Sarasota Visual Artists Group, Sarasota’s newest artist association, celebrates its inaugural season this Friday with the opening of the group exhibition 9 Artists, 9 Days. Featuring the work of local painters and sculptors Bill Buchman, Duncan Chamberlain, Elena De La Ville, Jack Dowd, Tim Jaeger, Joseph Melancon, Tom Stephens, Vicky Randall and Dasha Reich, the exhibit runs from April 7–16 in a pop-up gallery at 8131 Main Street in Lakewood Ranch.

Founded in early 2017 by a community of artists frustrated at the lack of gallery space, the Sarasota Visual Artists Group first introduced themselves to the greater community over this past three months by bringing the audience to the artist with its Open Studio Series. “People really want to know who you are these days,” says Stephens, a painter who works in oils and acrylics and opened his studio to visitors on various Saturdays throughout the series. “And they want to see where the work is made.”

Attendance was good and the series a success, says Stephens, and now Sarasota Visual Artists is ready for its first group show. Many of the artists have exhibited together at some point, he notes, but this will be the first time that all of them have shown together as one big group. Each will bring a small selection to the temporary space found by Dowd in the heart of Lakewood Ranch, and Stephens will bring one that some attendees of the Open Studios Series may recognize, as it was mid-process when last he opened his studio to the public. Now those visitors can see the final result.

Working with an unabashedly bold color palette, Stephens creates vibrant abstracts with marked landscape elements influenced by his life as a native Floridian surrounded by lush foliage. Heavily textured and teeming with a million marks, the impression is one of pure energy. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to convey,” says Stephens. “It’s not necessarily a literal place; it’s about the energy of our surroundings.”

Following the success of this year, Stephens says that group looks to continue the series next year, maybe even with more artists. “We definitely want people to know,” he says, “and we’re going to go bigger and better.”

9 Days, 9 Artists opens April 7 at 8131 Main Street in Lakewood Ranch and runs through April 16. 

Pictured: "Torreya" by Tom Stephens. Image courtesy of Tom Stephens.

Treat yourself with a slice of almond cake for lunch instead of your usual savory plate—you won't regret it. Light and fluffy, perfectly semi-sweet and dusted with powdered sugar, it's akin to eating the middle (let's face it, the best) part of an almond croissant. Add a few dollops of airy whipped cream for an extra sugar infusion. Pair with a rich cappuccino for a decadent breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between.  

Burns Court Cafe, 401 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, 941-312-6633.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital was listed among America’s 100 top hospitals in 2017 by Becker’s Hospital Review. Becker’s top hospital designation is awarded to hospitals and health systems that earn multiple rankings and awards from reputable sources, including the federal government’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Truven Health Analytics, Magnet accreditation, Healthgrades, The Leapfrog Group and U.S. News & World Report. Sarasota Memorial earned high marks from all of them in 2016 and 2017. In 2016-2017, Sarasota Memorial Hospital earned the highest 5-Star rating from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, was named one of the nation’s 50 Top Heart Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, was ranked “Best Hospital” in the Suncoast area (#1 in Sarasota-Venice-North Port-Bradenton) and in South Florida by U.S. News & World Report, received an “A” grade for patient safety, earning a spot among America’s safest hospitals in The Leapfrog Group’s hospital safety report card and received Healthgrades’ Outstanding Patient Experience Award. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Executive search firm Brooke Chase Associates has announced the successful placement of David Gordon as President of Kabinart, a manufacturer of all-wood, semi-custom residential kitchen and bath cabinetry available throughout the Eastern US. With a background in strategic leadership at Armstrong World Industries, Gordon was picked to lead new product and channel initiatives in the cabinetry division as vice president of marketing, and was then promoted to president and CEO of Armstrong Cabinets where he led the company to sales and profitability growth. Most recently, Gordon was president and CEO of Wellborn Forest Products where he transformed an underperforming business by rationalizing operations and improving product quality. 

Brooke Chase Associates

Sharon Pannone of Sarasota has been selected to be the new office manager for MindSpa Integrative Wellness Center located on Bee Ridge Road. She has worked 20 years in the administrative field for diverse businesses located in Florida, Texas and Colorado. Pannone completed leadership and coaching training with the CTI Coaches Training Institute. She was also a guest host of Embrace the Journey with Sharon through Amazing Universe TV. Her experience as a personal empowerment coach and inspirational speaker enhances her sensitivity about natural healing, positive intentions and wellness. MindSpa provides a wide range of clinical and spa services to support patients and clients of all ages. The areas of expertise include brain medicine, functional medicine, alternative medicine, energy medicine and addiction treatment. 

MindSpa Integrative Wellness Center

Dame Ninette de Valois’ ‘Checkmate’ tells the story of a game of chess, giving human emotion and life to the chess pieces. The audience watches as the Black Queen stalks her victim, the aging Red King, in her quest for power and death. Margaret Barbieri, former Prima Ballerina of The Royal Ballet, has staged this ballet together with world renowned choreologist Grant Coyle. Barbieri’s career was shaped by de Valois, who was the founder of The Royal Ballet and one of the key figures in ballet history, and she has been able to pass on to the dancers her passion and artistry for the ballet and role that became a part of her signature repertoire. “Checkmate is a truly unusual piece,” explains Margaret. “It’s dramatic and harrowing story will captivate audiences, whether they are new to the art form or already ballet fans.” You can see this stunning ballet, accompanied by live music by the Sarasota Orchestra under the baton of American Ballet Theatre Music Director Ormsby Wilkins, performed as a part of The Sarasota Ballet’s April 28 – 30 program of ‘De Valois, Balanchine & Robbins’ at the Sarasota Opera House. 

Sarasota Ballet

Enter the mid-century abode of Stephanie Shopa and take in the breathless design elements alive throughout the house. The Venice Island gem exemplifies the marriage between inside and out, creating a seamless flux of natural versus man-made. Step in and see for yourself in Gazing Up.  

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