wcw JANUARY 2024

lifelong learning
Learn something new in 2024!
Here’s a sample of the many learning experiences available
Creative Arts
◆ The Players Studio offers a diverse
set of programming for actors of all ages
and abilities that is designed to cultivate
craft, broaden the mind, and grow artis-
tic abilities. Resident teaching artists are
trained and come with a wealth of knowl-
edge and experience to help you reach
your goals as a new or seasoned actor.
If you’d like to register, email thayerg@
theplayers.org or call 941-552-8879.
Classes are held at The Players Studio,
1400 Blvd. of the Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota,
in the Rosemary District on the
second floor.
◆ ArtCenter Manatee has classes in
drawing, painting, watercolor, paper
maché, kids art, drawing for kids, jewelry
and pottery that begin in January. All
levels, day and evening classes available.
Upcoming workshops include:
Upcoming workshops include: Melissa
Nece Watercolor Pencils Workshop -
January 27
Melissa Nece Watercolor Pencils
Workshop - January 27; Melissa Nece
Colored Pencil Workshop - February 7;
Alicia Farris Watercolor Workshop: Expressive
Faces - February 1-3; Robin Poteet
Watercolor Workshop: Get Creative
with Animals - March 14-16; Torch-fired
Enamels - January 6; Slab Construction
for Raku January 5 and 24 and Electro
Forming for Jewelry - January 13 and 20.
Check out their schedule at ArtCenter
manatee.org or call 941-746-2862.
◆ Sarasota Art Museum has ceramics,
drawing, painting, photography and
more. Sarasota Art Museum is located at
1001 South Tamiami Tr., Sarasota. List of
classes is here: www.sarasotaartmuseum.org/studios.
◆ Art Center Sarasota: Watch your skill
and technique improve each week as
you learn from talented local artists and
experienced instructors. Sample classes
include painting, photography, painting,
collage, printmaking and more.
18 WEST COAST WOMAN JANUARY 2024
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami
Trail, Sarasota. 941-365-2032 or www.
artsarasota.org.
Nature and
The Environment
◆ UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County
offers EcoWalks. Here are a few.
• Unique Preserves of Sarasota County -
Sleeping Turtles North
January 19, 9-11 a.m. at 3462 Border
Road, Venice. Take a stroll through
some of beautiful and environmentally
sensitive lands that have been preserved
in Sarasota County. Learn more
about what makes these areas so unique
and important, the plants and animals
that inhabit them, how to be watershed
wise, and the management issues faced
when trying to preserve these lands for
future generations.
• Mangroves
January 23, 8:30-10:30am at Lemon Bay
Park and Environmental Center, 570 Bay
Park Blvd. Englewood
These walks will focus on learning
about the ecology of mangrove ecosystems,
identification of mangroves and
other species associated with them, and
wildlife viewing.
• Shinrin Yoku – Meditation in the Parks
January 24, 9-10 a.m. at Lemon Bay Park
and Environmental Center, 570 Bay
Park Blvd Englewood. Join in for a contemplative
walk where you can practice
mindfulness, breathwork, and using all
the senses to connect with nature. No
prior experience needed. Bring a portable
chair or towel to sit on, as there will be
stops along the trail.
Register for all these EcoWalks at ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com
only. For information,
call 941-861-9900 or email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu.
◆ The Gift of Trees
January 18 at Palma Sola Botanical Garden;
January 23 at The NEST at Robinson
Preserve and January 25 at TBD from
10-11:30 a.m. Join in for a crash course
in trees. They’ll cover the value of trees
in our communities, tree selection and
The NEST at Robinson Preserve
planting, maintenance, pruning and long
term care considerations.
• Emerson Point Preserve Tour
February 3, 9-11 a.m. (offered the first
Saturday of the month through April) at
Emerson Point Preserve, 5801 17th Street
West, Palmetto. Casually stroll through
the beautiful Emerson Point Preserve
and learn about Florida’s native plants
and inhabitants of a coastal environment.
Suitable for all ages. Meet at the
first parking area on the right at the Observation
Tower (not at the classroom).
• DeSoto/Riverview Pointe Preserve Tour
Offered on the second Saturday of the
month (through May), at 9 a.m. at 8250
Desoto Memorial Highway, Bradenton.
Casually stroll through the beautiful Riverview
Pointe Preserve and learn about
Florida’s native plants and inhabitants
of a coastal environment. Suitable for all
ages. Tour begins in the parking area of
DeSoto National Memorial Park and enters
into Riverview Pointe Preserve.
◆ The Ringling offers Bayfront Gardens
Tour through April 29, 2024. This small
group guided walking tour introduces
you to interesting botanical specimens,
while providing a historic overview of the
development of the estate. The Ringling
has over 2,350 trees representing native,
exotic, historical, and culturally signifi-
cant trees.
The tour is 90 minutes long and takes
place entirely outdoors. Participants are
encouraged to bring bottled water, and
wear appropriate footwear, and sun protection.
The tour is subject to weather
conditions and your ticket includes access
to the Bayfront Gardens for the rest
of the day. www.ringling.org/visit/tours
Learning
Opportunities
◆ Adult & Community Enrichment
(ACE) at Suncoast Technical College,
4748 Beneva Road, Sarasota.
Call: (941) 361-6590 and visit ace-sarasota.com.
Winter term begins January 22 and
continues through mid-April. The curriculum
is all about celebration: cooking
and eating foods we love, experimenting
with new art forms, travel to exotic destinations,
exploring personal expression,
and learning how to find our center.
• Celebrate the Bounty of Your Table —
ACE has snagged a top chef from the
world of celebrity cooking: Lisa Osterlindh,
whose bragging rights include
appearances on Good Morning America
and The Chew. She’ll be leading several
hands-on workshops, including an a new
series called Global Cuisine, which will
take you on a culinary adventure around
the world, from Sweden to Japan to India.
Their new kitchen will also host returning
courses such as Tapas Party, Party
Boards, Sicilian Cooking, and Fish, Fish,
Fish, as well as the wonderful combination
language/lunch courses for Italian,
French, and Spanish Conversation.
• Celebrate Your Creativity — Take Gelli
Plate Printing – a fun process that uses a
variety of papers, stencils, acrylic paints,
and whatever textures you want to use, to
produce original, one-of-a-kind artworks.
Unleash Your Inner Artist invites you
to let your intuition loose on an acrylic
painting project, and Pen and Ink: Maintaining
a Sketchbook prompts artists to
learn how to be more attentive to and appreciative
of their environment. Experiment
with Gouache, learn new watercolor,
oil, or acrylic techniques, make a mosaic,
work with glass, build a ceramic pot.
• Ready for your turn in the spotlight?
Try out Comedic Storytelling or Acting
for Non-Actors. And to develop your
voice, consider Finding Your Voice: A
Workshop for Speakers and Singers.
• Celebrate New Horizons — Lessons
From the Blue Zones teaches how to live
better longer; The Power of Purposeful
Living: Leaving a Legacy explores
what giving back means; and The Art of
Change helps us lean into the inevitability
of change. These classes provide ways
to become more thoughtful, grounded,
and peaceful.
• Love travel? Visit the Middle East this
term from the comfort of our classrooms.
Choose from Armchair Travel courses to
Turkey and Jordan and The History and
Culture of Modern Egypt, or the Travel
Discovery series, which invites you to
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