Sarasota-based artist Linda Richichi makes a triumphant return to pastel painting with a solo exhibition opening this Friday, August 10, at 530 Burns Gallery. Featuring plenty of new and vibrant landscapes from the artist, largely painted plein air, Summer Solo: Linda Richichi showcases the pastel maven at the top of her form as a master of color and light, whether capturing cloud-scenes from Sarasota or the Italian countryside. An opening reception on August 10 runs from 6pm to 8pm and includes a plein air demonstration with the artist from 6pm to 6:30pm.

A celebrated pastel artist in New York, the move down south to Sarasota also prompted a shift to oil painting. And while that was fun for a while, Richichi admits her continued preference for pastel and joy in returning to the medium. “The first time I touched it, I loved it,” she says. “There’s a light that comes from it, and the pigment is so pure.” Made from the same pigments as oils, and rolled into a chalk-life stick but with very little binder, the result is something that Richichi will repeatedly describe as “true,” but could also be called “uncompromising.”

The color of the pastel, once applied, will not change over time, as can happen with oil paints as they dry—this is true. But that is also largely because pastels will never truly settle at all. “If you touch it,” says Richichi, “it will always move.” Some artists take advantage of this aspect as well, smudging their paints on the canvas. Richichi does not. “That dulls it,” she says. Instead, she flips her paintings over and gives them a firm but gentle jostling to dislodge excess pigment, before encasing them in museum glass, which is near invisible and offers protection from both UV light and grubby fingers.

Perhaps painstaking, maybe even a bit precarious, but well worth the effort, as Richichi’s return to pastel painting has already landed her a spot in the highly competitive annual Pastel Society Show in New York, Enduring Brilliance, and the Jack Richeson Company recently released a signature set of Linda Richichi pastels, titled Color and Energy, which can be found locally at Art and Frame.

A third generation colorist, with a fabric artist mother and painter grandfather, speaking the language of color just runs in the family, says Richichi. “I’ve never been afraid of color,” she says. “It’s within all of us. We just need to learn how to work with it.”

To see Richichi in action, swing by for the 6pm demonstration, where the artist will use multiple pieces to show her process and the progression from start to finish, while offering tips and tricks for creating depth on a two-dimensional surface.

Summer Solo: Linda Richichi opens this Friday, August 10, with a reception at 6pm. 

Pictured: "Cortona View from Villa" by Linda Richichi. Image courtesy of Linda Richichi.

Ambition, drive and inspiration from their entrepreneurial grandfather—that’s all it took for sisters Julie Jordan and Katie King Aular to establish King George Shop, an online jewelry company based here in Sarasota. The dynamic duo delivers their passion through extraordinary designs of bracelets, earrings, rings and necklaces, as well as handbags, beach accessories like totes and kimonos, and coffee table decor like ornamental coasters and vanity trays.

Julie and Katie place a heavy emphasis on the value of the individual customer, catering designs toward unique tastes and stylistic preferences. “We aspire to seek out and find the most beautiful, yet functional pieces that we hope will enhance your everyday life, just as they do ours,” they say. Several King George pieces can be found embellished with various types of crystals, including pyrite, amethyst, agate and quartz. Much of the “ear candy” and necklaces embody feathery designs and tassels, stretching further the bohemian, free-spirited nature of the jewelry. The sisters’ website also provides customers with blog posts covering a wide variety of topics, many of them detailing ways to style the jewelry and incorporate it into their daily lives. With a seemingly endless spectrum of stunning hues, styles and virtues of jewelry and other products, Julie and Katie bring their versatility and a simultaneously youthful and mature flare to the creative coast. 

Pictured: Brilliant, Raw Tourmaline Cuff; 3 Point Crystal Necklace; Hair On Cowhide Bracelet

Shop King George

It has been said that classics are classic for a reason; and as a thirty-year running original menu staple, the eggplant crepes at Ophelia’s on the Bay earn that distinction with ease. Although at first glance they may appear unassuming, from the moment you cut into the perfectly crisp crust of the eggplant shell, this is a dish that commands attention. As you bite into the savory crêpe, you may easily recognize flavors of fresh spinach, basil, and roasted garlic gloves, but what’s inside is slightly more mysterious. The rich, gooey melted cheeses blend in perfect harmony – but exactly what five cheeses are combined to create the sumptuous dish is a secret that stays with Ophelia’s on the Bay and Chef Daniel Olson. And truly, who can blame them? Ophelia’s eggplant crêpes are an institution of the bay; and with enviable flavors and an alluring aroma, promise to remain so for many years to come. 

Ophelia's On The Bay is a member of Nosh, the SRQ Magazine content marketing program for local restaurants.Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

105 Midnight Pass Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner has invited the public to observe the logic and accuracy testing of the county’s voting and tabulating equipment that will be used in the August 28, 2018 primary election. The testing is scheduled for Wednesday, August 15, beginning at 9am in the office of the Supervisor of Elections, in the Sarasota County Terrace Building. Florida law requires the supervisor of elections to conduct a public test on a random sample of the county’s automatic tabulating equipment and reporting software that will be fielded on election day and during early voting, and used to tabulate vote-by-mail ballots. The test is conducted to ensure that the equipment and software are operating and recording accurately. In addition and prior to the public test, elections staff thoroughly test all equipment used in the county to determine that the system is properly programmed for the election and that all system input, output and communication devices are working properly. 

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office

Tracy Pratt, a candidate for the Florida State House in District 71, has scheduled a series of town hall meetings at local branches of the Manatee County Public Library, inviting interested community members to come share their concerns and discuss ideas for protecting Florida’s future. Pratt, a local attorney and mother of two school-aged children, released the following statement: “My children are the fifth generation of Pratts to live in Manatee County, and I want them to experience the same quality of life my husband and I did. But right now, we face a series of challenges, from the Red Tide that threatens our economy and our health to the sky-rocketing costs housing and healthcare to the need to protect our public schools. We also face growing levels of divisiveness in our neighborhoods and around our dinner tables. But I know we are not as divided as it sometime seems, and I look forward to talking with people who hold a variety of views but who all share a love for this beautiful community and a desire to protect Florida’s future.” The town hall meetings are scheduled for August 16 at the Palmetto Library, August 20 at Central Library, August 22 at Island Library, and August 23 at South Library. All meetings will run from 6pm to 7:30. 

Twenty volunteer board members with nonprofit organizations across the Gulf Coast region have completed the Summer 2018 Gulf Coast Board Institute. The participants took part in four full-day, interactive educational experiences that covered key nonprofit board governance topics and issues. The class completed its final session and celebrated its graduation on Friday, August 3. Gulf Coast Board Institute provides high-level board-governance training for new and veteran nonprofit board members. The Board Institute was created and is funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation as part of its focus on building a vital nonprofit community with the capacity to respond to emerging issues. All training and resources are provided at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to advocate for good board governance within current and future board service roles. Summer 2018 graduates include Cathy Bryant of Action Together Suncoast, Francine Goldberg of ALSO Youth, Laurie Huebner of Loveland Village, Debra Jones of NAMI Sarasota County, Lisl Liang of Education Foundation of Sarasota County and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and Alicia King Robinson of Rotary Futures College Resource Center and the Venice Symphony. Gulf Coast will offer the next session of its Board Institute in October. Applications for the Fall 2018 Board Institute are now available on the foundation’s website. 

Gulf Coast Board Institute

Halfacre Construction Company, a commercial construction company, recently hired Mitchell Burchett, a former intern, as a superintendent in its Lakewood Ranch-based office. Burchett joins the team in a full-time position after interning for two consecutive summers and one winter break. In his new role, Burchett will manage and oversee the construction of buildings, address potential issues, coordinate with subcontractors and review plan changes. Born and raised in Sarasota, he recently received his bachelor’s degree in business management from The University of Alabama. For Burchett, construction was a natural fit. He grew up building and upgrading with his father and woodworking as a hobby. Recently, the commercial construction company also welcomed Chelsea Gruber, marketing and business development manager, and Priscilla Harsham, project engineer. The company currently employs 30. 

Halfacre Construction Company