The walls at Creative Liberties are perhaps fuller this week than they’ve ever been before, with the opening of the gallery’s latest exhibition, Small Works, Big Impact, on display through September 28.

Celebrating the jam-packed potential of the pint-sized production, contributing artists were given free rein in terms of medium and subject matter but required to keep all submissions within 12 inches in any dimension—and the result was the largest outpouring of art from the community that Creative Liberties has ever seen. “In two-and-a-half years of exhibitions,” says Creative Liberties Co-Owner Barbara Gerdeman, “this is the most incredible response we’ve gotten.”

Strung in tight columns along the white walls of the gallery like a procession of kite tails snipped from their sails, the exhibition totals nearly 240 original works of art and represents roughly 35 artists in the community. With a wide variety of mediums on display as well, audiences will find everything from small-scale oils by Emily Baar, painted on tiny canvases in exquisite detail for open display or to be placed like cameos in lockets, to the whimsical sculptures of Kris Meigs, who crafts her oddball creations from gourds and found objects. A full accounting includes watercolors and acrylics, mixed-media projects, handmade jewelry, fabric art, and even photographs by Gerdeman, capturing her travels to New Zealand, South Africa and more in 8x8. And the exhibition itself becomes something of a snapshot of the artistic community growing around Creative Liberties.

“We really wanted to attract a wide audience of artists from all stages of their career,” Gerdeman says, “whether just starting out and looking for a place to show their work or if they’ve been exhibiting for a long time.” And with this latest exhibition, she’s finding they all have something in common. “Artists in the community are creating smaller works but not having a place to show them,” she says. Some galleries aren’t interested and some artists self-censor, taking advantage of the rare gallery opportunity to show something bigger and bolder, rather than risk a smaller piece getting lost in the shuffle. With Small Works, Gerdeman hopes that not only can Creative Liberties create a space for artists to show these small works but spur gallerygoers to see what they’ve been missing.

“I hope they walk away knowing you can create something small but mighty,” Gerdeman says. “That sounds corny, but art doesn’t have to be big to have an impact.”

Currently on display at Creative Liberties Artist Studios, Gallery & Creative Academy, Small Works, Big Impact runs through September 28. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-3pm, the gallery is located at 927 N. Lime Avenue, Sarasota. 

Pictured: Miniature acrylics of Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Little Lake Como, and Little Sarasota Bay by Emily Baar. Photo by Barbara Gerdeman.

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Earlier this week, a promising young author published their debut novel. Chatham Greenfield, born and raised in the Sarasota area, has released Time and Time Again, a young adult love story that’s rooted firmly in their upbringing. The novel, which was published by Bloomsbury Publishing Inc, blurs the lines between science fiction, coming of age stories and romance. 

Time and Time Again follows Phoebe Mendel, a queer high school student in small-town Florida who struggles with her debilitating IBS. Phoebe has a more pressing issue however, than just the pitfalls of growing up: she’s been stuck in a time loop since August 6, relieving the same day over and over again for a month. On the other side of this time loop lies a doctor’s appointment scheduled for the following month, a proverbial light at the end of the dark tunnel of chronic illness Phoebe is trapped within. “I was inspired to write this when Covid first struck in 2020, because I was seeing how everybody was just stuck at home and doing the same things over and over again. That’s something that I have to an extent always experienced because of my own health issues,” says Greenfield. “It got me thinking about how having health issues can make you feel like you’re trapped in a time loop, so I wanted to play on that by making the time loop literal.”

The time loop isn’t all bad for Phoebe however. In a cosmic turn of events, Phoebe’s childhood crush Jess, enters the time loop after getting into a fender bender. Jess pushes Phoebe to take the loop for what it is, bringing Phoebe out of her comfort zone and immersing her in new experiences. Phoebe starts to fall for Jess, hard, and with her growing feelings comes a different type of anxiety: would this relationship ever happen if Jess and Phoebe weren’t forced to be together? “Being disabled and living in a small town can often be so isolating and I wanted Phoebe to be stuck with Jess who kind of inherently understands her and connects with her. Jess sees the time loop as a positive thing, because when the pair wake up the next day there are no consequences,” says Greenfield. “It lends itself to Phoebe learning that there are a million ways to live out one day and that even though her health issues stay the same, she’s still continually getting out of her comfort zone and exploring new things.”

To learn more about Chatham Greenfield, visit: chatgreenfield.com/. 

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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens was selected for TIME's annual list of the World's Greatest Places! The list highlights 100 extraordinary destinations around the globe, and Selby Gardens was one of only eight places to visit in the United States that made the list; the only Florida location in its category; and the only botanical garden included from around the world. 

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is pleased to announce Radical Clay: Contemporary Women Artists from Japan on view from July 27 through May 11, 2025, an exhibition organized by the Art Institute of Chicago. This is the second venue for the exhibition’s tour, which was curated by the Art Institute of Chicago’s Janice Katz, the Roger L. Weston Associate Curator of Japanese Art. Radical Clay features 40 stunning works by 36 different artists from across Japan, showcasing the inventiveness and variety of work that is driving the ceramics movement forward.  While women have historically been underrecognized for their contributions to the ceramics field, this show brings both established and emerging women artists to the forefront and focuses on the explosion of innovative and technically ambitious compositions by such artists particularly since 1970. The creators featured in the show span several generations of women contemporary artists, and while they have been featured in other shows, this is the first major exhibition to position these artists together to highlight their collective achievements and impact. The artists featured in the show, Tsuboi Asuka (born 1932), and Ogawa Machiko (born 1946)–began their careers decades ago and continue to produce groundbreaking sculptures that drive the clay medium in a new direction. Mishima Kimiyo (1932–2024), internationally recognized for her hyper-realistic sculptures of trash, passed away between the AIC and Ringling iterations of the exhibition. Konno Tomoko (born 1965), Aoki Katsuyo (born 1972), and Oishi Sayaka (born 1979) are part of younger generations and are represented by pieces featuring bodily distortion to fantastical decoration. These women have routinely confronted expectations about their practice and often refuse gender-imposed constraints in their work, approaching subjects in unconventional ways. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalog with essays and insights by Janice Katz, Joe Earle, and Hollis Goodall. Additionally, bringing these artists to global attention has been made possible by the generous collaboration with Carol and Jeffrey Horvitz, who shared all of the selected pieces in the show from their exemplary collection. Additional support is contributed by the Japan Foundation.  

Photo courtesy of The Ringling Museum.

After three phenomenal years of sold-out tours in prestigious venues across Ireland, the UK and Europe, 33 & West, in association with Prestige Chameleon International and Cuffe & Taylor is thrilled to be bringing FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK to the USA. The popular festive concert, in partnership with Tourism Ireland, will visit cities including Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Sarasota and many more in December THIS YEAR, forming your official start to the Christmas season. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall show will take place on Saturday, December 21 at 8pm. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 26 at 10am ET. Come and see why fans and theatre critics alike are saying this is the premiere production of its kind and experience the ultimate Irish-inspired Christmas concert straight from the heart of Ireland. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Irish culture with soulful music and Irish dancing performed by seasoned touring musicians, steeped in Celtic heritage. The creator and producer of Fairytale of New York, Ged Graham, explains: “The success of Fairytale of New York in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe has been both humbling and extraordinary. “It has been an honour to work in partnership with Tourism Ireland since the creation of this show and we’re excited to embark on a new adventure to the USA. The team is working on an even bigger production for 2024, full of festive fun and Irish craic!” Bringing authenticity, revelry and reverence to every show - you can expect festive favourites alongside the greatest traditional Irish sing-along songs of all time. This stunning show features everything from joyous jigs and boisterous ballads to hauntingly beautiful carols and holiday cheer as we bring an unforgettable experience from the emerald hills of Ireland to the stages of America.  Ged adds: “Book your tickets now for an unforgettable night – bring all your friends and family to share in the celebration of an Irish Christmas!’ Imagine a St Patrick’s Day party… on Christmas Day! Tickets start at $30 and 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 4 p.m. 

 Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce it will open The Four C Notes, a tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Take a trip down memory lane and enjoy tunes like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night).” The Four C Notes will begin performances on August 6 in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret. Single tickets range from $37-$42. Tickets are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000.