Get a glimpse of the beauty of Cuba—without the cost of a plane ticket or hassle of a passport—with tonight’s opening of Cuba Stories, the debut photography exhibition from artist Sue Keating. Featuring 34 large-scale works in color and black and white, the show hangs for three days at 500 Tallevast Road, behind CopyTalk, and documents Keating’s weeklong journey through the neighborhoods of the island nation.

Growing up in Florida, with Cuba a mere 90 miles away but forbidden, the island remained a “tantalizing” dream for much of Keating’s life, until she joined a Ringling College of Art and Design “art tour” of Cuba, along with eight others and a Ringling College photography professor, Elena de la Ville. In the mornings, the group convened for conversation and artistic feedback; by night, they explored the island, with Keating going for solitary walks through the many neighborhoods and markets. An avid world traveler, she’s been kidnapped before, she says, but never felt unsafe in Cuba.

It became an opportunity for the painter to discover a knack for photography, and Keating found herself instantly enamored by the world around her, turning the camera’s lens to all manner of patterns, colors and textures. “I really tried to make the photographs as painterly as possible,” she says.

Keating avoided some things as well, and audiences will notice a marked absence of people from most images, with the artist’s eye more drawn to Cuba as a place than as a people—and definitely not as politics. As a visitor, Keating eschewed any attempts to capture “real Cuba” or “old Cuba” or “new Cuba”—or comment on any of the myriad political questions that have consumed much of the nation’s history. This past can’t be erased, but Keating approaches it from an aesthetic standpoint, where the layers of paint on a single building say as much as disparate architectural styles crumbling side-by-side in a neighborhood. “And all of that layering is peeling,” she says. “This is both visually beautiful and heart-breaking.” Like layers of time, she says, they peel back to reveal a history of occupation and perseverance. “The amount of decay is profound,” Keating says, “but the amount of artisanship that went into it is unbelievable.”

And, above it all, she says, the culture of the Caribbean shines through, in all its dazzling color and light.

Cuba Stories by Sue Keating opens tonight at 500 Tallevast Road from 5:30pm to 9pm, and then shows on Friday, July 6, and Saturday, July 7, from 11am to 2pm. RSVPs are requested at Sue@SueKeating.com. 

Pictured: "Big Red Umbrella" by Sue Keating. Photograph courtesy of the artist.

Jane Goodwin’s history rallying votes to promote a vision for stronger education dates back to before she ever ran for Sarasota School Board. She’s been involved now in five different campaigns supporting a tax to benefit the school district, all of which involved in successful passage of referenda. Now, she’s running for a third term on the School Board. “I have passion for this work and passion for the kids,” she says.

Over her last two terms, Goodwin says she’s advanced to leadership positions both locally and with state organizations like the Florida School Boards Association, where she chairs the Legislative Committee. She’s spoken with Tallahassee leaders extensively about better funding for the district, though that sometimes has resulted in disappointment like being forced to rollback tax levels despite growth in property values.

Amid a push in many quarters for charter school and voucher expansion, she says the school district can meet the special needs of students without taking resources away from the district. A former teacher, she’s troubled by a seeming resegregation that comes with the so-called school choice. “Look in places like Jacksonville, you see a lot of children have gone to charter and private schools, and see that children of color remain in public schools,” she says. She doesn’t want to see such a trend continue here.

With school safety at top of mind for many parents, opponents have criticized Goodwin’s support of a district police force. But she says that’s largely the result of years of discussion. Years ago, “[Sheriff] Tom Knight said I wish you had a real policing entity to talk to,” Goodwin says. “Now we do.” She dismissed suggestions new Superintendent Todd Bowden has caused rifts with the sheriff or other entities.

Goodwin faces three opponents—Pamela Gavette, Richard Linden and Justin Cody Willis—in Aug. 28 election. A runoff, if needed, is scheduled for Nov. 6. 

Picture courtesy Goodwin campaign: Goodwin files for re-election.

Justin Cody Willis says he has the greatest investment in Sarasota County Schools of anyone running this year—five children enrolled in the district. From a parent point of view, he’s been upset by board disputes and poor decisions around school safety, and he’s ready to bring a change. “We need a voice of reason,” Willis says.

Security perhaps drove Willis to run more than any other issue, and he’s unhappy with the decision by the district to create its own police force instead of continuing to contract with municipal police departments and the sheriff’s office. The North Port resident says that move will also prevent important community connections between students and officers. “Right now kids get used to seeing them in school and get used to dealing with them,” he says. “Think about if you never deal with law enforcement except maybe for a negative experience with a parent.” Moreover, in the event of an active shooting, he wants campus officers to be directly connected with regional law enforcement SWAT teams and other units.

Regarding charter schools, he favors allowing locally run facilities that fill a niche the district doesn’t already serve, but he doesn’t want to see for-profit schools running with district dollars. For example, one of his children previously attended Imagine School at North Port and he pulled her, angry at the lack of accountability for administration, citing an altercation where his child got hurt and administrators did not handle the matter to his satisfaction, but he had no place to appeal the decision.

As for vouchers, he stressed the district can make vouchers work to public schools advantage. All of his children attend district schools, including one on a McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities.  “We saw the benefit to public schools and enrolled our son at Cranberry Elementary,” he says. “Vouchers can play an important role, especially with those in need of an individualized education."

Willis faces three opponents—Pamela Gavette, Jane Goodwin and Richard Linden—in the Aug. 28 election. A runoff, if needed, is scheduled for Nov. 6. 

Photo courtesy Willis campaign: Willis poses with his family.

What’s better than hitting the jackpot during a thrifting trip, and finding modish, one-of-a-kind novelties among the endless supply of widgets and doodads? Doing so, all while supporting the local art scene. The cheerfully pink utopia of Woman’s Exchange Inc. provides consignment galore with its vast showroom of clothing, furniture, home decor and more, donating its proceeds to the Arts of Sarasota and Manatee counties as well as awarding more than $8 million in grants and scholarships.

The Exchange is unlike your run-of-the-mill consignment store. For starters, the inventory renews unlike any other. Regulars can attest to the fact that its shelves recirculate and restock on a daily basis, ensuring new merchandise at all times. Each section teems with diverse and eclectic commodity, from kitchenware sets, handcrafted incense burners and stylish room dividers, to intricate Persian rugs, vintage gowns and old books.The volunteers at The Exchange present consignors with three levels for donation opportunities. At the Platinum Level, 100% of the net proceeds of the consignor’s item will go toward the art community, and the students pursuing higher education in the arts through grants and scholarships awarded in June. At Gold Level, 50% of the item’s proceeds go directly to the consignor, with the remaining 50% applying to the grant and scholarship program. And lastly, at the Silver level, 65% of the proceeds is paid to the consignor, with the remaining 35% applying to The Exchange’s program. In addition to the marvelous assortment of goods to rummage through, customers can also look forward to perks of their own; each item in the store is given an initial price, but that price diminishes with time, approximately every 3 to 4 weeks, making habitual visits that much more enticing and worthwhile. 

The Woman's Exchange, 539 S Orange Ave, Sarasota, (941) 955-7859.

Chef Greg Campbell digs up his Georgia roots to create a smoked brisket that contrasts, yet complements the seafood dishes and sushi rolls on Pier 22’s catering menu. Stepping away from a traditional beef brisket, this creation has a teriyaki rub that marinates for 24 hours, and then gets properly smoked for an authentic southern flavor with a tangy Asian twist. The crafty handheld delights incorporate fluffy steamed bao buns and jalapeno coleslaw in a soy glaze with a 9º80º Sriracha drizzle. Chef Campbell prefers to use 9º80º Sriracha because it’s gluten-free and has no MSG or preservatives. The steamer buns are served flat as opposed to folded in half, to give it an aerial presentation—vulnerably open to a hungry fork-stabbing the moment it hits the table. Head over to Pier 22’s premier waterfront patio to see what all the hype is about—we guarantee stoke-worthy bites and libations will be waiting for your arrival.

This item is only available for catered events (offsite or at the venue). Pier 22 is a member of Nosh, SRQ Magazine’s content marketing program for local restaurants. 

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

Pier 22 Restaurant & Patio, 1200 1st Ave. West, Bradenton, 941-748-8087.

Williams Parker has announced that Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters lawyer-rating service, has named 13 of its attorneys as 2018 Super Lawyers and three as 2018 Rising Stars. Super Lawyers is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The multi-phased selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. The following Williams Parker attorneys were named as 2018 Super Lawyers: Charles D. Bailey, III, Gail E. Farb, Jennifer Fowler-Hermes, Rose-Anne Frano, Ric Gregoria, John M. Hament, J. Michael Hartenstine, Elizabeth C. Marshall, Mark A. Schwartz, William M. Seider, Jeffrey T. Troiano, Kimberly P. Walker and Michael J. Wilson. 2018 Rising Stars are Douglas J. Elmore, James-Allen McPheeters and Elizabeth M. Stamoulis. 

Williams Parker

Sarasota Orthopedic Associates has announced its upcoming 40th anniversary providing orthopedic care in the community as July 13th, 2018, On this day, SOA will celebrate the milestone anniversary with staff and patients. A day of fun and festivities will be highlighted with a Super Hero theme, and the SOA staff of over 100+ strong will dress as their favorite Super Hero figures and all offices will be decorated. SOA is the exclusive orthopedic partner for Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC), who will provide entertainment at all three locations with jugglers, stilt-walkers, roller skaters, unicyclists and balloons. Over the past seven years, SOA has expanded to three locations. SOA is a full-service orthopedic center providing not only physician care for the musculoskeletal system, but also X-ray, MRI, physical therapy, occupational therapy and aquatic therapy. 

Sarasota Orthopedic Associates

Norman Vaughan-Birch, a board-certified civil mediator and arbitrator with the full-service law firm Kirk-Pinkerton, P.A., has been selected for the 2018 Florida Super Lawyers list. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The Super Lawyers list recognizes no more than five percent of attorneys in each state. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide. 

Kirk Pinkerton