SRQ DAILY Oct 25, 2024
Friday Weekend Edition
"This is a really exciting exhibition that's composed of 21 photographs and two video works by the artist"
Tickets are on sale today for “An Evening with Patti Smith and Her Book of Days,” the November 14 performance by the iconic punk rocker, poet and photographer, who will be sharing excerpts and memories from her latest book, A Book of Days, in an evening event at the Historic Spanish Point Campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. This will be the fifth performance and the latest in a string of collaborations between Selby Gardens and its first Artist-in-Residence, including a campus-wide exhibition based on A Book of Days, coming soon to the Historic Spanish Point Campus.
The hour-long “Evening with Patti Smith” promises an up-close and inside look at some of the moments captured in Smith’s best selling book of photography, which chronicles the artist’s wandering exploits—geographical and conceptual, artistic and humanistic—over the course of an entire year, through one photo a day. Inspired by Smith’s Instagram account, where eclectic posts range from the baroque and high-minded to cat pictures and palm trees, the book boosts Smith’s documentarian instincts to new heights, where photos of gravestones, train stations, guitars and cafes paint an intimate portrait of the artist’s life.
“The book is very personal,” says Selby Gardens CEO Jennifer Rominiecki. “It’s almost a journal.”
The November 14 event comes in conjunction with Selby Gardens’ latest exhibition, Patti Smith: A Book of Days, opening November 9 on the Historic Spanish Point Campus. Similarly inspired by Smith’s book, this campus-wide exhibition celebrates the artist’s connection to nature by selecting 15 of her photographs and printing them large-scale on aluminum for display across the grounds. Arranged in chronological order and with accompanying notes from the artist, the exhibition highlights the power of nature as inspiration.
“An exhibition like this really opens people’s eyes to the connection found everywhere in nature,” says Rominiecki. “And that’s what we try to do: highlight the awareness of nature in everyday experience.”
Opening November 9 on Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point Campus, Patti Smith: A Book of Days runs through August 31.
Tickets for An Evening with Patti Smith and Her Book of Days, on November 14, are on sale at selby.org. 
Pictured: Photographic excerpt from Patti Smith's 'A Book of Days.'
In the destructive aftermath of Hurricane Milton, art continues to thrive and inspire along Florida’s Cultural Coast. While visiting a museum or seeing a show may be the last thing on some people’s minds, such activities can offer respite from the turmoil the storm has brought to the area. Amongst the arts organizations that are still open after the storm is The Ringling Museum of Art, which is free to the public on Mondays.
One of the exhibitions on view at The Ringling is Jess T. Dugan: I want you to know my story. The exhibition, which debuted in August and is on view until February 22, 2025, is an exploration of Dugan’s work, a photo-based contemporary artist. “This is a really exciting exhibition that’s composed of 21 photographs and two video works by the artist. The 21 photographs are mostly portraits and then there are a few still lifes and interiors,” says Christopher Jones, The Ringling’s Stanton B. and Nancy W. Kaplan Curator of Photography and Media Art. “These are all more or less recent photographs from about 2019-2020 onwards by the artist. There are also a few portraits that are going to be unveiled for this exhibition in particular.”
What stands out about this exhibition is how Dugan frames their subjects. Much of Dugan’s work is rooted in their experience as a queer, nonbinary person and while the exhibition does explore themes of gender identity, sexuality and masculinity, it also explores the immediate world around Dugan. Dugan’s portraiture is beautiful–the way they play with light and positioning is distinct–but decidedly unglamorous. “Part of what really struck me about Jess’s photography is that the subjects are all people that Jess knows or is in their community or are friends and family. They aren’t hired models in that sense,” says Jones. “When you look at these subjects, Jess sort of brings out an aura in a lot of ways. But when you really scrutinize it, these feel like people you could see every day. They’re not like glamor subjects, but they’re all just incredibly present and there’s a depth and sensualness to them.”
August 17 to February 22, 2025, The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota.
Pictured: A 2020 image by Jess T. Dugan, Oskar and Zach (embrace). Photo courtesy of the artist.
Sarasota Opera is world-renowned for its Verdi Cycle. Between 1989 and 2016, the company undertook an ambitious project to perform all of the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s operas and other musical compositions. Sarasota Opera is the only company in the world to have achieved this, earning itself the name of Verdi’s American home. Scheduled for Nov. 15 and 17, the company will revisit that historic legacy with its Fall concert, The Music of Giuseppe Verdi. Principal Artists from the Sarasota Opera, with the Sarasota Orchestra, conducted by Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi, will present selections from Verdi’s works in concert. These selections will include well-known arias, duets and ensembles from a range of Verdi operas, nine in all, spanning most of Verdi’s career, from I Lombardi alla prima crociata (1843) to Aida (1871). In between, there will be moments from such beloved works as Rigoletto (1851), La traviata (1853) and Don Carlos (1867). Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi, a noted Verdi specialist, chose this concert’s selections for a specific reason. “There are some familiar arias and duets, but I tried to find works that aren’t often done in concert form. Like the duet from Rigoletto that ends the concert, ‘Piangi, fanciulla,’ for Rigoletto and his daughter Gilda. It’s one of the great moments in Verdi opera, but it’s not something that is usually performed outside the context of the opera,” he said. “And ‘Ella giammai m’amò,’ from Don Carlo. The man who sings it was perhaps the most important leader in the world at the time, King Philip II of Spain, but he feels the same things we do. To me, Don Carlo is one of the first works of Verismo, an opera about real people. The characters in that opera, although they are aristocrats, feel the same loves and disappointments we all experience.” Another selection to be performed at the concert is “Tardo per gl’anni e tremulo,” a duet from Attila, an epic, patriotic moment in an opera about Attila the Hun’s desire to conquer Rome.
Immerse yourself in the world of renowned Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi this fall at Sarasota Opera with a special dinner al fresco and a concert of the musician’s classic works. On November 15 and 17, Sarasota Opera will launch the 2024/25 season with a special concert, The Music of Giuseppe Verdi, featuring the Sarasota Orchestra conducted by Sarasota Opera’s Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi. The music of Giuseppe Verdi is central to the identity of Sarasota Opera, as the only company in the world to have performed all of Verdi’s operas and available works under the direction of Maestro DeRenzi, a renowned Verdi specialist. Complement your Verdi musical experience with a culinary journey to his hometown of Parma at Sarasota Opera’s first Moonlight & Melodies dinner of the season, Dinner with Verdi in Parma, on Saturday, November 16 at 6:30 PM. Please note this is a new date for the dinner, following changes to our schedule due to the impact of Hurricane Milton. Join us for an elegant evening of opera al fresco featuring a sumptuous Italian feast, and a performance by Sarasota Opera Artists, in the Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt Courtyard. Please call (941) 366-8450 ext. 813 or email SOAEvents@sarasotaopera.org for more information.
It's our end of the year exhibition! Join us at SRQ East Art Studios (SEAS) for a RAD event Saturday, November 2nd from 5-7pm. ALL DECKED OUT is a free public exhibition featuring the artworks of over 30 Florida artists where all of the works use skateboards as canvas. From realism to pop art, low brow to abstract and everything in between, your head is sure to do a 360º with all of the talent exhibited in this show!
Despite two hurricanes, It's ALIVE! 107.9 WSRZ's Monster Mash returns. Jones and Company are hosting the Ultimate Halloween Party at the Venice Community Center, powered by Badger Bob’s Services! This year in the wake of two devastating hurricanes, the party will be free, but you're encouraged to make a donation at the door to help local families impacted by the storms, here on the Suncoast. Donations boxes and QR codes will be available throughout the night to raise money for this important cause. If you cannot attend the event but wish to make a donation online, you can do so by clicking the button below.
In partnership with its parent company, Mattamy Homes, Wellen Park will dedicate its upcoming First Friday concert to support hurricane relief efforts. Mattamy Homes and Wellen Park will donate a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $10,000 for funds raised by attendees at the Friday, Nov. 1 benefit concert. The event will feature popular dance band No Filter performing on the Solis Hall stage in Downtown Wellen. While Wellen Park’s First Friday concerts are free and open to the public, attendees are encouraged to make donations at this special benefit event to support hurricane relief. Donations can be made onsite during the concert by visiting the Wellen Park tent adjacent to the Grand Lawn, and all contributions will be matched up to $10,000 by Mattamy Homes and Wellen Park. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Florida Disaster Fund, the state’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency and disaster. The concert, from 6 to 10 p.m., is on the Solis Hall stage facing the Great Lawn. Part of Downtown Wellen’s daily music series, the First Friday concert always showcases No Filter, a high-energy five-member band performing chart-topping hits from the 1970s to today.
Concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for seating on the Great Lawn. Food and beverages are available at Downtown Wellen restaurants and The Yard. To-go alcoholic beverages can also be purchased from restaurants and their mobile bars. For more information about the concert, visitwellenpark.com/events/first-fridays-nofilter-performs-live.
As our hospitality industry heals in the wake of disruptive storms, Visit Sarasota County (VSC) and community partners are encouraging local businesses to share how they’re ready to welcome residents and visitors alike through a new campaign, “Support the 941.” Locals are encouraged to post about their experiences on social media using #SupportThe941. VSC will then promote this content across its own channels to showcase the recovery and vitality of our destination.
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.
Enjoy a day of art and family fun at Sarasota Art Museum. On the second Sunday of each month, we offer free admission for visitors, special performances, and art-making activities for the whole family. To learn more, visit sarasotaartmuseum.org.
Since we opened in January, SRQ is getting to know us for our hand-tossed & crafted Pie's, Calzones, Sammies & Salads + our tasty beverages. Now you can join your buddies for what some call 'the most wonderful time of the year' - FOOTBALL SEASON! Drop in when you're strolling on Main to catch your team or join your buddies for Pie On Main's Game Watching parties, featuring Happy Hours from 4-7:00 Daily, plus our Special Sub of the Day and extensive selection of Domestic and craft taps. Ask your friendly barkeep about our Tuesday Karaoke or our sister restaurant, 3.14 Pi in Siesta Village. Convenient parking in our lot on First Street.
Pie on Main, 1507 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Cask & Ale on Main Street lifts a toast to our fabulous Jazz Brunch every Sunday from 11:00-3:00. We offer a diverse chef-prepared menu with a full spread of Brunch delectables + our rotating Chef's Special menu, Bottomless Mimosas and a wide selection of craft cocktails. And of course, sharing the good vibes of live Jazz with you from Noon-4:00!
Cask & Ale, 1548 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
The Illest of Illustration annual exhibition serves as an annual pinnacle within the artistic community of Ringling College of Art and Design, organized by the student-led club of the same name. This event stands as a vibrant showcase, spotlighting the remarkable talent and creativity emerging from the college's illustration program. Through a carefully curated selection of works, it provides a platform for students to exhibit their mastery of various illustration techniques, styles, and concepts.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34234
Euphoria is defined as an intense feeling of well-being or elation that may be sparked by exercise, music, art or even mania. Inherently, euphoria is often associated with other fierce emotions in an excited state. This exhibition invites artists to display their excited selves and their diverse reactions to the theme of euphoria
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Join us at The Bishop for Gentle Yoga with Manatees! Enjoy tranquil views of the manatees being cared for in the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat while engaging in yoga poses focused on balance, flexibility, and strength. Guests will need to bring their own yoga mats. Proceeds support the rehabilitation and return of manatees to the wild. Group size is limited to 15 participants and advance registration is required. Ages 7 and up welcome!
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205
We can already hear the sounds of the fair: the shouts of “throw wide the gates!”, laughter at our Children’s Realm, cheers during the equestrian tournaments, and the music from wandering troubadours. And who could forget the aroma of turkey legs and kettlecorn in the air? The festival as more than just an event. The Sarasota Medieval Fair brings together local artisans, performers, and vendors, and serves as a fundraiser to multiple non-profit organizations.
Woods of Mallaranny, 29847 FL-70 E. Myakka City, FL 34251
Join Charles Miano in this online workshop focused on painting figures within landscapes under studio conditions. Learn how to seamlessly integrate human forms into natural settings, creating a visual story inspired by the old masters. Discover how to manipulate light and shadow to enhance the presence of figures, creating depth and realism in your paintings. Learn how to compose dynamic scenes that balance human presence with the natural beauty of the environment.
Online, Online
Wellen Park is kicking off Southwest Florida’s wine festival season with the inaugural Wellen Park Wine Festival. The ticketed outdoor event will feature 30 vintners, a wine class for those aspiring to learn more about wine, live music, light bites and plenty of opportunities for aficionados to sip, swirl, savor and shop dozens of wines. The festival, taking place along Wellen Park Boulevard and on the Great Lawn in Downtown Wellen, celebrates distinguished winemakers and the culinary talents of Wellen Park restaurateurs. The Wellen Park Wine Festival offers an exclusive Premium Experience, beginning with a gourmet wine dinner and preview tasting Friday evening, Nov. 15. This package also includes early entry to the grand tasting Saturday, Nov. 16, from 1 to 4 pm. Aimed at elevating the festival experience, an 11am Wine Tasting 101 class will introduce the essentials of wine tasting and how to pick the right wines based on smell and taste. General admission tickets are $85 for the grand tasting event on Nov. 16. The wine class, from 11 a.m. to noon in Solis Hall, is $25.
Downtown Wellen Park, 12275 Mercado Drive, Venice
In its second year, the pickleball tournament will take place on Saturday, November 16 at Pompano Park in Sarasota from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registered singles and doubles will participate in a round robin style tournament to compete for prizes in Advanced category. 30 percent of this year’s proceeds will go to All Faiths Food Bank, designated specifically to help storm victims, with the other remaining 70 percent supporting SHS athletics.
Pompano Park, 601 S. Pompano Ave. Sarasota, FL 34237
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.
Join us for Space Saturday, the first Saturday of every month, as we explore a different topic in the world of astronomy. During Space Saturdays, you will discover an out-of-this-world activity during Backyard Science, formerly Science Sprouts, in The Mosaic Backyard Universe, explore space with a staff astronomer during KidSpace in The Planetarium, and finish your day with an astronomy-themed story during Tales Under the Tree. To learn more, visit bishopscience.org.
The inaugural exhibition, Shopliftable, will feature artworks small enough to steal by 50 of Sarasota's favorite artists, highlighting the gallery's commitment to innovative and engaging presentations. Marilyn Anderson, Mark Anderson, Joseph Arnegger, Jorge Blanco, Don Brandes, Matteo Caloiaro, Thomas Carabasi, Tom Casmer, Omar Chacon, Tylor Trobaugh Christian, Jessie Clark, Keith Crowley, Ian Dean, Jack Dowd, Linda Driggs, Regan Dunnick, Joe Fig, Gale Fulton-Ross, Sheryl Haler, Nancy Hielscher, Christina Hess, Virginia Hoffman, Cassia Kite, Keith Losh, Mike Marsicano, Noelle McCleaf, Jenny Medved, Joseph Melancon, Janna Millstone, Brooke Olivares-Caloiaro, Meg Peirce, George Pratt, Mary Grandpre, Vicky Randall, Taylor Robenalt, Jared Robison, Marina Shaltout, Eszter Sziksz, Tom Stephens, Steven Strenk, Rob Tarbell, and Rose Marjanneke Williamson.
502 Gallery, 502 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota
The Wellen Park Night Market returns the second Thursday of each month from 6-9pm offering an evening of shopping, live music and dining under the twinkling lights of Downtown Wellen. The Night Market features independent artists and makers specializing in art, jewelry, boutique fashion, home decor, bottle art, wood designs and specialty food items set up along Wellen Park Boulevard with 50 rotating vendors. Food items included rum cakes, desserts, lemonade, barbecue and vegan fare.
Wellen Park, 19745 Wellen Pk Blvd
Life in One Cubic Foot features the research of Smithsonian scientists and photographer David Liittschwager as they discover what a cubic foot of land or water—a biocube— reveals about the diversity of life on our planet. Life in One Cubic Foot is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205
Registration is open for the 2024 fall semester at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College, which offers noncredit educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons, and enrich their lives. The semester, which runs Sept. 30-Nov. 22, 2024, features more than 60 courses, lectures, workshops, and special presentations covering a wide variety of topics, including arts and entertainment, history, music appreciation, health, literature, philosophy, religion, and science.
Various Locations
The lines between books and art are definitely blurry; books inspire artists of all kinds whether it is a remarkable quote that becomes part of a painting, an inspiring passage that touches the spirit and guides the artist while they create, or even a sculpture made of books. Our language even coined phrases like “read me like an open book.” Artists are asked to share their interpretations of an “open book”.
ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th St West Bradenton, FL 34205
Season subscriptions and individual tickets are going on sale for Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's highly-anticipated 25th anniversary season, titled "25 Years of Black Heritage." The season features four mainstage productions - "Soul Crooners Solid Gold Edition," "Fences," "Five Guys Named Moe," and WBTT's first-ever tap dancing musical revue, "Syncopated Avenue"; holiday show is "A Motown Christmas." Visit westcoastblacktheatre.org to learn more about WBTT and to purchase tickets and subscriptions.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
This festive play follows new schoolmaster Ichabod Crane as he arrives in Sleepy Hollow. He contends with ghost stories, winning the heart of the wealthy Katrina, and dealing with his rival for her affections Brom Bones. And of course, we can’t forget the appearance of one of the most famous ghosts in America, the Headless Horseman. This story is based on the short story by Washington Irving.
Sarasota Polo Club, 8201 Polo Club Ln, Sarasota, FL 34240
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
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