Thirty years ago, the City of Sarasota asked Nancy Goodheart Matthews to design public art for a park in the heart of Downtown Sarasota. It was the sculptor’s first public art project, and she would devote a year of her life to its creation, hand-carving and installing each element herself, working herself sick in the Sarasota sun. The result—an elaborate twin-facing fountain adorned in mosaic and bas-relief friezes—would be none other than downtown’s iconic “Mermaid Fountain.” Tonight, the City of Sarasota celebrates Matthews and Mermaid Fountain, which has recently been inducted into the Smithsonian Institute’s national collection of public art sculptures, with a public event at the site. “It’s really like a dream,” says Matthews, who will be in attendance, alongside city officials and local arts leaders.

Though originally named L’Aria della Figlia Muta, the Italian was a bold choice and Matthews’ creation quickly became known for its prominent mermaid scene—a large-scale bas-relief sculpture of a mermaid rising from the water, arms spread and hair splayed out against the blue sky, flanked by frolicking dolphins and flowers in bloom. But that doesn’t mean short shrift should be given to the equally intricate scene on its opposite side, where the Tree of Life sends its seeking branches and sprawling roots in all directions, surrounded by woodland creatures like a rabbit, a boar, a bluejay and a suspiciously happy snail. Or the 30 smaller bas-relief friezes ringing the base of the fountain, the mosaic sculptures within the fountain’s basin, or the whole series of quasi-inspirational mosaic scenes laid out in the cement of the sidewalks surrounding. Matthews hand-carved every piece, triple-firing the clay and then installing it all by hand.

“It speaks to everyone in its own way,” Matthews says of the fountain’s lasting impact on the community, holding its ground and even being restored in 2017, despite development changing the skyline all around it. “It takes them away from the rational world, hopefully for just a moment, and encourages them to enter their imagination.” And careful observers will find some Jungian psychology at play in the artist’s design, with the fountain containing a male side and a female side, a conscious side and an unconscious side, an earthy side and an aquatic side. Combining them, she says, the fountain represents something whole.

Today, living in Bradenton, Matthews doesn’t see Mermaid Fountain that much. But people in town still call to tell her stories. She hears about weddings in the park and lovers’ trysts at the water’s edge, yogis meditating with the mermaid and even the time a naked woman climbed on top of the whole thing for purposes unknown. Matthews laughs at the thought. “Art is for everyone,” she says. “We need uplifting. We need to celebrate what’s beautiful and what’s around us here in Sarasota.”

The celebration for Mermaid Fountain is tonight at 7:30pm at Paul N. Thorpe Jr. Park, located at the intersection of Lemon and Pineapple Avenues. 

Pictured: Nancy Goodheart Matthews' Mermaid Fountain sits in the heart of Downtown Sarasota. Photo by Phil Lederer.

This week The Sarasota Players kicked off their 95th season with their opening production of Seussical the Musical. The family friendly musical comedy by Lynn Athens and Stephen Flaherty debuted on Broadway in 2000 and has become a favorite of regional theaters ever since. “We produced Seussical the Musical a little over a decade ago and we wanted to open this season with a big, flashy show that’s good for all ages. Everybody knows Dr. Seuss,” says Amanda Heisey, Marketing Director of  The Sarasota Players. “It’s a great show to bring the family to–it really talks about problems that are adult problems and problems that are kid problems as well. It’s also very multi-generational and features a multi-generational cast.”

Seussical the Musical, which is one of four mainstage shows in the company’s season, is a fairly ambitious production in both size and scope. A multi-generational cast of 19 actors portray a dizzying collection of characters from over a dozen Dr. Seuss stories, including The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who! and Green Eggs and Ham. The scale of the production, however, did not deter the team at The Players, who will present the musical in the round at their indoor performance space at The Crossings at Siesta Key.

“Any show for the most part can be done in a different, more creative way than what you’ve seen before. All it comes down to is core storytelling. We want to tell the story in the best way we can so that people understand and get the author’s message,” says Heisey. “I think it’s really important for theaters to not just copy off of what they saw on Broadway or in other productions. We’re working with local directors, local actors and we have to be more creative with our space. When people come to our shows, they’re going to see a production that they really wouldn’t see anywhere else.”

September 12 through 22, The Crossings at Siesta Key, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Box Office: 941-365-2494.  

Pictured: Riley Jerro as Jojo (left) and David Stein as Cat in the Hat (right). Photo courtesy of The Sarasota Players.

Don't miss the chance to see our Historic Spanish Point campus transformed into “Spooky Point" where you can follow an eerily lit path and encounter fantastic creations and bootanically-themed decorations along the way. Equal parts campy, creepy, and cute, this walk-through show is fun for all ages. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Purchasing tickets in advance is strongly encouraged -- buy yours soon to secure the dates and times of your choice.  To purchase tickets at the member price, you must log in to your Selby Gardens member account. 

For ticket information click here.

Art Center Sarasota’s 2024-2025 exhibition season opens with four exhibits, October 10-November 16. In “Echoes of Belonging,” Gabriel Ramos explores identity, community, and cultural heritage, bridging personal narratives with shared history to inspire reflection and connection. (Artist Talk is Saturday, October 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m.) In "pouring, storing and ore-ing," Amy Sanders employs utilitarian objects, focusing on vessels designed for pouring and storing. These everyday items are imbued with layers of meaning beyond their functional roles. David Fithian’s exhibition, "Faces & Places," presents a series of paintings and drawings deeply rooted in Cubism and Abstract Illusionism, where divergent and eccentric perspectives converge into dynamic compositions. (Artist Talk is Friday, November 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m.) The open, juried exhibit: "Euphoria!" invites artists to express their exuberant selves and explore diverse interpretations of the theme, capturing the essence of euphoria in a myriad of creative forms. The juror is Leslie Butterfield, an artist and designer. (The Juror’s Critique with Leslie Butterfield is Tuesday, October 22, 4 p.m.) 

Pictured: Amy Sanders - Flashy Teapot. Photo courtesy of Art Center Sarasota.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) will take audiences on a nostalgic musical journey, with Off the Charts, an original cabaret of jukebox pop favorites by Rebecca Hopkins and Richard Hopkins & Sarah Durham with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser. Previews begin on October 2, opens on October 4 and runs through February 9, 2025, in the Court Cabaret, located in the Hegner Theatre Wing at FST. In 1958, the Billboard Top 100 debuted and began to track the most popular hits week by week and the music industry changed forever.  Off the Charts celebrates the biggest hits of this revered list from the 50’s through the 90’s. Featuring hits such as “My Girl,” “When A Man Loves A Woman” “The Greatest Love of All” and “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.”  Off the Charts explores the innovation of pop music in the United States beginning with artists like Elvis, The Beatles, and The Temptations into our more recent pop musicians like Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and George Michael. A four-person ensemble will bring this distinctive sound to life in FST’s Court Cabaret: Carson Collins (FST Debut), Jarius Miquel Cliett (FST debut), Joyce Paulino (FST Debut), and Katelyn Bowman (Little Shop of Horrors, 2023). Jacquelyne Ambrosio (Up on the Roof, 2023) will replace Katelyn Bowman starting on December 10. FST’s Resident Pianist, Jim Prosser, will provide musical accompaniment on the piano. The production’s creative team includes Catherine Randazzo (Director), Darren Server (Music Direction), Ben Liebert (Choreography), Chelsea Allen (Costume Design), Andrew Gray (Lighting & Scenic Design), and Nicholas Christensen (Sound Design). Buckle up for the musical ride in Off the Charts and discover the stories behind iconic pop hits from the Billboard Top 100 from October 2 to February 9, 2025. Previews are October 2 and 3, with opening night on October 4, 2024. Single tickets start at $37.  Off the Charts is part of a three-show subscription package. Also included in the Cabaret subscription package is 59th Street Bridge, a tribute to the early folk-rock artists in the 60s and 70s, along with Divas: Time After Time, a celebration of dynamic women with fierce vocals. Subscriptions for all three Winter Cabaret shows can be purchased for as little as $59. Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale at 941.366.9000 or FloridaStudioTheatre.org. 

To learn more, visit.

Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, today announced the launch of the McNally Fellowship at the Hermitage, made possible with generous support from the Terrence McNally Foundation. This new grant is intended to support the residency of an early-career playwright. In collaboration with the McNally Foundation, the Hermitage has selected Zeniba Now as the inaugural honoree.Zeniba Now, an award-winning writer, musical storyteller, performer, and vocalist from Los Angeles, was selected for the Hermitage’s acclaimed residency program by the organization’s National Curatorial Council, a fourteen-member body that includes two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, Doris Duke Award-winning artistic director Nataki Garrett, and acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Rajiv Joseph, among other luminaries in their respective fields. She was recently named a “Woman to Watch” by the Broadway Women’s Fund. As part of Zeniba’s residency, the Hermitage will present “Zeniba Now: The Heartsong and Other Experiments” on the Hermitage Beach – Friday, October 18 at 5:30pm. The program will feature original works performed by this singularly talented artist and performer. Crossing mediums and weaving genres, Zeniba Now is introducing audiences to her unique approach to musical storytelling. Along with her work, Zeniba will offer insight into her creative process. The program will also feature remarks from Tony and Olivier Award-winning Broadway producer Tom Kirdahy (Hadestown, Gypsy, Little Shop of Horrors) and Tony Award-winning Hermitage Artistic Director Andy Sandberg. 

As part of Arts in Education Week, the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall proudly commemorate significant milestones in their ongoing commitment to enhancing arts education for local students. For more than three decades, the Foundation has been a vital philanthropic partner, supporting the city-owned Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and its educational endeavors. Together, the organizations deeply serve the community through innovative and impactful programming. Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, in collaboration with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, is transforming arts education through a diverse range of innovative programs designed to make the arts more accessible and impactful. Just last year, these efforts reached more than 38,000 students, including through the celebrated Schooltime Performances, where students experienced live performances by nationally and internationally renowned artists. Each Schooltime Performance connects to Florida's BEST Standards through engaging modules of arts-integrated lesson plans. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the After School Arts Program to expand their creativity. Seventy-eight percent of the students reported improved writing skills, and 63% said they felt more interested in the arts. One student shared, "I’ve never seen myself write this well before." The Foundation and Hall are committed to providing the very best arts-integrated professional development to area teachers as part of the John F. Kennedy Center's Partners in Education program with the School Board of Sarasota County. Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation has also prioritized family engagement through programs like Mr. Stevey & Friends, which teaches creative and emotional development through the arts. In collaboration with Newtown Nation, the Newtown Farmer’s Market, and Florida Arts and Culture, Mr. Stevey & Friends is a free community program geared towards pre-school and elementary school aged children and their families to engage in mindfulness activities and create art in all its various forms. Local artists guide participants in activities and make-and-take art projects and read-alongs. Surveys from participating families show that 100% of parents learned new ways to bring arts into their home, while 98% reported learning strategies to support their child's emotional and behavioral growth.National data underscores the importance of arts education: Students involved in the arts are five times less likely to drop out of school; Four years of arts participation can boost SAT scores by over 150 pointsLow-income students engaged in the arts are twice as likely to graduate from college compared to their peers without arts exposure. 

Pictured: Mr. Stevey and Friends events teach creative and emotional development through the arts.