Art Ovation Hotel and the Ringling College of Art and Design continue their artistic partnership this season with a summer-long exhibition dedicated to acclaimed artist and former RCAD instructor Leslie Lerner, Honoring a Teacher: A Tribute to Leslie Lerner. Currently on display and spanning all eight stories of the Art Ovation, the tribute show features work from Lerner in the lobby, and showcases his local legacy and impact through the art of six of his former students, highlighted on each floor of the hotel. “The breadth of this work is a testament to him as a teacher,” says Art Ovation Cultural Curator Lisa DiFranza.

Starting on the ground floor, viewers can enjoy the work of the man himself, with large-scale paintings dominating the hotel walls and putting Lerner’s multi-faceted artistic exploration on display in grand fashion. Ranging from the whimsical and bizarre (with science fiction tendencies) to the starkly human and emotive, selections such as the “My Life in France” series of paintings reveal in piecemeal a rich inner narrative, like glimpses into an unseen fairy tale of Lerner’s own devising. A handful of his sculptures accompany the two-dimensional work, appearing as artifacts conjured from this strange world and further drawing the viewer in.

Around the corner but still on the ground floor, find a selection of work from Tim Jaeger, one of the six Lerner students contributing work to the tribute show, but the curious must catch the elevator to see the rest.

On the rooftop, find a trio of digital prints from Julie Kanapaux, geometric and inspired by illustrated books revealing the inner workings of machines and such. The only artist with two floors to her name, the seventh floor also holds a selection of Kanapaux’s work, this time seeing the artist working in watercolor, acrylic and ink on a variety of surfaces, and embracing her own exploration. “It’s something Lerner inspired in his students,” says DiFranza.

One floor down, artist Michael Crabb takes the stage, with an early series of abstract work (titled the “Paris in Fall” series, in perhaps an homage to Lerner’s own naming conventions) and smattering of his more recent work. “There’s a lot of playing with spatial relationships,” says DiFranza, noting that as another hallmark of Lerner’s impact on his students. Continuing the descent to the ground floor, viewers will find the whimsical photography of Shawn Petterson, the vibrant and layered paintings of Claudia Ryan and the multi-media work of Nancy Turner.

Now on display, Honoring A Teacher: A Tribute to Leslie Lerner runs through October 2. Inquire with Art Ovation Hotel regarding guided tours with DiFranza. 

Pictured: "Imagined City" by Leslie Lerner, usually hangs in the conference room of Ringling College President Dr. Larry S. Thompson, but has been loaned to the Art Ovation Hotel for display. Image courtesy of Jennifer Mumford at Ringling College.

In late April, Goodwill Manasota invited a core group of supporters to its corporate campus in Bradenton to learn how they can help the organization achieve its mission of changing lives through the power of work. The attendees—participants of the Goodwill Ambassadors program—were provided with suggestions for concrete actions they could take to support Goodwill as well as engage others with the cause. In addition to attending a Lunch & Learn program (to better understand the organization's operations and mission services) people can help to support Goodwill through: participation in Speakers Bureau and/or tour guide training; organizing a fundraiser or donation drive; providing mock interviewing and resume writing assistance for the Job Connection career services program; serving on event committees; sharing stories through written, video and social media testimonials; bringing a group for a personal shopping experience; inviting a business to do a change round-up; and sponsoring an Ambassador event. To get involved, contact Pavitra Ciavardone at pavitra.ciavardone@gimi.org or 941-355-2721 ext. 163. 

Goodwill Manasota

Meals On Wheels of Sarasota has announced that it will now deliver heart-healthy meals east of I-75 to homebound residents in need. Thanks to generous donors and a grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation and the Linnie E. Dalbeck Memorial Foundation, Meals On Wheels of Sarasota has updated its kitchen and added new meal packaging equipment. This has doubled its capacity, allowing the nonprofit to prepare as many 1,000 meals simultaneously.

Projections indicate that 250 people each day would benefit from increased meal deliveries. Currently, Meal On Wheels prepares and delivers 500+ heart healthy meals a day, six days a week to homebound seniors, Veterans, children and their families.  

Meals on Wheels of Sarasota

The reality for many formerly incarcerated citizens trying to reintegrate into the community is one limited by barriers to stable housing, employment and social services—problems that dovetail with and exacerbate each other. Local nonprofit Project 180 determined its greatest potential for turning lives around was through a comprehensive residential program, inspired by a San Francisco-based nonprofit that has been successfully reintegrating citizens for decades.

In 2018, the organization launched a pilot residential program to provide formerly incarcerated men up to two years of stable residency, food assistance, transportation, and financial assistance in restoring their driving privileges. Now just a year in practice, the program’s success has been noticed by Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, and Project 180 has received a $230,000 grant to purchase the three-bedroom house for which the organization had been paying monthly rent. Part of the funding will go to establishing a maintenance endowment to ensure that future repairs can be made at no cost to the organization.

In the future, Project 180 hopes to open a business training school. Designed by and for formerly incarcerated individuals, the school has the potential to become an economic driver in the community. 

Project 180

Habitat for Humanity Sarasota has announced 11 homes in Hammock Place are fully funded and the organization has broken ground on the first four homes.

In April 2018, as a response to the growing need for affordable housing in the community, Habitat Sarasota launched Lives Transformed: The Campaign for Hammock Place with a goal to raise $7 million to build a neighborhood that will serve 40 families with permanent, affordable housing.

Now, the nonprofit has reported that the land, the site development and infrastructure for Hammock Place is fully funded through a partnership with The Kolter Group and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The first eight homes are funded by the following donors and partners: FCCI Insurance Group, Stock Signature Homes, Jerry & Fay Bainbridge, the late Trudy Blumenthal, a valued volunteer, the late Joseph & Marion Schasney and an anonymous donor.

The additional three homes are funded by: Publix Super Markets Charities; Wells Fargo Foundation; Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation; Stearns Bank; Williams Parker; Bank of America; Isermann Family Foundation; Michael J. Belle and Achieva Credit Union. 

Habitat for Humanity Sarasota

Shapes Fitness For Women is hosting a fundraiser and boot camp to support Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue in Shapes Fitness For Women 3rd Annual Girls Night Out. 100% of all proceeds go to Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue. All funds raised will stay in the Sarasota and Manatee community to benefit the pets in need. The “Girls Night Out” event will feature more than $2,000 in raffle prizes, shopping, food, drinks, dance class, boot camp and prizes. The first 50 people to register get a SWAG bag. The event will be held on Thursday, May 16 at Shapes Fitness For Women located off Fruitville Road. $10 pre-registration or $15 at the event gets you in the door. 

Shapes Fitness For Women

In its fourth annual competition, Suncoast Music Scholarships awarded $20,000 to eight talented young musicians from Sarasota and Manatee counties to be used for music education expenses. The scholarship program is funded and organized through a partnership between Sarasota Music Club and Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota.

The 10th grade students selected for Suncoast Music Scholarship awards of $1,000 each are: Tyler Esposito, piano, Manatee School for the Arts; and Marco Jimenez, piano, home school. The 11th grade students selected to receive $2,000 scholarship awards are: Jack Gallahan, cello, Pine View High School; and Ethan Horn, alto sax, Lakewood Ranch High School.

The four 12th grade students selected to receive scholarships are:  1st place, $5,000 – Andrea Guaita, violin, home school; 2nd place, $4,000 – Luca Stine, trumpet, home school and dual enrolled in State College of Florida; 3rd place, $3,000 – Joshua Hellberg, B^b clarinet, Braden River High School; and 4th place, $2,000 –Nadia Brooks, cello, Manatee School for the Arts. 

Suncoast Music Scholarships