If there’s anything that artist Judi Light is certain of in this world, it’s that anyone can be an artist. And as the current artist-in-residence at the Art Ovation Hotel in Downtown Sarasota, she’s doing her part to spread the news, offering free watercolor classes for four hours a day in the hotel lobby studio, today through Sunday.

“My philosophy is that everybody’s got the talent and the creativity,” Light says. She herself didn’t even pick up the paints until 2012, and now the self-taught artist’s work can be found at both the Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy in Sarasota and The Cottage Art Gallery in Nokomis. What typically holds people back, she’s learned, is simply their own self-doubt. “We’re usually self-editing so much and so self-critical that we don’t allow ourselves to do what we can actually do,” she says. But with these informal classes, she hopes to show people a side of themselves they may never have seen.

With all of the paper and paints supplied, participants begin by learning some basic techniques, but quickly move on to their projects, which will typically either be impressionistic floral images or personal cartoons. Surrounded by Light’s charmingly off-the-wall illustrations of animated creatures and characters reminiscent of something one might find in a Lewis Carroll fantasy world, participants can find plenty of inspiration all around them, but Light insists they put their own imagination to work when creating their own. And in her class, there’s no right or wrong.

What’s important is not that this first attempt is perfect, she says, but that participants understand that they have the artistic ability and creativity within themselves, and they don’t need her looking over their shoulder when they go home and try it on their own. But they can still take an extra bit of Light’s inspiration with them, as much of her work is available for sale at Art Ovation as well, including cards for all occasions and all four volumes of her illustrated storybooks, The Magical World of Twigshire, featuring original artwork accompanied by stories that range from “pure nonsense” to heartwarming stories inspired by the simple profundity of authors like A.A. Milne.

Light will be at Art Ovation teaching the curious and creative today and Saturday from 4pm to 8pm and on Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Classes are free to attend and students can pop in for as long or as little as they desire. 

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Bubble tea has seeped its way into mainstream hangouts and now 21-year-old Charisma Davis has opened Teas Days in Gulf Gate, selling the Taiwanese “textured drink” experience to parched persons around town. These hot or cold drinks have a tea base enhanced with textures and toppings, and customizable choices every step of the way. Choose classic teas like jasmine, oolong or green tea, or sweeter milk teas like thai, honeydew, matcha or lavender flavors. Then add regular Boba, tapioca-based pearls that sink to the bottom, or Bursting Boba—miniature juice balls that pop when bitten—with flavors like strawberry, mango, honey or lychee. And then there are the toppings: syrups, nutella, fruit, candy, ice cream or even more Boba. 

Teas Days also offers specialty drinks like lychee sangria, Bursting Boba-filled White Claws or mimosas, and side snacks to munch: acai bowls, macaroons, avocado toast and puffles, flavored waffle tacos filled with ice cream. And in case that variety isn’t enough, anything can be infused with CBD. With Open Mic Nights on Tuesdays, Karaoke on Thursdays and monthly events with DJs, comedians and even movie premiers, Charisma welcomes suggestions on how to expand and evolve the space, “making [Teas Days] more than just tea.” Stop by Teas Days to create your own custom bubble teas, and customers who mention this SRQ article will receive 10% off their purchase.  

Photo courtesy of Charisma Davis.

Teas Days, 6517 Superior Ave., Sarasota, 941-312-5192, @teas_days.

The Arnold Simonsen Players Studio will be holding its annual Open House this Saturday, August 24, from 10am to 1pm at 1400 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota. There will be live presentations from The Players Kids, The Players Teens, and the competition team, The Players Dance Company, with class presentations in Tap, Jazz, Singing and Musical Theatre. Students who enroll on the day of the open house will receive $10 off their registration fee.

The open house is a great way to get a preview of who The Players are as a studio and meet the staff, including the new studio director, Jennifer Ortiz. The studio offers classes in all styles of dance, singing and acting, with multiple workshops from perfecting your monologue to playwriting. This season, the curriculum has expanded by adding more classes for the homeschool student along with Mommy & Me classes. The following performance groups have auditions approaching: The Players Kids, The Players Teens, The Players Dance Company, The Flash Tappers and The Players Follies. 

The Players Centre for Performing Arts

Event tickets are now on sale for the 2019 SarasotaMOD Weekend, a mid-century modern architecture festival celebrating the legacy of the “Sarasota School," presented by the Sarasota Architectural Foundation. The theme of the sixth annual festival this year is “Sarasota in the Sixties,” and will focus on the next generation of Sarasota School architects—Carl Abbott, Joe Farrell, Frank Folsom Smith, Tim Seibert and Jack West—and their designs after the first wave in the 1950s. The event will take place November 8-10.

The SarasotaMOD Weekend opening party will take place from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the recently opened Sarasota Modern Hotel. On Saturday, November 9, architect Frank Folsom Smith will present the event’s keynote lecture, “Work of the 1960s,” during a breakfast session at Holley Hall, located in the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. A panel discussion, “Sarasota Architecture in the Sixties,” will be moderated by Christopher Domin and feature panelists Carl Abbott, Joe Farrell, Lorrie Muldowney and Harold Bubil. Attendees will also hear a presentation by John McCarthy, local historian and Executive Director of Historic Spanish Point, and view the 1965 promotional film David of Sarasota. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be self-guided tours of the Lido Shores neighborhood, as well as Siesta Key trolley tours, Downtown trolley tours, and a trolley tour of Southgate, which in the 1960s was developed from citrus groves into the suburban-like single-family housing neighborhood it is today. Throughout the weekend, an exhibition opening “Frank Folsom Smith: Work of the 1960s” will be displayed at Sarasota Art Center. 

2019 SarasotaMOD Weekend

Bruce Rodgers, the executive director of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, recently announced that the organization has welcomed Sara Krusenstjerna as its new development director. In her new role, Krusenstjerna will oversee all aspects of the Hermitage’s development operation, including fundraising initiatives, corporate and foundation relations, community outreach, major gifts, and planned giving. “Sara is the perfect person to fulfill this role,” says Rodgers. “She brings a multi-disciplinary background, with extensive experience in administration and development for nonprofit and higher education institutions.”

In prior roles, Krusenstjerna worked closely with organizational and community leaders to fulfill the full spectrum of philanthropic responsibilities, including planning and building comprehensive fundraising programs, developing strategic partnerships and fostering strong relationships with donors. Most recently, she served as director of philanthropic planning for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, where she was responsible for developing the legacy giving program and fostering partnerships with regional estate planning professionals. Before the BSO, Krusenstjerna worked for 10 years in academic fundraising, including as vice president of philanthropy at New College Foundation in Sarasota. 

Hermitage Artist Retreat

On Saturday, September 21, 2019, the historic Sarasota Opera House will open its doors for the 6th annual Taste of Downtown Food & Wine Festival, featuring culinary creations, fine wines and craft beers from some of Sarasota’s favorite eateries and lounges. This popular event benefits Sarasota Youth Opera, the most comprehensive youth opera program in the United States. The Youth Opera chorus will be performing selections from their upcoming production of Brundibár. Tickets to Taste of Downtown are $75 per person and are available at the website below or at the Box Office located at 61 North Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota. 

Sarasota Opera Taste of Downtown Food & Wine Festival