SRQ DAILY Aug 16, 2024
Friday Weekend Edition
"We have always wanted to work together and I think it came organically from just two brothers who lived in a small town and didn't have many opportunities for socializing."
Art Center Sarasota closes out its 2023-24 season with a slate of four exhibitions opening this week, including solo exhibitions for two up-and-coming artists, as well as a group show from the young artists of the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County, and a massive end-of-summer juried show, Flora & Fauna, with guest juror Dr. David Berry of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Currently on display at Art Center Sarasota, all shows run through September 28.
The first solo exhibition comes from Precious Darling, a recent New College graduate whose latest work unflinchingly explores femininity and objectification, the male gaze and its effects on the individual and society as a whole. Through both sculpture and photography, primarily nudes, Darling challenges viewers to question their assumptions and expectations. “It’s definitely a little bit provocative,” says Art Center Sarasota Curator & Director of Exhibitions Christina Baril. “But very exciting.” Darling will be giving an artist talk about the exhibition on September 12 at 5pm.
One gallery over, the budding artists of the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County have their own exhibition, showcasing the work they made over the summer, spending Saturdays at Art Center Sarasota with their artist-mentors. From sculpture and painting to poetry and the written word, the work grapples with questions of identity and self-worth, belonging and fear for the future. It is, at times, startlingly profound, says Baril. “They have a lot going on in their lives and they’re tackling pretty big issues,” she says. “And this is validating not only their artwork but their struggles and their commitment to pushing forward. It gives them a voice they might not normally have.”
The second solo exhibition highlights the oil paintings (and strange plush creations) of Tanner Simon, an artist with a penchant for the absurd and a wry sense of humor that looms large from every canvas. In Simon’s playful world, the crescent moon over Paris can be a croissant, and subject matter ranges from an aggressively childlike interpretation of Napoleon Crossing The Alps to a misshapen figure howling with dread over a bowl of alphabet soup that says, “BOO.” But under the weirdness, there’s an iconography at play, says Baril. “He’s not overtly political,” she says, “but he’s using art history and sort of flipping it on its head.” Simon will be giving an artist talk on September 14.
And last but definitely not least, the Flora & Fauna juried show fills the art center’s largest gallery space with nearly 90 original works of art, all celebrating the beauty of the natural world. From hyper-detailed botanical drawings and digital art to ceramic sculpture, woodworking, fabric art and abstract painting, medium and approach run the gamut, as each artist pays tribute in their own way. “Every juried show just highlights the diversity of our community,” says Baril. “And it’s always exciting and fun.” A special presentation with the show’s guest juror, Selby Gardens Chief Museum Curator Dr. David Berry, will take place on August 21 at 3:30pm. 
Pictured: We're All In This Together by Olive W., as featured in the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County exhibition.
So many siblings share the same dream: that one day they will create something so special that the whole world will have to recognize them for their talents. That one day, their endless bedroom brainstorming will turn into something real, something concrete and that their childhood creations will be more than just fond memories to look back on.
Unfortunately, those dreams rarely turn into reality–unless you’re Daniel and Patrick Lazour, two brothers who have harnessed their combined love for musical theater into becoming one of the leading voices in the discipline. The Lazours, who hail from Boylston, Massachusetts, first made waves in 2019 when their award-winning musical We Live in Cairo premiered at the American Repertory Theatre. The show, which centers around the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, served as a vehicle for the Lazours, who are Lebanese-American, to explore different styles of musical storytelling, delving particularly into the Arabic music that they grew up listening to.
Since then, the Lazours have kept themselves pretty busy–they recently worked as artists-in-residence at the American University in Cairo and teaching artists at Lincoln Center Theater and are developing an array of future projects. On August 23, the Lazours, who have residencies at the Hermitage Artist Retreat and are finalists for the 2024 Hermitage Greenfield Prize, will come to the organization’s beachfront campus to speak on their creative partnership. “We have always wanted to work together and I think it came organically from just two brothers who lived in a small town and didn’t have many opportunities for socializing,” says Patrick. “It was just us playing together and even today, we’re still just playing together.”
In “The Lazour Brothers: A Lifelong Collabrotion”, audience members get a glance under the hood to see what fuels one of the most prolific creative partnerships in theater today. The Lazours are at the forefront of the musical theater scene, currently developing a theatrical sing-along experience about cancer patients and their caretakers in Night Side Songs and a musical movie Challenger: An American Dream, which centers around the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. “I look back at many of the things that we write and they are really about youth and the idealism of youth and the disillusionment of growing up. That is one thing that we’re very interested in: the way that a young person can be emboldened to change the world. And how they contend with the truth of the world as years go on,” says Patrick.
August 23 6:30 to 7:30 pm, Hermitage Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Rd. Englewood, FL. To learn more visit www.hermitageartistretreat.org/event/the-lazour-brothers-a-lifelong-collabroation/?instance_id=1165
Photo courtesy of The Hermitage Artist Retreat.
Join artist Libbi Ponce on Aug 20 at 11am as they guide us through their work featured in the group exhibition Skyway 2024: A Contemporary Collaboration. Ponce will discuss their artistic practice which uses dream logic to explore themes of Latinx Futurism, grief, and modes of decolonization in the context of their nine works in the exhibition.
Pictured: ibbi Ponce (American, born 1997), owl_butterfly_star_heart_bird, 2023. Steel, polyurethane, scrap foam, grout, 8 x 2 x 6.5 feet. Courtesy of the artist Libbi Ponce.
The Orioles yesterday announced their 2025 Grapefruit League schedule, which is slated to begin Saturday, February 22, at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The club’s 2025 spring schedule features 15 home games, including seven weekend games. The O’s will face nine different opponents during Grapefruit League play, with eight of the club’s 30 games coming against American League East divisional rivals – Boston Red Sox (two games; one at home), New York Yankees (two games; one at home), Tampa Bay Rays (one game; one at home), and Toronto Blue Jays (three games; two at home). The Orioles will play a spring-high seven games against the Pittsburgh Pirates, three of which will be at Ed Smith Stadium. Baltimore will also host the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies during the 2025 Spring Training slate. The team’s 15-game road schedule features four games at the Pirates, three at the Phillies, two at the Tigers and Twins, and one each against the Blue Jays, Braves, Red Sox, and Yankees. Split-squad dates will be March 9 vs. Minnesota and at Philadelphia, and March 16 vs. the Phillies and at Detroit. The second annual Spring Breakout game, featuring top minor league prospects from each organization, will take place in Sarasota when the O’s host the Yankees on March 15. The 2025 season will mark Baltimore’s 16th Spring Training season in Sarasota and the club’s 15th season at the renovated Ed Smith Stadium. Game times and report dates will be announced at a later date. To be among the first notified for 2025 ticket offers, fans should subscribe to the free Orioles Insider digital newsletter at Orioles.com/Newsletter. For the complete 2025 spring training schedule, please visit Orioles.com/Schedule.
Atlanta Braves Announce 2025 Spring Training Schedule Braves set to begin their sixth spring at CoolToday Park ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball yesterday announced the club’s 2025 spring training schedule. The 2025 spring season will mark Atlanta’s sixth at CoolToday Park in North Port, Fla., and will feature 15 home games at the facility. Atlanta’s 32-game exhibition slate will begin Saturday, February 22, with a road game against the Minnesota Twins. The club will play its first spring home game the following day versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Atlanta will host 11 different major league teams at CoolToday Park, including a pair of games each against the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays. The Braves will host single games against the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals. The Braves and Tigers’ top prospects will square off at CoolToday Park Sunday, March 16, as part of Major League Baseball’s second annual “Spring Breakout.” As part of the initiative, each Major League club will field a team of their top prospects to play exhibition games against another club’s top prospects while also creating in-park fan engagement opportunities centered around their up-and-coming players. Atlanta will conclude the Florida portion of its exhibition schedule Sunday, March 23, versus the Baltimore Orioles. The club will play its final two spring games over the next two days against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. The Braves will open the 2025 regular season Thursday, March 27, at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres.Season tickets and group sales for the 2024 spring season are now available, and individual game tickets will go on sale at a date yet to be determined. A-List and Beach Club Members will receive the first opportunity to purchase individual game tickets. To book a group or purchase season tickets, please contact a group sales representative at 941-413-5004 or SpringTraining@Braves.com. The Braves’ full spring schedule is attached, and is subject to change.
The Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet was founded by the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Organization in 2010. The ensemble believes in the unity that can be achieved through music and seeks to redefine and reimagine the classical music experience. They have toured widely throughout the United States and abroad, including sold-out performances in some of the world’s most prestigious venues. This program includes music by Gershwin, Piazzolla, and Ravel. Tickets are $43 & $63 and the event will be held at the First Presbyterian Church. For more information, visit Artistseriesconcerts.org.
Calling all lovers of the expressive French horn! Sarasota Orchestra’s co-principal horn Hugo Bliss disjointed by a fellow superstar, Milwaukee Symphony’s hornist Scott Sanders whose career also began in Sarasota. Together with Joesph Holt on piano, they offer a cornucopia of remarkable music for this most magnificent instrument. The program includes Beethoven’s mighty sextet for two horns and string quartet. The performance will be held at the Sarasota Yacht Club on March 13, 2025 at 11 am. Tickets are $70. For more information, visit Artistseriesconcerts.org.
As a founding member of the Dover String Quartet, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt was awarded first prize in multiple international chamber music competitions and received two Grammy nominations. Sarasota Orchestra principal clarinetist Bharat Chandra earned a Grammy nomination for his recording with the Lincoln Trio, and Natalie Nedvetsky is a laureate of several international piano competitions who boasts over 250,000 followers on social media. Their program includes trios by Mozart, Bruch, and Robert Schumann and an arrangement of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet for viola and piano. For more information, visit Artistseriesconcerts.org.
The Ringling, in collaboration with The Circus Art Conservatory of Sarasota, presents a fantastic, jaw-dropping, fun-filled show for the entire family. The Summer Circus Spectacular showcases some of the most thrilling circus artists from around the world in performances that will entertain and delight audiences of all ages.
The Ringling , 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Friday Fest, the free, outdoor summertime concert series at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall returns with an exciting lineup of bands who will bring the audience to their feet. This year the festivities kick off in May. Each event runs from 5-9 p.m. on the lawn of the Van Wezel overlooking beautiful Sarasota Bay. Bring blankets or lawn chairs, take in the music and the sunset, and enjoy food and beverages from local vendors.
Break out your big hair and acid-washed denims and get ready to rock out with some of your favorite artists in The Planetarium. The event takes place every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from May 23 through August 31. There are various food and drink options available for purchase onsite with cash or card. Please note that Laser Light Nights involve bright, flashing lasers that may not be suitable for people with photo sensitivities. Viewer discretion is advised. Laser Light Nights are at a volume similar to a rock concert, so earplugs are recommended for those who prefer a lower volume. To learn more, visit bishopscience.org.
Enjoy the extraordinary opportunity to experience the work of contemporary artist Shinique Smith in conversation with the collection of European art at The Ringling. Unfolding across six galleries of the Museum of Art, the exhibition creates a series of unique stories that together form an abstract narrative of the parade as a metaphor for life. Well known for her monumental sculptures created from an array of materials, including luxurious textiles, personal clothing, dyed fabrics, ribbon, and wood, and for her abstract paintings of calligraphy and collage, Smiths work in this exhibition speaks to various facets of the European artistic tradition, such as classical drapery and religious iconography, while foregrounding notions of Black femininity and the history of the circus. Learn more at ringling.org.
Siesta Key Rum runs free year-round tours for guests to learn the story of the craft distillery, the awards they have won and the secret to how they make their rums taste so good. During our 30-45 minute tour we will discuss the following topics: history of Siesta Key Rum, an overview of the awards our small company has won, what makes our rums taste so good, the rum-making process from mashing and fermentation to distillation, barrel aging and bottling of our rums. After the tour, we welcome you to sample a freshly made Siesta Key Rum cocktail, stock up on your favorite rums and browse our gift shop. 2212 Industrial Blvd., Sarasota.
Visit Fresh Harvest, the newly launched weekly farmers market in Downtown Wellen. Fresh Harvest offers a selection of local goods from nearly 40 local vendors. Fresh Harvest takes place every Sunday in Downtown Wellen from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can peruse different vendor booths and stock up on a variety of goods. Vendors will offer a wide variety of locally grown and produced food, including herbs, spices, cut flowers, teas, canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, syrups, baked goods, pickled foods, fresh seafood, meats, poultry, eggs, milk and prepared food and beverages. A limited selection of craft vendors also participate in the farmers market. For a listing of participating vendors and more information on Fresh Harvest Farmers Market, visit wellenpark.com/events/fresh-harvest-farmers-market. Downtown Wellen, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice.
Experience some of the best food and flavors of the region with more than 100, and still growing, curated vendors. The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch has fast become a favorite weekly tradition for people from all over the region seeking farm-fresh produce, delicious prepared foods, and specialty items and gifts. Aside from all the goodies you can shop at the Farmers Market, find your flow in a free yoga class or have the kiddos get creative during weekly-hosted workshops. 1561 Lakefront Dr., Lakewood Ranch.
Clyde Butcher: Nature Through the Lens will be on view through August 31, 2024 at the Historic Spanish Point campus. Selby Gardens is excited to present the extraordinary imagery of photographer and conservationist Clyde Butcher throughout the grounds of the Historic Spanish Point campus. Large-scale prints on aluminum of Butcher’s beautiful photographs of plants, animals, and habitats of Florida will be exhibited amid the natural landscape of the 30-acre waterfront preserve, enabling the public to engage with the artist’s work like never before. In the tradition of earlier landscape photographers like Ansel Adams, Butcher captures the beauty and majesty of America’s natural treasures in dramatic black and white. The unique environments of Florida have been subjects of particular interest to Butcher since the 1980s, when he was first introduced to the magic and mystery of sites such as Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park. Nature Through the Lens will include Butcher’s photographs of regional locales such as Myakka River State Park and Casey Key. This exhibition is presented in partnership with the Clyde Butcher Gallery & Studio in Venice, Florida. For more information, visit selby.org.
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