Like many artists, Brian Miller’s parents weren’t thrilled when their child expressed an interest in art. So, after taking some art courses at a community college in Oregon, where he’s from, Miller kept art in his back pocket. “I ended up in retail for a while, then eventually got into picture framing,” he says, “but I always kept playing around with art because I knew I wanted to be an artist.” 

His framing job got him face time with gallery owners all over Portland, Oregon, and, after years, he finally decided to broach the subject of his art with a gallery owner with whom he had a great working relationship. “I brought in a bunch of my stuff and put it up against the wall,” he says, “and I was just hoping for some pointers.” He signed with the gallery that afternoon and has never looked back. “It turned out to be the best career move I’ve ever made,” says Miller.

A Sarasota resident since 1998, Miller reflects on his path to art and how it shaped him. “I think that since I don’t really have any formal training, I’m not hemmed in by what ‘not’ to do,” he says. That means no medium or aesthetic is off limits. His early work was in cast paper and paper sculpture. Later, he developed a mastery of epoxy resins, creating round sculptures that look like cross-sections of naturally occurring geodes. His paintings explore both nonrepresentational and representational styles, with flowers, fish, and lots of earth-toned colors giving his work a clear focus on nature. But his Gravity series takes color and craft to a whole new level.

The series sees Miller dig his heels into the thing he loves most of all. “I love playing with the way colors interact,” he says. Miller also found his way into pop iconography as he has “finally,” he admits, discovered the way in which smart devices frame our experience of the world. The intersection of those two elements is a series of acrylic drip paintings finished with an epoxy resin glaze. In the series, Miller worked on a technique in which he drips precise stripes of paint down a canvas. The subjects of the pieces—a silhouette of the Statue of David, the word “LOVE,” a simple heart—offer the viewer something obvious to sink their teeth into, while the bright colors mesmerize and explode. 

“It’s incredibly difficult to do,” says Miller, “I have to have a perfectly smooth canvas oriented perfectly perpendicular to the ground and the paint consistency has to be just right so that it runs in a straight line when it drips.” The clear epoxy resin finish then gives the work an added prism of play, with light reflecting and refracting off the glossy resin surface to create slightly new experiences based on the angle it's viewed from.

It’s easy to imagine the series on t-shirts, desktop backgrounds, postcards or posters—and many admirers have suggested as much—but for Miller, the foray into popular imagery and a rainbow spectrum of colors has been a joyful pitstop. “Eventually I’ll feel like I’ve exhausted a concept and move on,” he says, “so I’ve always got some weird project on the side.”

The Gravity series can be viewed at State of the Arts Gallery both online and in-person at State of the Arts, 1525 State St., Sarasota.  

Photo courtesy of the artist.

The Florida Department of State Division of Arts & Culture awarded Art Center Sarasota a $4,395 grant as part of its Florida American Rescue Plan program, which supports operating, staffing, marketing, promotion, and safety expenses. “Art Center Sarasota is delighted to receive support from Florida's Department of State, Division of Arts & Culture,” says Kinsey Robb, ACS’s executive director. “This grant will play an instrumental role in improving our organization’s communications outreach and accessibility through marketing and web design management. As one of the oldest visual arts organizations in Florida, we are honored to receive this support and excited to improve our reach!”

Art Center Sarasota offers a variety of adult and youth art classes throughout the year and its galleries feature a series of rotating exhibitions. To stay in the loop, subscribe to its mailing list by visiting www.artsarasota.org.Located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

Photo of Kinsey Robb, courtesy of the organization

The Circus Arts Conservatory recently received an Arts Appreciation Grant of $30,000 from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant will support the CAC’s 2021-2022 events and performance season, which includes the October CAC Legacy Society Lunch, January Circus Arts Gala, March CenterRing Society Dinner, and the Sailor Circus Holiday and Spring shows. This is the first Arts Appreciation Grant the CAC has been awarded by Gulf Coast. Gulf Coast's Arts Appreciation Grants offer unrestricted funding to cornerstone arts organizations in recognition of their contributions to our region's economy and quality of life and to further their missions. Currently, thousands of children are studying and engaging in the circus arts. The CAC’s Circus Magnet Programs for Booker Middle School, for which enrollment has doubled in its second year, and Sarasota High School, which is in its third year, teach students life skills as well as the circus arts. Programming is inclusive and age-appropriate. The Sailor Circus Academy – which claims the title “The Greatest Little Show on Earth” – is recognized nationally as the only circus school that also offers professional performances.

The CAC has conservative but optimistic plans for in-person attendance at its 2021-2022 events and shows, with virtual backup as warranted by ever-evolving COVID-19 safety guidelines. Since last year, the CAC has instituted and adhered to rigorous COVID-19 protocols that include required masking, social distancing standards, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of facilities, staff health screenings, reduced seating capacities, and more.

For more about the CAC or its upcoming season, call 941-355-9805 or visit circusarts.org. 

From left to right: Rylee Grover, Addi VonWowern and Destiny Overholt practice a contortion routine, taken by John Jones

The SPAACES Foundation is pleased to kick off their 2021/2022 season on October 1st with an opening reception for visiting artist Vanessa Diaz and the Inaugural Fall Art Walk for the Princeton Street Arts. Join SPAACES as they begin their second season as a not-for-profit, with an evening of food, music, art and more. The Princeton street corridor is a growing community of warehouses converted to working art studios. Anchored by the SPAACES foundation, this little neighborhood has evolved into a premier location for contemporary and conceptual artists.

If you have any questions please contact marianne@spaaces.art or at 941-374-3492. 

To learn more about the shows coming, click here.

Five-O Donut Co. is setting up a squad in Bradenton. Founder + CEO Christine Nordstrom of Five-O Donut Co has signed a lease on 5942 34th Street West Unit #116 Bradenton with Benderson Development to bring its first Five-O to Manatee County. Located in the El Conquistador plaza adjacent to SCF and near MTI and IMG Academy, this newest location will also be the largest Five-O shop yet. At 3000 SF this location will feature a 2000 SF custom designed donut production facility with a glass viewing wall that will serve as a commissary with a 1000 SF built in retail location. Five-O is aiming for a Spring 2022 opening date. In the approaching months as the opening date becomes clear, Five-O will announce giveaways and Grand Opening information on their social media pages. "This newest location is so exciting to me because I'm essentially building the production kitchen of my dreams from scratch. I'm just so thankful for all our amazing staff and loyal fans that love and support us through all our growth," says Nordstrom.  

Photo courtesy of Five-O-Donut Co.

To check out the menu, head here.

The Florida Dental Association (FDA) is proud to announce that Ashley Wagler, of Bradenton, was awarded the Dental Student Award at the 2021 Florida Dental Convention in Orlando. Ashley is a fourth-year dental student at LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Bradenton. She was born and raised in Sarasota, FL and plans to return to the area upon graduation. She has a passion for organized dentistry and looks forward to staying heavily involved with the FDA and ADA in the future. Following her belief in giving back to the community, Ashley enjoys volunteering and providing pro bono dental care for those in need.  

Troy Smith and Dem Santiago will both serve as account executives overseeing ArtisTree maintenance crews in select HOA communities. Smith brings more than 30 years’ experience in landscape operations, site development and golf course management. Santiago’s 15 years in the green industry includes account management, sales and crew supervision.  “We’re excited to have these two industry veterans join our maintenance division,” said Bill Walters, vice president of Operations. “Their combined expertise further enhances our commitment to serving our customers as we continue our aggressive growth strategy.”  

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year program has celebrated the inspirational journeys of teens across the nation since 1947. National Youth of the Year is the most prestigious honor bestowed upon a young person, representing the voice of more than 4 million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs. Teens are encouraged to compete for the title through local, state, regional, and national competitions. 

Jorge Hernandez-Perez, Club member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, was one of six finalists during the National event. He competed against five other youth leaders representing the Pacific, Southwest, Northeast, and Midwest regions, as well as the National Military Youth of the Year. Jorge won Florida Youth of the Year in April and then the Southeast Regional Youth of the Year title later in June. After 6 months of preparation, on September 21, 2021, Jorge competed for the National Youth of the Year title. Northeast Regional Youth of the Year, Brianna P., won the National title, but Jorge will continue to represent Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the Southeast Regional Youth of Year.  Jorge was awarded a $20,000 scholarship towards his education when he won Southeast Regional Youth of the Year.  

Photo courtesy of Boys & Girls Clubs

Remember the delicious lobster roll from the cover of our July/August edition? We met up with Michelle from Michelle's Brown Bag Cafe to learn how they make it! This video is part of our newest "As Seen In" series where we bring articles you've read in SRQ Magazine to life. Find all of our videos on our YouTube Channel. 

Watch Michelle's Brown Bag Cafe Here!