SRQ DAILY Sep 5, 2018
Wednesday Philanthropy Edition
"You know a lot about a person just by looking at their face."
With the opening of Elsewhere, the latest juried exhibition at Art Center Sarasota, local artists from all walks strut their stuff and show their latest. Sculptures, paintings, photographs, prints, etchings, sketchings and everything in between adorn all four of the institution’s galleries, turning the whole building into a celebration of the vast and varied talent of the region.
Juried by Laura Avery, exhibitions manager for Selby Gardens, as well as former director of Art Center Manatee and former assistant director of Ringling College’s celebrated Basch Gallery, the artist Mike Hanlon brought home the top honor with a portrait of the author James Ellroy. “I didn’t think there was a chance of it winning anything,” says Hanlon with a note of surprise. “I was just hoping they’d hang me in a good spot with nice lighting.”
For five years, Hanlon has painted authors as part of his Literary Heroes series. Hemingway, Poe, Vonnegut, Twain—all have gotten their due at the end of Hanlon’s brush, and always in oil. “That’s all I know,” he says. Why he’s drawn to authors, he can’t quite say, but suspects it may come from a kinship born of solitude. Kindred artists, in a way, both painters and authors often work their magic in isolation, spending solitary hours at the easel or on the blank page. They retreat in order to emerge—arriving from their exile, work fully formed, only to again step back, defined by their creations. A portrait inverts the equation.
Also, as an avid reader, Hanlon finds the exercise revealing of the authors whose work he consumes. “You know a lot about a person just by looking at their face,” he says. As for Ellroy, author of brutal and bloody epics such as The Black Dahlia and L.A. Confidential? “He’s a pretty tough guy,” says Hanlon. But being his subject doesn’t mean Ellroy’s a favorite. “There are writers I like a lot better,” the artist says, including the late Tom Wolfe and Philip Roth.
Hanlon’s penchant for author portraits has also given him a rather distinct avenue of exhibition. In addition to hanging as part of Elsewhere, Hanlon plans to continue submitting to every Art Center Sarasota show that he can, citing the gallery’s layout and lighting as high points. But he’s also found a home in area libraries and bookstores, including delivering a new portrait to Shelf Indulgence every month.
James Ellroy hangs in Art Center Sarasota through September 28. 
"James Ellroy" by Mike Hanlon.
Rounding out the end of summer and heading into first semester, coincides with the traditional time of year for shopping fall trends for our kids to feel good entering the forthcoming school year with a clean backpack, classroom supplies, new sneakers and some fresh swag. Thankfully for foster kids, the Children’s Guardian Fund recently launched a Back-to-School Shopping Pilot Program for students with unconventional home lives. The Children’s Guardian Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency response to the immediate needs of children removed from abusive or neglectful homes—enabling normalcy and enrichment to their young lives by funding normal childhood items and experiences that they would otherwise not have access to.
The fund recently received $10,000 from an anonymous donor to support its newly launched program, which aims to support those families in the community who are taking care of children in the foster care system (as relative or non-relative caregivers). And caregivers not registered as licensed foster parents receive less support from the state—often causing struggle to provide for the needs of the child temporarily placed in their home by the state.
This generous contribution came just in time for the influx of requests that the nonprofit received this year. “My intent is to make sure that children have what they need to start off the school year,” said the donor who has requested to remain anonymous. “Every child deserves to feel equal on the first day of school.” Within 10 days of launching its program, the organization funded over 100 back-to-school requests already—totaling more than $20,000 in giving. The Children’s Guardian Fund anticipates 150 more grant requests before the program closes for the season.
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is proud to partner with SRQ Media Group to highlight stories about community impact powered by philanthropy in our region, thanks to the support of donors and our local nonprofit partners. The Community Foundation is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is offering a 10-week online Manufacturing Essentials course including five modules. Online classes are 6-10pm, Mondays and Wednesdays, beginning October 1 through December 10. Four tests are administered at SCF Lakewood Ranch throughout the course. The cost of registration, books and testing is $899 a person. Successful students can earn a Certified Production Technician certification from the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council. Participants also earn 15 credit hours toward an associate degree in Engineering Technology, valid at all Florida colleges that offer the program. For information or to register, contact Lee Kotwicki, director of workforce solutions, at KotwicL@SCF.edu or 941-363-7218.
The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the new Canine Club at Gillespie Park at 9am, Monday, September 10. The City Commission approved plans for the off-leash dog park in 2017, after area residents had expressed their support for several years. The Canine Club at Gillespie Park will feature two separate fenced areas, one for big dogs and the other for little ones, so all can run, play and have fun in a comfortable environment. The dog park also includes doggie drinking fountains, plus newly planted trees, landscaping and shade structures. This will be the second dog park in the city limits, with the other located within Arlington Park. The grand opening is free and open to the public and will include activities for attendees, both human and canine. Gillespie Park is at 710 North Osprey Avenue. The dog park is located on the north side of the park, near the corner of North Osprey Avenue and 10th Street.
Nationwide, Workforce Development Month provides the opportunity to look at the current labor market and shine a light on approaches that are working to keep unemployment low and produce the skilled workers—and where they are working—to help more Americans connect to jobs and career pathways. CareerEdge Funders Collaborative has partnered with local organizations and The National Fund for Workforce Solutions to focus on the Sarasota/ Manatee region. Currently, CareerEdge is partnering with the healthcare, manufacturing, construction, transportation and financial services sectors to implement strategies to close skills gaps and connect people to career-laddering occupations with family-sustaining wages. Projects include fast-track technician trainings for automotive, air conditioning, plumbing, broadband and electrical, as well as funded certified nurse assistant programs. CareerEdge also launched a skills gap study of the Insurance industry, and has convened a Regional Workforce Council of key stakeholders to address workforce policy.
Measurable outcomes from these efforts include: 233 employer partnerships established, 4,790 workers trained and/or served, $9.8 million invested in workforce development, 7,404 certifications earned and 1,369 new jobs created by funded employers.
Pre-sale tickets are officially available for PINC Sarasota 2018. The fifth year for the popular horizontal conference celebrating People, Ideas, Nature and Creativity, this one-day gathering of the minds returns to the Sarasota Opera House on December 6. Announced speakers include experiential designer Nashra Balagamwala, bird brain researcher John Marzluff, human trafficking survivor Kathy Bryan, conflict researcher Christiaan Triebert and inventor, entrepreneur and presidential advisor Sanford Greenberg.
Williams Parker has announced board-certified real estate attorney Thomas B. Luzier has joined the firm as a partner. Luzier, previously a shareholder with Dunlap & Moran, has more than two decades of experience handling residential and commercial real estate transactions. Luzier’s practice covers a wide variety of transactional matters, representing individuals and businesses in all phases of buying, financing, selling, and leasing residential and commercial property. He has successfully closed more than $1 billion in transactions to date. In 2015, Luzier was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve on the Florida Real Estate Commission, which administers and enforces Florida’s real estate license law. He currently serves as chair of the FREC. Luzier's other civic affiliations have included membership on the Board of Directors of the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation, for which he chaired the audit and governance committees, as well as the Board of Trustees of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, where he was a past board chair. Alexis Thomas and Stephanie Brannan, real estate paralegals who have worked closely with him for many years, have also joined the firm.
Adams and Reese has announced the inclusion of 131 attorneys in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Additionally, the firm was top-listed, noting the greatest number of lawyers from a single firm listed in each practice area, in many locales. Recognized Adams and Reese lawyers from Sarasota include David L. Boyette, Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Thomas H. Dart, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Real Estate; and Jason T. Gaskill, Litigation - Intellectual Property.
Sarasota Military Academy, a local public charter school, has announced the addition of Dr. Thomas J. McElheny to the Sarasota Military Academy Board of Directors. McElheny is the founder and CEO of The Church Plaza Companies, a major Faith Market brand that provides capital goods and services to churches and synagogues both domestically and internationally. A captain in the United States Marine Corp, McElheny served for seven years and received the Bronze Star with valor device, Combat Action Ribbon and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for actions in Vietnam, in addition to other awards and distinctions. He previously held office as a member and chairperson of the Sarasota County School Board and as a trustee of New College, Lycoming college and numerous university and college advisory boards including Eckerd College and The University of Tampa.
SRQ Magazine is proud to present the 2018-19 Season Culture Primer, the premier index of community arts and culture for the coming year!
Pour the pirate sherry, braid the raven hair, polish up the handle of the big brass door, and celebrate Gilbert & Sullivan’s most beloved songs. Gilbert & Sullivan Unplugged has delighted audiences across the US with lovingly loopy renditions and joyfully irreverent excerpts from HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, and The Pirates of Penzance. Last seen at New York’s 54 Below, this isn’t your grandmother’s Gilbert & Sullivan!
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 North Palm Ave., Sarasota.
This summer light and sound come into play with a special installation by the artist Ezra Masch. VOLUMES harnesses the speed of light to reveal the volume of sound and space. This immersive audio and visual installation will feature a 3-d grid of LED lights that will fill the interior of the Ringling’s Monda Gallery.
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota
This juried exhibition opens with a reception on August 30th.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
Considered one of the finest watercolor shows in the country, whether one credits the local talent or local beauty, watercolorists from around the state will be showing in all three galleries of the art center, taking over the entire space for this premier exhibition.
ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th St. W, Bradenton.
Explore two exhibitions selected from one of the world’s finest private collections of French art, “Imaging Text: French Drawings for Book Illustration” and “17th and 18th Century French Paintings,” from The Horvitz Collection. Features 60 drawings and 10 related prints for book illustration, created between the 16th and 19th centuries, as well as a selection of 10 paintings. Subjects range from mythological and religious scenes to more playful genre imagery.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota.
Nate Jacobs directs this special tribute to the life and legacy of the Queen of Soul, featuring WBTT favorites Naarai Jacobs and Teresa Stanley. The evening highlights Franklin's classic hits and musical impact, while ongoing narration spotlights her professional achiecements and lasting influence.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 North Orange Ave., Sarasota.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is wrapping up their Friday Fest summertime concert series this September with the Dr. Dave Band. A Bradenton favorite performing for more than a decade as a top-choice house band, this group knows how to wow a crowd with high-energy Southern Rock blended with bluegrass banjo and fiddle. During the show, don’t forget to indulge in the refreshments provided by Van Wezel, including local food trucks and popular beverage vendors. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs and settle in for a good time.
Van Wezel, 777 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.
A selection of watercolors drawn from The Ringling’s permanent collections, illustrating various ways artists have used the medium. The exhibition will feature works by Edward Hopper, Charles Burchfield and Childe Hassam, among others.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota.
Join the Designing Daughters for Dining for a Difference, a community wide, dine out event featuring 20+ local Sarasota and Manatee County Restaurants who will donate a portion of all sales made on September 20 back to the Designing Daughters Grants Program for local Children and Family charities. Simply grab your friends, colleagues and neighbors, pick a participating restaurant and enjoy a meal. No ticket, no fancy clothes, just a night out with your favorite people.This simple act will make a huge impact for local families in need.
Multiple locations, Multiple locations
Sure-shootin’ Annie Oakley can win prizes with her marksmanship, but she can’t get a man…or can she? This slice of magical American musical theatre still thrills audiences with the classic tunes of the legendary Irving Berlin.
The Players Centre for Performing Arts, 838 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.
Truly Valued presents its 2nd Annual Taste of New Orleans Benefit Dinner, at Michaels on the Bay at Selby Gardens with speaker Captain Todd Shear of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and a night of entertainment with NuJazz. All proceeds support Truly Valued's mission of building self-esteem, confidence and character to promote a positive self- image, positively impact educational and career aspirations and improve academic achievement in adolescent girls. Dinner is complimentary and an opportunity to make a financial gift will be extended during the event.
Michaels on the Bay at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens', 900 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.
Learn how to build the perfect charcuterie board while supporting pediatric cancer research. Inspired by Benjamin Gilkey’s love of charcuterie, admission includes wine and appetizers from Louies Modern, a handcrafted charcuterie board to take home, pairing education from local experts and the chance to create your own palette of fine meats, cheeses and delicious accoutrements, provided by local artisans. Proceeds benefit The Benjamin Gilkey Fund for Innovative Pediatric Cancer Research, which supports groundbreaking studies led by physicians at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Louies Modern, 1289 North Palm Ave., Sarasota.
25 designers ages 8–16 are encouraged to use repurposed/recyled materials in their creations. Most of them will also wear their outfits in the runway show, adding self-confidence and stage presence as skills gained. The participants are treated to a professional fashion photoshoot for the program guide, as well as professional hair and makeup stylists backstage to complete their look. Proceeds from the event benefit the expansion of the Art Center's youth art education programs and help students who are in need of financial assistance receive scholarships.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.
Forty Carrots Family Center's Annual Free Community Speaker Event presented in partnership with Community Foundation of Sarasota County returns for a 16th year featuring best-selling author and parenting expert, Dr. Michele Borba. She will be discussing “How to Cultivate Mentally-Healthy, Resilient, Empathetic Children (Despite a Trophy-Giving, Anxiety-Driven, Helicoptered and Bubble-Wrapped Culture)” and “UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About Me World.” In these free presentations, parents and educators will learn how to shift children's focus from I, me, and mine, to us, we and ours. With examples from years of research, Dr. Michele Borba will offer a framework that yields successful, happy kids who grow up to be kind, moral, courageous and resilient adults.
Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Riverview High School Performing Arts Center, 2635 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota; 1 Ram Way, Sarasota.
Don't miss out on this year's amazing Grey Matters Luncheon Symposium benefitting The Roskamp Institute. This year's Alzheimer's Disease-Research based Symposium will focus on lifestyle, wellness and healthy aging. For information or to be added to this year’s waiting list please call Megan Micale at (941) 552-9832.
Michael's on the Bay at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.
Join the American Cancer Society as they reveal the 2018 Real Men Wear Pink of Sarasota–Manatee. The candidates will participate in a fashion show, hosted by the tenants of the Mall at University Town Center. Come out and see which men in our community are dedicated to raising funds and awareness to help fight breast cancer. Light refreshments will be served.
The Grand Court at The Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota.
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe
