Pop art icon Peter Max will be in Sarasota this weekend for the opening of a newly curated retrospective exhibit at State of the Arts Gallery. Entitled The Art of Peter Max, the show hangs for only three days in State of the Arts’ Gallery C, with two appearances by the artist scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Painting prolifically since his appearance on the arts scene in the 60s and 70s, translating the Summer of Love and psychedelia into his signature illustrative style, all bright primary colors and thick lines. Over the ensuing half century, Max rose to prominence alongside figures like Jackson Pollock and Robert Rauschenberg, has painted for five presidents and been the official artist of global events ranging from the Olympics to the World Cup. He was tapped to In this current exhibit, Max present work from this time, as well as a new series of homages to the Old Masters.

Set to a Woodstock-inspired soundtrack, the walls of Gallery C are packed with more than 100 paintings from Max’s career. The subject matter ranges from pop art iconography—Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, a collage of 60s musicians from The Rolling Stones to Frank Zappa—to a solid display of Americana in countless US flags and portraits of the Statue of Liberty and the classic “LOVE” in acid-trip bubble letters. Through it all, Max retains his bold and distinct palette. Along one wall, his most recent work sees the artist offering his own take on some of the most famous paintings by artists such as Van Gogh, Renoir and Dali.

But for his decades of success, including producing work for the cover of TIME magazine, Max remains seemingly indifferent towards ideas of fame and immune to navel-gazing, reluctant to over-examine himself or his art. “I just love painting,” he says. “I don’t paint for any other reason except I love to paint. I love the moment.”

The Art of Peter Max opens tonight at 6pm at State of the Arts Gallery with a reception with the artist. The exhibit hangs through the weekend with a second appearance by the artist from noon to 2pm on Saturday. All work is for sale. 

Pictured: "Cosmic Runner" by Peter Max. Photo courtesy of the artist.

When Bruce Zalkin was 13 years old, his father took him to a train show. He was given $50 and told he could buy whatever he wanted. He decided on a set of 50 lead figurines for $1 a piece. Packing up his purchase, another dealer at the show spied a particular figurine on top and offered the younger Zalkin $50 for the single item. Zalkin took the deal and on that day the Toy Scout was born. Today, just a wee bit older and wiser (and a Sarasota resident), Zalkin makes his living traveling the country in search of rare toys and collectibles, buying and selling amongst a community of collectors, dealers and people just looking to clear the attic. And through this Sunday, the Toy Scout has set up shop in Bradenton for the Sarasota-Bradenton Antique Toy & Doll Buying Show.

Hosted by the Holiday Inn off Lena Road in Bradenton, the Antique Toy & Doll Buying Show is an opportunity for any and all residents of the area to bring toys or dolls they believe may have worth as collectibles, antiques or rarities to be appraised and possibly purchased by Zalkin. A casual affair open as much to spectators as those seriously looking to sell, it’s part Antiques Roadshow and part American Pickers. “If those two had a baby,” Zalkin says, “that’s what we do.”

But though antique is in the name, old doesn’t necessarily mean valuable. Like all markets, it ultimately comes down to demand. “It’s not necessarily age, which is what people think,” says Zalkin. Some cast-iron toys from the 1920s may fetch only $10–$30, but Star Wars figurines in the original packaging can be worth several thousand. “It’s a generational thing,” explains Zalkin, and the people paying top dollar for Star Wars merchandise are the ones who grew up with the franchise and now have serious spending money. “They’re buying back their childhood,” he says. And forget the Beanie Babies, he warns, which amounted to little for than an overproduced and short-lived fad.

Currently running at the Holiday Inn at 5464 Lena Rd., Bradenton, the Sarasota-Bradenton Antique Toy & Doll Buying Show is open from 9:30am–5pm February 23–25 and 9:30am–4pm on February 26. 

Pictured: Antique toys and dolls purchased by Zalkin. Photo courtesy of Bruce Zalkin.

Your friendly neighborhood fish house, the Lucky Pelican, is back at it again serving up New England-inspired seafood dishes. The panko-roasted haddock dinner special is no different from the rest of the extensive, mouthwatering selection of fish dishes—in fact, it may be the best on the menu. The sweet and flaky haddock gets covered in a crispy citrus-spiced panko crust, while tomatoes, fresh fragrant basil and capers blend beautifully in a savory cream sauce. Along the rim of the plate, bistro potatoes and seasonal veggies just add to the medley of classic flavors. The perfectly prepared large portion of haddock will leave you dreaming about this dish for days.  

Lucky Pelican Bistro, 6239 Lake Osprey Dr., Lakewood Ranch, 941-907-0589.

A few weeks ago, Allen from Yummie's Donuts dropped off a box of powdered-sugar dusted morsels—needless to say, they were gone in mere moments. But, alas, these were no ordinary doughnuts. Called pączki, the Polish treats sell by the thousands on Fat Tuesday, also known as Pączki Day, and for good reason—crispy, fluffy and filled with ooey gooey sweet jelly filling, the use of extra eggs make these brioche-esque golden pockets something to celebrate. Run to Yummie's before they sell out for the big day next week. 

Recipe via Serious Eats.

Ingredients: 2 cups whole milk; 4 ½ tsp. instant yeast (2 standard sized envelopes); ½ cup plus 1 Tblsp. sugar; 5 cups all purpose flour; 4 egg yolks plus one whole egg; 1 tsp. salt; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted; 2 qt. canola oil for frying; 1½ cups of your favorite preserves; 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting.

In a small saucepan, heat milk to between 110 an 115°F. Pour warmed milk into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Dissolve yeast in milk. Add one tablespoon sugar and two cups of flour. Mix until consistency of pancake batter then cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot to allow yeast to activate. Let rest for 30 minutes or until starter is very bubbly. In a medium bowl combine egg and yolks. Whisk until light and frothy, about four minutes. Whisk in ½ cup sugar, salt and vanilla. Slowly stir cooled melted butter into yeast starter until combined. Then slowly incorporate egg mixture until just combined. Fit mixer with dough hook. Stir in flour, working ½ a cup in at a time until a soft dough comes together. Note: this dough is very sticky. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and transfer dough to bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise until double in size. About an hour. Turn out dough on a very generously floured surface. Dust surface of dough with flour then punch down dough to about half an inch high. Using a floured two- or three-inch biscuit cutter, cut out doughnuts. Carefully transfer doughnut rounds to parchment lined baking sheets. Cover sheets with a clean dish towel and set in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. Pour canola oil into a large Dutch oven to a depth of 2 inches. Heat oil to 360°F. Once oil reaches the proper temperature use a heat resistant spatula or shallow strainer to carefully drop doughnuts in, one at a time, cooking a maximum of three at once. Cook doughnuts until a warm, deep brown on one side, then using heat resistance tongs turn the doughnut and cook the other side until it reaches the same degree of doneness. Remove from oil letting any excess oil drain off then transfer to a wire rack for cooling. Test your first doughnut to make sure that the insides are completely cooked, if not adjust your cooking time accordingly. Let doughnut cool. Prepare a wide and shallow bowl with powdered sugar. Fill your pastry bag with your favorite preserves and fit the bag with a filling tip. Pipe filling into pączki then dip each side in powdered sugar until covered. 

Yummie's Donuts & BBQ, 2001 South Tamiami Trl., Venice, 941-493-7170.

Renee Snyder, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Sarasota, introduces the new board chair as John R. Peshkin, founder and managing partner at Vanguard Land, a private real estate investment group. The firm is focused on the acquisition and development of residential and commercial properties throughout Florida. Peshkin has served on Habitat Sarasota’s board of directors for six years. Three other individuals have joined Habitat for Humanity Sarasota Board of Directors, including: Carolyn Mason, a long-time Sarasota resident and former County Commissioner, Bonnie Dezii, the assistant vice president of claims for the Florida region at FCCI Insurance Group, Inc. and Michael Bruno, a realtor with Michael Saunders & Company and Habitat Sarasota volunteer for the past 13 years.
 

 

Habitat for Humanity Sarasota

The Loveland Village, a nonprofit that provides educational, vocational and residential programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, recently welcomed Rebecca Cross as its marketing manager and Kellye Jacob in the newly created position of database manager. Cross possesses over 15 years of experience in nonprofit management, development and marketing. In her new role, she will be responsible for creating, implementing and measuring the success of the marketing, communications and public relations programs and facilitate internal and external communications with all stakeholders. Cross is a graduate of the 2016 class of Leadership Englewood and currently serves on the board of directors of Elevating Englewood Florida, Inc. Jacob is a results-oriented administrative professional with a strong customer service background. As the database manager, Jacob will be responsible for working with the development staff to create, update and maintain a management system. 

Loveland Village

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) has named Daisy Vulovich its dean for SCF Lakewood Ranch. Vulovich, who took over the dean position in July, has been with the college since 2001 when she began as an executive director. During her time in that position, enrollment topped 13,000 in non-credit courses, the Professional Development Center in Bradenton was designed and opened, the Traffic Safety Institute expanded its operations in Downtown Sarasota and she led the college’s campus expansion efforts with the design, opening and daily operation of the Center for Innovation and Technology at Lakewood Ranch in 2003. During her time as associate vice president, the college received awards from local chambers as well as regional economic development organizations for community responsiveness, customer service and economic development. For the past three years she has also provided direction for SCF’s Career and Technical Education academic programs, working to grow the region’s continuing workforce education efforts and to develop new certificate and associate in science degree programs in professional and technical areas. As dean, Vulovich will continue to promote lifelong learning and workforce development in our region and continue to build partnerships in the community.

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF)