film is to leave Georgia anyway.

“There’s a push for the entertainment industry to shoot somewhere that aligns to industry values,” Stopperan acknowledges, “but you also don’t want to be cutting the legs out of people who have those values but are living in a state that does not. Those are human beings who are relying on the industry to stay.”

Corcoran thinks Florida, especially Sarasota, can provide all things. Sarasota County offers its own locally funded rebates program. It also boasts infrastructure built over the last decade, including soundstages at Ringling College and elsewhere. The Hollywood Reporter lists Ringling College as the No. 15 film school in the country and directors like Kevin Smith have found success and partnership opportunities shooting in the region.

“Georgia has done some things politically and otherwise that have driven business away,” Corcoran says. “Hollywood is an industry that is sensitive to political winds of change.”But she thinks the measured politics in Florida can lead to a conversation with filmmakers.

“Our Republicans and our Democrats in the Legislature, the ones in Sarasota in particular, are very savvy people,” she said. “And I think when filmmakers look to Hollywood and see breakout hits like Moonlight can be shot entirely here on modest budgets, they will see the opportunity.” SRQ srq magazine_ OCTT19 live local | 43

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SPACE GARDENS AND CIRCUS ACTS Peacock chalco rocks, $3, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature Gift Shop, 201 10th St. West, Bradenton, 941-746-4131, @ bishopsciencefl. Navir Explorer telescope x15 magnify, $20, Bishop Museum. ToySmith Old World astronomy kaleidoscope, $9, Bishop Museum. Mademoiselle vintage notecard, $4, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Gift Shop, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, 941-359-5700, @theringling. Ca d’Zan exclusive key lime cookies, $15, The Ringling Museum. Day Flying Moth brooch, $54, The Ringling Museum. Tillandsia hondurensis air plant, $5 and glass ball hanging vessel, $7.5, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Gift Shop, 900 South Palm Ave., Sarasota, 941-366-5731, @selbygardens. Golden fern tray, $40, Selby Gardens. Marie Selby white silk scarf, $55, Selby Gardens. The Sand Straw stainless steel reusable straw bundle, $15, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Gift Shop, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota, 941-388-4441, @motemarinelab.

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CLOCKWISE Nestled along the beachfront of Venice Island. Study flanked by the fireplace. a bedroom illuminated by nature light.

NOTE The property is currently on the market for $2.4 million.

1100 Sunset Dr., Venice Island, 34285. Contact Martie Lieberman for inquiries: martie@modernsarasota.com, 941-724-1118.

WHERE ARTISTS THRIVE In a place beyond the palms, discover where right-brained creativity is born and bred. Brittany Mattie THOSE WHO DISPATCH TO VENICE ISLAND’S DESERTED FARLEY RESIDENCE & ART STUDIO step back in time—sliding the floor-to-

ceiling glass doors to a series of entrancements, magnified with each step on the terrazzo floors by meandering deeper into the mid-century imprint. The untouched dwelling was designed for the creativelygifted Farley family in 1953—finished in 1956—a singular design that can only be from Sarasota School of Architecture icons Ralph Twitchell and Jack West. The late Rosemary Farley encompassed a real passion for architecture and was said to have worked with the Sarasota modern architects to collaboratively create an artistic dwelling of magic and mystery, which only seems to intensify as decades pass.

Beyond the main house, the separate artist’s studio is where many of the Black Stallion books of the renowned children’s series were written by beloved author Walter Farley. The continuum of visionary artistry lived on in the next generation of Farleys as well—Steve and Alice Farley, who grew up here as kids, are now grown and both live in NYC. Steve, as a writer continuing in his father’s footpath with fantastic fiction, and Alice, a dance choreographer and costume designer who is known to combine magic and circus with puppetry.

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Having never changed hands in ownership, the deserted property still remains so transparently in its original manifestation. Now commandeered by lush, overgrown foliage, the two-acre home is wildly obscured from street view with a long, winding driveway enclosed by Florida flora. Its backyard is quite literally a private slice of Venice beach and Gulf—beyond where allowance is given to build close to the water today. Inside, find wooden louvre windows, large built-in closets, floating bookshelf units and an emblematic fireplace—designed originally by Paul Rudolph for the Revere Quality House. Even personal belongings such as sculptural art, an extensive book collection, vintage lamps and a cache of other ‘50s mod furnishings were all left as a generous inheritance of treasures to the next resident to behold and cherish. Having not been lived in for years, the engineering and grounds are in what is called “estate condition”— shabby and needing repairs, but unaltered in infrastructure and detail work. However, for a nostalgic romantic or aspiring artist, this passion project will involve restoring its structure, saving its charm and thriving in its creative energy—secretly enveloped within the mahogany-stained ceilings and Ocala block walls. SRQ PHOTOGRAPHY BY GLENN JOHNSON OF COASTAL HOME PHOTOGRAPHY

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FIT FOR THE ELEMENTS The anglers and artists of Reef + Ledge apparel. Brittany Mattie

AS THE SAYING GOES, ‘THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER, JUST BAD GEAR.’

And this coastal lifestyle brand needn’t worry about said bad gear. Be it a menacing tropical storm rolling through the Gulf or a brutal heatwave of unrelenting humidity, whether out on open water or docked at the marina, Reef + Ledge apparel prepares boaters for all of nature’s gnarly elements. “Investing in the best technical gear can make the difference between a great day and a wasted afternoon,” says Rex Raymond, co-founder with wife Merry Beth Raymond. First launching online in 2018, Reef + Ledge soon after opened a space in the Historic Downtown Village.

“After we launched, we quickly outgrew our online fulfillment facility,” says Merry Beth.

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“Our local customer base also wanted a place to physically experience our collection, so we consolidated everything into a single space.”

Continuing in their pursuit to create high quality, hyper-comfortable apparel for the local fishing community and beyond, everything is produced entirely in-house— from the graphic design and photography, to video production, tech packs and apparel mockups. A fleet of R+L artists draws up original modern-trop designs before printing them with an eco-friendly water-based screen printer. The designs and materials are then sent to the company’s domestic cut and sew facilities, located right here in the U.S., to create its hoodies, tanks, tees and CoolShield face masks. “Everything we make is

meticulously crafted in limited runs and small batches, so we can keep the focus where it belongs—on quality,” says Merry Beth. “Very few startup apparel companies manufacture their own clothing, and even fewer can do it here in the USA. We take a lot of pride in that.”

R+L’s flagship product, the men’s ‘Reeflex Tech’ performance fishing shirt, exemplifies this care for quality. “It’s like the TESLA of fishing shirts,” the Raymonds say. “They sell out almost as fast as we can make them.” The Reeflex Tech is made with chemical-free, UPF 50+ imported Italian material, which is then dye sublimated with environmentally friendly inks, hand-cut, then sewn with a special active seam technology the brand pays a licensing fee per shirt to use—ensuring 30% IMAGES COURTESY OF REEF+LEDGE.

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LOCATION 1853 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, Reefandledge.com, @reefandledge.

more strength and 70% more stretch than competitors. Seeing as the fabric is also antisnag and naturally antimicrobial, fishermen needn’t worry about a precious thread pulled from the sleeve due to a thrashing king tarpon, nor the rank odor many performance fishing shirts tend to retain after continuous saltwater soaking and sun drying. Especially significant in Florida, the ultra-soft, lightweight and breathable fabric has extreme moisture-wicking properties, to ensure anglers stay cool, dry and protected from the sun—whether it’s beating down onto the patio of Old Salty Dog or bouncing onto the deck of Zombies Can’t Swim (whatever the boat’s name may be). “It’s really about feeling comfortable and looking great, on and off the water,” says Merry Beth.

And with lots more on the horizon for Reef + Ledge, the seafaring couple share exciting news of partnering with former professional fisherman, now a renowned fishing guide and teacher, Captain C.A. Richardson. Starting this month, he will be the face of the R+L brand, which will also become the official apparel sponsor of his award-winning show Flats Class on Waypoint TV, which consists of great fishing action, legendary guests and valuable insight into the world of the most popular saltwater fish. Reef + Ledge also recently partnered with TASC Performance out of New Orleans to co-brand with their entire line of bamboo-made apparel. “We will start with their Carrollton and NOLA lines, and release new products quarterly,” they say. And if that wasn’t enough to get hooked, the Raymonds just announced a licensing deal with an artist known as SlackerTide, for a whole new branded collection of performance and casual wear. “He will be designing 17 new graphic and pattern designs for our 2020 apparel collections,” says Rex. So cast a line and enjoy the shine. SRQ

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Neighborhood Special Section

Left to right: Beets reign supreme in the Rudolph’s salad, featuring beet-cured salmon, roasted beets and beet puree at Sarasota Modern. The Bayside Club May Lane Plaza.

RISING ROSEMARY

Our Hip Northern Neighbor A little slice of paradise within paradise itself, Sarasota’s Rosemary District continues to grow with unabashed exuberance, as longtime locals and area newcomers alike flock from Downtown to the burgeoning locale north of Fruitville Road. Taking to the streets for a neighborhood stroll down newly paved walking paths, or for the next community bike ride with DreamLarge, find relaxation and recreation in equal measure. Fine dining meets the fine arts at nearly every corner, with exciting galleries, outdoor mural installations and acclaimed restaurants making every outing a cultural adventure. Stop for sushi at Spice Station before catching the latest exhibition at GAZE Modern, or feast on French cuisine at Lolita Tartine before getting lost in the abstract art of Grace Howl Contemporary Art. Grab a craft latte at Varietal coffee shop before walking the kids to acting lessons at the Arnold Simonsen Players Studio, a dance class at Sarasota Contemporary Dance or a guitar lesson at Let’s Rock Sarasota. Take your pick of after work workouts, from a vinyasa flow at The Yoga Shack, to a cardio-fueled session at iLoveKickboxing. Call your friends down who live in CitySide Apartments to meet you for a cocktail on tap at The Overton. Work up an appetite thrift shopping for vintage threads at Canned Ham Vintage before scouting out Israeli cuisine from the Spice Boys food truck posted up on Boulevard of the Arts during season. After your appointment with architect firm STRANG Design, situated in the new BOTA Center, source modern furniture for your project at Sarasota Home Collection. The redux of Rosemary District finally brings the immensely walkable, diversely saturated and consistently enjoyable neighborhood this community has been patiently awaiting. SRQ

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

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HISTORY

STAY /LIVE

The Rosemary District dates back to 1886 and was home to the area’s earliest black se lers who formed a thriving community called Overtown. When the Depression hit, many residents lost their houses and relocated to an area that is now known as Newtown.

One of the more interesting spots in the Rosemary District is the two-acre cemetery, where many of Sarasota’s early prominent residents are laid to rest.

You won’t find any big chains, just funky new restaurants, architect studios, modern home furnishing boutiques, salons, interior designers and food emporiums housed in historic buildings reminiscent of the warehouse districts up north. There’s plenty of diversity, too, with an ethnic and socioeconomic mix of residents. Citrus Park, residing on the Northern boundary of Rosemary District, has added a quaint European feel to the neighborhood with the addition of eateries and boutiques. The Rosemary District is an easy walk from downtown Sarasota. It sits just north of Whole Foods Market on First Street. So come enjoy the “can do� spirit of this neighborhood and take a li le piece of Sarasota history home with you.

Arcos Apartments

With its ultra-convenient location in Sarasota’s vibrant Rosemary District, and its resort-style amenities, Arcos puts everything within your orbit. Walk or bike to downtown or the beaches in minutes. Stylish 0-3BR units designed for modern life; city views, designer finishes and flooring, upgraded kitchens and baths, and lo y 10-14’ ceilings. An authentic artcentric community, with on-site gallery and significant public sculpture by exciting visual artist Daniel Arsham. Because you’re urban not suburban, it’s time to make your move. 320 Central Ave. 941-952-3739. arcos.apartments

CitySide

CitySide offers exceptional apartment living in Downtown Sarasota. We are a vibrant community of residents who connect with the unique lifestyle of Sarasota.

Our personal approach to service is unmatched. CitySide is far more than apartments — it’s a community with an exciting atmosphere, a daily opportunity to explore downtown Sarasota’s boutiques, top-notch restaurants, and entertainment. Take a short walk to the waterfront, catch an adventure for a ride to the beach, or socialize at the pool and immaculate clubhouse. Of course, there’s plenty of time to unwind in CitySide’s stylish apartments — made tranquil by concrete construction that minimizes noise. Welcome to refined living.

700 Cocoanut Ave. 941-584-4896. citysidesrq.com

Sarasota Modern Hotel

Offering a dramatic, thoughtprovoking dining experience, Rudolph’s is one of the ho est new restaurants in Sarasota, Florida. Well known for their exciting and eclectic menu, the restaurant pairs delicious American cuisine with delectable wines from all over the country. The restaurant is divided into two main areas: a moody round bar with an upside-down alligator a ached to the ceiling, and a la ice-ceilinged patio adjacent to the pool. From sourdough pancakes to chicken Caesar wraps, churrasco marinated steak to chocolate soufflÊ torte, Rudolph’s Restaurant is the perfect place to go for breakfast, lunch or dinner. 1290 Blvd. of the Arts, 941-906-1290. thesarasota modern.com

The Bayside Club

Situated in Downtown Sarasota, steps from the bay. The Bayside Club offers a full-service community with resort amenities and residences ranging from the mid-$300’s to $1M+. Our unique and pet-friendly community has over 50,000 SQ FT of private, resort inspired amenities, as well as a “Healthy Marketplace� flagship restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, a coffee shop and plenty of take-out options. Amenities include a Zen Lanai Garden, resort-style pool, pet park, club lounge and bar, a roo op deck that looks out on the Sarasota Bay and more.

Our services include 24-hour front desk coverage, downtown transportation, fitness classes, community events and many more. Be inspired and visit The Bayside Club’s model at our sister development, CitySide Apartments. 800 Cocoanut Ave, 941-300-1047. thebaysideclub.com

Hotel Indigo

Located in Sarasota’s Rosemary District, walking distance to downtown and minutes from the beach.

Rent one of the Hotel Indigo bikes and spend some time at the Downtown Farmer’s Market or cruise over the Ringling Bridge to St. Armand’s Circle, then take a refreshing dip in the hot and cold spa-inspired wading pools. The H2O Bistro provides a warm atmosphere for drinks and socializing, while serving specials highlighting the freshest local ingredients. 1223 Boulevard of the Arts, 941-487-3800.

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DINING

The upscale bistro also makes modern renditions of French classics such as the eponymous tartines and paninis. 1419 5th St. 941-952-3172.

Artisan Cheese Company

Make It Swirl

With a few community tables, a great kitchen and an artisanal collection of groceries, the talented cheesemonger team have been gently coaxing and creatively pu ing together beautiful menu items that focus on farm fresh and locally sourced produce. Each item is intended to showcase an internationally renowned cheese and charcuterie selection, along epicurean accoutrements from local makers.

550 Central Ave. 941-951-7860.

Blue Rooster

If you like rib-stickin’, finger-lickin’ good old-fashioned home-cooked Southern food, coupled with fantastic live blues, jazz and gospel music in a hip and modern atmosphere, then the Blue Rooster is a can’t-miss destination. The bacon-wrapped meatloaf doesn’t need any help being loved. And what Southern kitchen would be complete without fried chicken, which, if the reports are true, is good enough to be the last meal you’ll ever want to eat.

1525 4th St. 941-388-7539.

Italian Tradition Restaurant & Martini Bar

Owners Carlo and Tina Narbona have been preparing exquisite meals for nearly 30 years, achieving world-renowned success and notoriety for their handmade Italian specialties. Find traditional Italian cuisine with a creative approach, tailored to the community’s unique culture. Embrace the ambiance and enjoy a meal in the intimate family dining room, or step out onto the patio for a romantic evening by the fire. Experience the encapsulating aromas and the delicious flair of authentic, Italian dishes and hand-cra ed cocktails. 481 North Orange Ave. 941-706-1677.

Lolita Tartine

A simple, artistic style complements a simple, artistic cuisine at the sister restaurant of C’est La Vie. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner in the simple, no-nonsense style of the open-face sandwich that lends the restaurant its name, Lolita Tartine.

Make It Swirl is a completely different way to celebrate any special occasion. You and your guests will have fun discovering the cake boss within you and get to bring a sweet treat home! Any occasion is a great opportunity to celebrate with us. Share a bonding experience in one of our Mommy/ Daddy and Me events, get the girls together for a Ladies Night Out, celebrate Birthday Parties, host your Corporate and Team Building event, Singles or Couples Night Out, or even a First Date! What be er way to celebrate than sharing a laugh and a glass of wine while creating your own sugar masterpiece?

1464 Blvd. of the Arts. 941-777-2987.

MakeItSwirl.com

Mandeville Beer Garden

This urban beer garden is a place the whole family is welcome to come to, including four-legged friends.

The beer selection features cra beers with 30 taps, which include Hofbrau Hefeweizen and local cra brews. The beer menu is updated daily. You’ll notice that many of the menu items feature selections that pair well with beer, from house-made pork rinds with sea salt to traditional bratwursts, spicy Italian sausages and reuben brats. Enjoy the cra brewing culture in open air seating and the communal Oktoberfeststyle picnic tables. 428 North

who was trained at the Culinary Institute of America, lends his creativity to such dishes as “triple benedict,” a toasted English muffin with Canadian bacon, arugula, poached egg, truffle Hollandaise sauce and garnish with mushrooms, and at lunch, an open-faced roast beef sandwich with flavor twists in the form of horseradish and shallots.

The outdoor seating area is shady and perfect for le ing the kids run around while brunch is being prepared. 400 North Lemon Ave. 941-906-1400.

The Overton

Recently awarded SRQ Magazine’s “Best New Restaurant of 2019,” The Overton offers an inventive menu served in a trendy post-industrial environment. This open-air courtyard hangout is located in the heart of the Rosemary District and is comprised of three entities: Varietal Coffee, The Overton restaurant, and soon Colson’s Lounge—a pop-up bar that will be open during season on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm until close. Enjoy cra coffee from Varietal’s state-of-the-art espresso bar and brunch, lunch, or supper from The Overton’s menu features modern twists on cafeteria classics. Whether you are beginning your day with a pour-over coffee, ordering lunch from the Overton’s counter-side service or enjoying happy hour with friends under the palm trees on the patio The Overton is a neighborhood hub that cannot be missed. 1420 Blvd. of the Arts.

941-552-6927. theovertonsrq.com

Lemon Ave. 941-954-8688.

Spice Station

The pan-Asian restaurant is situated in a new Rosemary District building adjacent to the courtyard. On one side of the restaurant, a sushi chef puts together a pick of both traditional and specialty maki rolls, plus sashimi pla ers, while on the other side, the kitchen cranks out Thai pla ers, poke bowls and Japanese items. 1438 Boulevard of the Arts.

941-343-2894

Station 400

A 150-year-old train depot from Kneeland, IN, sets the stage for one of the most eclectic restaurants you’ll ever experience. The ambiance is almost as quirky as the food itself. Executive Chef Eric Bein,

SHOPPING Canned Ham Vintage

What started as a traveling vintage store in an old Shasta trailer,is now a permanent space in the Rosemary. Walking into the space feels like entering the home of a r eally cool friend, with each room set up like a different, house-like tableau, while one room is filled with fringed Western shirts and citrus-hued Jackie O dresses, the next encompasses shelves of colorful glassware and dishes and another, displaying shaggy rugs, Moroccan poufs and low-slung davenports. 1435 7th St. 941-313-1280.

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Grace Howl Contemporary Art

Grace Howl Contemporary Art is a fine art gallery located on Central Avenue in the Rosemary District.

The gallery features abstract paintings by Sarasota-based artist Grace Howl along with a series of rotating exhibitions. Visitors to Grace Howl Contemporary Art can engage in conversation with the artist, as the gallery also serves as Grace Howl’s working studio. 419 Central Ave, 941-539-5302.gracehowlart.com

Home Resource

Pioneers of the area’s architectural renaissance, owners Michael and Kathy Bush offer the best in European and American contemporary furniture design. Whether you’re searching for mid-century modern-inspired pieces like a bright-colored womb chair or an ultra-modern white leather sectional, Home Resource is a must-do for those decorating new Florida digs.

Tons of furniture lines from Knoll, Herman Miller, Vitra, Fritz Hansen, Moroso, Giorge i and Flou.

741 Central Ave. 941-203-4669.

Sarasota Architectural Salvage

Looking for a special chandelier for your home? How about one that used to hang in the Dupont Theatre in Wilmington, DE? Or if you’re an Elvis fan, consider a three-piece frieze rescued from Memphis’ Ellis Auditorium—the site of Elvis’ first sold-out concert. Sarasota Architectural Salvage, located just north of the Rosemary District, carries an impressive selection of furniture, architectural objects and decorative artifacts that were saved from historic buildings. If you’d like to take home a piece of local history, there are plenty of locally salvaged pieces such as wood sections taken from Sarasota High School’s basketball gym floor or weathered heart pine salvaged from the floor of the old train station. 1093 Central Ave. 941-362-0803.

Sarasota Collection Home Store

For those looking to outfit a new condo or home, this high-end interior boutique is a must-see. The store offers by far the most comprehensive collection of exclusive furniture collections, such as Global Views,

622 Central Ave. 941-955-8313.

City to Yemeni parents – embarks on a mission, traveling from sunny California to a Trump Rally in Kentucky, a small town in the heart of Georgia, Union Square in NYC and a variety of locales in between.

Eventually, they cobble together a diverse group of people to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, arriving in Cairo, Egypt, in July of 2017 where they spend 10 days paired with locals. Film: 6:30pm

Summer and Company

Sarasota Ballet

Arterior and Dwell, hand-made rugs and interior accessories in the area.

Home decor here is modern yet filled with character. The team can even custom-design the furniture of your dreams. Custom bed linens are also a hit. Sarasota Collection strives to bring beauty and comfort to your home whether you stop by in search of something specific or hire the team to help makeover your space.

Practically feel the sea breeze walking through the doors of this home decor boutique. Founded

by Mandi Rapisardi and Tracey Rapisardi, the mother-daughter duo is associated and preferred by Coastal Living Magazine and Southern Living magazine for their interior design/ styling services. The home furnishings shop soaks up all things Gulf Coast lifestyle with a collection of oceanic designs and nautical elements to create a simplistic coastal nook. 431 North Orange Ave. 941-877-1326.

THINGS TO DO

Housing the children’s program for the Sarasota Ballet, the new studios in Rosemary are teeming with dance classes for children. The Sarasota Ballet School is one of a few schools in Florida to offer examinations and assessments with the world-renowned Royal Academy of Dance.

1400 Boulevard of the Arts, sarasotaballet.org

Sarasota Contemporary Dance From the professional

company’s rehearsals to dance classes for adults and children, this bright third-story studio hosts contemporary and hip hop classes from beginner to advanced levels.

1400 Boulevard of the Arts, Suite 300 sarasotacontemporarydance.org

Arnold Simonsen Players Studio Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center

A hub for arts and conversation in the Rosemary District, Fogartyville is a special gathering place for those who appreciate good music and community. In addition to live concerts, Fogartville also hosts arts and culture and educational events.

The Players Studio has classes for children as young as three years old through adult. There is a variety of classes offering instruction in acting, singing and dancing for all levels of experience. The studio also offer a variety of workshops to refine your skills. 1400 Boulevard of the Arts.

941-552-8879.

525 Kumquat Ct. wslr.org

October 6 | Kyshona Kyshona Armstrong, a music therapist gone rogue, has a natural gi for using music to tap into emotion. Audiences will o en find a common thread of overcoming, hope, and empowerment in her songwriting and storytelling. Her latest album, “The Ride�, shows off vocal stylings that are reminiscent of Aretha Franklin, E a James and Al Green. Performance: 7pm.

October 22 | Free Trip to Egypt A film about the transformational power of human connection, and a remarkable experiment in kindness and empathy. With initial reactions ranging from suspicion to hostility, Mounib – accompanied by YouTube celebrity and racial activist Adam Saleh, a Muslim born in New York

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NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION Rosemary District Association

If you live, work or own property in the Rosemary District, Rosemary District Association is your neighborhood association—providing a forum for collecting and discussing the diverse points of view of its members; representing the neighborhood in ma ers involving local government; promoting cooperation between the Rosemary District and other neighborhoods; and, acting to directly improve the neighborhood. rosemarydistrictassociation.org

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forage LOCAL EPICUREAN ADVENTURES AT THE TABLE

This page:

The SoFresh Signature Salad features baby spinach, chopped romaine, cukes, tomatoes, onions, raisins, sunflower seeds, avocado and goat cheese, topped with balsamic vinegar and grilled chicken.

A HEARTY BOWL OF HASHTAGS Behind the trendy labels, SoFresh brings clean, balanced calories. Andrew Fabian

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Left to right: The cucumber-mint-limeade refreshes without the sugar content, so skip the soda fountain. Protein options

abound for any bowl or salad, including grass-fed steak, seared organic tofu, Beyond Sausage and peeled Gulf Shrimp.

AT A TIME WHEN GARNERING “LIKES” HOLDS AS MUCH WEIGHT AS FLAVOR AND VALUE, fast-casual restaurants have increasingly crafted their menus with an eye towards hashtags and shares. “Social media is huge for restaurants,” says Mike Murphy, general manager of the Downtown Sarasota SoFresh, the area’s fast-casual newcomer. “Your image on social media platforms allows you to connect with customers on a personal level,” he continues. For SoFresh, whose social media profiles try to correlate their food with the youth, beauty and effortless vivacity of their models, it’s buzzwords like vegan, gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, kale and cold-pressed they hope to snag their customers with. But behind the buzzwords and the subliminal promise of being cool, SoFresh aims to provide health-conscious diners something tangible, tasty and fresh, something to make them feel well even if the menu seems a little #trendy.

And this pursuit permeates every facet of the SoFresh menu, highlighted by its offering of bowls. Of the bowl format’s recent rise in popularity, Murphy believes “bowls give you the ability to compound flavors, [whereas] on a plate the flavors can be inconsistent.” The SoFresh bowls come either preconfigured or as a build-your-own, and unlike many upstart bowl-eries whose offerings are practically readymade, SoFresh has more of a cook-to-order style. The bowls arrive topped with ample portions of hot-off-the-skillet protein choices both animal and plant-based, including non-GMO and antibiotic-free chicken breast, grass-fed choice beef, Gulf shrimp, wild-caught ahi or salmon, and organic tofu. Beneath the protein is a well-portioned assortment of healthy whole grains, vibrant greenery, vegetable toppings and a selection of savory sauces. One early favorite amongst early adopters of the SoFresh brand is the Power Bowl with salmon. It features both quinoa and brown rice, carrots, kale, almonds, raisins, goat cheese and a kale-basil pesto. The tender cut of salmon, panseared with salt and pepper and zero ostentation, sits atop the hearty mound of ingredients and provides a great first bite before the fork snags some kale and grains. By the time the raisins, almonds and carrots have joined the festivities, the bowl becomes a hop-scotch of textures and flavor profiles, all held together by the creamy, salty goat cheese.

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good blend of protein, carbs and fiber, and enough minerals to skip your daily vitamin (consult with physician). It’s filling but not bloating, simple but not bland, salty but not thirst-inducing.

Should diners have to quench their thirst, however, SoFresh has an answer. Forgoing the usual sugar dispensary known as the soda fountain, SoFresh has opted for an assortment of frescas and cold-brewed teas.

Concocted in-house, they contain very little or no added sugar at all.

The cucumber-mint-limeade fresca looks and tastes more like a coldpressed juice than a steeped drink, and the flecks of mint floating around in it give it the look of a potent elixir, though it only promises to refresh and “We want our hydrate in ways that battery-acid sodas never will. The fresca is almost as rich food to really in flavor and nutrition as the kale tonic walk the walk. juice, another unsweetened elixir that includes cold-pressed kale, romaine, —Mike Murphy of the spinach, ginger, apple, lemon, celery Downtown Sarasota SoFresh and cucumber. The apple provides just enough natural sugar to take some of the bite out of the ginger while the lemon perks up some of the earthiness of the kale, romaine and spinach. In keeping with the sugar-free motif, SoFresh also offers a pair of smoothies that contain no sugar, no ice and no powdered fillers. The banana and date smoothie is an unpretentious, five-ingredient blend of banana, date, almond milk, almond butter and flax seed. Like the bowls, the smoothie packs all of the flavor of its overly processed competition without their gastric gravitas—perfect for a hot day when a cold, light, drinkable meal replacement can help combat the punishment of a hot Sarasota afternoon.

Maybe the SoFresh menu looks a little like that of any other fastcasual restaurant, but the food remains unabashedly true to the name.

“We want our food to really walk the walk,” says Murphy—not that it hurts to talk the talk. For example, if someone like rapper J. Cole, who Murphy once made a vegan bowl for, happens to share a picture of his SoFresh meal on social media and FOMO-fever ensues, so be it. SRQ SoFresh, 1455 2nd Street, Sarasota, www.lovesofresh.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

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SWEET BITES

Penguin Cakes’ sugar cookies.

Brittany Mattie

FAR FROM PATAGONIA AND ANTARCTICA, Penguin Cakes actually found its footing in Daytona Beach before its award-winning Pastry Chef

and Cake Designer, Chelsea Daniels, took the plunge to move to her dream destination of Sarasota. With a steady hand for intricate detailing, her sculptural sugar rushes come dressed to impress—from decadent cake pops to comical cake displays and motif-themed cookies. Instead of mainstream, plain, round cookies, the quirky baker will craft a batch of Rolling Stones tongues, rainbow unicorns or Game of Thrones dragon eggs—sure to break the ice so your next themed party doesn’t have to involve small talk, just big appetites. Daniels has always strived to set herself apart from the flock and make a splash wherever she goes. Ergo, her self-proclaimed spirit animal remains the adorable waddlers who share her love of icing and also march to the beat of their own drum. “While they are birds, penguins do something that almost all other birds cannot,” she quips. “Instead of flying, they swim.” SRQ PENGUINCAKES.ORG, @PENGUINCAKES 66 | srq magazine_ OCTT19 live local

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nosh CROW’S NEST MARINA RESTAURANT 1968

Tarpon Center Dr., Venice, 941-484-9551. CASUAL FINE DINING The Crow’s Nest is a casual fine dining restaurant, serving fresh seafood, steaks and other traditional Florida favorites. Located on the Island of Venice and nestled between the Gulf of Mexico on the west and the Intracoastal Waterway on the north and east, Crow’s Nest has become a waterfront fixture for surf ‘n’ turf. M–W 11:30am-10pm. Th 11:30am– 11pm. F-Sa 11:30am–12:30am. Su 12–10pm.

DUVAL’S FRESH. LOCAL. SEAFOOD. 1435 Main St., Sarasota, 941-312-4001. SEAFOOD Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood. is excited to announce: Duval’s Free. Local. Shu le! Your experience at Duval’s should be what you’re expecting. For dinner, try the Chef Selected Fresh Catch, an offering of the freshest fish in the market, and fillet your fresh catch in-house.

Featuring a 3-5-7 Happy Hour and late night. M–Th 11am–9pm. F–Sa 11am–10pm. Su 10am– 9pm.

ELEMENT 1413 Main St., Sarasota, 941-724-8585.

MODERN MEDITERRANEAN In the heart of downtown Sarasota, you don’t want to miss the upscale Mediterranean grill, Element. Try their Sambuca shrimp with bacon crème, crisp prosciu o, tomato fennel compote and pine nuts. For dinner, their 12 oz. bone-in center cut porcini-encrusted veal chop is delectable. For a large party, order the table an entire roast suckling pig; which serves four to six guests and is cooked with apples, figs and shallots. Equipped with an extensive wine list and an enticing array of cra cocktails, dining at Element is a must-try experience. M-Th 4:30pm-10pm. F-Sa 4:30pm11pm. Su 10:30am-2:30pm, 4:30pm-10pm. F-Sa.

GECKO’S GRILL & PUB 4870 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-923-8896. GRILL AND SPORTS BAR The Original Gecko’s—established in 1992—is known for hosting great parties and entertaining such sports celebrities as Michael Jordan and the White Sox, along with Sarasota’s locals and visitors alike. Gecko’s has continued its good fortune and expanded to the following locations: Twelve Oaks Plaza (Interstate–75 and S.R. 70) in 1998, Braden River Plaza (on S.R. 64) in 2002, Palmer Crossing (Clark Road and Honore Avenue) in 2006, Southside Village (Hillview Street) in 2010, S’macks Burgers and Shakes (Bee Ridge Road and Shade Avenue) in 2013 and Fruitville Road (Fruitville and North Ca lemen Avenue) in 2014.

GROVE 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, 941-893-4321. CONTEMPORARY GOURMET DINING GROVE Restaurant, Patio and Ballroom is the newest offshoot of PIER 22, the award-winning waterfront destination headed by restaurateurs Hugh Miller and Greg Campbell. A full-service restaurant and events venue offering contemporary gourmet dining.

The menu is elevated yet approachable and locally in-

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SRQ’s Foodie Content Channel

LOCALLY SOURCED ALWAYS IN SEASON

spired. Housemade dishes emphasize fresh seasonal ingredients as well as innovative cooking methods, and with 27,000 square feet of dining space including casual patio dining, private rooms, a relaxing lounge space and an elegant 400 person ballroom there’s room for everyone at the table! M-Th 11:30am-10pm, F-Sa 11:30am-12am, Sun 11am-10pm.

MARINA JACK 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 941-3654232. SEAFOOD, STEAKS AND PASTA The Sarasota landmark offers its customers exceptional food and great atmosphere while dining on the water. Come to the dining room on the second floor and try some new items on the dinner menu. Start with braised mussels in a chorizo broth or short rib tostadas, which feature Gouda cheese and pulled slow-braised short rib. Open daily for lunch and dinner. M–Su 11:15am–11pm.

MATTISON’S 3 Locations: Ma ison’s City Grille, 1 N. Lemon Ave., Sarasota, 941-330-0440/ Ma ison’s Forty-One, 7275 S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, 941-9213400/ Ma ison’s Riverwalk Grille, 101 Riverfront Blvd., Bradenton, 941-896-9660. AMERICAN, EUROPEAN, PROVINCIALLY SOURCED MENU ITEMS Chef Paul Ma ison, executive chef and proprietor of Ma ison’s, operates a successful culinary group on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Located in Sarasota and Bradenton, each Ma ison’s restaurant location is unique to its neighborhood, offering Chef Paul Ma ison’s signature menu items, outstanding service, and quality ingredients, while supporting the community, regional farmers, and culinary suppliers.

Each Ma ison’s location offers outdoor dining, happy hour and live music. Ma ison’s Catering Company is an award-winning, chef-owned and operated company procuring fresh, natural, and local ingredients. Catering inhouse and off-site, Ma ison’s Catering Company offers certified wedding and event planners, experienced professionals, and custom menus. Hours vary by location.

MORTON’S GOURMET MARKET 1924 South Osprey Ave., Sarasota, 941-955-9856. GOURMET GROCER It’s the place where you can spend a lazy Sunday morning sipping coffee and breaking off pieces of a scone, a frenetic Friday evening collecting rare cheeses, meat and wine for Saturday’s soiree or a quick lunchtime bite to go. For the la er, Morton’s fresh-made sushi, salad bar or ready-to-go tea sandwiches are longstanding local faves. M–Sa 7am–8pm. Su 9am–6pm.

OPHELIAS ON THE BAY 9105 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key, 941-349-2212. FINE DINING With indoor and outdoor dining options boasting incredible waterfront views of Li le Sarasota Bay, Ophelia’s On The Bay is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a delectable meal.

From their PEI mussels presented in a saffron-anise e broth to incredible cocktails such as the Pink Lady, you can’t go wrong. Happy Hour M–Su 5pm–6pm. Dinner M–Su 5pm–10pm. Sunday Brunch 11am–2pm.

PBNT

1409 Main St., Sarasota, 941-9149955. AMERICAN PBnT is serving up delicious pizzas, burgers, tacos. There are options for everyone, including gluten-free pizza crust and le uce-wrapped burgers. PBnT caters to every craving for America’s favorite foods. Try their When Pigs Fly pizza, which is a BBQ base, topped with cheese, roasted pork, chopped bacon, onion and a BBQ drizzle or their Momo burger which is a double pa y, sautéed mushrooms and onions, mozzarella cheese and mayo. If you are really hungry, try their American Dream, which is a cheese pizza, cheeseburger and a taco of choice. Fast, fun and friendly – PBnT is the perfect choice. M-Su 11am-10pm.

PIER 22 1200 1st Ave W, Bradenton, 941-7488087. CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN Pier 22 takes waterfront dining to a new level. On the mouth of the Manatee River, the picturesque se ing is relaxing and the perfect backdrop for any outing. With over 26,000 square feet of space, Pier 22 also offers catering and space for events. They focus on fresh, homemade fare and unique twists on everyday dishes. For lunch, try their so -shell crab sandwich with jalapeno tartar sauce, with a side of poutine. While watching the sunset on the patio, dine on their fresh game of the day, sourced from around the world and always a surprise. M-Th 11:30am – 10pm. F-Sa 11:30am10:30pm. Su 11am-10pm. Happy hour daily 3pm-7pm and Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm.

SHARKY’S ON THE PIER 1600 Harbour Dr. S, Venice, 941-488-1456. SEAFOOD A er just one visit to Sharky’s On the Pier, Fins at Sharky’s or Snook Haven, you’ll understand why all three restaurants have become Venice-area landmarks, smack-dab on the water. Boasting unparalleled views of the 720-foot long Venice Fishing Pier and Gulf of Mexico for over 30 years, Sharky’s has made a name for itself as Florida’s No. 1 Beach Bar with complimentary live music and entertainment, family friendly fun and a whole lot of ocean. M–Th 11:30am–10pm. F–Sa 11:30am–12am.

Sun 11:30am–10pm.

TSUNAMI SUSHI & HIBACHI GRILL 100 Central Ave, Suite 1022, Sarasota, 941-366-1033. ASIAN FUSION In the heart of downtown Sarasota Florida, Tsunami Sushi and Hibachi Grill stands alone for creative sushi, fresh sashimi and a new spin on asian fusion--all at remarkable prices. The Tsunami team focuses on ensuring every meal exceeds your expectations. FRESH SUSHI- Made fresh before your eyes by their talented chefs. FULL BAR- They feature a full bar, with specialty cocktails like the Hibiscus Rose, Japanese Julep and Shinsu Sour. ASIAN ENTREES- Fresh and flavorful with the unique taste of Japan. M-F 11am-Close; Sat/Sun 12pm-Close; Closed Daily 2:30-4:30pm.

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E D ITOR S’ 2019-20 A RTS A ND C ULTURE SEA SO N PREVI E W COMPI L ED BY SENI O R EDI TO R PHI L L EDERER

OPEN SEASON Dive into the bold and brilliant world of Beethoven all season long. Witness the rebirth of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. Take the kids to the theater, behold the beauty of Cuban Ballet and discover the origin story behind one of Sarasota’s favorite (adopted) sons—Syd Solomon. Relive the romance of Romeo & Juliet no fewer than four times, pay tribute to the genius of John Williams at least three times and even attend the latest world premiere theater production from a team of Tony Award winners at Asolo Rep. It’s open season on the Cultural Coast, and there is no limit.

MAD TV

IT’S A MAD WORLD Ringling College of Art & Design lets things get a little crazy with Jack Davis: Drawing American Pop Culture, opening this month in the Lois and David Stulberg Gallery. One of the founding cartoonists of Mad magazine, the late cartoonist made a name for himself through colorful caricatures and exaggerated anatomy—particularly the famously huge heads and spindly limbs terminating in oversized feet—and lent his talents to the likes of Time magazine and TV Guide, as well as popular movie posters and album covers, including Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye and Johnny Cash’s Everybody Loves A Nut. This exhibition will delve past the popular and well-known and into Davis’ origins, with a particular focus on the illustrator’s black-and-white drawings.

This page: Montage of covers designed by Jack Davis, one of the founding members of MAD Magazine’s “Usual Gang of idiots.” Exhibit at the Lois and David Stulberg Gallery at the Ringling College of Art and Design. Opens Friday, October 18, 5-8pm

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This page:

RICARDO GRAZIANO

Ricardo Graziano, The Blue Hour.

GRAZIANO EN POINTE When Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb first approached Principal Dancer Ricardo Graziano about the prospect of choreographing a new ballet for the company, the opportunity was unexpected, to say the least. “I don’t know what he saw in me,” Graziano recalls now of that day in 2011. “I had no idea that I could create such a thing.” But Graziano accepted Webb’s challenge, and his resulting Shostakovich Suite, a ballet in the classical style and featuring all 24 of the company’s dancers, became a hit for both the company and the audience.

Something clicked in the budding choreographer then, and he hasn’t stopped since.

This season, Sarasota Ballet’s opening program pays tribute to this young choreographer’s growing body of work with Graziano, Retrospective.

Opening with the classical stylings of Shostakovich Suite, the program quickly moves into Graziano’s contemporary work with En Las Calles de Murcia. Set to Spanish Baroque music, the ballet reflects a warmer side of Graziano’s choreography, punctuated with moments of levity. “When I hear it, I just want to get out and dance,” he says. Further showcasing his choreographical diversity, the program concludes with Graziano’s In a State of Weightlessness, seeing the choreographer create an entrancing contemporary ballet to the music of Philip Glass. “It’s like part of a different world,” he says. And as audiences watch the development of Graziano’s artistic language unfold before them, keep an eye out for what the company calls “The Graziano Fourth”—one of Graziano’s preferred bits of corporeal vocabulary, seeing the dancer poised with bent knees and the upper body completely contracted. It’s quickly becoming a signature move.

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Below: The world premiere of Knoxville at the Asolo Repertory Theatre.

FLORIDA FICTION

STATE OF THE STAGE Three theaters bring Florida stories and Florida history to the stage this year, including Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, which closes out the first season in its freshly renovated and rebuilt theater with Ruby . A powerful and haunting musical from the pen of WBTT Founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs and his brother, Ruby takes audiences back to August 3, 1952, when a black woman murdered a white doctor in Live Oak, FL. As the town reels from the event and painful self-examination follows, the writer Zora Neale Hurston comes to town as a reporter for a northern newspaper. Earlier in the season, Venice Theatre will present Gulf View Drive, the final in Arlene Hutton’s Nibroc Trilogy, and the story of a young couple that moves into their dream house in Siesta Key, only to be followed by family and ensuing decisions that put their love to the test. And at Florida Studio Theatre, the Broadway hit American Son brings audiences inside a Florida police station for one trying night, when a separated interracial couple reunites after their teenage son goes missing, and The Legend of Georgia McBride tells the tale of a young Elvis impersonator making a living in a small-town Florida bar, forced to adjust when the owner fires him in favor of a new drag show.

KNOXVILLE

WORLD PREMIERE AT THE ASOLO

Left top to bottom:

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Ruby.

Florida Studio Theatre’s The Legend of Georgia McBride.

When Frank Galati read James Agee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, A Death in the Family, the Tony Award-winning director knew he had to author an adaptation and he knew it would be a musical. And when Galati read the finished script for what he titled Knoxville, he knew just the musical pairing to bring it to life: Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty—the Olivier Award-winning music and lyrics duo he collaborated with all those years ago for the Tony Award-winning production of Ragtime on Broadway. If Jake and Elwood could do it, then so could Galati—it was time to get the band back together. And with more Tonys in the line-up than a Sopranos lookalike contest, Asolo Repertory Theatre made room for an exciting world premiere set to hit the stage this April.

Set in Knoxville, TN, in the year 1915, the autobiographical story revolves around young Rufus Follett, who finds his idyllic family life rocked by tragedy, his mind wracked with questions.

“Like James Joyce, James Agee created a portrait of the artist as a young man in his novel,” says Galati. “His story goes to the core of the American soul, where faith abides as well as doubt.”

Galati adapted the work on his own, only approaching his old collaborators, Ahrens and Flaherty, once he had a polished twoact script. He asked them: “Why does this story sing?”

“It felt fast and contemporary and punchy and emotional,” says Ahrens, and she scoured the script for those perfect moments for musicality, where it feels seamless and organic instead of bringing the characters and production to a halt for a song and dance—easier said than done. “I’m the bridge between spoken word and music,” she says, but had a hard time placing her pylons. She eventually found inspiration in the same place that Galati did—Agee’s words. “It’s all written into this magnificent novel,” Ahrens says, and Flaherty agrees. “It feels like cadences of music,” he says. Flaherty composed a score to root the production in 1915 Knoxville, featuring fiddles, guitars and even cardboard box percussion. “It shouldn’t feel like an opera score,” he says, aiming instead for something a bit more casual and downhome, something to evoke thoughts of Americana, like folk songs on the front porch or watching the stars come out on a summer’s night. Says Flaherty, “That idea is something to be celebrated.”

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This page, left to right: Syd Solomon—Silent World, 1961. Liquitex on gesso panel, 58 3/16 × 48 5/16 × 1 15/16 in. Museum purchase, 1962. Fifty-Fifty, 1974. Acrylic and aerosol enamel on canvas, 50 x 50 in; Kite, 1975. Acrylic and aerosol enamel on canvas, 60 x 60 in.; Mecox Medley, 1987. Acrylic and aerosol enamel on canvas, 60 x 48 in.,© Estate of Syd Solomon, courtesy of Berry Campbell. Opposite page: Rosa Papillonacea (Butterfly Rose), Salvadora Dalì, 1968, courtesy of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

SYD SOLOMON AT THE RINGLING

CAMOUFLAGE AND CALLIGRAPHY For Sarasota’s art aficionados and culture vultures, the works of acclaimed abstract expressionist Syd Solomon are well known. And for locals, his time here remains a source of cultural pride and a milestone in the area’s artistic history. But a new exhibition opening this December at The Ringling Museum—Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed—proposes to dive deeper into the artist’s early life and inspiration than ever before, presenting a definitive origin story for a man who became a local legend.

Dominating the Searing Wing, Concealed and Revealed brings not only several of Solomon’s paintings to the museum, but also several artifacts from the artist’s early life, most importantly his service in World War II and professional start as a graphic designer and calligrapher in Sarasota, on loan from the Solomon Archive. His son, the artist Mike Solomon, has been working on the archive for five years now, and even he has been surprised by what they’ve found. “The general knowledge was always there,” he says, “but the surprise was in the details, and how it connected to his painting.” When the elder Solomon served in World War II, his camouflage designs hid men, tanks and supplies from German air raids following the Normandy invasion. Fake trees on wheels disguised Allied planes resting on makeshift airstrips. And when Solomon and his fellow soldiers liberated the French town of Roye, they held a big celebration with a parade and a printed poster. That original poster will be on display. And when Solomon moved to Sarasota in 1946, he turned his talents to signage for local businesses and layout work for local newspapers. “And a lot of the look of Sarasota in the ‘40s, in terms of advertising and signage, he made,” Mike says. But more than that, both of these experiences—Solomon the camouflagist and Solomon the calligrapher—would greatly influence the celebrated abstract expressionist he became. “For the people who think they know Syd Solomon’s work, they’ll realize it’s a lot more complex than they thought,” Mike says. “It wasn’t just about nature. It’s expressionism. It’s a personal, autobiographical thing.” Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed opens at The Ringling this December.

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SALVADOR AND SELBY

HELLO DALI See a rose sprout butterfly wings, a lily transform into a gramophone horn, a dahlia mutate into a horned beast—Marie Selby Botanical Gardens continues the Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series into its fourth year with a hard turn into the trippy, the weird and the downright surreal with Salvador Dalí: Gardens of the Mind. Teaming up with the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, the exhibition will feature 10 of the artist’s botanically inspired and brilliantly colored photolithographs from his series, FlorDalí, which will serve as a centerpiece to be surrounded by artifacts and photos from Dalí’s life and work. Viewed in tandem, the final product and the domestic detritus will serve to provide context to the famed Catalonian surrealist’s work and process, as well as emphasize his continuous connection to nature. Also on display will be photographs from renowned nature photographer and Sarasota’s own Clyde Butcher, whose snapshots of Catalonia will transport viewers to the very wilds that held sway over Dalí’s imagination all those years ago. An immersive exhibition following the likes of which celebrated Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol and Paul Gauguin in years past, the entire Selby Gardens campus will transform to celebrate Dalí’s art and the inherent surreality of nature’s wildest tropical flora. Opening February 9, 2020, and closing June 30, 2020, various lectures, performances, family programs and more will take place throughout the exhibition’s run.

RCLA TOWN HALL LECTURE SERIES

WORDS OF WISDOM Every year, the Ringling College Library Association proves just how cool libraries can be through its Town Hall Lecture Series, bringing great minds from arts, politics, science and beyond to this sunny slice of paradise for a night of engaging discussion. This year proves no different. The series kicks off in January 2020 with General John F. Kelly, a former marine and four-star general who came out of retirement to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security for President Donald Trump and then as his White House Chief of Staff. In February, California-born Rick Steves brings his European travel expertise to Sarasota. A best-selling author, as well as TV and radio program host, Steves teaches fellow explorers how to travel as “temporary locals” for a more intimate connection with their European destinations. Steves is followed by Wendy R. Sherman later in the month. Now a senior fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics and Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Sherman previously served as under secretary of state for political affairs, where she led successful US negotiations for the nuclear deal with Iran and received the National Security Medal from President Barack Obama. The series continues in March with visits from freelance journalist and nonfiction author Sam Quinones, whose latest book Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic won a National Book Critic’s Circle award for the Best Nonfiction Book of 2015, and Lisa Genova, a doctor of neuroscience who has been dubbed the Michael Crichton of brain science thanks to her novels Still Alice, Left Neglected, Love Anthony, Inside the O’Briens and Every Note Played. The series concludes in April with celebrated photojournalist Annie Leibovitz, whose photoseries span everything from the resignation of Richard Nixon to the 1975 Rolling Stones tour. srq magazine_ OCT19 live local | 79

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This page: Zlatomir Fung, Artist Series of Sarasota, photo by Matt Dine. Opposite page: Violin prodigy Soo Bean Lee, Artist Series Concerts. Jeffrey Kahane, Sarasota Music Festival Music Director.

Discover Beethoven’s Seventh with violinist Alexandra Soumm with the Sarasota Orchestra.

SHAKESPEARE

OLD LOVERS DIE YOUNG No season would be complete without sprinkling a little Shakespeare on top, but this season sees no fewer than four productions involving those bereaved beloveds, those suicidal sweethearts, those iconic and impulsive inamorati—Romeo and Juliet. Showing its sense of humor, Sarasota Opera kicks off its production of Charles Gounod’s operatic interpretation of the star-cross’d lovers just a single day after Valentine’s Day, while Venice Symphony waits a full two weeks (out of respect) before a concert featuring Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture. And at the end of March, Sarasota Ballet will see the company premiere of Sir Frederick Ashton’s full-length ballet version of Romeo and Juliet , translating the romance and tragedy through the power of dance. Not to be left out, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School dances with The Bard this season as well, bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the stage as choreographed comedy during its March production. Venice Theatre dips back into the drama well with a production of Hamlet that same month, followed by yet another Romeo & Juliet from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training in April, performed at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

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BEETHOVEN’S 250TH BIRTHDAY

NOTHING BEATS THE BEETS 2020 marks the 250th birthday for the famed and acclaimed, the unrepeatable and unbeatable, the virtuoso with the most-o—Ludwig van Beethoven—and the musical community is coming out in force to celebrate.

Artist Series Concerts brings the award-winning cellist Zlatomir Fung to town this November for a pair of Beethoven-themed concerts, including all five sonatas for cello and piano, and February sees the return of noted pianist Lin Ye, performing Beethoven’s Sonatas in C Major and E-flat Major, followed by more Beethoven in an April concert from Korean violin prodigy SooBeen Lee. Venice Symphony pays homage to the master with its opening performance in November, Bohemian Beethoven, fusing the composer’s Fifth Symphony with the Queen classic, Bohemian Rhapsody.

But it’s Sarasota Orchestra that pulls out all the stops this season with a whopping eight concerts dedicated to this classical master, including two concerts in October, two in January, a special presentation in February that explores Beethoven’s entire Symphony No. 3 (conducted by and with commentary from Sarasota Music Festival Music Director Jeffrey Kahane), another concert in March and closing out the celebration with a performance of Beethoven’s joyous Symphony No. 7. Kahane offered his own thoughts on paying homage to the master.

Is there a particular joy you get from conducting Beethoven’s work? Kahane: There is certainly a visceral quality to Beethoven’s music, a physical and emotional intensity that is very specific to him, to some extent related to his incomparable ability to manipulate rhythm and time, but also to the depth of his humanity and compassion.

The mid-season concert, Beethoven’s Eroica, celebrates Beethoven’s “revolutionary middle period.” What made this work so revolutionary? The truth is that Beethoven was revolutionary throughout almost his entire mature creative life. But with the Eroica, which comes near the beginning of what we call his “middle period,” he literally shattered the boundaries of what the symphony as a form had been. Nothing like it had ever done in terms of sheer scope. The first movement of the symphony alone is longer than many entire symphonies by earlier composers, and the symphony as a whole is roughly twice as long as most symphonies that had been composed before it. Like a painter

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working on a monumental canvas, Beethoven clearly needed a much greater expanse of time to articulate and develop his ideas in dramatic fashion and to express the extraordinary range and depth of emotional and psychological states he experienced.

Why is Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 considered to be so challenging? While the Fourth has its physical challenges, its greatest challenge is a spiritual and psychological one. This concerto is unique among concerti written until that time in terms of the psychological, spiritual and emotional demands it places on the performer. The technical demands of the piece must be made subservient to its poetic and philosophical content— it is as much a wordless poem as it is a piece of music. It is the piece I have played more often than any other in my repertoire, I would guess perhaps close to two hundred times over a period of more than forty years, and it never once has ceased to challenge and inspire me.

When I manage to come close to touching the essence of the music, I become a little bit better person for it. con’t 8

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Below le : Styling the Suffragist, courtesy of Florida Studio Theatre. Right: Women identified as Mrs. Suffern, is surrounded by a crowd of men and boys, while she holds a home-made banner in women suffragist parade ‘Help us to win the vote.’ 1914.

JEFFREY KAHANE OF THE SARASOTA ORCHESTRA ON BEETHOVEN

SUFFRAGIST PROJECT

con’t 8 Why close the

As the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment approaches in 2020, Florida Studio Theatre celebrates the woman’s right to vote—and all the women who fought for it over the centuries and decades—with a massive community project uniting more than 20 local partners throughout the bi-county region for more than a year of women-focused programming.

Entitled The Suffragist Project, plans have been in the works and wheels turning for months now, with four playwrights commissioned earlier this year to create brand new plays to premiere as the project culminates next August—when the theater will also bring in 10 performers from across the country to channel the likes of Abigail Adams, Frederick Douglass and the fiery orators through history who supported women’s suffrage—but, thanks to the many partners involved, the community will have plenty to see and experience as the project builds to its climax.

In addition to further FST programming, the American Association of University Women - Sarasota Chapter will be marching in the annual Sarasota holiday parade, dressed all in white in homage to the suffragettes’ chosen garb, while the Venice Chapter will create a separate presentation focused on issues such as women’s voting participation and pay differentials. Merrill Lynch and Bank of America will be organizing discussions on women’s suffrage during restaurant happy hours throughout the entire 16 months of the event, and the Sarasota County Library System will be promoting books relating to women’s suffrage and hosting exhibits and panels across the county. At the Ringling Museum, an exhibition on female photographers will be on display, Manatee Village Historical Park will be hosting multiple themed teas and luncheons with trivia sessions related to women’s history, and Sarasota Contemporary Dance will premiere two new performances: Dancing in the Moment, featuring an intergenerational improv dance group, and a concert uniting modern dance and famous suffragist speeches through history. Both Booker High School and New College will also be participating, with the latter hosting a lecture series called How the Suffragist Movement Betrayed Black Women and a theatrical production entitled Fiery Women: The Words of African-American Suffragists.

“I hope people realize what we’re standing on, that it brings people the courage to stand up, and that words matter,” says Kate Alexander, FST’s Associate Director At-Large and Director of the Suffragist Project. “Culture is living and fluid. It isn’t fixed. So when we change the day—when we affect the quality of the day—we are the future. There’s still work to be done.”

season with a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7? There is no more joyous music in the entire repertoire. Although we have no surviving images of Beethoven smiling or laughing, we know both from his words and his music that he had a tremendous capacity for joy, and nowhere is that expressed any more thrillingly than in the Seventh Symphony, especially its ecstatic finale.

Once the season concludes, what do you hope concertgoers will walk away with?

A deeper understanding of why it is that Beethoven is such a central figure in our musical culture, and indeed why he represents the very essence of why we use the word “classical” with reference to the music we play. We run the risk of thinking of “classical” as that which is comfortable and familiar.

Beethoven never wanted people to become complacent or comfortable. Quite to the contrary, his intention was as often to shock and to provoke us, as it was to inspire and comfort us. The “classics” are works we come back to over and over again precisely because they have the capacity to cause us to see, to hear, and to think about things in new ways, and I hope that will be the case with this season of Beethoven.

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SARASOTA CUBAN BALLET SCHOOL

SEASON OF COLLABORATION Fresh off the heels of a much-needed renovation, including a new roof and smashing new paint job, the students and dancers of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS) will no longer be dancing around buckets under leaky ceilings this season.

And though a new air-conditioning system is also in the works and the school has its eyes set on expansion, that’s not what has Ariel Serrano, SCBS co-founder and co-artist director, excited about this upcoming season of collaboration.

Securing a partnership with Selby Gardens, the school opens its season in floral decadence with Orchid Evening, seeing the young dancers perform within the botanical beauty of the Selby campus. Featuring new choreography from SCBS Choreographer and Master Teacher Tania Vergara, the performance will also debut brand new staging conceived by Serrano and his team, bringing the dancers out into the crowd. “The performance is almost interactive,” Serrano says.

“We’re actually dancing through the audience.”

The collaborations continue with a December performance of The Nutcracker that brings SCBS into the state-of-the-art digs of the Venice Performing Arts Center for the first time. And with a little help from the Selby Foundation and others, including a set designer offering his skills pro bono, the school will freshen up the classic performance with its first brand new set in eight years.

Not quite traditional but nothing too bizarre, Serrano calls the fresh collection of backdrops and props “a new vision.” And, for the first time, the performance will be accompanied by live music from the Venice Symphony. “That’s key,” says Serrano. “We’ve been waiting for this opportunity.”

Closing out the season, SCBS will return to the Venice Performing Arts Center in March to showcase its students in the Spring Time Triple Bill, including performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ocean and Paquita, before the End of Year Show at Booker High School, featuring the entire Sarasota Cuban Ballet School.

Left to right: Springtime and End of Year performances

of the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School.

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CHILDREN’S CLASSICS

CULTURE KIDS Enjoy a night out with the whole family this season, as several cultural organizations around town have slated programming perfect for the little ones. Pinocchio opens on the Florida Studio Theatre stage this October, bringing the children’s classic to life for all the real boys and girls who come to see, and the theater’s Children’s Theatre series continues through the year with Deck the Halls in December, Tomas and the Library Lady in January and The Star That Could Not Twinkle and Other Winning Plays, featuring plays written by local students grades K–6, in March. Putting the “Tunes” back in Looney Tunes, the Venice Symphony presents “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II” in January, seeing Bugs and Daffy, Elmer Fudd and Pepe Le Pew, Tweety and Sylvester and more projected on the big screen while the symphony plays along to classics like What’s Opera, Doc? and The Rabbit of Seville and brand new Warner Bros shorts like Rabid Rider and Coyote Falls. And in an odd bit of serendipity, the season holds two stage productions of Roald Dahl’s Matilda—one from the Manatee Players in January and another at Venice Theatre in May. Also in May, The Players Centre for Performing Arts will bring the little ones to the mainstage for a performance of The Music Man Jr. That same month, Asolo Repertory Theatre approaches its season’s end with a new child-friendly musical production of the Robin Hood story, penned by the five-time Tony-nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane and composer Lewis Flinn, followed by a production of Snow White in June. On the more dramatic side, Sarasota Opera’s youth opera program brings the emotional Brundibar to the opera house in November. A touching story of friendship, perseverance and love conquering evil, this youth opera was often performed by the children of the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II, to lift spirits and bring a flicker of light to the darkness.

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OPEN 2019-20 SEASON

SINGING IN THE ALPS

MUSICALLY INCLINED Something about that crisp mountain air and bountiful echo space of the Alps brings out the musicality of the soul, and no fewer than three productions this season pay homage to this alpine phenomenon. Asolo Repertory Theatre opens its season this November with a production of the classic musical The Sound of Music, where the power of song projects full force from the Swiss Alps to the stage, and in March the Sarasota Orchestra pays homage as well with “My Favorite Things,” performing selections from the play. That same month, Sarasota Opera takes audiences into a small village in the Austrian Alps with La Wally, a tragic Italian opera of star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of a bloody family feud.

SCI-FI IN SARASOTA

ABOVE AND BEYOND!

WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE

NEW DIGS, SAME GREAT SOUND For too long, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe struggled to find a permanent home for its performers and productions. “Being coined ‘The Vagabond Company’ and not having a space to call our own was one of the most frustrating parts of founding the company,” says Nate Jacobs, who founded WBTT in 1999 and today still serves as artistic director, as well as something akin to resident playwright.

And when the company did find a home—a pair of buildings off Orange Avenue, gradually rehabbed and repurposed for WBTT’s needs—the result was workable, but less than ideal. That all changes this 20th anniversary season, as the space undergoes long-awaited renovations, transforming a makeshift home into a stateof-the-art theater worthy of an acclaimed company developing a national following.

For the performers of WBTT, the renovation will mean upgraded dressing rooms and dedicated spaces for props and costuming, as well as a whole second stage area for rehearsals, workshops and educational programming. For the audience, it means bona fide theater seating for a comfier experience, new lighting and sound systems, so as to better see and hear the performances, and, at long last, expanded bathrooms and lobbies to cut down on crowding before shows and during intermission.

“This means permanency,” says Jacobs. “A place where Westcoast can grow its roots and begin its perpetual journey in the world. We’ll continue to grow our programs and continue to bring exciting, challenging and impactful theater to the stage.” Constructed by Willis A. Smith, the newly dubbed Gerri Aaron and Aaron Family Foundation Theatre Building will open in December, with the troupe being back in the building for the opening of Caroline, or Change on January 8. In the meantime, catch the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe performing with Key Chorale in American Roots: The Gospel Experience this October, its 20th Anniversary Gala at the Van Wezel in November and at the Sarasota Opera House with A Motown Christmas in December.

Jaws, Jurassic Park, the Harry Potter and Indiana Jones franchises, and, perhaps most importantly, Star Wars—arguably none of these iconic moments of cinema would have the impact they have without the tireless work of one composer: John Williams.

The man has five Oscars, 24 Grammies, four Golden Globes and countless fans of all ages who know his work by heart. He’s second in Oscar nominations only to Walt Disney himself, and one can literally sing his praises. But with Episode IX of the Star Wars saga coming out this December, 87-year-old Williams has announced that it will be his final outing with the franchise. Sarasota has quite the send-off in store.

In January, both the Venice Symphony and the Sarasota Orchestra incorporate Williams’ incomparable scores into a pair of sci-fi-themed concerts, with Cosmic Convergence and Space and Beyond, respectively. And in March, the Pops Orchestra closes its season with By Popular Demand, seeing the audience choosing what they want to hear from categories including “John Williams Film Scores,” while the Sarasota Orchestra revisits some Star Wars themes in its My Favorite Things concert. But Venice Symphony has the final word in April, with its tribute concert A Movie Maestro: A Tribute to John Williams.

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NUNS ON STAGE

GET THEE TO A NUNNERY! Divinely inspired? Who knows, but two stage productions this year just so happen to convene in the convent— though with very different approaches.

At The Players Centre for Performing Arts, the Tony-nominated musical comedy Sister Act spices up the traditional life of contemplation with the story of a woman on the run taking refuge with the sisters, resulting in not only musical hijinks, but spiritual discovery for all involved. Later on in the season, the Manatee Players stages a production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-winning story of faith, tradition and the power of accusation with Doubt: A Parable, pitting a progressive young Father Flynn in a battle of wills with the formidable Sister Aloysius. And just to round out the theme, hear Prince Hamlet order Ophelia to the nunnery in Venice Theatre’s March production of the Shakespeare classic.

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Bruce Rodgers looks back on 15 years advancing the arts at the Hermitage Artist Retreat.

DOING TIME AT THE HERMITAGE THE DIRECTOR OF THE SARASOTA COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL, PATRICIA CASWELL, alongside community arts

advocate Syd Adler, responded with a bold new idea—a beachfront artist retreat on county land in Englewood. The Hermitage Artist Retreat accepted its first visiting artist in 2003, soon finding its first executive director in Bruce Rodgers, a resident playwright at what was then called the Asolo Theatre Company and the man who would, over the course of 15 years, lead The Hermitage from underdog dream to international incubator. Before retiring his post this December, Rodgers takes his turn in the mirror, looking back on the early days, the good days and the one big idea that never did come to pass.

How was The Hermitage a response to this strategic plan?

Rodgers: The planning process revealed that we, as a community, needed to do more about individual artists making art. We were great at presenting art created in other places, but we weren’t generating art here.

Was there any difficulty getting the county to use the land in such a fashion? They were looking for a notfor-profit partner to do something with it,

because the original plan had been to bulldoze those buildings and create a parking lot for the beach. Then they couldn’t because the buildings were historic. It was Patricia’s idea to use this property as an arts community, so she put together a steering committee that she and Syd led. And I was on that steering committee.

What did you think of the idea?

Well, I thought it was great. I had just been invited to go up to the panhandle—Seaside has its own arts community project in January and February. That’s their low tourist time, so the people in Seaside who built these architecturally interesting and significant homes donate those homes to the Escape to Create Project. I had been invited to go up there as a playwright and work. Before that, I was a MacDowell Colony Fellow. So I’ve had that experience as an artist, really understanding the benefit of what an arts community can provide to an artist.

And that was my role on the steering committee, and then on the board—to represent the artists’ voice and provide information about what the artist needs.

What kind of insights were you able to bring in at these early stages? When I went to the MacDowell Colony, I thought it was about getting away and being by myself and just working. That’s only half of why these things work for artists.

The other half is the interaction with the other

artists, especially artists from disciplines that are not yours. For me as a playwright, the revelation was having time to talk to visual artists and to poets and to composers, and to create these relationships, which have continued.

I still am friends with some of the people I was at MacDowell Colony in 1989. It’s about intense time alone and intense time together.

Prior to this you were resident playwright with Asolo Repertory Theatre for 11 years, why did you want to make that jump? It was a great opportunity to start something for this community that hadn’t been here, to create an organization and an institution that’s going to be enduring beyond my tenure, and serving a part of the cultural community that has not been served—to fill that hole that the cultural plan identified.

But it was also risky, right?

It was risky, a very risky opportunity, because the community had not ever even thought about this, and there’s no earned income stream. There are no tickets to sell.

There’s no admission. Every other cultural organization in a community, they sell a dmissions, as a museum or as tickets for the performances. And that defrays about half the operating cost of the organization.

This organization doesn’t have any. So, we had to raise all that money every year.

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In the late 1990s, Sarasota’s cultural community sat down for a long hard look in the proverbial mirror, identifying strengths and weaknesses as it developed a strategic plan for the new millennium.

WRITTEN BY PHIL LEDERER PORTRAIT BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

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This spread: Bruce with Artist Sanford Biggers. Bruce playing in the West Point Band.

Did you find artistic fulfillment in taking these challenges on?

That was in 2008. What kind of impact did that have at the time?

Absolutely. People asked me through the years, “Do you miss writing?” Because I have not been writing, very much at least. And my response has always been that this has been my creative project. This has been the project that I’ve been given the opportunity to make.

I’ve taken it on as that, and now I’ve gotten it to a certain place and gotten to a certain age, and it’s, I believe, time to pass that on.

When the Greenfield Prize happened, it was the equivalent of about $3.5 million in endowment gifts. It’s a more unusual relationship with a foundation in that it’s a contract in perpetuity. It’s as if they’re holding that $3.5 million and they give us that return that we would have. There’s a great benefit in that we know what we’re going to get. We don’t have to worry about the market. We don’t have to worry about managing those funds. But it’s a significant amount in return for us.

But more than just the money has been the fact that we’re commissioning these major creators to do work, that they come here to make it and it gets exposed here first and goes out into the world. That’s a huge thing that other artist communities are not doing. At Art Basel in Switzerland this year, one of the featuring sculptures was Tin Man for the 21st Century that was created by Coco Fusco. It was on the grounds of the Ringling Museum for four months and is now in the largest and most popular art fair in the world. It was written about all over the world, but created because of Hermitage and the Greenfield Prize.

Martyna Majok, a playwright, wins the Greenfield Prize two years ago. A week later, she wins the Pulitzer Prize. And she’s creating a new work that’ll see its first audience here in Sarasota next April. That’s incredibly significant, and that’s worth supporting.

During your tenure, the annual budget went from around 80k in the beginning to now around 700k a year. How did you achieve this level of growth? A couple of different vehicles.

One is that it was very important that we connect the artists to the community. While these artists may come from all over the world, if the community doesn’t have some kind of connection to it and doesn’t receive a tangible benefit from them, then it’s very difficult to ask them for support. So all of our artists do free programs throughout the community. Some at the Hermitage, some on the beach, but also in collaboration with almost all the cultural organizations in our community, and in the schools in Charlotte County, Sarasota County and Manatee County. World-class artists are in the community and the community has access to them. There’s a benefit. Support us, and we can do more of them. That has fed on itself, and that’s been super important. The second is building the endowment and then the origination of the Greenfield Prize.

On a wider level, what does it do for Sarasota when we’re able to originate this art? It goes out into the world and it’s always out there that we started

this. So, when Art Basel put out their publicity about Coco’s piece that went around the world, it said it was commissioned by the Greenfield Prize of the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Sarasota, Florida. That name gets associated with it as things happen. I’m walking through the Denver Airport. There’s a book out on display written at the Hermitage, with an acknowledgement saying thank you to the Hermitage. In the New York Times special section about the 50th anniversary of the moon shot, there was a poem published by Natasha Trethewey, Hermitage Artist. The most significant creators are coming here and that work is all around the world.

Why is it important that artists must be invited to the Hermitage?

We wanted to make it meaningful when you got an invitation to be here. And we wanted to make it intentionally difficult to be here. We want to make it very cool. We want everyone to know about it, and to know that you can’t just get in. And so that when you are invited, that says something about your work and where you are in your career. We’ll be like the MacArthur Grants and the Genius Awards.

Why only five artists at a time?

We can do things as a small artist community that the MacDowell Colony and Yaddo Studios can’t do. They serve 30, 50, 100 artists at one time. We can operate in ways that they can’t, and ways that are more artist-centered.

What was the philosophy behind choosing artists to invite? That we’re known by the company we keep. That if those are people of significance, then we

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“I would’ve liked to have been able to create a new music studio, which I think is something that we need, and that’s not going to get done before I leave. But you can’t do everything.” become significant by association. And that aligns with all the partnerships that we started creating and with the National Committee that started doing the inviting.

What are some of your proudest moments with the Hermitage?

The Greenfield Prize, for sure, and for us to be able to hand a check for $30,000 to an artist and say, “Do what you need to do. This is to commission yourself. We’re not going to tell you what to make. No one’s going to tell you.

Do what you need to do, that you wouldn’t have done if you didn’t receive this check.”

That’s been fabulous. It’s like an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to do that.

Related to that, seeing some of the work that we’ve been a part of. We went to the MET in 2013 and saw the opera Two Boys by Nico Muhly and Craig Lucas. The only time they worked on that opera in person, in the initial generation, was at the Hermitage. So to go to the MET, to sit in an audience of 3,000 people, and watch this huge opera and be part of the standing ovation? To see Nico come out and take his bow, and then go off into a private room and talk to us about writing this in our little beach, in our little cottage? That was huge.

And the third one was actually the night before that. We had a night of Hermitage artists at Symphony Space in New York City.

And we invited all of our artists up to that time to submit brand new three-to-four-minute works of art. 2013 was the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. And so we made the theme November 21st, The Day Before. Create something that reflects where our society was the day before this assassination occurred, so that we can see what changed the next day. We had 62 artists participate. Many of them collaborated with each other. Nico Muhly wrote a new piece. Craig Lucas wrote a new piece. John Guare wrote a new piece. I wrote a piece. Olympia Dukakis was one of the actors performing. It was an incredible evening, and a reunion.

On the flip side, looking back at 15 years leading the Hermitage, are there any regrets or things not done? Paths you wish you could have taken? The short answer to that is yes and no. I would’ve liked to have been able to create a new music studio, which I think is something

that we need, and that’s not going to get done before I leave. But you can’t do everything.

One of the great things about our organization is that we’ve had a board that has given the staff great freedom to operate. They supported us. They let us do what we needed to do artistically as an organization. We just didn’t get around to it. And I have another idea—a really huge idea—to build on the Greenfield Prize, which I never had traction for.

Another prize? It was another prize, a global prize. The idea would have been a global prize for collaborators on an international scale, and the collaborators would have to be from opposite sides of conflicts somewhere around the world. High value, million dollar or so prize—the worth that it would take for artists on opposite sides to find each other, to develop a concept together, and the winners come here to make whatever it is they’re making. Travel around the country and tour it here and then tour it in their two countries, in the two factions. We were actually going to have a significant partner in Atlanta to make that happen. That fell through for complicated reasons.

And it never happened? It didn’t happen or hasn’t happened yet, but it’s an idea that would show the opportunities that art has to create rather than to destroy, and to bring people together using ideas, using art to create discussion and connection among different peoples.

If we were to do that cultural study again today, what kind of gaps or holes do you think would be identified? I don’t know. I think it would take the process to figure out what that is. I certainly have seen this cultural community mature over the years, as I’ve matured also.

I first came here in ‘91 as a playwright, and what I saw of the artistic and cultural community at that time to where we are now, it’s like night and day.

In a good way, right? In terms of

in the same way. And I don’t think the country does. A lot of people would say that’s fine because we’re full enough.

We’ve got traffic. We’ve got traffic, we’ve got all of this, but one of the reasons why we’re growing the way we’re growing is because of the quality of culture here and the depth of the culture here that is really unprecedented. And the way that it’s supported here.

The Asolo went through incredible financial difficulty the first two years that I was here.

We came very close to closing. Within hours of closing. I had the opportunity, through this process of survival, to understand that all of our organizations are only here because the community wants us to be here. The community owns all of these organizations, and they’ve invested hundreds of millions of dollars in these organizations. The community not only attends, but they give, and they give in unprecedented amounts compared to other communities in the country. That’s a part of that national story. They attend and they have high expectations, and the organizations work to live up to the expectations of the community, to deserve the money that they’re going to give them.

Now that you’re going to have the freedom to pursue your own projects, what’s on the docket?

I have two plays that are unfinished that I will go back to right away. Probably some screenwriting as well. And prose. I have a lot of things that I’ve been saving. I have a huge pile of letters from my family when they were in and around the Civil War. So, all those letters need to be categorized and cataloged, read. I haven’t read them. There’s a lifetime, right there, of material to write about. I have other things like that I have saved for this next phase in my life. I have plenty of work to do.

Do you think you’ll be invited to stay at the Hermitage to finish these plays? I don’t know. I’m not sure if I can get in or not. I hear it’s tough to get in there. SRQ

the sophistication, the quality of the work, the organizations, the growth of the organizations. It’s amazing to see. It’s a national story that hasn’t been written yet. Everyone knows about Santa Fe. They all should know about us srq magazine_ OCT19 live local | 91

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WRITTEN BY OLIVIA LIANG

The Museum Next Door PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

SARASOTA BALLET DIRECTOR IAIN WEBB PRESERVES THE BALLET ARTFORM THROUGH HIS ARCHIVED ENSEMBLE.

This page, l-r: left to right: Bronze statue of Margaret Barbieri in Giselle Act II by Nicholas Millington. Original signed photograph of Anna Pavlova, turn of the century principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet.

Webb’s library comprises a significant part of his collection.

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AFTER SEVERELY TEARING LEG MUSCLES AND TENDONS while attending The

This page: Bronze bust of Sir Anthony Dowell

by Enzo Plazzotta.

Iain Webb amongst his treasures.

Lithograph of Fanny Cerrito by A. de Valentini over 1930s bronze and Erté statues.

Rambert School of Ballet in London, a single lithograph uplifted a young man from a crippling depression. Unable to perform and too poor to attend performances, his friends invited him over for tea, wisely forging a blind date between an injured and lost 16-year-old and a print of four ballet dancers: the first ballerina to go on pointe, surrounded by her delicate entourage.

“Suddenly, it was this beauty that I saw,” says Iain Webb, the Director of Sarasota Ballet, envisioning with nostalgic clarity the portrait which transformed his romance with dance. Time passed and legs healed, yet the yearning for that gripping beauty persisted as he recognized ballet’s profound past—a past to lean on in times of painful struggle. Webb soon filled his touring boxes with newly discovered ballet books rather than costumes or makeup, slowly building to what is now more than 2,480 books on dance, along with paintings, photographs, posters, lithographs, porcelain figurines, busts, bronzes and everything in between.

“It’s a salvation,” says Webb, displaying the halls, walls and shelves of his home with a raw pride that has intensified and magnified for 42 years. Limited to no single element of dance, the collection spans the complex history of ballet and is widely recognized as one of the largest private ballet collections in the world, due to its quality and rarity.

And it all started with three books on the Mercury Theatre at The Rambert School, his first major stage. “That’s really where the bug started,” says Webb. With bookshelves of texts, cabinets of figurines and seemingly miles of wallspace dedicated to his collection, Webb’s Sarasota home now stands as an embodiment of his first love and passion.

Just a few blocks away from Sarasota Ballet’s FSU Center for Performing Arts at the Ringling Museum, Webb strolls his home’s hallways, pointing to his exhibits like a volunteer museum docent, having seen them a thousand times before, yet still in awe of the greatness surrounding him. He gestures to a poster autographed

by George Balanchine, the choreographer, father of American ballet and co-founder of the New York City Ballet, then a signed original photograph of Anna Pavlova, the Russian prima ballerina and principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet from the early 20th century. Porcelain figurines depicting

the fragile lace skirts of ballerinas sit on bookshelves, prints of costume designs by Picasso hang humbly on white walls, busts of Sir Frederick Ashton and Sir Anthony Dowell pose illuminated on the living room mantle, and photographs, figurines and busts of Margaret Barbieri lay sprinkled throughout the house, a former Principal Dancer in the Royal Ballet Touring Company who performed alongside many of the great ballet masters of the 20th century. Now Assistant Director of Sarasota Ballet, Margaret and Iain celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary this past July.

And the pride of it all? Webb doesn’t hesitate. Despite the incalculable number of paintings in the house, one of which is a pastel painting by Oleg Prokofiev, the son of Russian-Soviet composer Sergei Prokofiev, created and given to Iain and Margaret as a wedding gift, the pride of the collection hangs next to Webb’s bed.

Vaslav Nijinsky, the greatest dancer there ever was, according to Webb, performed with a depth of emotion and passion that animated and exalted his characters and performances.

“I could get lost in those roles,” says Webb.

But after his extensive career, Nijinsky was diagnosed with schizophrenia, living in and out of psychiatric hospitals and mental asylums. Yet artistic souls never cease, and Nijinsky produced paintings that characterized his mental battles and suffering, including the deceivingly simple red and black piece that hangs humbly above Webb’s bedside table, a dreamcatcher and daily devotional. Bending over so the framed painting reaches eye-level, circular strokes entrance Webb, silently bridging him with his ballet ancestry, the minds and bodies that have never failed to inspire.

The collection continues to grow—a hefty bronze bust of Rudolf Nureyev, one of the greatest male ballet dancers of all time, sits patiently in Webb’s office, awaiting its proper place in the house. This continues to spark debate and negotiation between Iain and Margaret. “There’s no room,” she shouts lovingly as he exits her office. With pieces in cupboards and under couches, Webb appears to have no desire to desist, hoping that his home might one day be transformed into a museum for dancers, students and enthusiasts alike. “It’s the only thing where I can just go away and hide and relook and re-realize why I’m here, what I’m doing and what I’m trying to do,” he says. SRQ

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE OCTOBER 2019 ARTS AND CULTURE EDITION OF SRQ MAGAZINE.

Theater Performances Museum Exhibits Art Galleries Festivals Visual Arts Dance

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Unbridled Spirits by Mindy Colton from Art Center Manatee.

Paul Taylor Dance Company, Michael Trusnovec, Sarasota Ballet. Photo James Houston. Bandstand, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Photo by Michael Pool.

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530 Burns Gallery Open since November 2009, 530 Burns Gallery is a renowned contemporary art gallery beneath the banyan tree in Sarasota’s historic Burns Court. Known for featuring art and jewels by emerging and established artists and jewelry designers, the gallery is committed to showing fine art and curating cross cultural events within the community and beyond. By constantly evolving and displaying new, innovative work, 530 Burns Gallery helps clients find pieces that not only fit into their collection, but will be cherished for years to come.

530burnsgallery.com

10 Year Celebration Nov 8 Gallery owner Nikki Sedacca has been a jewelry designer and retailer in Sarasota for nearly 35 years. 530 Burns Gallery opened its doors in November of 2009 as a natural outgrowth of Sedacca’s commitment to the arts and its variety of mediums. The anniversary show will feature gallery artists and jewelry designers who have contributed to the past decade to create the unique space the gallery is today.

Gallery Artist Group Exhibition: Abstract and Beyond Dec 13 This group exhibition features one of the most diverse ranges of gallery artists as 530 Burns Gallery seeks to create a welcoming environment for collectors and art enthusiasts alike. Featuring Anita Lewis, Katie Cassidy, Susan von Greis and Bettina Sego among others.

Linda Richichi Jan 24. Sarasota-based artist Linda Richichi is best known for her vibrantly colored “plein air” pastel and oil landscape paintings with layers of strong brushstroke texture. The exhibition will present her newest body of work.

Kathe Fraga Feb 13. Best known for her mixed media paintings, Fraga is inspired by the romance of vintage Chinoiserie with layers of pattern, botanicals, color and hidden motifs. This exhibition will show her continued exploration of the theme with highlights love birds, dappled flowers and gold leaf.

ArtCenter Manatee Founded in 1937, ArtCenter Manatee stakes its claim as the nexus of Downtown Bradenton’s visual arts scene. Within the 10,000-square-foot complex, three galleries bring new exhibits monthly, five classrooms provide arts education to more than 3,000 students and the gift shop offers singular and handcrafted items from local artists.

All exhibits are free to the public. artcentermanatee.org

Go Wild Oct 8–Nov 8 An open, all media juried exhibition in the Kellogg, Searle and Reid Hodges Galleries. The word “wild” can be interpreted in so many ways: the wild west, wild at heart, a walk on the wild side, even wildlife. Artists are asked to submit work reflecting their own interpretations of the word wild, and subjects can be abstract or representational.

A Tapestry of Movement Nov 12–Dec 13 A curated solo exhibit of artist James Griffin in the Kellogg Gallery. This collection focuses on the movement of people across the picture plane, captured in the joyful expression of action. Once a precise painter, Griffin’s style has evolved into a brushy, expressive boldness that still manages to be representational.

A Walk in the Woods Dec 17–Jan 10 A curated four-person exhibit with whimsical horse sculptures surrounded by three landscape artists who each interpret the forest in their own style. Featuring Orlando Artist Mindy Colton and her horse sculptures in mixed media, aluminum, ceramic and bronze; Myakka City artist Evelyn McCorristin-Peters, a painter inspired by her environment with touches of whimsy and fun; and Bradenton artist Cheryl Moody, whose loose landscapes are reflective of the wildness of inland Florida.

Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society Annual Aqueous Exhibit Feb 11-Mar 13.

A curated exhibit of talented watercolor artists from the Florida Suncoast. Formed in 1983 to foster the advancement of the art of watercolor painting, this annual exhibit always displays the versatility of watercolors, from photorealism to abstract interpretations of the world.

Snatch It! Mar 28. Paintings, jewelry, pottery, quilts, trips, wine baskets, boat rides and weekend getaways are just some of the prizes ready to grab at this hilarious biennial event.

Sumi-e Society of Sarasota 30th Anniversary Exhibit May 12–Jun 5 A curated exhibit celebrating the 30th anniversary of the local Sumi-e Society chapter. Emphasis is placed on the beauty of each individual stroke of the brush. A great painting is judged on three elements: the calligraphy strokes, the words of the poetry (often with double meanings and subtle puns) and the ability of the painting strokes to capture the spirit (Ch’i) of nature rather than a photographic likeness.

100 Years of Women May 12–Jun 5 As the nation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, and specifically the signing of the 19th Constitutional Amendment granting the right to vote for all women in the country, celebrate with this all media juried exhibit of work created by women or of women.

Art Center Sarasota Located off Tamiami Trail, Art Center Sarasota has made a name for itself as the community gallery for the city and county.

Between bringing artists from across the state and beyond for solo and collaborative exhibitions, and the Center’s many open and juried competitions seeing submissions from hundreds of local artists across the region, Art Center Sarasota keeps all four of its galleries filled as much as possible, with multiple shows each Cycle, free and open to all visitors. artsarasota.org

Cycle 1 Oct 17 -Nov 30 The premier cycle of the season, Cycle 1 includes four galleries including the work of Horace Imhotep, Susan Martin and the 2019–2020 Art Center instructors. Imhotep, an Atlanta-based artist will solo exhibit with paintings that reflect dark American histories. Susan Martin will also feature a solo exhibit of hyper-realistic botanical paintings.

Beaux Arts Ball Mar 6 The Beaux Arts Ball was about celebrating creativity and actively participating in the expression as part of a movement. Artists are invitied to create outfits that can be worn on the runway using unconventional materials.

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COVER Bright Star, Florida Studio Theatre. OPPOSITE PAGE Art Center Sarasota, A Tasty Morsel by Horace Imhotep. THIS PAGE Artist Series’ Russian Renaissance.

Russian Renaissance: “World Music with a Russian Soul” Mar 7-8. After emerging with the $100,000 Grand Prize at the 2017 M-Prize Competition, the largest prize for chamber music in the world, Russian Renaissance has firmly established itself as one of the most electrifying and exhilarating ensembles of today. Through stunning performances of every genre from tango and folk to classical and jazz, this group is redefining the possibilities of their traditional Russian folk instruments while capturing the attention of audiences worldwide.

Cuarteto Tanguero May 23-24. This world chamber music group, comprised of bandoneon player Ben Bogart, violinist Daniel Stein, pianist Winnie Cheung and bassist Matt McConahay, transcends cultural boundaries with its fresh, innovative spin on classic tango artists and recordings. From golden age pieces to contemporary tango, the quartet strikes an elegant balance between modern and traditional. Their program will include a mix of traditional Argentine tango works with pieces well known to tango aficionados.

Art Ovation Through such expressions of the arts and artists, Art Ovation Hotel furthers its mission to serve the community as an active host, facilitator, patron and partner for the arts. With this and many, new and varied initiatives, an exciting palette of artistic opportunities and experiences are presented for the enrichment of our guests and our community. Art Ovation Hotel’s premiere art exhibitions welcomes three new main exhibits–including The Independent Eye, an exhibition featuring Sarasota Visual Artists Studios (SVAS). The Gallery also features exhibits by Valentina Bilbao (Weston, FL) and Jeffrey Glassover (Naples, FL). artovationhotel.com

Picasso and Prosecco Oct 4.

Let Picasso inspire your next group outing or date night. Sip prosecco and create a masterpiece of your own using Faber Castell watercolor paint pencils. This class features Artist Laurie Maves. $40 per person—includes all art materials and first glass of Prosecco.

No prior experience necessary. Buy your ticket at The Gallery Lounge, or reserve by calling 941-316-0808 x 109.

Meet the Artist Happy Hour Tuesdays Every Tuesday evening from 5–7pm. Meet the guest artist of the week and mingle with an artsy crowd while enjoying happy hour cocktails and half prices bar bites in the Gallery Lounge.

Artist Series Concerts With a mission to present concerts to the community that promote both enjoyment and cultural appreciation, Artist Series Concerts presents primarily classical music programming, with a focus on piano and voice, but its versatile performers regularly expand the repertoire to incorporate Broadway, cabaret, opera and even the sounds of cinema. artistseriesconcerts.org

I Know a Place

Oct 5. Multi-awardwinning singer and Artist Series Concerts favorite Jennifer Sheehan returns to Sarasota with this musical journey through the vast spectrum of music that was the sensational soundtrack of the 60s. Brimming with songs and stories, this concert features music by legends such as Burt Bacharach, the Beatles, Barbra Streisand, Petula Clark, the Supremes, Henry Mancini, Carole King, Harry Belafonte, Judy Garland, Stephen Sondheim, the Shirelles and many more.

Art Uptown Gallery As part of the thriving Sarasota Florida art community since 1980, Art Uptown is the longest-running fine art gallery in the heart of downtown Sarasota, offering a constantly changing, diverse selection of art in a wide variety of mediums. artuptown.com

Gorgeousness - Asian Fusion Through Oct. 25. Elizabeth Trostli showcases her digital paintings, with a public reception on October 4. Playful Geometrics Nov 30-Dec 27. Gillian St. George showcases her abstract paintings, with a public reception on Nov. 1. Just Add Water Nov 30-Dec 27.

Marlane Wurzbach showcases her paintings in the realist style, with a public reception on Dec. 6. 20/20: Vision Dec 28-Jan 31. Laura Reed showcases her abstract paintings, with a public reception on Jan. 3. Connected to Nature Feb 1 - Feb 28. Donna Carrion showcases her artistic creations with custom jewelry on display, with a public reception on Feb. 7. Ancestral Threads Feb 29 - Mar 27. Liz Cole and Melanie Carlstein team up for a joint exhibition of abstract paintings and mixed-media sculptures, with a public reception on Mar. 6. Lyrical Figurative Bronze Sculpture Mar 28 _ Apr 24. James Gabbert ends the season with a demonstration of his sculptural prowess, with a public reception on Apr. 3.

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER its visitors through permanent collections, traveling exhibitions, a state-of-the-art planetarium and numerous community activities and educational outreach programs. Explore fossil evidence of Florida’s oldest animal inhabitants (including marine life) and peruse the Montague Tallant collection of prehistoric and post-contact artifacts. Other permanent exhibits showcase maritime history and the history of Spanish colonization (including full-scale replicas of a 16th century manor house, chapel and Hernando DeSoto’s birthplace). bishopscience.org.

Mosaic Backyard Universe Grand Opening Oct 1. Thanks to an early

THIS PAGE Sound of Music’s Maddie Shea, Asolo Repertory Theatre. Bridge China by Thomas Schaller, Art Center Manatee.

Asolo Repertory Theatre A leading artistic force on the creative coast. Asolo’s theatrical scene is a major contributor to Sarasota’s rich cultural atmosphere and is well known for its diverse spread of yearly productions. With inspiring and engaging performances, the theatre never fails to envelop its audience in a vibrant and entertaining environment. Every season, Asolo Rep revives old classics and brings brand new productions, providing both escapist entertainment and needed social commentary. asolorep.org

The Sound of Music Nov 13–Dec 28.

Overflowing with some of the most iconic songs of all time, The Sound of Music tells the heartwarming story of the Von Trapp family and Maria, a free-spirited nun who transforms their hearts through the joy of music. Helmed

by Josh Rhodes (Evita 2017), this family friendly musical opens just in time for the holidays.

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express Jan 8–Mar 8. Glamorous, romantic and hilarious, this new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s masterpiece by two-time Tony®-nominated playwright and farce master Ken Ludwig takes you on a suspenseful, highly entertaining thrill ride. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, his door locked from the inside. With a train full of suspects and an alibi for each one, it’s the perfect mystery.

The Great Leap Mar 18–Apr 11. San Francisco, spring 1989. Manford Lum is a sparky kid who plays street basketball in Chinatown—vertically challenged, but with undeniable ball skills. He talks his way onto a college team headed to Beijing for an exhibi-

tion game and finds himself in the middle of China’s post-Cultural Revolution. As the story bounces between 1989 and 1971, past relationships collide with present day revelations right up to the final buzzer.

World Premiere: Knoxville Apr 3–25.

This world premiere musical reunites the Tony Award® winning creative team behind Ragtime. Based on James Agee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the story begins on a quiet night in the foothills of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, where Jay Follett stands with his son Rufus, watching the trains and talking about life. A powerful illumination of the forces that shape who we are, Knoxville is a universal coming-of-age story about family, faith and love—and about the boy who will grow up to write it.

Hood: A Robin Hood Musical Adventure May 7–31. With thrilling sword fights, spirited heroes and dastardly villains, this much-loved tale of Robin Hood gets a hilarious 21st-century twist by five-time Tony-nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane, with a folk and rock-infused score by Lewis Flinn. Intoxicating, joyful and enchanting, Hood celebrates the hero in everybody’s heart. Asolo Rep is thrilled to present this extraordinary new musical comedy, bound for the world’s stages.

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature The South Florida Museum is now The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. This is the largest natural and cultural history museum on the Gulf Coast and puts the world, both past and present, in context for

leadership gift from The Mosaic Company Foundation, The Bishop has built a remarkable new place for kids to explore, experience and learn. The 30-foot-tall Mighty Oak, Tree House-Platform, fossil Dig Pit, freshwater Pond with live turtles, Cardboard Rocket built to look like a kid-engineered rocket ship made from a refrigerator box, model of the solar system and more combine to encourage children and their families to explore the world around them. The MBU is a portal into the natural sciences and natural history of our planet, “connecting the dots” among all the spheres of the universe.

Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: Mythic Creatures Oct 1 - Jan 5. This family-friendly exhibition examines science and legend to trace the natural and cultural roots of some of the world’s most enduring mythic creatures. Organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures features unique cultural objects to highlight the surprising similarities and differences in the ways people around the world envision and depict mythic creatures. The exhibition includes models and cast fossils of prehistoric animals to investigate how they could have— through misidentification, speculation, fear or imagination—inspired the development of several legendary creatures.

National Fossil Day Oct 19. Learn more about fossils and receive half-price admission to The Bishop to celebrate National Fossil Day. With a special exhibition organized by the American Museum of Natural History called Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures, explore models and cast fossils of prehistoric animals to investigate how people around the world could have inspired the development of several legendary creatures.

Myakka River: A Florida Treasure Feb 7–Sept 14 For more than 20 years, photographer Clyde Butcher has explored the Myakka region and spent seasons experiencing its changing and diverse ecosystems. Butcher’s powerful and haunting large-scale black and white photography brings the Myakka River and its surrounding lands to the people.

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Chasen Galleries

Sailor Circus High Flying Holidays 2019 Dec 27-30. America’s longest running

Chasen Galleries Sarasota offers an abundance of the highest quality contemporary fine art, sculpture, and art glass available today. Featuring world-renowned artists, old master prints, and cutting edge glass art techniques, our collection offers something for all tastes and budgets.

youth circus presents amazingly talented student performers in this highly anticipated annual holiday show. Tickets $15-$30 at CircusArts.org or 941.355.9805. The performance takes place in the newly renovated Sailor Circus Arena at 2075 Bahia Vista Street.

chasengalleries.com/sarasota.

Sequences Nov 14–Dec 31 Often influenced by sequences in films—zooms, lap dissolves, repetitive imagery and superimposition of different planes— Armenian-born artist Jean Kazandijan is an avid filmgoer and utilizes his versions of these techniques on canvas to challenge the viewer.

24 x 24 Dec 5–Jan 15 Local artist Jill Krasner presents her original, abstract paintings on 24” x 24” canvases inspired by her life’s journeys.

Connections Jan 16–Feb 19 Intrigued by relaxed and graceful postures, local painter Jade Gates paints individuals interacting with others, reflecting the subtle beauties of body positioning.

Circus Arts Conservatory The Circus Arts Conservatory’s mission is to engage and educate students using unique and innovative learning programs, to measurably improve the quality of life for individuals in care facilities; and to advance the extraordinary legacy and heritage of the circus. circusarts.org

Circus Sarasota 2020 Feb 7–Mar 1.

Don’t miss this international cast of circus artists in thrilling performances that will leave you breathless! Tickets $15-$55 at CircusArts. org or 941.355.9805. The performance takes place under the Ulla Searing Big Top in Nathan Benderson Park behind The Mall at UTC. Cirque des Voix®: Circus of the Voices Performances Mar 20-22. The

find everything from the traditional straight play to a night of impossible-to-predict shenanigans. floridastudiotheatre.org

Bright Star Nov 6 – Jan 3. Florida Premiere. Inspired by a true story and featuring the Tony®-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption. Set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1940s, literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II who awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives.

American Son Jan 22 – Mar 22. Set in

CAC teams up with the Key Chorale to present an exhilaratingly unique show that combines live singing & music with professional circus artists. Tickets $20-$30 at CircusArts.org or 941.355.9805. The performance takes place under the Ulla Searing Big Top in Nathan Benderson Park behind The Mall at UTC.

a Miami-Dade police station in the middle of the night, a mother is hunting for answers about her missing teenage son. Soon her husband appears, and the evening spirals out of control. Fresh from its critically-acclaimed Broadway run, this powerful drama tackles family relationships, love, loss, and identity.

Florida Studio Theatre

The Legend of Georgia McBride Apr 1 –

Located in the heart of downtown, Florida Studio Theatre is one of Sarasota’s oldest and funkiest professional theaters, filling its veritable village of theaters—the historic Keating and Gompertz Theaters, the Parisian-style Goldstein, the John C. Court Cabaret stage and the Bowne’s Lab Theatre— with productions both original and classic.

With an ongoing dedication to the improvisational and cabaret arts, audiences can

THIS PAGE La Musica concert. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis; Bob Dylan, Florida Studio Theatre.

May 29. He’s young, he’s broke, his landlord’s knocking at the door, and he’s just found out his wife is going to have a baby. To make matters even more desperate, Casey is fired from his gig as an Elvis impersonator in a rundown, small-town Florida bar. When the bar owner brings in a B-level drag show to replace his act, Casey finds that he has a whole lot to learn about show business—and himself.

CABARET That’s Amoré! Sept 25 – Feb 2. Dean Martin was “The King of Cool.” His effortless charm and smooth voice made him a star who captured our hearts. From his early days in Martin and Lewis through film, television, and the Rat Pack, this timeless music revue celebrates the great songbook and life of Dean Martin. Featuring such hits as “Everybody Loves Somebody,” “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head,” and “Welcome to my World.”

Outlaws and Angels Nov 20 – Mar 29. A rousing celebration of songs by the rugged outlaws of country music and the angels who loved them. With hits by legendary “outlaws” like Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash and “angels” such as Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton, Outlaws and Angels tells the American story of lessons learned from hard knocks and lively living. Featuring such songs as “I Walk the Line,” “Desperado,” “The Bargain Store,” and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

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THIS PAGE Brandenton Jazz Festival, produced by Realize Bradenton.

Gaze Modern GAZE features a unique blend of revolving exhibitions by local and regional emerging and mid-career artists as well as group exhibitions and collaborative participatory projects. The gallery is dedicated to being a lighthouse in Sarasota and beyond, illuminating the work of emerging and established artists showcasing a variety of styles and mediums. gazemodern.com

Viewpoints: A Group Photo Exhibition Oct 5–Nov 2. What have you captured through your camera’s lens? For this exhibition, we’ll be focusing on some of the strongest photographers in Southwest Florida. Artists include: Selina Roman, Tom Carabasi, Tom Winchester, Noelle McCleaf, Matthew Holler, Barbara Banks, John Revisky, and Karen Arrrango. Witness the world through the lenses of the masters.

Shotliftable Jan 25-Feb 8. Shopliftable is a two-week long invitation micro-exhibition that challenges artists from southwest Florida to create small things with depth. Inspiring and thought provoking, the works represent a full range – from political and social commentary to humor, from personal narrative to enigmatic statements, and from realism to abstraction.

These works of art demonstrate the imaginative spirit and the endless creativity of the artist

Monoprints by Jim Sherraden, Hatch Show Print Mar 7-21. Jim Sherraden is Master Printer and Archivist at Hatch Show Print, one of America’s oldest surviving show poster and design shops. Since 1984 he has overseen its transition from a cultural survivor to a widely recognized graphic design icon and destination for letterpress enthusiasts. He is the co-writer of Hatch Show Print, The History

of A Great American Poster Shop, published by Chronicle Books, now in its sixth printing. He is also the creator of one of-a-kind pieces of art called monoprints, based on the shops archive, which are collected by individuals and institutions worldwide. He is a frequent speaker and conducts letterpress workshops from coast to coast. Sherraden is the recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Artist Award, for the state of Tennessee, and is the American Advertising Federation Nashville 2013 Silver Medalist.

Key Chorale Key Chorale, the Suncoast’s premier symphonic chorus, is dedicated to transforming lives through innovative programming, artistic excellence, educational outreach and service to the community.

The spirit of the group is led by Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins. keychorale.org

Winter Dreams Dec 1. This enchanting and wintry collaboration with The Sarasota Ballet’s Studio Company and Trainees will invoke a dream world of glistening snowflakes and Jack Frost. Karl Jenkins, one of the most prolific, popular and performed composers of today, captures the brilliance and joy of the season in Stella Natalis (Star of Origin) where themes of peace, goodwill and compassion alternate with joy and celebration. Crystalline performances by Sarasota Orchestra Concertmaster Daniel Jordan in Vivaldi’s icy Winter, the 100+ voices of Key Chorale and Principal trumpet Anthony Lemoncelli are sure to warm even the chilliest hearts.

American Roots: Grassical Jan 11–12.

The DePue Brothers Band joins the Chamber Singers in a genre-bending program from the hills of Appalachia to progressive bluegrass sounds of today. This 8-member band has

coined and pioneered the term “grassical,” a vivid blend of bluegrass, gypsy, and jazz. Experience a one-of-a-kind program taking our popular bluegrass concert onto a new set of tracks.

Haydn’s Creation with Mary Wilson Feb 15–16. From the Big Bang to the dawn of light, the emergence of plants, great beasts, humankind and even the lowly earthworm, Haydn paints an unforgettable musical picture book using texts from Genesis and Milton’s Paradise Lost. Acclaimed American Soprano Mary Wilson returns to Sarasota, adding her vocal brilliance with baritone Kyle Ferrill and tenor Brad Diamond.

La Musica Specializing in chamber music presentation and production, La Musica has carved a place in its decades-long tenure as a musical meeting of the minds, bringing esteemed performers from Europe and the US together for collaborative performances. Under the direction of Artistic Director Bruno Guiranna and President Sally Faron, La Musica continues to explore this season.

They produce an annual La Musica Chamber Festival every April. lamusicafestival.org.

Sonata a Due Dec 10. The kick-off event of the La Musica season happens at the Field Club with a concert and dinner.

Open Rehearsals Mar 31–Apr 13.

A casual, intimate opportunity to watch the musicians prepare for concerts. Sit back and soak in the sounds. Opera House Concert Series Apr 2–13. Internationally recognized musicians present programs of familiar and seldom-heard chamber music at Sarasota Opera House.

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Manatee Players – Manatee Performing Arts Center Housed in the Manatee Performing Arts Center, the Manatee Players reign as Bradenton’s most prominent theater and performing arts troupe. With Producing Artistic Director Rick Kerby at the helm, The Manatee Players showcases the area’s extensive talent pool through comedies, dramas and musicals, sometimes wrangling it all together for one big community event. manateeperformingartscenter.com.

Roald Dahl’s Matilda, The Musical Jan 16–Feb 2. Matilda is an extraordinary girl with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind. But her talents are constantly belittled by her cruel parents and headmistress. Dreaming of a better life, she stands up against those who oppress her, taking destiny into her own hands.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown Apr 2–19. Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder and a beagle named Snoopy navigate the joys and pitfalls of childhood, including chaotic baseball games, unrequited valentines and World War I flying beagles.

BROADWAY SERIES

STUDIO SERIES

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story Oct

Tuesdays With Morrie Oct 10–27.

24–Nov 10. See the true story of Buddy’s meteoric rise to fame. From the moment in 1957 when “That’ll Be the Day” hit the airwaves until his tragic death less than two years later on “The Day the Music Died,” the show features over 20 of Buddy Holly’s Greatest Hits.

The legacy of the young man with glasses continues to live on in Buddy.

It’s A Wonderful Life – A Musical Dec 5–22. Based on the beloved 1946 film, this musical follows George Bailey’s life from his childhood dreams to his midlife disappointments and beyond. Cinematically scored and theatrically staged, this adaptation breathes musical life into a familiar story while retaining the warmth and humor of the original.

This book, describing journalist Mitch Albom’s highly personal experiences with his favorite, now dying, Brandeis University professor, was a 1997 best seller and a 1999 TV movie before becoming a 2001 play. Each version captures all the sensitivity, warmth and compassion of the original autobiographical story.

Goat Song Revel Feb 6–23. A one-person Greek Chorus named Doris shows up at the biblical Job’s house and lets him know that her arrival most likely means that they’re in a Greek drama, but whether it’s a tragedy or comedy isn’t clear. To complicate matters, God and Satan meet at Job’s house for their periodic cribbage game, where Satan announces that he wants to play a new game, one he made up called “Job.”

Doubt: A Parable Mar 19–Apr 5. Set against the backdrop of a 1960s America in the midst of political and social change, a progressive young priest’s conduct comes under question by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the school principal whose beliefs are deeply rooted in tradition. As the actions and motivations of each are scrutinized and suspicion mounts, the two are drawn into a battle of wills that threatens irrevocable consequences for all involved.

Dancing Lessons Apr 30–May 17. Ever, a young man with Asperger’s syndrome, seeks the instruction of a Broadway dancer to learn enough dancing to survive an awards dinner.

The dancer, Senga, however, is recovering from an injury that may stop her dancing career permanently. As their relationship unfolds, they’re both caught off-guard by the discoveries–both hilarious and heartwarming–that they make about each other and about themselves.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Originally the home of William and Marie Selby, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens today is an urban, bayfront oasis showcasing a living collection of rare and beautiful tropical plants. The Gardens is also a respected world leader in the study and conservation of plants, particularly epiphytes–plants adapted to live in the tree canopy, including orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns. selby.org

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER Orchid Show 2019: Blossoms of Asia Oct 12–Nov 24. Join The Living Museum for an unforgettable Orchid Show, inspired by the beauty of Asia.

Lights in Bloom Dec 14–Jan 4. It is the most wonderful time of the year at Selby Gardens! Stroll through more than one million colorful lights and enjoy family-fun children’s activities and games.

Salvador Dalí: Gardens of the Mind Feb 9–Jun 30. The Dalí exhibition highlights the artist’s repeated use of botanical imagery alongside a surreal display of tropical plants in Selby Gardens’ Tropical Conservatory and gardens, transforming Selby Gardens into an evocation of Dalí’s vision. The lithographic series FlorDalí, on loan from The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, FL, will be the centerpiece of the Museum of Botany & the Arts, along with artifacts and photos that put the artist’s life, work, and relationship with nature into context. Explore the fourth annual exhibition in the Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts The Players Centre for Performing Arts, Sarasota’s oldest performing arts organization, is celebrating 90 years of putting the community on stage. With the annual Broadway series bringing some of the biggest musicals to town and the intimate and edgy Backstage at The Players series, there’s plenty to experience at the theatre. players.org

Hello, Dolly! Dec 4–22. The classic musical recently revived on Broadway follows the romantic and comic escapades of Dolly Gallagher-Levi, turn-of-the-century matchmaker and “woman who arranges things.” This show is certain to thrill and entertain audiences again and again this holiday season. The show’s memorable songs include “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” and “Hello, Dolly!”

Head Over Heels Feb 19–Mar 8 .

THIS PAGE Victoria Hulland & Logan Learned in Dominic Walsh’s I Napoletani, photography by Frank Atura. Syd Solomon (1917-2004) Stratalure, 1980. Acrylic and aerosol enamel on canvas 72 x 74 in.

(182.9 x 188 cm) SOL-00080 © Estate of Syd Solomon. Courtesy Berry Campbell. Both images courtesy of Ringling Museum.

An area premier that just closed on Broadway last year, this laugh-out-loud love story is set to the music of the Go-Go’s, including the hit songs, “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” and Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love, Head Over Heels follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction—only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts.

Rabbit Hole Mar 12–22 . Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize by David Lindsay-Abaire, Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want, until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down and leaves the couple drifting perilously apart.

Rabbit Hole charts their bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest of places and for a path that will lead them back into the light of day.

POPS Orchestra With conductor Robyn Bell wielding the baton, the Pops Orchestra gears up for its latest season as Sarasota-Bradenton’s community orchestra, showcasing local musical talent and giving the town’s hidden gems a chance to shine. thepopsorchestra.org

Veterans Concert Nov 10–11.

Hear tribute artists Nick Foresman and Jason Elsenheimer recreate the music of Simon and Garfunkel in classics that include “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Scarborough Fair” and “Sounds of Silence,” plus many more. Join in honoring the nation’s veterans.

This concert is jointly sponsored by the Military Officers Association of Sarasota.

Holiday Concert: A Christmas Carol the Concert Dec 15–16.

Bring in the holidays with Charles Dickens’ beloved A Christmas Carol like never before. Enjoy the timeless story of Ebenezer Scrooge through the glorious, memorable and irresistible new songs in this holiday classic.

With music styles from classical to Broadway and blues to gospel, and joined by the State College of Florida’s chorus and special guest artists, the Pops will create an unforgettable concert for the whole family.

Grand Finale Concert: You Pick Mar 29–30 . he Pops season finale is “By Popular Demand.” You, the audience, become the concert producer. Using personal cell phones and a downloaded app, choose the music and even the conductor by majority vote. From categories like “John Williams Film Scores,” think Star Wars, Schindler’s List or Saving Private Ryan, to “Broadway Favorites,” “Pop Classics” and even “Guest Conductor,” everyone is a musical impresario. Even the orchestra gets to choose their favorites in a concert that promises to be fun for everyone.

Realize Bradenton A nonprofit organization dedicated to invigorating Bradenton’s cultural scene, this community-focused organization seeks to create a more active and culturally connected downtown for Bradenton, regularly organizing large-scale events in conjunction with private businesses, public resources and local artists, celebrating the city’s heritage and place within the cultural fabric of the Suncoast. realizebradenton.com

Bradenton Blues Festival Dec 6–Dec 8.

The Blues Weekend kicks off on Friday with a free “Blues Appetizer” Concert then continues on Saturday with an outstanding lineup of talented blues musicians on the main stage. This award-winning annual festival features local craft beer, specialty food vendors and blues after-parties all evening long. The weekend wraps up with a tasty and soulful Bradenton Blues Brunch prepared by award-winning Chef Paul Mattison on Sunday.

Bradenton Farmers’ Market Oct–May. Visit over forty vendors who offer locally grown fruits, vegetables, plants, organic products, prepared foods and the work of local artists and craftspeople. Every third Saturday, Mainly Art hosts dozens of local artists and craftspeople displaying and selling their creations. Art, crafts, live music and food are available from 9am–2pm on Fourth Avenue West where it connects with the weekly Bradenton Farmers’ Market on Main Street.

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER freshly renovated by the water, with tours available. Rich in history, the museum’s roots date back to 1924, and the establishment serves as a legacy of the original owners, John and Mable Ringling. ringling.org

EXHIBITS Sun Xun: Time Spy Through Feb 16.

THIS PAGE Evolving Revolving, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, photo

by Sorcha Augustine.

Time Spy (2016) is a mesmerizing 3D animated film by artist Sun Xun (b.1980).

A Chinese painter and draughtsman, Sun Xun incorporates traditional techniques including ink painting, charcoal drawing and woodblock printing into his films. His masterful use of analog and digital technologies to explore pressing concerns of our time makes him one of the most compelling artists working in new media.

Remaking the World: Abstraction from the Permanent Collection Nov 10 – Aug 1. This exhibition brings together artworks from The Ringling’s permanent collection of modern and contemporary art.

Ai Weiwei Zodiac (2018) LEGO ArtSlam Mar 7. A Celebration of

Artwalk Oct 18. Celebrate the artwork of ex-

Youth & Creativity! Watch as dozens of teams of students and creatives take art out of the classrooms and studios and onto the streets.

Engage in the creative process, experience temporary public art and celebrate the creative youth in Manatee County.

hibiting artists, college faculty and students with an event-filled evening of art, food and music.

Music in the Park Mar 13–Apr 24.

Come support local music while watching the sunset over the Manatee River every Friday!

Realize Bradenton’s free, family-friendly, outdoor concert series is back with live music at downtown Bradenton’s 400-seat Mosaic Amphitheater on the Riverwalk. Audience members are encouraged to bring a picnic basket, blankets or chairs and their furry companions on leashes. Local craft beer and wine.

Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design The Galleries program of Ringling College of Art and Design includes exhibitions and activities that celebrate the work and production of students, faculty and alumni.

Our six on-campus galleries also host one person, group and thematic exhibitions that include locally, nationally and internationally known individuals. You will always find an exciting new exhibition, artist talk, lecture, or event to attend. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or someone who is curious about new forms of creative expression, we welcome you to expand your perspective. Discover awe-inspiring work and thought-provoking insights from the art world. ringling.edu/galleries

Hugh Davies Oct 18–Dec 6. Painter Hugh Davies was raised in Nigeria and England, educated in Somerset and studied fine art at Brighton College of Art and Chelsea College of Art, London where he received his Master Degree in Fine Art. He has served on the faculty of distinguished institutions around the world and has been exhibited in more than 60 group and solo exhibitions in significant international galleries and museums.

Virginia Hoffman: Vanishing Old Florida Oct 18–Dec 6. Virginia Hoffman, Fine Art Class of 1978, has spent several years traveling the Florida backroads, photographing the unique character of the bucolic geography and clouds as they extend the vistas.

Fascinated with history, she focuses on the disappearing Old Florida vernacular Cracker houses and barns.

Nov 17-Feb 9. Ai Weiwei’s most recent exploration of the Zodiac series with these large (7x7’) panels featuring the twelve animals of the Zodiac in Legos. compelling artists working in new media.

Manuel Alvarez Bravo: Specters and Parables Dec 8 – Mar 1. Bravo emerged as one of the most important artists in Mexico as he created a body of work that synthesized many strains of modernism, from surrealism to straight photography. His legacy is a unique vision and style that has inspired generations of artists.

Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed Dec 15 – Apr 26. The exhibition is the first to examine Solomon’s work through the lens of his personal archive. Presented in partnership with the Estate of Syd Solomon, the exhibition will include archival objects, artworks from private collections, and artworks from The Ringling’s permanent collection.

PERFORMANCES Nrityagram Dance Ensemble Oct 11–12.

Ringling Museum Situated along 66 acres on the bay, The Ringling boasts an impressive array of classics and works from the Old Masters, with a Rubens collection of note, as well as regularly hosting traveling exhibitions on the forefront of contemporary art in the United States and abroad. The on-site Circus Conservatory houses the area’s local circus history, in addition to exploring the form’s greater reach. The historic Ca d’Zan mansion stands

Nrityagram was founded as a village devoted to dance and the preservation of the Odissi classical dance tradition. Now one of the premier Indian Classical dance ensembles, this all-female ensemble’s daily life of intensive training and meditation brings to the stage compelling and captivating performances.

Raiz de 4 Nov 6–7. Master flamenco artists Rafael Peral and Marisa Adame, curated by the Casa Patas Flamenco Foundation, will present this new work which honors the art of Flamenco by delving into its more primitive roots, evoking the convergence of culture.

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER Gonzalo Rubalcaba Nov 15–16. Discovered by Dizzy Gillespie in 1985, this Latin Jazz Pianist from Cuba has been selected as one of the great pianists of the 20th century and has won two Grammys and two Latin Grammys.

Enjoy this creative force from the jazz world.

Tijuana Dec 6–7. This Mexico City based theater collective has created a suite of works that explore ideas of democracy in the 21st century with narrative collages from Mexican history. Tijuana is the staged result of a real anthropological theater experiment in which Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol abandoned his life in Mexico City to work on an assembly line in a Tijuana factory on the U.S. border. Passing under a false identity for six months, he earned the legal minimum wage to explore how the current day Mexican working class survives.

Performed in Spanish with English supertitles. ¡Vívelo! Dec 12–14. The 2019 season will conclude with performances of ¡Vívelo! by Son Luna and Jóvenes Zapateadores from Mexico.

This show merges rhythms and dance styles such as folkloric dance, contemporary, Spanish dance and African-inspired movements.

Masterfully displaying dance genres from the region, this production provides strong entry points for audiences seeking a highly energetic folkloric performance experience.

Peony Dreams: On the Other Side of Sleep Jan 17–18. Created and choreographed by Yin Mei, an artist of the Chinese diaspora who has been part of the New York dance scene since the 1990’s, this new dance theater piece for five dancers melds themes from the iconic Chinese literary work The Peony Pavilion and Yin Mei’s own life experience as a teenage government dancer during the Chinese Revolution. Highly visual and referencing a dense collection of letters she wrote to her family over two decades, the work is a dance painting that occupies the space between truth and dreams.

Feos Feb 7–8. Chilean director and puppet artist Aline Kuppenheim’s Feos (Uglies) is her first collaboration with renowned playwright Guillermo Calderon, and is based on Mario Beneditti’s short story, “Noche de los Feos” (Night of the Uglies). It’s an adult work about desire and love by two people with physical deformities, told with deft and spellbinding puppetry that is intimate and addresses loneliness, conformity, self-acceptance and individual courage. The piece’s script is narrated through a pre-recorded soundscape in Spanish with English supertitles.

Moun-Moon Feb 21–22. Miami native Inez Barlatier is a multifaceted artist of Ayisen (Haitian) descent. With her first band Kazoots, Inez and her bandmates evolved from their fathers’ Haitian folkloric ensemble, mixed with next-generation influences. Going solo in 2016 allowed her further exploration, as she em-

braces history and heritage, finding inspiration from African, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin cultures while bringing socially relevant poetry into her lyrics. Inez’s incredible vocal delivery organically flows between an ancestral guttural bellow to an airy angelic falsetto, full of energy.

In addition to performances, Inez will conduct drumming workshops and an artist talk.

Companhia Urbana de Dança (Brazil) Mar 26–28. Brazilian dancers’ identities, testimonials and attitudes rise to the stage with an upbeat, Afro-Brazilian accent. The group is firmly positioned in the most contemporary urban dance scene in Brazil and internationally, and choreographer Sonia Destri Lie’s boldly original mix of contemporary Brazilian dance and hip-hop infuses both forms with new rigor. Locating the true heart of hip-hop, Destri strips it of its easy tricks, bringing it back to its original emotional depth, expressive range, and poetic integrity. Pulling from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro where many of her company members grew up, Companhia Urbana de Dança aims to transcend cultural boundaries, while showcasing eclectic skill sets.

This World Made Itself Apr 10–11. A multimedia live performance, this work of shadow puppetry works to combine projected animation and the artist’s own shadow silhouette, as she interacts with the fantastical world of the video, merging film and theater to create a unique kind of spectacle. This World Made Itself is a visually and musically rich journey through the history of the earth, from the universe’s epic beginnings to the complex world of humanity.

Liberate the Earth Apr 22. This is a roving dance work that leads audiences through the tumbling journey of the abandoned, discarded and highly mobile single-use plastic bag. This work was a featured event at the 2017 seasonal opening of Omi Sculpture Park in Hudson, NY and is site-adaptive for sculpture gardens and other landscapes. The performance can be held in conjunction with community engagement events such as plastic bag costume making classes, co-located environmental stewardship activities and movement workshops.

Spektral Quartet Apr 24–25. The twice-Grammy nominated Spektral Quartet actively pursues a vivid conversation between exhilarating works of the traditional repertoire and those written this decade, this year or this week. Since its inception in 2010, Spektral is known for creating seamless connections across centuries, drawing in the listener with charismatic deliveries, interactive concert formats, an up-close atmosphere and bold, inquisitive programming.

Un poyo royo May 8–9. This textless play is a hybrid of dance, sport and sexuality, which uses body language to explore the limits of

this contemporary body movement and gesture. It’s a provocation, an invitation to laugh at yourself and, at the same time, to accept yourself entirely. Un poyo rojo is a mixture of acrobatics and humor. It may be seen as naive, kitsch, cliché or any of the other numerous interpretations that can be thrown at it; however, it still remains a striking show of the array of man’s physical and spiritual possibilities.

Sarasota Ballet Under the guidance of director Iain Webb, the Sarasota Ballet has grown by leaps and bounds, continually adding to a repertoire that includes both iconic and uncommon ballets from renowned choreographers such as Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Antony Tudor and more, in addition to commissioning new works from up-andcoming choreographers and established greats. Garnering an international reputation, the Sarasota Ballet regularly compounds its performances with guest performances from traveling companies, bringing ballet from around the world. The Company’s 29th Season will once again feature extraordinary works from some of the great choreographers of the 20th century. sarasotaballet.org

Graziano, Retrospective Oct 25–27.

A tribute to Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer Ricardo Graziano’s 10th season with The Sarasota Ballet, featuring three of Graziano’s ballets. Shostakovich Suite was Graziano’s first professional commission and is the most traditionally classical of his growing choreographic portfolio. En las Calles de Murcia was inspired by the music of Santiago de Murcia and the Spanish city of Murcia.

And closing Program 1 is Graziano’s critically acclaimed In a State of Weightlessness, having received its world premiere during The Sarasota Ballet’s week-long residency at the renowned Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

Symphonic Tales Nov 22–23.

This performance includes three extraordinary and yet vastly different ballets, including George Balanchine’s regal Theme and Variations, the long awaited return of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s tense psychological drama Las Hermanas and the company premiere of Balanchine’s lively and entertaining Western Symphony. Profoundly musical, structurally complex, yet exquisitely refined, Theme and Variations transports audiences to the height of the Russian Imperial Ballet. Based on Federico García Lorca’s, The House of Bernarda Alba, Las Hermanas is a remarkable dramatic ballet about sensuality under harsh repression as well as the emotional and violent consequences that follow. And Western Symphony is a striking example of Balanchine’s love of American themes, set on an Old West street populated by cowboys and dance hall girls.

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER THIS PAGE End of Year Performance, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School.

prepared performances and for fostering artists at the beginning of their careers— including such luminaries as Yefin Bronfman, Richard Goode, and Richard Stoltzman.

Sarasota Contemporary Dance

John Ringling’s Circus Nutcracker Dec 20–21. This Sarasota holiday tradition will conclude the 2019 season as the only Nutcracker in the Sarasota-Manatee area performed with a full orchestra. Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, the ballet beautifully entwines the history of John and Mable Ringling with E. T. A. Hoffman’s classic The Nutcracker. With designs by Peter Docherty, the ballet creates a loving tribute to the Ringling Brothers and the Greatest Show On Earth in a wonderful holiday family performance.

Redefined Movement Jan 31–Feb 3.

Commencing the 2020 Winter-Spring Season, this performance includes Sir Frederick Ashton’s Les Rendezvous, the company premiere of Paul Taylor’s Brandenburgs and a yet to be announced third work. Choreographed in 1933, Les Rendezvous is a seminal work in the Ashton canon and played an important role in demonstrating that British ballet could be just as resplendent and magnificent as its Russian counterpart. And choreographed in 1988 to the renowned Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach, Brandenburgs is an exquisite example of Paul Taylor’s unique and exemplary choreography.

Paul Taylor Dance Company Feb 28– Mar 1. This year’s visiting company is the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Established in 1954 by the great modern dance choreographer Paul Taylor, the company is one of the world’s most highly respected and sought-after ensembles. Performing the works of Taylor, one of America’s most celebrated artists, they have been hailed as part of the pantheon that created American modern dance.

Beyond Words Apr 24–25 Closing the Season, this performance will feature three company premieres by Jerome Robbins, Sir Frederick Ashton and David Bintley. Robbins’ In the Night comprises a trio of pas de deux and contemplates romantic love in stages evidenced by three couples. Ashton’s Dante Sonata, choreographed during the Second

World War, is a synthesis of wartime symbolism. The final ballet will be a company premiere of a work by David Bintley, one of the great English choreographers of today.

Sarasota Concert Association For 75 years, the Sarasota Concert Association has brought internationally renowned symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists to our region. It fosters greater appreciation for world-class classical music at an affordable price through two engaging series: The Great Performers Series and the Music Matinee Series. scasarasota.org

Behzod Abduraimov Jan 15. Winner of the London International Piano Competition at the age of 18, Abduraimov has already performed with such leading orchestras as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, exhibiting depth of musicality paired with phenomenal technique.

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Jan 29. “Champions of Collaboration,” this Grammy-award winning group was founded in 1972 to create a conductorless orchestra with the intimacy of a chamber ensemble.

The Knights and Gil Shaham Feb 25. Dedicated to transforming the orchestral experience and eliminating barriers between audiences and music, The Knights share the stage with one of the foremost violinists of our time, Gil Shaham.

The Pacifica Quartet and Orion Weiss Mar 12. Acclaimed as “one of the most sought-after soloists of his generation,” Weiss joins forces with the Pacifica Quartet— an ensemble widely praised for its gripping interpretations of string quartet cycles.

Musicians from Marlboro Mar 31.

An offshoot of the Marlboro Festival created

by Rudolf Serkin, the Musicians from Marlboro are acclaimed both for their joyous, thoroughly

Bringing the best in contemporary dance to the region and creating new works right here, Sarasota Contemporary Dance is recognized in the area for its collaborative performances and eclectic choreography, which fuses various dance styles—traditional, modern, Middle Eastern, aerial, Afro-modern and even technologically-infused work. In addition to a variety of community collaborations and performances at local venues, the Sarasota Contemporary Dance Company has also been presented at the Alabama Ballet Center for Dance, John F. Kennedy Center, Merce Cunningham Studio Theatre and the Aily Citygroup Theatre. sarasotacontemporarydance.org

Voices – Rising Choreographers Oct 10–13. Because audiences are eager for works by emerging choreographers, Sarasota Contemporary Dance performances break new ground with work that expands the boundaries of art. Original and adventurous, the pieces presented in Voices annual spectacle are hallmarks of the company’s approach to dance–full of movements of pure physical enjoyment, as well as moments of delight and absolute hilarity.

In Studio Performance Series with Eliza Ladd Nov 1–2. Part comedy, part tragedy, this series comprises works of solo text, sound, movement and character, unearthing our past, our purpose and our pleasure.

Where are we going? What are we finding?

Who do we think we are?

SCD + Reverend Barry & The Funk Dec 5–8 . Quickly becoming a season highlight, this exciting evening-length collaboration will feature new choreography by Artistic Director Leymis Bolanos Wilmott to the live music of local music sensation Reverend Barry & The Funk.

In Studio Performance Series with Adele Jan 17–18. Adele Myers and Dancers will present repertoire recently commissioned and presented by the Miami Light Project and MDC Live Arts. The Miami based all-female ensemble has toured nationally for over a decade and is hailed for their physical virtuosity, audience-friendly interactions and unpredictable sense of humor.

Dance Makers Jan 30–Feb 2.

This performance is the main event of the season, featuring new imaginative dance pieces by nationally acclaimed contemporary choreographers Maria Bauman, Terrance Henderson, Bliss Kohlmyer and Adele Myers.

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER These works are hand-picked by SCD’s Artistic Director to present the strength, power, charm and diversity of the company, as well as advance its mission of presenting a range of contemporary dance for multi-generational and multi-cultural audiences in the community.

Sarasota Cuban Ballet School Founded by Wilmian Hernandez and Ariel Serrano, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School teaches the curriculum of the Cuban Ballet School of National Ballet of Cuba. Husband-wife team Serrano and Hernandez were influenced by the great master teachers in Cuba—Fernando Alonso, Estele Garcia, Aurora Bosch and Ramona de Saa, among others. In the Cuban tradition, they were selected at a young age to learn the art, and through their diligence, intense training and natural talent emerged to become principal dancers with various companies throughout the world. srqcubanballet.com

Orchid Evening Nov 20. SCBS will return to Selby Gardens to perform a riveting contemporary pieces by the school’s award-winning resident choreographer, Tania Vergara.

The Nutcracker Dec 14-15. SCBS and the Venice Symphony come together for the first time to usher in the holiday season through this classic tale. Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their adventures in the whimsical Kingdom of Sweets.

Spring Time Triple Bill Mar 29. SCBS will delight audiences with a vibrant retelling of Shakespeare’s “classic” comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream, followed by a powerful contemporary work “Ocean,” specially commission for our dancers and finishing with the final act of the beloved ballet classic Paquita.

End of Year Show May 9. Young performers from all proficiency levels will participate in a lively recital that includes variations, pas de deux and ensemble pieces with choreography by the SCBS staff. The show is meant to be an entertaining experience where dancers share their love for ballet and showcase the progress they have made as artist throughout the school year.

Sarasota Opera Hot off the heels of the 2016 completion of the Verdi Cycle—wherein the company and Maestro Victor DeRenzi received international acclaim for successfully performing every note the Italian composer wrote—Sarasota Opera returns for its latest season staging sumptuous classic opera and reviving rarely produced works from notable composers.

Additionally, the company remains dedicated to youth opera education through its Sarasota Youth Opera program, which is currently the most comprehensive youth program of its kind in the nation. sarasotaopera.org

Rigoletto Nov 1–17. See one of Giuseppe Verdi’s greatest works, the story of a protective father, a lecherous Duke and a native woman who discovers that love isn’t always true.

Brundibar Nov 15–16. A youth opera by Hans Krása that reveals how love conquers evil. Performed dozens of times by the children of Theresienstadt concentration camp during WWII, this tale of friendship, perseverance and teamwork will touch your heart.

La Bohème Feb 8–Mar 21. Almost two centuries ago in Paris’ Latin Quarter, a love affair flourishes, withers and dies in Puccini’s romantic portrayal of bohemian life.

THIS PAGE Romeo & Juliet, performed by Daniel Lebhardt with the Venice Symphony Orchestra.

Romeo & Juliet Feb 15 –Mar 20. In this story — immortalized by the genius of William Shakespeare and overflowing with the melodies of Charles Gounod — young lovers pursue their great passion to the grave.

The Elixir of Love Feb 22–Mar 21.

Nemorino’s love is unwavering, but Adina won’t give him a second glance. All is saved by a love potion — or is it?

La Wally Mar 7–22. In a village in the Alps, Wally chooses love over family.

However, with a cruel bet, the man of her dreams breaks her heart, igniting a chain of events that leads to tragedy.

Sarasota Orchestra An 80-member orchestra performing more than 100 concerts in a given year, the Sarasota Orchestra has made a name for itself in the area as both entertainer and educator, offering concerts and experience to the community through a variety of performances designed to engage and enthuse. A celebrator of the classics as well as contemporary gems, Sarasota Orchestra holds the distinguished title of being the oldest continuing orchestra in the state. sarasotaorchestra.org

Titans of Two Centuries Oct 10. Travel back in time to the early 20th and 19th centuries in this program that features glimpses into the genius of two of music history’s giants.

Serge Prokofiev was said to have decided to write his Sonata for Two Violins in 1932 after having heard what he considered a dreadful duet for two violins by another composer. The lyrical work shows the beauty and variety that two solitary instruments can produce when in the hands of a master composer. Beethoven’s Septet was first performed in 1800 and was one of the composer’s most successful works to that point. The work remained so popular during his lifetime that even years later patrons would occasionally request that the mature Beethoven revert to the “agreeable” musical style of the Septet, prompting what must have been a colorful response from the notorious genius.

Life Affirmed Oct 13. The life affirming nature of music is on display in this program featuring works by Brahms and the Czech composer Pavel Haas. Haas’ Quintet for Winds was composed in 1929, some 15 years before the composer would be murdered in Auschwitz. The work is deeply rooted in Haas’ love of Moravian folk music and Hebrew chant, and is infused with a sense of hope that permeates all his works. Johannes Brahms began work on his Piano Quartet No. 1 the year after the death of his friend Robert Schumann, and the premiere of the piece saw Robert’s widow Clara at the piano. The expansive work was the first of Brahms’ chamber music to achieve wide success.

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER Beethoven’s Ghost Oct 31. Spend Halloween with the bewitching sounds of Schoenberg and Beethoven in this program featuring Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) and the “Ghost Trio” by Beethoven. The concert opens with a charming Humoreske for wind quintet by Austrian composer Alexander Zemlinsky. Zemlinsky was teacher, close friend and eventual brother-in-law of Arnold Schoenberg, whose Verklärte Nacht is one of the most important works of early 20th century chamber music. Heard here in its original 1917 version for string sextet, this late romantic work is based on a poem by German poet Richard Dehmel which describes the conversation between a man and woman walking through a dark forest at night. Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D major earned the nickname “Ghost” as the result of its eerie sounding second movement which Beethoven’s student Czerny claimed reminded him of the ghost scene at the opening of Hamlet.

Roman Festivals

Dec 6–8. Travel to landmarks like the Trevi Fountain and celebrate like a citizen of ancient Rome, all without leaving your seat. Respighi’s beloved symphonic poems, Fountains of Rome and Roman Festivals, take the audience on a delightfully colorful tour of the legendary city. Elgar’s In the South connects the dots between a family vacation in Italy and ghosts of history past. Bruch’s touching and fiercely virtuosic Violin Concerto, featuring young violinist Alexi Kenney complements this musical journey led by Grammy Awardwinning conductor JoAnn Falletta.

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II Jan 3–4.

This performance celebrates the world’s most beloved Looney Tunes and their legendary stars projected on the big screen—Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Pepe Le Pew, Tweety, Sylvester, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner—while their extraordinary original scores are played live by the orchestra. Conducted by George Daugherty, this new concert (and its predecessors Bugs Bunny on Broadway and Bugs Bunny at the Symphony) have delighted millions of concertgoers around the world, and spotlights acclaimed classics like What’s Opera, Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville and Rhapsody Rabbit.

Space and Beyond Jan 22–26. “Fly Me to the Moon” captures the spirit of the repertoire in this program of celestial-inspired selections.

Enjoy classical works featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey and popular scores from Star Wars, Star Trek and Apollo 11. Other favorites include “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Moonglow” and excerpts from Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony.

Sounds of Nobility

Feb 21–23. Spend an evening with musical royalty. Sir William Walton’s Symphony No. 1, long viewed as one of the greatest symphonies of the modern age, is an emotionally searing commentary on love lost. Get acquainted with two emerging young

stars, violinist Simone Porter and cellist Joshua Roman, as they shine in one of the most rapturous double concertos ever composed—Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello. Berlioz’s Rob Roy Overture, based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel of the same name, opens this program of high drama and heartfelt emotion led by world-renowned British conductor Bramwell Tovey.

American Impressions Apr 3–5.

Sometimes called the “greatest American symphony,” Aaron Copland’s expansive, tuneful and highly original Symphony No. 3 is the centerpiece of this exploration of American influence led by conductor Teddy Abrams.

25-year-old Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot brings his artistry to the fantastically dramatic shifts and unbridled emotion of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, composed shortly after the composer’s return to the Soviet Union following two decades in the West.

Urbanite Theatre Founders Summer Dawn Wallace and Brendan Ragan make a statement each season with sold-out, cutting-edge shows performed in the black box style, shifting effortlessly from heavy drama to heady comedy. Intimate, independent and unexpected. urbanitetheatre.com

Modern Works Festival Oct 8–13.

A playwriting contest, reading festival and celebration of emerging female writers. This second annual collection of staged readings will be comprised of the three highest-rated scripts submitted. At the conclusion of the festival, with the help of attendees, one writer will win a $3000 honorarium for her new work.

The Thanksgiving Play Nov 8–Dec 15.

Is it possible for a troupe of all-white teaching artists to create a culturally sensitive pageant to celebrate Native American Heritage Month?

Subversive, absurd and endearing, The Thanksgiving Play is a blistering satire that hilariously dissects political correctness, just in time for the holidays.

Sender Jan 10–Feb 16. A year after his assumed death, a man shows up in his former Chicago apartment alive, well and ready to fix what went wrong with the people who have been mourning him. In this wry, darkly comedic dissection of the millennial transition to adulthood, a miracle reunion turns calamitous as the past catches up with the present.

The Feast Mar 13–Apr 19. Matt and Anna’s relationship seems to be blooming until the sewers under their apartment begin to speak. Deftly mixing the comedic, mysterious and macabre, The Feast is a delicate study of the psychological condition, and how we hurt and heal the ones we love.

Van Wezel Playfully dubbed “The Purple Cow” by locals, this distinctive Frank Lloyd Wright creation abuts the Sarasota Bayfront, where it serves as Sarasota’s primary connection to the world of national and international touring performance, bringing storied performers and productions to the local stage as a regular stop on the regional, national and international touring circuits. vanwezel.org

Once: The Musical Oct 9. Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Once tells the tale of a Dublin street musician who’s giving up on his dream when a young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights. It’s an unforgettable story about going for your dreams and the power of music to connect us all, featuring an ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage.

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical Dec 13–15. This Tony and Grammy Awardwinning show makes its Sarasota premiere at the Van Wezel. Featuring a stunning array of beloved songs such as “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “Natural Woman” and more. Beautiful tells the inspirational story of one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. Carole King was the voice of a generation, and her music became the soundtrack for a soul-searching America.

Waitress Jan 24–26. A Broadway hit inspired by the beloved film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town, with music and lyrics by 7-time Grammy nominee, Sara Bareilles. Don’t miss the Sarasota premiere of this uplifting celebration of friendship, motherhood and the magic of a well-made pie.

Bandstand Feb 4–5 . From the three-time Tony winner and Hamilton choreographer, Andy Blankenbuehler, comes a poignant and inspiring new American musical that explodes with infectious music and high-octane, heart-stopping dancing. A Sarasota premiere, Bandstand is celebration of capability amongst American servicemen returning from World War II. New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players –The Pirates of Penzance Feb 15 . One of the world’s finest chamber orchestras is led by Music Director and virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell, one of the most celebrated violinists of his era.

This ensemble pushes the boundaries of performance to new heights, presenting symphonic repertoire and chamber music on a grand scale at prestigious venues around the globe.

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER favorites on the main stage to the daring and raucous productions populating the theater’s Stage II, Venice Theatre pulls out all the stops for a theater-going population always looking for something new. The annual cabaret festival brings countless productions to the stage for weeks of musical and dramatic entertainment. venicestage.com

THIS PAGE Waitress. Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, credit Rene Cervantes

The Bikinis Through Oct 20. The Bikinis are bringing back the sun, fun and all the hits they sang down the Jersey Shore in ‘64. Catch up with four inseparable friends 20 years later as they relive their heyday and beyond with a nonstop celebration of songs, like “Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” “Heat Wave,” “It’s Raining Men,” “I Will Survive” and more!

Assisted Living the Musical: The Home for the Holidays Nov 29–Dec 22.

Les Misérables Feb 26–Mar 1. Seen by more than 130 million people in 44 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, this Tony Award-winning musical is the most popular musical in the world featuring hit songs such as “I Dreamed a Dream,” “One Day More,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?” and more. With a new production presented by Cameron Mackintosh, its new staging and reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo has left both audiences and critics awestruck.

Itzhak Perlman in Recital Mar 21. One of the world’s greatest violinists returns to the Van Wezel in recital with pianist Rohan de Silva. Winner of four Emmy Awards and 16 Grammy Awards, Perlman’s artistry is treasured by audiences throughout the world!

Come From Away Apr 28–May 3. Don’t miss this breathtaking new Tony-nominated musical which takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them following 9/11. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but the uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all. A Sarasota premiere.

Venice Symphony Since its inception in 1974, the Venice Symphony has grown from a passion project playing three concerts a year in the Venice High School to the town’s premier musical performers, still playing at the Venice High School, but at its state-of-the-art Venice Performing Arts Center. In recent years, as the symphony continues to grow, the introduction of a Pre-Concert Talk Series has brought the community even closer to the people behind the music. thevenicesymphony.org

A Very Merry Holiday Pops Dec 20–21.

Join Music Director Troy Quinn and The Venice Symphony at the Venice Performing Arts Center, for our traditional holiday concert, mixing yuletide classics, music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, selections from holiday film favorites Home Alone and Polar Express, our traditional holiday sing-along and more. Guest artist: Sarasota’s acclaimed Key Chorale. Tickets start at $27. Group and student discounts. *Save 15% when purchased as part of the Saturday Nights at the Symphony Package.

Cosmic Convergence Jan 10–11. Troy Quinn and The Venice Symphony take you on a cosmic journey at the Venice Performing Arts Center, with music from the Star Trek and Star Wars films and Gustav Holt’s Jupiter from The Planets. The concert concludes with Dvorak’s beloved New World Symphony. Celestial video makes this voyage “out of this world.” Tickets start at $27. Group and student discounts. *Save 15% when purchased as part of the Saturday Nights at the Symphony Package.

Shaken Not Stirred: The Music of James Bond Feb 7-8. Troy Quinn and The Venice Symphony will shake (not stir) things up at the Venice Performing Arts Center, with iconic music from Dr. No to Goldfinger and Skyfall. Oscar-winning composers include John Barry, Marvin Hamlisch, Bill Conti and Adele. Video from the Bond films, photo-ops and more, make this a concert that shouldn’t be For Your Eyes (and ears) Only. *Save 15% when purchased as part of the Saturday Nights at the Symphony Package.

Venice Theatre Charming, wowing and moving audiences since 1950, Venice Theatre stands as, per capita, the largest community theater in the United States. From classics and musical

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The comedy team of Compton and Bennett are off their walkers again in this hysterical sequel to the runaway hit about the nursing home and beyond. Christmas, Hanukkah and retirement will never be the same.

Gulf View Drive Jan 10–26. In 1953, Raleigh and May continue their journey with a cross-country move to Siesta Key, FL. Not long after arriving, their dream house shrinks as relatives descend, further testing the couple’s love as they make difficult decisions in a changing world. The final play in Arlene Hutton’s “Nibroc Trilogy.”

Hamlet Mar 27–Apr 19. Danish prince Hamlet discovers that his uncle Claudius murdered his father and took the throne; Hamlet’s mother has married the usurper. This action-packed interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy will have you on the edge of your seat.

To Kill a Mockingbird Apr 17–May 3.

The facade of a seemingly peaceful Alabama town begins to crack when a young black man is accused of a terrible crime. Lawyer Atticus Finch defends him in a trial that rocks the community. As told through the eyes of Atticus’ daughter, this hard-hitting work explores prejudice, compassion and courage.

Chicago Apr 17–May 3. The longest-running American Musical in Broadway history finally comes to Venice! Chicago has everything that makes Broadway musicals great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping song after another; and the sexiest, most astonishing Bob Fosse-inspired dancing. Chicago has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards and a Grammy.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Founded in December 1999, by performer, director and playwright Nate Jacobs, this nonprofit theater is the only professional black theater company on Florida’s west

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2019-2020 CULTURE PRIMER coast. Through musicals—both Broadway and Jacobs’ originals—as well as comedies and thought-provoking dramas from such notable playwrights as August Wilson, Charles Smith and Katori Hall, WBTT explores the African-American experience onstage every year in a five-show season. Since its inception, WBTT has mentored and inspired many African-American youth and young adults through participation in the company’s productions. Many aspiring professional artists who trained with WBTT have gone on to work with regional theaters and national touring companies, on Broadway and on national television, and with major record companies. westcoastblacktheatre.org

Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now! WBTT’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Nov 18.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. This high-energy celebration of two decades of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will feature many of the company’s favorite performers, including original Troupe members. There will be a special appearance

by RCA Records R&B artists Next Town Down, with longtime WBTT favorite Christopher Eisenberg. Tickets at vanwezel.org/boxoffice or 941-953-3368.Sponsors will enjoy a pre-show reception and an after-party with a live band in the Van Wezel Grand Foyer. Sponsorships available; contact Debra Flynt-Garrett at 941366-1505, ext. 106, or dfgarrett@westcoastblacktheatre.org.

A Motown Christmas Dec 4-6, 18-20.

Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota During the holiday season, back by popular demand but for a limited engagement, WBTT presents A Motown Christmas—created, adapted and directed by WBTT Founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs. Celebrate the season with this festive holiday revue, the

perfect blend of traditional Christmas carols paired with soulful songs made famous by such Motown celebrities as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes and The Jackson 5. WBTT’s sizzling signature style makes this a memorable yuletide treat that’s fun for the whole family! Tickets at westcoastblacktheatre. org or 941-366-1505.

Ruby Apr 15–May 24. At WBTT’s newly renovated theatre!, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota.

This world premiere musical tells the story of the notorious 1952 murder in Florida of a white doctor by a black woman, bringing national attention and celebrated writer Zora Neale Hurston to town to cover the story for a northern newspaper. This powerful and haunting musical, written by Nate Jacobs – who will also direct – his brother, Michael Jacobs, and additional composer/lyricist Darin Atwater, explores the secrets just beneath the genteel surface of a small Florida town, evoking the themes of today’s #MeToo movement. Tickets at westcoastblacktheatre.org or 941-366-1505.

Annual Festivals Cine-World Film Festival Nov 1–10.

Historically, this festival has been a non-stop marathon of films dedicated to various genres.

The Sarasota Film Society anticipates this year will be no different, resulting in a collection of must-see films to satisfy each individual’s palate. Attending the Toronto Film Festival each year and selecting the best to bring back to Florida, the Cine-World Film Festival serves as one of Sarasota’s two main portals to the greater film world. filmsociety.org

Forks and Corks January 23-27.

The 13th annual, multi-day epicurean event will be held in the spectacular courtyard of

THIS PAGE Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now! WBTT’s 20th Anniversary Celebration.

Photo by Sorcha Augustine.

The Ringling Museum of Art featuring prominent Originals restaurants, premier wine retail shops, and exciting venues across the region.

The Forks & Corks world-class weekend of food and wine offers a feast for your senses through various vintner events and interactive food and wine seminars, culminating in the coveted Grand Tasting where guests enjoy a variety of samplings from the top local restaurants and wineries from around the world.

Forks & Corks is one of the few festivals in the Southeast that offers guests the opportunity to taste and take home their favorite wines at all of the events throughout the weekend. eatlikealocal.com/forksandcorks

Sarasota Chalk Festival Nov 15–18.

The award-winning and world record-breaking Sarasota Chalk Festival returns for another installment of street art spectacles, bringing professionals from around the world and amateurs from around the country together in a celebration of the ephemeral art form and its community potential. With this year’s theme, “Garden of Wonders,” expect a “tribute to the marvels of the natural world and the human imagination.” chalkfestival.org

Sarasota Film Festival March 27 – April 5. Showcasing the latest and greatest of cutting edge and independent film, the Sarasota Film Festival takes over the town for ten days out of the year, bringing filmmakers from around the world and more than a couple stars, such as last year’s Bo Burnham, Virginia Madsen and Jon Heder, to present their latest projects and talk film with the gathered community. With over 200 films showing and signature social events including Opening Night, SFF has grown to be a truly international event in the world of film. sarasotafilmfestival.com.

Sarasota Jazz Festival March 8.-14 The Jazz Club of Sarasota will be celebrating its 40th anniversary year in 2020. Eight-time Grammy-winning jazz ocal group The Manahattan Transfer will be the headliner for this year’s festival performing Saturday night at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. The festival also features performances by The Shelley Berg Trio featuring the Grammy-nominated pianist, arranger and composer Berg, Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo and Cuban pianist Chuchito Valdes. jazzclubsarasota.org

Sarasota Music Half Marathon Feb 2. The Sarasota Music Half Marathon melds marathon running with an outdoor music festival for a rock-and-roll party more than a mile long. With a mission to create a signature event for Sarasota by providing a cool experience for athletes and spectators alike, involving the community and raising money for local nonprofits, the Sarasota Music Half Marathon is going full-steam. sarasotahalf.com SRQ 26 | srq magazine_ OCT19 live local — culture primer special section

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STORIES FROM OUR PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY

giving coast

BARRIER BREAKERS

Joe and Mary Kay Henson want all students to have opportunities for success. Jacob Ogles

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The academies help overcome the dreaded NEITHER JOE NOR MARY KAY HENSONS’ PARENTS “summer slide” in learning, where students take a ATTENDED COLLEGE. Yet, both enjoyed higher three-month break from classwork, then need weeks education opportunities themselves. Mary Kay studied or months of review when school starts again. It’s a abroad, and Joe would leverage his education into a particular problem in the run-up to 3rd Grade, a CEO job at a tech company during the rise of personal critical period for basic reading skills. computers. It would be easy to revel in success now “It’s so unfair to children who are very bright, that the couple has retired to Sarasota. Instead, the two who have parents who want to help and love their want to make sure children in the region enjoy the same children dearly,” Mary Kay says, “but don’t have the chance at academic success as the generation before. means or the exposure to education.” The summer And even in paradise, the philanthropists see a commuslide seems especially prevalent in Hispanic housenity in need of an educational lift. holds, where parents may not know English.

“They need us,” Mary Kay says. “There really are The Hensons hope students going through two Sarasotas. I don’t know how many people living learning academies can climb a here understand how many chilladder of success even though dren are living in poverty here. You those rungs sometimes seem to “There really are just don’t see it. But if people were hang far overhead. But Joe knows just aware of the need, I think a lot two Sarasotas. I the couple’s investment alone of people would be able to do a lot don’t know how can’t level the playing field for more.” That’s why the Hensons every child. “No one—no foundahelped launch Summer Learning many people living tion and certainly no individual— Academies, enabling economically here understand how can finance a program in perpetuidepressed families to provide exty,” he says. “But if a pilot program tra education to their children and many children are demonstrates a great return on avoid the dreaded summertime living in poverty.” investment, hopefully, the product loss of academic progress. proves worthwhile, and the school While neither of Joe’s parents —Mary Kay Henson system will want to take it over.” went to college, it was important the Notably, the investment in kids follow that path. He attended Sarasota County education comes, as much philanthrothe University of Arkansas in 1954 before spending 26 py here does, from individuals who did not grow up at years in sales and marketing for IBM. He left to take over area schools. The Hensons became permanent Sarasota as president and CEO of Prime Computer, which under County residents just nine years ago, about a year his watch grew sales from $350 million to $1.7 billion. “I before their initial investment at Alta Vista. While retired at 55 and built a nice home on the east coast, but one son has retired to Lakewood Ranch and another playing golf did not take with me,” Joe recalls. So he went may soon follow, the Hensons’ grandchildren into a second career in finance, serving as chairman and all attended school elsewhere. Mary Kay says it’s a CEO of Legent. Since the mid-1990s, he has served on no-brainer for the couple’s own philanthropy work other technology boards and grown his fortune further. to benefit the community where they now live.

Mary Kay also was a first-generation college stu“We live here and we love Sarasota,” she says. dent. She feels it was easier in the 1950s to overcome Even as the district takes over funding for these social barriers to education than it is today. “We did not academies, the Hensons’ work continues in schools. come from wealth, but we are living this advanced life,” The couple now funds a pre-K program at Gocio she said. Removing barriers to academic success now Elementary School to aid 4- and 5-year-old children serves as a later-in-life mission for the couple. who haven’t attended prekindergarten due to a lack The Hensons funded the first Summer Learning of resources at home. The Florida League of United Academies through an effort coordinated by the ComLatin American Citizens honored that work, crediting munity Foundation of Sarasota County. Eagle Acadethe Hensons for advancing equity in education and my, a pilot program at Alta Vista Elementary School, improving academic outcomes for students in Sarasota launched eight years ago. Now similar programs exist County’s schools. But the couple says the true reward at Title I schools throughout the district, and Sarasota Schools this year expect to provide year-round education comes in seeing children enjoy educational resources that may not otherwise be available. SRQ for 2,300 children in prekindergarten up to 3rd Grade.

“We’re trying to fund programs that will help children out of poverty,” says Joe. PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN

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cocotele

Funding Available for Seniors in an Energy Crisis The hottest months of the year are almost behind us, but the electric bills that follow can be devastating for seniors with limited incomes.

Fortunately, older adults with a home energy emergency may be eligible for the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP).

EHEAP assists low-income households with at least one person age 60 or over. The program is available for those facing a delinquent power bill, lack of fuel, or an electric shut-off notice. Eligible households may be provided one benefit per season: The cooling season runs April-September, and the heating season runs October-March.

Payments are made directly to the vendor or by a two-party check to the vendor and client for electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, kerosene, or wood. Program beneficiaries may also receive vouchers to purchase fans. aaaswfl.org

SMH Foundation Helping Bring Hope to Children in Their First 1,000 Days Every mother gives birth to a child with a sense of hope for its future, and for their future together.

Fifty-two percent of babies born in Sarasota County are born into poverty—into families that may lack stable employment or housing, food and healthcare, or struggle with addiction, violence and depression. Spearheaded by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, First 1,000 Days Sarasota will follow children through the first one thousand days of their lives, guiding their families toward resources that are key to babies’ physical, emotional and intellectual development.

The quality of experiences during the first 1,000 days of life establish either a strong or a fragile foundation for everything that follows. Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation is proud to have granted $250,000 to this incredible, life-changing program.smhf.org

Goodwill Manasota Earns International Honors for Regional Success Goodwill Manasota earned significant recognition during the recent Goodwill Industries International summer conference in Spokane, Washington. The organization won the “Retail Excellence: Market Leadership by Share of Used Goods” award (for the sixth consecutive year)

for having the highest market penetration of its donor market, the “Retail Excellence: Market Leadership by Donations” award (for the fifth consecutive year) for capitalizing on the highest proportion of its available used goods market, and the “GILPS Organizational Safety” award (its first), recognizing the organization’s commitment to positively influence safety policies and practices that strengthen its Goodwill. experiencegoodwill.org

Young Adults Overnight Adventure with Lighthouse of Manasota At the end of each summer, Lighthouse Young Adults have an overnight stay in a hotel to learn independence skills and have adventures. This year, the home base was Homewood Suites in Sarasota.

The group went shopping at Publix to supplement their regular meals, then to Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda for a kayak paddle on the Peace River, and to the Military Heritage & Aviation Museum. A trip to Pathfinder Outdoor Education at Dayspring Episcopal Conference Center in Parrish brought team-building exercises, a circular maze, and the challenge of helping each other climb a tower and ride a zipline down. lighthouseofmanasota.org

Ringling Volunteer Recognized as Florida Association of Museums 2019 Outstanding Volunteer The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is proud to announce that museum volunteer Debra Short has been selected by the Florida Association of Museums to receive their 2019 Outstanding Volunteer Award. Short joined the museum’s volunteer corps in 2013 and currently dedicates time to 6 different assignments including serving as a Ringling Ambassador, Co-Chair of the Volunteer Services Advisory Council (VSAC), Special Events Volunteer, Education Department Assistant, Special Events, and Youth and Family Programs Volunteer. ringling.org

Girls Inc. Flips the Switch on Largest Solar Array in Sarasota County In August, Girls Inc. activated the largest private canopy of solar panels in Sarasota County. Their facilities now operate fully on renewable energy, and the switch will save the organization more

than $20,000 in utility expenses each year. The project was conceptualized and funded by a $575,000 investment from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. The new array includes 564 solar panels and will produce on average 300,000 kilowatt-hours of energy per year. The solar installation and curriculum outcomes were so notable, Girl Inc.’s national affiliate has shown interest in replicating the project at other locations across the country. For the girls, a new generation of environmentalists will challenge the status quo. girlsincsrq.org

Looking Forward After a Successful Adopt-APalooza Event During their 5th Annual Adopt-A-Palooza event, Friends of Manatee County Animal Services raised $17,000 and 100 animals found forever homes. The organization is now focusing on “Shelter Manatee”, a plan to build a brand new county animal shelter. On April 23, 2019, the Manatee County Commissioners voted 7-0 to allocate $8 million to fund a new animal shelter.

The current facility, located in Palmetto, Florida, was first built in the 1940s and was mostly rebuilt in the mid- 1980s. Significant utility service and maintenance issues have developed, creating the need to construct a new shelter and adoption center. Animal Network, Inc. is proud to partner with Manatee County to support building this new shelter and has announced an organizational goal of raising at least $2 million in donations from the citizens and businesses of Manatee County within the next two years to add to the current funding level. fomcas.org

Support ACS in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer October 19 Nearly 250,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. American Cancer Society holds Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks so that anyone touched by breast cancer does not have to face their diagnosis alone. The purpose of these events is to raise awareness and money to fund research, support services, and early detection. ACS holds Making Strides events to save lives. Team leaders can really help make Making Strides events successful. To be a team leader, recruit anyone you want to spend a day with to be a part of your team, set fundraising goals, organize fundraising activities, and lead your team through a fun walk day at the event. cancer.org

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CREAM OF THE COCO UNITED WAY SUNCOAST’S FIVE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERISM

The Sarasota Ballet Honors the Legacy of Modern Dance Icon Paul Taylor

ONE— Invest in a giving platform, such as Salesforce Philanthropy Cloud to make workplace giving and employee volunteering easy and accessible.

August 29th marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of Paul Taylor (1930–2018), one of the most renowned modern dance choreographers of the 20th century. His oeuvre includes 147 choreographic works spanning over six decades, performed by his own Paul Taylor Dance Company, which he founded in 1954, as well as many other companies around the world. This Season, The Sarasota Ballet pays tribute to Mr. Taylor with a series of events and performances that demonstrate and celebrate his life and choreography. sarasotaballet.org

TWO— Strategize and use incentives to boost participation. Set participation rate as a company goal rather than a dollar amount to emphasis the importance of staff engaging in corporate philanthropy. Hold a raffle for everyone who participates and offer rewards such as prime parking spots, days off, gift cards and more. And be sure to thank everyone.

Firmo Construction Recognized as Top Fastest Growing Company in the Region

THREE— Utilize a Corporate Engagement Calendar for more ways to keep employees involved year-round

FOUR— Get leadership involved.

The top senior staffers are in the unique position of inspiring their employees as well as leading by example when it comes to engagement. By involving your corporate officers and directors, you show that philanthropy is something your company takes seriously at every level.

FIVE— Begin with new hires. Start a new hire program that gives new employees the opportunity to make a contribution when they join your organization and to include them in the culture of giving.

Consider making volunteerism a part of the orientation process.

Firmo Construction, known for their innovative, sustainable measures in the community, has been recognized in Business Observer’s 2019 Top 500 in the region as well as one of the top fastest growing companies. The list ranks the 500 largest companies by gross revenues for consistency and comparability. Firmo ranked as the 35th fastest growing company in Sarasota and beyond. Firmo Construction is a local, sustainable construction management firm known for their innovative build projects, such as the expansion of Rosemary Square in downtown Sarasota, the ground-up build of Hampton Inn and Suites by SRQ Airport, and the build-outs for White Sands Physical Therapy and Center For Sight. With the current growth of local and surrounding areas, Firmo has been expanding its expertise towards the Southern Gulf Coast region. firmoconstruction.com

Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood.

Appears on the Inc. 5000 for the Second Year Inc.magazine recently announced that Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood. in Sarasota, has landed on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the independent small business segment. Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. duvalsfreshlocalseafood.com SRQ

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RSVP | CALENDAR OCTOBER 2019 COMMUNITY EVENTS SPONSORED BY SRQ MEDIA

3RD ANNUAL TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS BENEFIT DINNER

24TH ANNUAL “SHARE THE LIGHT� LUNCHEON

CAREGIVER’S COMFORT SUPPORT GROUP

OCTOBER 5 Truly Valued presents its 3rd Annual Taste of New Orleans Benefit Dinner with speaker Edward James III. Enjoy an evening of elegant dining and live entertainment by the Soul Sensations.

Proceeds support Truly Valued programs and services for youth designed to provide knowledge, skills and inspiration that will help them grow to lead happy and successful lives as adults. Tickets are $50. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are available. trulyvalued.org

OCTOBER 17 Join Second Chance Last Opportunity, a crisis intervention and life-skills training organization, as they honor Arlene Sweeting, the co-founder of WSLR 96.5 Community Radio and the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, and Duhane Lindo, a reporter for the WWSB ABC7 News Team in Sarasota. The 24th Annual “Share The Light�

Luncheon event will recognize the many contributions of these individuals. Tickets for the luncheon are $65 and can be purchased online or by calling 941-3608660. secondchancelastopportunity.org

OCTOBER 21 On every third Monday of the month, Julie Cook Downing, President of Caregivers Comfort Creations, LLC, facilitates a Doctors Hospital Caregiver Support Group. This group focuses on the caregiver and offers a retreat from the never ending mental and physical responsibilities of caregiving. This free, open group provides compassionate support and an opportunity to explore new solutions together to caregiver challenges. caregiverscomfort.com

CAREGIVERS COMFORT SOCIALIZING LUNCH

FISH, FUN & FRIGHT

OCTOBER 7 Julie Cook Downing, President of Caregivers’ Comfort Creations, LLC and Doctors Hospital Caregiver Support Group Facilitator, hosts a monthly lunch at The Rosemary restaurant. This event provides caregivers some time to relax, enjoy themselves and eat delicious food with others sharing similar situations. For lunch details, contact Julie at caregivercomfort@aol.com.caregiverscomfort.com

OCTOBER 18 Buoys and ghouls of all ages are invited to dress up in costume for a Night of Fish, Fun & Fright to enjoy spooky activities throughout Mote Aquarium. Unearth shark teeth in “Coffin Creek� and feast on deep sea delights in the “Diner of the Dead.�

Don’t miss Mote’s signature underwater pumpkin carving in spooktacular shark habitats. mote.org.

SARASOTA CONTEMPORARY DANCE: VOICES – RISING CHOREOGRAPHERS OCTOBER 10-13 SCD’s 14th Main Stage Season will kick off with four performances titled “Voices – Rising Choreographers.� This series is a local audience favorite showcasing future choreographers of contemporary dance as they are just blossoming.

This show presents rising choreographers who were selected by adjudication from SCD’s Summer Intensive Program. sarasotacontemporarydance.org.

NRITYAGRAM DANCE ENSEMBLE: RINGLING ART OF PERFORMANCE OCTOBER 11-12 One of the premier Indian Classical dance ensembles performing today, Nrityagram is more than a dance company. Founded as a village devoted to dance and the preservation of the Odissi classical dance tradition, the all-female ensemble’s daily life of intensive training and meditation brings to the stage compelling and captivating performances that are at once sensual and lyrical.

DaĹ›avatÄ r brings together brilliant dance traditions with shared ancient roots, accompanied by a live original score. ringling.org.

MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER WALK OCTOBER 19 The 2019 Making Strides of SarasotaManatee is presented by CORE Construction and will take place at Nathan Benderson Park. You can participate in the walk, lead a team in the walk, or donate to the cause. By raising awareness and funds, ACS can continue to educate about reducing cancer risk and early detection, fund even more groundbreaking research, and deliver more crucial services that patients and caregivers rely on every day. cancer.org

FIRST WATCH SARASOTA HALF MARATHON, RELAY, 10K AND 5K OCTOBER 19-20 The 14th Annual First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon, Relay, 10K & 5K is expanding into Sarasota’s first-ever weekend race festival. The weekend kicks off on Saturday with a new 5K from Five Points Park around downtown. On Sunday, participate in the Half Marathon, Relay and 10K starting at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Life Time, the event organizer, is making a per runner donation to Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay. Register at runsarasota.com. runsarasota.com

SARASOTA WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL LECTURE SERIES: DIEGO ARRIA OCTOBER 23 Join the Sarasota World Affairs Council for the opening program of its 2019-20 Lecture Series, “Venezuela: A Real Threat in Our Backyard,� featuring Diego Arria, former Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Nations and President of the Security Council – now a political and human rights activist living in exile in the US. Ambassador Arria will describe the background of this volatile situation, the most current status, and the complex interplay of domestic and international forces that are working to resolve the political issues and alleviate suffering. sarasotawac.org

NAMI OUT OF THE BLUE OCTOBER 24 On every third Monday of the month, Julie Cook Downing, President of Caregivers Comfort Creations, LLC, facilitates a Doctors Hospital Caregiver Support Group. This group focuses on the caregiver and offers a retreat from the never ending mental and physical responsibilities of caregiving. This free, open group provides compassionate support and an opportunity to explore new solutions together to caregiver challenges. namisarasotacounty.org

20TH ANNUAL MORTON’S FIREHOUSE CHILI COOK-OFF OCTOBER 27 Don’t miss Morton’s Gourmet Market’s 20th Anniversary Firehouse Cook-off from 2-5.

Aspiring chefs from more than 15 local firehouses as well as Sarasota Police and County Sheriff Deputies will compete for the title of “Best Firehouse Chili.� A endees may sample all entries and vote for their favorite for only $10. All proceeds go to The Sarasota Firefighters’ Benevolent Fund. Tickets may be purchased the day of the event or in advance. mortonsmarket.com SRQ

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last flight

Your favorite virtue . .

Kindness When you were a kid you dreamed of . . . Conducting at the Hollywood Bowl Your guilty pleasure . . .

Eclairs Thought you had driving to work this morning . . . I can’t wait to come home and see my wife.

For what fault have you been the most tolerant . . .

Tardiness In our hometown, we do too much sunbathing and too little reading.

Your favorite villain in fiction . . . Darth Vader Your favorite villain in real life . . . John Gotti

TROJAN LORE

Dr. Troy Quinn, music director and conductor of the Venice Symphony. Phil Lederer IN THIS latest irreverent Q&A series, SRQ puts Dr. Troy Quinn,

music director and conductor of the Venice Symphony, under the spotlight and on the spot to ferret out his favorites, his flights of fancy and that one unforgivable fashion faux pas. a recent day in the life? Just yesterday consisted of getting up bright and early, getting on a plane to fly cross country, conducting an afternoon rehearsal and performing an evening concert with an orchestra. Typically, I get up and teach at USC, then for an hour or two I take care of any e-mails, give phone interviews, plan future music programs, and address any orchestra business, then I attempt to swim at the beach (one of my favorite beaches is Santa Monica, and now my new favorite is Siesta Key) or the pool, spend three to four hours studying scores, then cook a meal or go out on the town in the evening. The meal I prep the most is a pecan-crusted salmon, followed by chicken cutlets.

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What is the scariest thing you have ever done? Driving Harrison Ford on a motorcycle.

The fourth Indiana Jones filmed happened to film in my hometown of New Haven, CT. I was chosen to be just an extra in the movie, but quickly learned I would be Shia LaBeouf’s stand-in double.

A stand-in is basically used to set up the camera angles and practice the scene from a technical standpoint before the actual actors come in and film the scene. For whatever reason Shia was not ready to shoot yet so I had to rehearse the upcoming scene, which was driving Harrison Ford on a motorcycle through a library—all the while thinking I was going to crash and injure the star, as I had never driven a motorcycle before, but that was my little secret. It all turned out well in the end and was probably the coolest non-musical experience I have ever had.

My last supper would include . . . Thanksgiving dinner Words you use too often . . .

Brilliant and Quite Frankly

If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? John Williams, Lucille Ball and John F Kennedy.

What is one thing that you will never understand . . .

Arrogance

Your favorite food of the moment is . . . Sushi

With 2 more hours in the day, I would . . . Learn to fly a plane

You have to wear a t-shirt with on word on it, what would it be? Smile

Your favorite music artists . . . The Carpenters, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston If not yourself, who would you be? A UN Ambassador If you could undo one invention in the world, what would it be? Social Media What was the funniest thing you remember doing as a kid?

Waking up on Christmas Day and watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with my brother Would you rather have a rewind or a pause button in your life? Pause button

If you could snap your fingers and appear somewhere else, where would you be? Fiji Which cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy? Mickey Mouse, because of his “can-do” attitude.

What in your mind is the biggest fashion faux pas?

Black pants and brown shoes What song best describes your life right now? “I’ve Got the World on a String” SRQ

ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS LEVERETT.

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