Although the Ringling Museum of Art’s original 21 galleries have been open to the public since 1932 and are home to a vast collection of European art dating back from the medieval period to the 19th century, it doesn’t mean that they can’t evolve. It’s the Ringling after all, an organization devoted to bringing in new and interesting forms of art across genres and mediums. In their upcoming exhibition, Shinique Smith: Parade, opening on December 16, the museum looks to weave between the past and present: Smith’s work, primarily consisting of large-scale sculptures, will be displayed alongside the galleries’ permanent collections of European art.

“This is a really exciting project for many reasons and is my first collaboration with a living artist,” says Sarah Cartwright, the curator of the exhibition. “Shinique is best known for her large textile sculptures, which she calls bales as well as more figurative textiles that suggest human figures. We will have selections of her work in six different galleries, mostly consisting of her large-scale sculptures, but there will be one gallery which will have a case with smaller scale sculptures, drawings and other small scale work.”

Parade will feature a diverse collection of Smith’s work, including pieces from her personal collection that have never been publicly exhibited. While the presence of her work amidst the galleries of historic European art may at first seem strange and out of place, a deeper dive into Smith’s artistry provides a clear view of the intentionality behind the exhibit. “Shinique came for a site visit last year and was really excited about incorporating nods to the European collection but also to the history of the circus,” says Cartwright. “Her work deals with themes that relate to historic European art, like duality, mysticality, black femininity and even religion. For example, she has a series of works which are sculptures of reclining female figures–that fit in perfectly with our 18th century gallery which has large paintings of female figures.”

Through intertwining the past and present, Cartwright and the team at the Ringling hope to provide an even greater insight into Smith’s work.

December 16, 2023 to January 5, 2025, The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 

Pictured: Shinique Smith's, Stargazers. Image courtesy of the artist.

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The holidays are upon us and the best place to celebrate is at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall! With a variety of shows, there is something for everyone to get into the holiday mood. Gift certificates are also available and make great holiday presents. On December 4, enjoy the Sweet Caroline Tour: A Neil Diamond Christmas starring the #1 Diamond performer in the world, Jay White. Jay and the dynamic Sweet Caroline Tour Band pays homage to Neil Diamond by performing the hits and beloved gems you know and love with the same energy and artistry Neil delivered over his incredible 50 year career. Marie Osmond has spent more than six iconic decades in the entertainment business performing as a successful singer, television performer and talk show host, dancer, actor, author, entrepreneur and public speaker. She has continued to maintain relevance, remaining an instantly recognizable figure across the globe. Marie will bring her new show, An Orchestral Christmas, to Sarasota on December 13. The following evening on December 14, in celebration of the most wonderful time of year, the world’s biggest-selling soprano and legendary GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist Sarah Brightman returns with her A Christmas Symphony tour! Accompanied by orchestra, choir and special guests, this magical holiday show will feature Sarah performing many of her holiday classics and greatest hits. A Christmas Symphony is an unforgettable Christmas spectacle during the most wonderful time of the year. On December 16, The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays showcases the jaw-dropping talents of the most incredible illusionists on earth. The Illusionists has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions. Multi-platinum classical crossover group, IL DIVO, will bring A New Day Holiday Tour to the Van Wezel on December 20. The tour will feature the group performing holiday classics that include “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” and more, in addition to songs from their vast catalog. Il Divo is the most commercially successful classical crossover group in international music history since they first banded together in 2004. The following night on December 21, the joyous celebration of Celtic Angels Christmas will grace the stage. The show encompasses vocal and instrumental Holiday and Irish favorites. Paired with show stopping world class champion Irish dancing and a fully live band, Celtic Angels Christmas is sure to awe and entertain. Just before Christmas on December 23, Cirque Musica: Holiday Wonderland returns to Sarasota. Featuring the talented cast of Cirque Musica, spectators will be dazzled by the acrobats, aerialists, hilarious hijinks and holiday cheer. The show blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with a musical mix of timeless seasonal favorites. Tickets for these shows can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gift certificates are also available for purchase online or by calling the box office. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. 

Venice Theatre's Assistant Director of Education and Community Engagement, Kelly Duyn, is looking for eight to 10 adults to join the cast of VT’s long-standing community engagement program, "Troupe in a Trunk." This program brings an interactive live performance to area elementary schools in the spring, exposing students to live theatre, sometimes for the first time. Duyn says, "Troupe’s goal is to tell a story and teach a larger life lesson through humor and audience participation." Because Troupe In A Trunk is an ensemble program, the audition will be a group activity. All auditionees need to arrive at the theatre located at 140 Tampa Ave. W. at 2 p.m. ready to use their storytelling skills. They will be asked to present their favorite children’s story (for example, Little Red Riding Hood) to the group and should also be prepared to participate in some improvisation exercises. More details about the auditions, the "Troupe in a Trunk" program, and a sign-up form are available at www.venicetheatre.org/audition. Rehearsals and performances take place during daytime hours, so this acting opportunity is ideal for retirees and actors with a flexible schedule. Questions may be directed to Kelly Duyn at 941-486-8679 or KellyDuyn@VeniceTheatre.net. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO), today released photos from the premiere presentations of newly commissioned works by Madeleine George and Shariffa Ali. George and Ali, the first two recipients of the $35,000 Hermitage Major Theater Award (HMTA), had readings of their newly commissioned plays in New York at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater just before Thanksgiving. Developed while in residence at the Hermitage in Sarasota County, Florida, these two new works are wholly original and coming to fruition less than two years after Madeleine George and Shariffa Ali learned of their selection for this distinguished national prize. The Hermitage Major Theater Award, presented by the Hermitage Artist Retreat and made possible with generous support from the Kutya Major Foundation, recognizes a playwright or theater artist with a commission of $35,000 to create an original full-length work for the stage, as well as providing an extended residency at the Hermitage’s beachfront campus Sarasota County, Florida, plus the chance to present the inaugural workshop presentation of the newly created play in a major arts capital such as New York, London, or Chicago. Pulitzer Prize finalist and playwright Madeleine George, currently a writer on the hit Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building,” was selected as the first winner of the HMTA by an Award Committee comprised of Leigh Silverman, Liesl Tommy, and Doug Wright. George presented the first full-length reading of her new play The Sore Loser to an invitation-only audience on Friday, November 17. The Sore Loser is a Faustian comedy set in a bowling alley. It’s a play about power, domination, and the death of the patriarchy – as told through a small-town bowling tournament. Casting for The Sore Loser included stage and screen talents Adam Chanler-Berat (Next to Normal, “Gossip Girl”), Lynda Gravatt (The Bounty Hunter, Delivery Man), Allison Guinn (On the Town, “Only Murders in the Building”), Greg Hildreth (Frozen, Maestro), James Jackson Jr. (A Strange Loop, White Girl in Danger), Matthew Maher (Gone Baby Gone, Captain Marvel), T Mitsock (“Becoming Eve”), Shannon Tyo (The Compeuppance, “30 Rock”), and Joel Van Liew (“FBI”, Limitless). The reading was directed by Mack Brown. Theater-maker and director Shariffa Ali was selected as the second recipient of the Hermitage Major Theater Award by Lynn Nottage, David Henry Hwang, and Regina Taylor. Ali shared an in-process presentation of her newly devised work Hero for an invitation-only audience on Monday, November 20, also at MCC Theater. Ali and two of her collaborators, Joanna Evans and Jason Maina, provided an overview and excerpts from this heartwarming and inspiring new play with music, set in a small South African town and inspired by the true story of Shariffa’s longtime friend and collaborator Vuyo Sotashe. 

Venice Theatre is proud to present its first Solofest opening in its 90-seat Pinkerton Theatre on Friday Dec. 8 and running through Sunday Dec. 17, 2023. There are three plays in the festival: Shirley Valentine, Give 'Em Hell, Harry! and Mark Twain: They Told Me to Be Brief. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Festival tickets are available for $26 per show at www.venicetheatre.org or by calling 941-488-1115. Seating is general admission. The first play in the Solofest line-up is Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell starring actor, director, and writer Jan Wallace on Dec. 8, 9 and 10. This piece is an actor's tour-de-force about an ordinary middle class English housewife. As Shirley prepares dinner, she ruminates on her life and tells the audience about her husband, her children, her past, and an invitation from a girlfriend to join her on holiday in Greece to search for romance and adventure. Wallace has performed Shirley Valentine in the area before and is excited to share it with Venice Theatre patrons. Her credits include off-Broadway, New York Regional theatre, and local appearances at Asolo Rep, Banyan Theatre, Sarasota Players, Manatee Performing Arts Center, and the Island Players. Wallace's first performance at Venice Theatre was as Ida in last season's acclaimed The Cemetery Club. Give 'Em Hell, Harry! will be performed by Jack Rabito on Dec. 12, 13 and 14. Rabito is known in South Florida for his portrayal of President Harry S. Truman and also brought "Harry" to Chicago to great reviews and a standing-room-only audience. A veteran actor with over 100 stage shows to his credit, Rabito has performed locally at Venice Theatre, Glenridge Performing Arts Center, Cook Theater in Sarasota, The Lemon Bay Playhouse, and Charlotte Players. Solofest concludes with Mark Twain: They Told Me To Be Brief written by and starring Alan Kitty. Kitty will perform his original piece on Dec. 15, 16 and 17. Nationally known for his impersonation of America’s most relatable and quoted author, Kitty began playing Twain in 1979 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Soon after, he began to reread the Twain books he grew up with. A deep dive into scholarly research followed. The result was a library lecture series, theatrical performances around the country, school presentations, and scores of after-dinner and corporate event speeches. Again, tickets for Solofest are available at www.venicetheatre.org or by calling 941-488-1115. Venice Theatre is located at 140 Tampa Ave. W. in Venice. The Pinkerton Theatre is located in its main building. 

This year marks a monumental milestone for The Perlman Music Program Suncoast (PMP Suncoast). It’s the 20th anniversary of one of its largest events: The Perlman Music Program (PMP) Winter Residency. Each December, musically gifted students from around the world reunite on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus for lessons, studio classes, works-in-progress (WIP) recitals, chorus and orchestra rehearsals. Participants include 28 classical music prodigies, ages 14 to 20+, alumni fellows who mentor the students, and an exceptional faculty led by acclaimed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman and his wife, Toby Perlman. Starting on December 29, the public is invited to attend free master classes and works-in-progress (WIP) recitals. Special evenings are scheduled for guests to watch PMP orchestra rehearsals under the baton of Maestro Perlman. Audiences will also be able to watch Patrick Romano, choirmaster, rehearse with the PMP choir. 

Pictured: PMPS_Winter Residency_Celebration Concert.

Dubbed the most creative day of the year, PINC returns to the Sarasota Opera House on Thursday, December 7 bringing an impressive lineup of 12 international speakers, artistic intermezzos including Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and Sarasota Contemporary dance, and exceptional food. From a “childhood conservationist” who brings play to children in refugee camps around the world to rising tech stars, NASA researchers, authors in magnificent magician's coats, artistic activists, foster care champions, educators, Guinness World Record-holding athletes and more, PINC’s thought-provoking speakers span every imaginable discipline and bring their unique experiences and expertise to the Sarasota community.  “PINC gives our community the opportunity to come together for one day to witness a host of inspirational experiences,” said Anand Pallegar, founder of DreamLarge. “At PINC, we gather some of the world’s most forward-thinking innovators and do-gooders to enliven and inspire us to view our lives in unexpected ways. This year’s speakers are all designed to focus on our community’s state of mind, advancing our understanding of the collective trauma we’ve all faced in the past few years.” The experience runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with several breaks throughout on Dec. 7 and includes breakfast, lunch, and unique snacks provided by Innovative Dining. An afterparty will be held for PINC attendees at the Sarasota Modern Hotel directly following PINC. The PINC Experience is presented by All Star Children’s Foundation and Ringling College of Art & Design. It is generously supported by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Michael Saunders & Company, Parkside, Project Pride, Sarasota Magazine, SRQ Magazine, The Sarasota Modern Hotel and WUSF Public Media. With special thanks to Shawn O’Malley, Victoria Blooms, and Wonder Cake Creations. For more information, contact Julia Groom at Julia@DreamLarge.org or by calling 941.786.8732. 

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Bradenton and Sarasota residents and fiber artists, Ellen S. Goldberg, Rebecca Levine Quigley, and Michael R. Stevenson, will be artists-in-residence at Gaze Gallery at ARCOS, 340 Central Ave, in Sarasota, January 3 to February 29. An opening reception for their exhibit, “The Beauty of Inflections and Innuendoes,” is Thursday January 18, 5-7 p.m. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and the artists will be in residence much of the time. 

The Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that promotes using the unifying power of the arts to nurture inclusion and diversity, presented the Arts and Racial Justice Discovery Series II on November 13 at Florida Studio Theater in Sarasota. The group engaged Marsha Haygood, a motivational speaker, empowerment coach, and author to facilitate the event. Approximately 40 invited participants discussed a variety of issues, including how to create more opportunities for exposure and engagement in the arts for underserved populations. Participants included Brian Hersh, CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County; David Wilkins, president of the Manasota ASALH; Joseph Holt, artistic director of Choral Artists of Sarasota; Nate Jacobs, founder and artistic director of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe; Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; Virginia Shearer, executive director of Sarasota Art Museum; and Steven High, executive director of The Ringling. 

Pictured: Michele Redwine, SBAC's founder and executive director, and Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, observe a roundtable with Joseph Holt, artistic director of Choral Artists of Sarasota, and Nate Jacobs,