With red tide ravaging beaches and driving folks from the shores, Ringling College of Art and Design looks to highlight one of Sarasota’s other great natural resources—the artists. With the first Ringling College Artwalk of the season planned for this Friday, August 31, and spanning the entire campus, six exhibitions will be on display, including faculty shows, student shows, a new venue and even a mystery exhibition with a telling title yet shrouded in secrecy. All exhibitions are free and open to the public, and food trucks will be on-hand to keep bellies full as attendees feast with their eyes.

Beginning at the south end of campus, kick off the artwalk in the Willis Smith Gallery, where the 2018 Ringling College Staff and School of Continuing Studies Instructors Exhibition showcases the talents of many of the college’s behind-the-scenes contributors. Instructors of non-traditional students, preparators, facilities staff—all get a chance to shine, and show that creativity permeates the entire campus. “It’s a wonderfully dynamic exhibition,” says Tim Jaeger, Ringling College campus and community engagement coordinator. And sizable, with possibility to overflow into the neighboring Basch Gallery.

From there, it’s a quick jaunt to the Crossley Gallery, where the first annual Fine Arts Alumni Exhibition highlights the continuing work of alumni not employed by the college. Near a dozen artists from around the country contributed, including Craig Rubadoux, who graduated from the Ringling School in the ‘50s, and now shows alongside graduates as recent as the 2000s, resulting in a six-decade range of work to admire.

But if there’s an exhibition that Jaeger seems particularly excited for, it just might have to be the 2018 Annual Faculty Exhibition, seeing all the faculty and instructors at Ringling College unveil what they’ve been pursuing in the past year. “It’s like a bake-off,” laughs Jaeger. “Everyone puts out their pie and then we have a tasting to see who came up with the best rhubarb recipe this year.” And as professors compare and take notes and inspiration in equal measure, the public also gets a quality look at the artists responsible for guiding the next generation. And with all sorts of media on display, it amounts to a bit more than rhubarb, Jaeger admits. “It consists of all different pies and flavors,” he clarifies, “so the public can see the broad spectrum of talent and imagination that we have here.”

And with a stop in the Patricia Thompson Gallery for a last chance to see Illustrations, a solo exhibition devoted to the work of Ringling College instructor Octavio Perez, and a trip to MadeBy gallery, where students and alumni show their work, there remains but one stop—the mystery box.

Included for the first time in a Ringling College artwalk, the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center, located on the second floor of the Goldstein Library, will play host to a special exhibition known only as “an untitled show about Trump, the alt-right, and the state of things.” Featuring letterpress art and books from the special collection, details are scarce for the moment, but Jaeger hints that feathers may be ruffled. “It should be interesting to see the response,” he says.

The first Ringling College artwalk is this Friday, August 31, from 4pm to 7pm. All shows are free and open to the public. 

Pictured: "Izzy Sailing into New York City Harbor, 1893" by Ringling College instructor David Gardner.

Plant lovers, succulent addicts and mistresses of cacti unite! All your green thumbs are invited to attend Sarasota Succulent Society’s big Labor (of Love) Day Sale on Monday, September 3, from 9am to 1pm. This is one of the Garden's four main annual sales open to the public. Look forward to a Monday off work and a holiday spent frolicking the flourishing grounds of the hidden botanicals. In between shopping the discounted bargain prices on all the enchanting succulent species, explore the historic 1938 quaint cottage turned clubhouse, open for a brief window of viewing for Labor Day. Inside there will be over 100 Florida Gardening books for sale, donated by Former Society President Joanne E. There'll also be a special outdoor educational program presented by Terri Bates, offered on the west lawn at 11am. Bates' family has been raising caladiums in the Lake Placid area for three generations and will be delivering a highly entertaining presentation covering everything there is to know about the colorful caladium plant. Meander over to the greenhouse which sits on the south side of the grounds—dedicated to a sumptuous amount of potted, hanging and free-flowing succulents up for adoption. Best of luck deciding which babies to take back with you for your homestead terrarium creations. Table-top, wall-mounted and hanging containers from the Palmieri Collection will also be available on Labor Day—many of them fresh new designs from famed sculptress Susan Palmieri.

Volunteers will be on hand as guides to help navigate you through the mysteriously rolling hills of wild and lush greenery the Society calls home. They're also handy as informational sources to the hundreds of rare and exotic succulents from around the world, as well as the unusual cacti, tall spider plants, massive agave plants, juicy aloe leaves, thriving banana trees and flowering huernia—all coexisting in harmony and creating a humbling retreat of natural beauty.

“With the peaceful atmosphere, the reasonable prices of the plants, free admission and the fact that the SSS Garden is open to the public only three hours each week normally," said the Society in its announcement. "This event is a special treat."

The Sarasota Succulent Society is a federally registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All plant sale proceeds are used to support its volunteers and to fund its operations. Purchases are by cash or check only. Donations of plants, pots, volunteer time and funds are welcome at any time. 

Sarasota Succulent Society Labor Day Sale, 1310 38th St, Sarasota.

Sunsets After Work, the trendy hashtag campaign from PIER 22 is back for the summer starting Aug. 1 and going through Sept. 30. During the special promotion, guests who share a Manatee River sunset photo using the hashtag #Pier22Sunsets receive a free Manatee Sunset drink, which is a cocktail concoction that's perfect for summer and made with Sauza Blue tequila, housemade sour mix and a splash of grenadine. The offer is good on Wednesday evenings from 5-7 p.m. and is limited to one free drink per customer with purchase.

In addition to the diverse scratch-made lunch and dinner selections found at PIER 22, the restaurant has also gained worldwide notoriety for its spectacular waterside ambiance and magical sunsets according to marketing director Tabatha Davis.

"It's a surreal experience; nothing compares to watching the sunset while dining out in the open air. We get a nice breeze from the Manatee River and the orange, gold and purple hues from the setting sun are honestly picture perfect, Davis said.

The PIER 22 building is a historic 1920s-era Spanish-style structure offering plenty of photo opportunities. Peter Obetz, a Bradenton local and the owner/photographer for Real Deal Wedding Photography, has been shooting the venue and the happy couples that get married there for many years. He knows a thing or two about capturing the PIER 22 essence on camera; he snapped one of his all-time favorite sunset photos from the Bradenton side of the Green Bridge looking west with the restaurant, Twin Dolphin Marina and the Manatee River all in view.

The PIER 22 Sunsets After Work promotion clearly relies on the fact that, in today’s camera phone world, everyone's a photographer, but Obetz cautions against going filter happy when snapping your Manatee River sunset pictures. "There's nothing wrong with using a filter," Obetz said, but he did have a few suggestions for keeping things "real."

1. Be Patient
There's a lot of great shots available right at the beginning of sunset, but "frequently the best colors are after the sun goes down." According to Obetz, there's a good chance that the ideal PIER 22 sunset shots occur around the dessert course.

2. Keep A Straight Plane
Generally speaking, it's better for the composition if the horizon isn't smack dab in the middle of the photo, and yet you'll want to keep a straight plane. Obetz said that smartphones allow you to cheat a little since you can rotate the view after the fact, and he warned that a slanted riverside sunset pic would cause the water to look like it is draining off the edge.

3. Don't Forget To Turn Around
Obetz also stressed that a great sunset photo might not include the landscape at all. If it's a really colorful sunset, you could be missing the shot unless you turn around. "That's because all that great color is illuminating the surroundings and casting hues all around the people that you're with, the boats, buildings etcetera."

Luckily for the novice point, click and shoot types, there's no requirement to the promotion that your photos should be technically good. Davis joked that it’s "generally important to keep your thumb out of the viewfinder," but that the riverside subject matter pretty much takes care of the rest.

The PIER 22 team has shared some of their favorite sunset pics on the brand's Facebook page, and new photos are posted throughout the promotion. Of course, sharing your photo directly to the PIER 22 Facebook page does give you a leg up if you're trying to make it into the album! See the restaurant for more details. 

Photo provided by PIER 22

1200 1st Ave W, Bradenton

530 Burns Gallery has officially announced a partnership with ARTSY.net, an organization dedicated to making art available digitally and easily for collectors and enthusiasts, no matter where they, or the art, may be. Those following 530 Burns Gallery will now be able to access high-resolution images from shows at both the Sarasota and Martha’s Vineyard locations, as well as have access to exclusive online exhibitions. The partnership also allows fans to follow their favorite artists and receive notifications when the gallery receives new work, as well as read new articles and stories about them. 

530 Burns Gallery

A community effort is underway jointly with the United Way Suncoast, Publix, iHeartMedia and The School District of Manatee County to ‘Stuff The Bus.’ An event to benefit The Food Bank of Manatee, ‘Stuff The Bus’ will be presented by Mosaic and held at all 16 Manatee County Publix locations on Sunday, September 30, 2018 from 9am to 3pm. Customers will have the opportunity to make a food donation to help fill 16 school buses parked at Publix locations. All donations collected on Sunday will be distributed to The Food Bank of Manatee’s 115 agencies and food pantries in Manatee County. There are nearly 50,000 food insecure people, including 18,000 children living in Manatee County, according to the ALICE report. Customers at any of the 16 Publix stores located in Manatee County can donate nonperishable foods on September 30th from 9am to 3pm. Each Publix location will have critical food items available for purchase. For more information, or to volunteer, visit the website below. 

United Way Suncoast

Owners and mother-daughter team Sandy and Samantha Albano opened Purify, an "Urban Sweat Lodge" on Pineapple Avenue, Tuesday August 28. The lodge offers infrared bedding to which a 50-minute session can “strengthen the immune system, ease migraines, increase blood circulation, enhance quality of sleep, reduce stress, ease joint pain and burn between 600-1,200 calories.” For the past seven years, Sandy Albano has been the executive director of Taylor William Emmons Memorial Foundation, benefitting the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund. Samantha Albano is an Out-of-Door Academy graduate of 2013, now with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Merrimack College. After six months of conducting research from existing businesses in LA, they brought the concept of Purify to Sarasota. 

Purify

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has announced three new team members in the marketing department. Stephen Baker, director of marketing & audience development, has been involved in promoting the arts for internationally acclaimed organizations such as the Minnesota Orchestra and Carnegie Hall, and was one of the founding members and former chair of the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission in Coronado, California. Steve also successfully opened the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, growing subscription sales over 400%. Thomas Gravelle, graphic artist, comes to the Van Wezel from The Observer Media Group, where he was a graphic designer in the creative services department. He moved from Wisconsin in 2016 after a 25-year career as designer and creative director for a nonprofit educational association. Natasha Herrera, press and public relations, recently relocated from Ocala, where she spent two years as marketing manager for the Reilly Arts Center and Ocala Symphony Orchestra. She received a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Science in Management from the Hough Graduate School of Business at the University of Florida. 

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

The Eye Associates has announced that Shawn Anderson has joined the practice as a licensed hearing aid specialist. Anderson is a member of the Florida Society of Hearing Healthcare Professionals and the International Hearing Society. He previously owned and operated offices in West Florida and Jacksonville which provided him with a wide range of knowledge to assist hearing impaired patients. His eight years of experience with programming hearing aids and offering guidance in customizing the best hearing products has made him a valuable asset to The Eye Associates. He offers free hearing evaluations and second opinions in West Bradenton, East Bradenton, Ellenton, Sarasota and Sun City Center. Additional services that Anderson offers his patients are custom modifications of hearing aids, hearing aid programming, sale of hearing  aid batteries. This includes checking for wax, replacement tubing and battery compartment cleaning. 

The Eye Associates

J.E. Charlotte Construction Corp., a Venice-based commercial construction company, recently broke ground on the new 23,437-square-foot Manatee County headquarters for RSP USA, a full-service marketing solutions provider that has served the real estate industry since 1997. RSP USA’s new headquarters accommodates the company’s exponential growth throughout the U.S. over recent years, with room for further expansion on the future site. From layout to interior finishes, the ground-up construction on the more-than-$3-million new building is scheduled for completion in spring 2019. Once complete, the company will move into its new facility at 5110 Lena Road in Bradenton, which will allow for greater access to state-of-the-art equipment and provide an expanded campus for its workforce. Construction will also include a new truck dock and loading station and a covered front entry and outdoor seating area. Glass will surround the building, providing views of a pond and fountain at the rear of the building and the land’s natural vegetation that will be preserved. 

J.E. Charlotte Construction Corp.