This Sunday, Selby Gardens introduces a fully immersive garden experience produced in collaboration with the Dalí Museum called “Salvador Dalí: Gardens of the Mind.” The exhibition of Dalí-inspired installations makes use of some of the artist’s favorite motifs, including juxtaposition, mind-bending perspective and patterns, all in an effort to evoke the essence of his far-reaching imagination. “You’re entering a Dalí dreamscape,” says CEO Jennifer Rominiecki, who prefaced a tour of the gardens with an apt introduction into the conceptual framework that guided the exhibition’s production. “We’ve highlighted recurring symbols,” she says, “to mix the expected with the unexpected.” Once inside, horticulture specialists and Selby’s own Curator-at-Large Dr. Carol Ockman took over for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a surrealist’s botanical wonderland.

Beginning in the conservatory, the first installation features a spiral arrangement of dangling air plants. The spiral motif is littered throughout the exhibition and was known to be one of Dalí’s obsessions along with his affinity for the Fibonacci sequence. The next installation invites visitors to sit inside an Escher-esque cube, with a water feature and more Dalían symbology like eggs and eyes placed strategically throughout. The third installation introduces another major contributor to the exhibition, famous landscape photographer Clyde Butcher. Butcher was commissioned by the Dalí museum to photograph the rocky coastal vistas surrounding Dalí’s Catalonia home, and massive prints on breathable mesh form the backdrop for some of the exhibitions more ambitious plant arrangements. 

One of the more stunning examples comes in the form of a butterfly garden built specifically for the exhibition. Inside the screened-in structure, a black and white Butcher print gives the space a sense of immense volume, while strategically planted tropical plants form a seamless, real-world foreground. Native butterflies flutter around as an actual sea breeze washes through the structure, adding to the surreal illusion that one is standing on the cliffs near Dalí’s Catalonian home. 

Other more bizarre installations pay homage to Dalí’s penchant for placing objects in unexpected places. Boats make their way into surprising places—in trees or amongst desert plants—and baby grand piano planters offer a striking focal point for the wandering eye. “If we can turn it into a planter, we do,” says Director of Glasshouse Collections, Angel Lara. Finally, inside the Museum of Botany & the Arts, visitors can catch a glimpse of rare pieces from the Dalí Museum’s vaults. The collection, called Flordalí, includes 10 photolithographs of the artist’s surreal take on scientific botanical illustrations. Each stunning piece is a small glimpse into the wild imagination of the artist, with symbology that references many of his interests in math, religious archetypes, medieval and renaissance art, and even the space race with its accompanying obsession with flying saucers. According to Dr. Ockman, the lithographs have not left the vault since 2006, owing largely to the light-sensitivity of the medium. “It’s just a wonderful, rare opportunity,” says Ockman.

The Salvador Dali: Gardens of the Mind exhibition opens to the public this Sunday, February 9 and runs through June 28. 

Photo taken by Andrew Fabian.

Jet setting from Egypt to Hong Kong, Seoul and Montreal, Tory Burch celebrates luxury travel and vintage design in its renewed partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue. The New York City fashion label will be introducing its limited-edition capsule collection at a launch, exclusively at Saks locations. Saks Sarasota’s launch, with an accompanying pop-up shop experience, is set to take off from the runway Sunday, February 9, and soar through February 22. 

The 17-piece collection takes exploration inspiration from the brand’s #DestinationAnywhere ethos, with many pieces crafted on a travel-themed toile (fabric, from the French word meaning "linen cloth" or "canvas"). The wanderlustful print was developed from a vintage map of Mexico, then altered to reflect some of Tory Burch’s favorite destinations, including Tokyo, Milan, London, Paris and beyond. The collection’s “getaway spirit” is also reflected in the capsule’s silhouettes, ranging from vacation-ready espadrilles to a chic passport case and flattering one-piece suit. Meanwhile, the caftan, or tunic, is perfect for walking an exotic souk market or as a cover-up on a windy catamaran. 

According to Burch, globetrotting, cultural sensibilities and the diversity of the world, has always been part of the equation when designing her lines. “My parents exposed us to travel from a very young age,” she says. “They taught us that the world is a big, extraordinary place, one to be explored and discovered. It is something I have passed down to my own children.”

In addition to the pop-up locations, the capsule collection will be available Saks.com. It will retail from $98 to $598. 

Product shots from the #DestinationAnywhere collection, courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue.

The Mall at University Town Center, 120 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota, 941-364-5300.

The Florida Environmental Film Festival, Inc., a new nonprofit founded in Sarasota, is having its first film festival on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 from 12 pm - 9:30 pm at Ringling College of Art and Design in the Larry R. Thompson Academic Center, 2363 Old Bradenton Rd., Sarasota. Entitled “Dirty Water Festival,” the festival will explore environmental issues through the theme of water. “Our mission is to provide environmental films, educational debates, and events that broaden knowledge on conservation topics affecting Florida’s gulf coast.” said Elizabeth Pickett Gray, the festival’s executive director. This inaugural film festival will be a day-long symposium in which ecologically-minded films will be shown that present causes, effects, and solutions. Films will be followed by panel discussions with ecologists, environmental advocates, and filmmakers followed by a question-and-answer opportunity with the audience. Along with the films and discussions, local and regional environmental organizations will have representatives providing information on particular environmental needs and volunteer opportunities for attendees. 

Tickets are $10 for 1 full-length film; $15 for 2 full-length films; $20 for all day; students $5. 

For tickets to this event and more information

On Saturday, February 8 at 6:30 pm at 61 North Pineapple Ave., Sarasota Opera will unveil a special plaque in front of the opera house commemorating the completion of Sarasota Opera’s Verdi Cycle. The unveiling will be preceded by a festive brass fanfare played from the outside balcony of the Opera House. Immediately following the unveiling, there will be a short ceremony announcing the signing of a “Friendship Pact” between the City of Sarasota and Busseto, Italy—Guiseppe Verdi’s hometown. In attendance will be representatives from Sarasota Sister Cities and the City of Sarasota. 

To learn more about the Sarasota Opera and the coming calendar events.

The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art is thrilled to welcome Inez Barlatier in Concert: Moun-Moon–Spotlight Florida!  February 21 and 22. Barlatier, a rising star and Miami native, is a multifaceted musician and composer of Ayisen (Haitian) descent. Inez’s energetic performance draws on inspiration from African, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin cultures. She will be accompanied by a full band. Inez began her music career at the age of 12 as a member of her father’s band, Jan Sebon and Kazak International. Her life-long passion and exposure to multicultural and folkloric music is reimagined in her work creating a fresh yet nostalgic and often emotional experience. Inez strives to positively impact the lives of women and girls using the arts as a tool for self-empowerment. While performing internationally, Inez works as an accountant, a teaching artist, a drum circle leader, an actress and dancer. Her theatrical portfolio includes a Cuba & Central American Tour of Writing in Sand, a 3-women play written and directed by Carlos Caballero of FundArte and upcoming contemporary works written and directed by award winning playwright, Teo Castellanos. Tickets range from $25-$35, and $10 for Students with a current ID. 

The Ringling will also host a Drum Circle led by Inez Barlatier February 20, 2020 at 6:00 pm on the museum's Bolger Campiello. The event will be a lively and rhythmic celebration of the full moon. All are welcome to this fun, family friendly event. Bring your own hand drums, dance, or just watch and enjoy! If you bring your own hand drum, you will be immediately accepted into the drum circle no matter what your experience level is. You will find all skill levels playing in the circle. Cost is $5 and members are free.  

Photo courtesy of The Ringling Museum.

Tickets and additional information may be found by calling 941-360-7399 or visiting HERE

Christopher A. Marinello is one of the world’s foremost experts in recovering stolen and looted works of art. A practicing lawyer for over 34 years, Marinello began his career as a litigator and became uniquely proficient in negotiating complex title disputes on behalf of collectors, dealers, museums, and insurance companies. As part of New College's New Topics lecture, “The Art of Art Recovery: Recovering Stolen and Looted Works of Art,” Marinello will provide an overview on art crime and the legal issues involved in recovering stolen and Nazi-looted works of art.  He will present numerous case studies involving some high-profile recoveries and give the audience an opportunity to ask questions about this unusual profession. These case studies offer a compelling glimpse at the painstaking detective work and tenacious legal wrangling that goes into recovering looted treasures.

The program is Thursday, February 20, at 5:30 pm in New College’s Mildred Sainer Auditorium, 5313 Bay Shore Road in Sarasota. Tickets are $15. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made at ncf.edu/new-topics, or by calling the New College events hotline at 941-487-4888. 

To learn more or to RSVP to this event

Sarasota County's popular 'Say I Do Again' event returns Friday, February 14 at 6:00 pm, to two area beaches. Hosted by the county's parks, recreation and natural resources department, this Valentine's Day sunset ceremony has seen couples renew their wedding vows for over three decades. Each year nearly 400 couples renew their commitment to that special person in their life. Couples wishing to participate in the vow renewal ceremony can register for either the Siesta or Nokomis Beach location and will receive a certificate and flower. The non-denominational ceremonies will be officiated by Judge Riva at Siesta Beach, and Judge Ruhl at Nokomis Beach. Music and light refreshments will follow the vow renewal ceremony. 

On-site registration opens at 4:30 pm with the ceremony commencing promptly at 6:00 pm. Register in advance by February 7 for $15 per couple online here or by phone at 941-861-7275. Registration will also be available the day of the event for $25 per couple. Siesta Beach is located 948 Beach Road on Siesta Key; Nokomis Beach is located 100 Casey Key Rd. on Casey Key. 

For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000 or visit scgov.net

The Van Wezel Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of Suzanne Hudson-Smith, CFRE, to its Development team. Ms. Hudson-Smith will serve as the foundation’s associate director of leadership gifts, where she will be responsible for cultivating donor relationships and experiences in support of the Foundation’s mission to develop a world-class performing arts center that enriches the community, supports education and inspires young minds. Ms. Hudson-Smith joins the Foundation at an important time as it looks to expand its art education programs to inspire a greater number of children in five counties. Ms. Hudson-Smith has extensive experience in fundraising, development and nonprofit leadership and has worked across the country, including Sarasota, to improve local communities through unique programs and outreach services with performing arts organizations, community libraries, food banks and public television. She has been a Certified Fundraising Executive since 2012. Ms. Hudson-Smith looks forward to returning to Sarasota with her family and re-establishing alliances within the community. 

For information on the Van Wezel Foundation and more