All entries for March 2015

SMOA and SAF Compromise on Rudolph Canopies

Posted by Philip Lederer on Tuesday Mar 31, 2015 3:00 pm

A compromise has been reached between Sarasota Museum of Art officials and the architectural community with regards to the canopies designed by father of the Sarasota School of Architecture, Paul Rudolph, slated for removal during the historic Sarasota High School’s transformation into SMOA, one Ringling College of Art and Design president Dr. Larry Thompson has called “a creative design solution… working in a collaborative way so it was a win-win-win for everyone," in a press conference this afternoon at the south side of the future museum.

Initial plans put forward by SMOA called for the demolition of a lengthy stretch of the cantilevered canopies connecting the museum building to the Paul Rudolph-designed Sarasota High School, but new plans call for a more precise removal of a roughly 30-foot section. The removal was necessary to allow construction crews access to the rear of the building during renovation, said Thompson, but also to allow emergency vehicle access in the future, once SMOA opens.

After concerns were raised last week by the architectural community, Thompson arranged a meeting between architect and Paul Rudolph protégé, Carl Abbot, members of the Sarasota Architectural Foundation and the engineers and contractors involved with the SMOA renovation. Abbot and SAF impressed the need to preserve what they saw as a functional and important piece of architectural art, while the SMOA team laid out what codes and regulations the new building would have to meet, which included fire truck access to the rear of the building. Both sides ceded ground and current plans mark only a portion for removal, leaving the stretch of the original canopy along the south face of the museum building, where it will serve as a drop-off point and shelter for museum visitors.

“It will function in a different way, but it’s still functioning,” said Abbot, calling the compromise a fitting application of SMOA’s repurpose and reuse theme, and the canopies a fitting piece of SMOA’s mission, given Rudolph’s educational legacy. “It worked out for everyone. I am so pleased that we saved this.”

A structural engineer has inspected the canopies with an eye to the updated proposal and the plans are currently in the permitting process, according to Thompson, who expressed optimism that things would move quickly and still plans for a Feb. 2016 opening.

“The solution will distinguish Sarasota as a community,” said SAF board member Dan Snyder, mentioning that a Rudolph-designed building in Orange County is being torn down by the community there. “I’m not sure there are many communities that would have come together so quickly.”

2016 Town Hall Lecture Series Line-Up Revealed

Posted by Philip Lederer on Tuesday Mar 31, 2015 11:06 am

Pictured: Shimon Peres

With former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Dr. Ben Bernanke, closing out the Ringling College Library Association Town Hall 2015 Lecture Series this morning, the RCLA has released the scheduled line-up for next year’s series, which includes former president of Israel, Shimon Peres, political strategist Karl Rove and innovation expert Sir Ken Robinson.

Peres will open the series on Jan. 19 with a presentation on Mideast affairs, bringing to bear his experience as past president and prime minister of the State of Israel and a leader of the Oslo Accords, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. The following installment on Feb. 3 marks the return of Sarasota-born, award-winning investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson, as she moderates a debate between former Obama White House Deputy Chief of Staff and innovative 2012 campaign manager, Jim Messina, and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for George W. Bush and eminent political strategist, Karl Rove.

As the thinker behind the most popular and influential lectures from the illustrious TED Conference, seeing his ideas guiding governments, international agencies and educational organizations on the path to innovation, Sir Ken Robinson has become known globally as an expert in creativity and will be in Sarasota on Feb. 16.

“Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts will speak on Mar. 7 about a career in journalism spanning ESPN sportscasting to global reporting and her battle with breast cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome, and retired U.S. Army General David H. Petraeus will close the series on Mar. 15 with a discussion about 21st century challenges to international security, macroeconomic trends and strategic leadership.

With a theme of “honoring inspired leadership,” Town Hall Lecture Series 2016 chair Chris Cremer said in a statement, "Our speakers have demonstrated their extraordinary abilities to lead in many different circumstances, and we are delighted that they will share their experiences with our members."

Tickets go on sale in April. 

Ringling College Reports Avante Garde Success

Posted by Philip Lederer on Friday Mar 27, 2015 2:56 pm

Pictured: Captain Creative and The Imaginator. Photo Credit: Stephanie Lederer.

Ringling College of Art and Design has reported that this year’s annual An Evening at the Avante Garde gala set the bar as the most successful Avante Garde to date, raising $225,000 in scholarship funds through charitable giving and a silent auction featuring Louis Cabot photography, Clyde Butcher giclees, jewelry and various ‘night-on-the-town’ packages.

With a “Comic Capers” theme, the night’s costumes ran the gamut from superheroes to the Sunday funny papers, with Charlie Brown sipping drinks next to a pair of Mad Hatters while Minnie Mouse swaps tales on the promenade. The appearance of Batman flanked by a costumed entourage of Gotham skyscrapers created a stir, but it was the arrival of Captain Creative and The Imaginator (popularly known by their alter egos Ringling College President Dr. Larry Thompson and wife, Patricia), parting the crowds in a time-hopping DeLorean, that caused a ruckus.

Special guests actor Dylan McDermott (In The Line of Fire, American Horror Story) and actor Maggie Q (Mission Impossible 3, Live Free or Die Hard) joined the Ringling community for the night, lending their support for a scholarship fund that would enable incoming upperclassmen in need of financial assistance to complete their education.

“I wasn’t a good painter before I got to Ringling,” said Tim Rogerson, an Official Disney Fine Artist with an illustration degree from Ringling College who returned for the event. “But I worked really hard at Ringling and got my dream job at the start of my career.” Ten years post-graduation, Rogerson is now the official artist for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary.

McDermott is also developing a new television project with Ringling College on board with production and at least one student doing conceptual work, according to a Ringling official. Currently called Sugar, the project is a coming-of-age story centering on the life of a young woman.

Ringling Puts Canopy Construction On Hold To Meet With Architects

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Thursday Mar 26, 2015 12:14 pm

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Architects Try to Save Canopies From SMOA Destruction

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Tuesday Mar 24, 2015 2:38 pm

Architects in the region are expressing anger that renovation plans at the Sarasota Museum of Art today call for the destruction of canopies connecting the museum site with the Paul Rudolph-designed Sarasota... More »

Review: I'm A Stranger Here Myself

Posted by Philip Lederer on Monday Mar 23, 2015 12:34 am

Mark Nadler in I'm A Stranger Here Myself/Photo courtesy FST Strolling up to Florida Studio Theatre Friday night for renowned cabaret performer Mark Nadler’s production of his original show I’m... More »

Runoffs in Both Sarasota City Commission races. Alpert, Normile to Face off in District 2. Stan Zimmerman, Shelli Freeland Eddie battle in District 3

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Tuesday Mar 10, 2015 8:35 pm

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Younger, Daly Headed For Wins on Longboat Key

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Tuesday Mar 10, 2015 7:33 pm

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Early and Absentee votes in for Sarasota City Commission: Alpert, Normile Neck-and-Neck in District 2; Zimmerman Holds Majority in 3

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Tuesday Mar 10, 2015 7:12 pm

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Wooddall, Keen Campaigning Part Company Days Before Election

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Friday Mar 6, 2015 2:37 pm

Keen Campaigning announced of Friday that it was seperating itself from Matthew Wooddall, a candidate for Sarasota City Commission District 3. The move comes days before a Tuesday city election. In a... More »

Feld Entertainment Will Phase Out Elephant Acts at Circus

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Thursday Mar 5, 2015 1:40 pm

Feld Entertainment today announced today that elephant acts would be phased out of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus following years of growing criticism from animal rights organizations... More »

Herald-Tribune Conducting Layoffs

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Tuesday Mar 3, 2015 2:16 pm

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune has started laying off a number of employees, including some high-profile and long-term members of the editorial staff. The move comes three and a half months after the sale... More »

Dan Ceaser, Incoming Temple Beth Sholom Head of School, To Speak

Posted by Philip Lederer on Monday Mar 2, 2015 11:10 pm

This Thursday, March 5, at 6:30pm Dan Ceaser will be delivering a presentation at the Temple Beth Sholom Upper School Media Center to discuss his plans regarding his incoming tenure as Head of School,... More »

Teri Hansen Leaving Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Monday Mar 2, 2015 11:21 am

The Gulf Coast COmmuntiy Foundation today announced Teri A. Hansen, CEO and president, will leave her position at the end of Juine. Hansen will now head the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation. Full... More »

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