WCW-9-24

SEPTEMBER 2024 

Anne Essner 

Board Chair, 

Architecture Sarasota 

Also in this issue: 

■ UnidosNow’s Annual 

NocheUnidos 

■ Dining In - Mushroom 

Magic 

■ Events at Bookstore1 

Sarasota

Season 29 | Talent Unveiled 

Join us for a diverse range of 26 concerts featuring emerging and accomplished 

classical, chamber, jazz, and pop artists from around the globe. 

what happens when you 

don’t advertise? 

...nothing! 

Invest in your business by advertising in an affordable, 

targeted publication with a long track record... 

(941) 928-2056 

westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

September Serenade 

Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola; Bharat Chandra, clarinet; 

Natalie Nedvetsky, piano 

September 22 • 4 pm performance followed by reception 

First Presbyterian Church 

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 has performed in concerts throughout the world, 

including at the Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, and the 

Ravinia Festival. 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. 

View full concert schedule at 

ArtistSeriesConcerts.org 

Tickets: 941-306-1202 

This project is supported in part by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; The Exchange; Gulf Coast Community Foundation; 

National Endowment for the Arts; the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues; and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. 

www.WestCoastWoman.com 

2024/25 CIRCUS SEASON 

DON’T MISS THE EXCITEMENT! 

Wonderland: Illuminate 

Sat, Nov 22 - Sun, Jan 5, 2025 

An immersive joy-filled holiday circus 

experience like no other 

Sailor Circus 

75th Anniversary Jubilee Show 

Thurs, Dec 26 - Sun, Dec 29, 2024 

Our students celebrate 75 Years 

of Sarasota’s youth circus legacy 

Circus Arts Gala 

Fri, Jan 31, 2025 

Sarasota’s premier fundraiser supporting 

youth circus education & outreach 

Circus Sarasota 

Sat, Feb 15 - Sun, Mar 9, 2025 

Awe-inspiring circus talent for every age 

under the big top 

Cirque des Voix 

Fri, Mar 21 - 

Sat, Mar 22, 2025 

Circus Artists perform 

with the voices of 

Key Chorale and 

a live Orchestra 

Sailor Circus 

Spring Showcase 

Fri, April 25 - 

Sun, April 27, 2025 

Showcasing the talent 

of America’s longest 

running youth circus 

CircusArts.org 

SCAN CODE FOR TICKETS 

or CALL 941.355.9805 

TICKETS ON SALE TUES, OCT 1 

2 WEST COAST WOMAN SEPTEMBER 2024

SEPTEMBER 2024 

contents 

Editor and Publisher 

Louise M. Bruderle 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Contributing Writer 

Carol Darling 

Contributing Photographer 

Evelyn England 

Art Director/Graphic Designer 

Kimberly Carmell 

Assistant to the Publisher 

Mimi Gato 

West Coast Woman is published 

monthly (12 times annually) by 

LMB Media, Inc., Louise Bruderle, 

President. All contents of this 

publication are copyrighted and 

may not be reproduced. No part 

may be reproduced without the 

written permission of the publisher. 

Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs 

and artwork are welcome, but return 

cannot be guaranteed. 

HOW TO REACH US: 

Email: westcoastwoman@comcast.net 

Here are our columns: 

n Out & About: includes 

fundraisers, concerts, art exhibits, 

lectures, dance, poetry, shows 

& performances, theatre, film, 

seasonal events and more. 

n You’re News: job announcements, 

appointments and promotions, 

board news, business news and 

real estate news. 

FOLLOW US AT: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ 

WCWmedia 

happening 

this month 

Bookstore1 Sarasota has 

lots of events for September 

from book signings and 

author conversations to a 

variety of book clubs. She 

what’s going on. 

p14 

focus on the arts 

Arts Advocates’ September Events 

include JC Wayne’s exhibit, a Van 

Wezel tour and “An Artistic Life with 

Katherine Michelle Tanner” lecture. 

p11 

WCW 

36 

YEARS 

WCW Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 819 

Sarasota, FL 34230 

email: 


website: 

www.westcoastwoman.com 


UnidosNow has its Third Annual 

NocheUnidos. The Oct. 18 show will light up 

the Museum of Art Courtyard, bring a close 

to Hispanic Heritage Month, and kick off The 

Ringling’s Art of Performance Season. 

p18 

west coast 

WOMAN 

departments 

4 editor’s letter 

6 your health - Craniosacral Therapy 

7 Out & About - listings for things to do 

9 happening this month - Senior 

Friendship Centers’ “Joyful Journeys” 

Authors Series 

11 focus on the arts - 

Arts Advocates’ Events 

12 you’re news 

14 happening this month - Events at 

Bookstore1 Sarasota 

16 west coast woman - Anne Essner, 

Board Chair, Architecture Sarasota 

18 focus on the arts - UnidosNow’s 

NocheUnidos 

20 good news 

22 travel news 

24 dining in - September 

is Mushroom Month 

27 healthier you - The Renewal Point 

■ on the cover: Anne Essner, Board Chair, Architecture Sarasota. 

■ Image: Louise Bruderle 

SEPTEMBER 2024 WEST COAST WOMAN 3

just some 

thoughts 

Louise Bruderle 

Editor and Publisher 

West Coast Woman 

This Month’s profile: 

Anne Essner 

Board Chair 

of Architecture Sarasota 

I met Anne at her Lido Shores home which she shares with 

her husband Bob. We had met briefly before for the opening 

of the exhibit “Moderns that Matter” at Architecture 

Sarasota, the nonprofit for which she is the Board Chair. 

During her tenure, Anne helped facilitate the joining 

of Sarasota Architectural Foundation and Center for 

Architecture Sarasota into Architecture Sarasota in 2021 

Anne Essner and subsequently hired Anne-Marie Russell as its first 

Image: Louise Bruderle 

Executive Director. 

Investing in her community with her time and resources is something Anne 

has done before. She served on the Women’s Board of the Pennsylvania Academy 

of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia and was board chair of the Great Swamp Watershed 

Association, an environmental stewardship organization based in central 

New Jersey. And she’s also a director at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

But getting back to those two homes. She and Bob, own and have restored two 

significant midcentury modern homes designed by architect Paul Rudolph. The 

structures are part of Sarasota’s unique status as “home” to the Sarasota School 

of Architecture. Read more about Anne in this month’s issue. 

A Big Congrats to Erin McLeod 

Erin McLeod, President and CEO of Senior Friendship Centers, has been selected 

as the recipient of the United States President’s Volunteer Service Award – The 

Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. This honor recognizes dedication and 

service to the community over the past 20 years. 

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Dr. Jennifer 

M. Pilate, Certifying Agent for the Presidential Volunteer 

Service Award Program on behalf of the 46th President 

of the United States, Joseph R. Biden Jr., along with Vice 

President Kamala Harris. This award celebrates United 

States citizens who exemplify a high level of humanitarian 

assistance to their communities and the nation. 

Erin has dedicated two decades to enriching the lives 

of over 10,000 seniors throughout Southwest Florida. As 

only the second CEO since the organization’s founding 

in 1973, she has focused on addressing societal biases 

against aging and ensuring that seniors are respected, 

valued, and have access to essential resources. Beyond 

her work with Senior Friendship Centers, McLeod has 

always been a serial volunteer, actively contributing to 

her community from a young age through school, town, 

and church initiatives. 

Reflecting on the significance of the award, McLeod 

shares, “This award isn’t just a recognition of a lifetime’s 

work; it’s about being inspired by others and hoping to be 

inspiring. It’s about making a positive impact and seeing 

how people can lift a community, a neighborhood, and 

the world.” 

Currently, McLeod serves as a board member of the Greater Sarasota Chamber 

of Commerce, Board Chair for HCA Doctor’s Hospital of Sarasota, and on the 

Empath LIFE (PACE) Boards of Directors. 

On the state level, she is President-elect for the Florida Council on Aging and an 

active member of the Aging Society of America, the National Council on Aging, 

and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs. 

“Erin has dedicated 20 years to improving the lives of seniors in Southwest 

Florida, and we were thrilled to be a part of the nominating process and see her 

recognized nationally for this life changing work,” says Declan J. Sheehy, Chief 

Advancement Officer at Senior Friendship Centers. 

“Erin’s continued endeavor to strive toward the ‘more perfect union’ our forefathers 

envisioned makes her a deserving recipient of this honor,” says Dr. Jennifer 

M. Pilate, Certifying Agent for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award Program. 

“Her leadership and compassion serve as a powerful example of how one individual 

can make a profound difference in the community.” 

We couldn’t agree more. Congratulations, Erin! 

Making the Beach Accessible - the 

EcoRover Chair Comes to Lido Beach 

The city of Sarasota has made a 

great addition to its services by 

adding a beach-friendly accessibility 

chair for individuals with 

disabilities for public use at Lido 

Beach at no cost. 

The EcoRover is an electric 

hand-controlled wheelchair 

with all-terrain tread that can 

easily traverse sand allowing 

for independent enjoyment of 

beautiful Lido Beach. 

“It’s an amazing mobility aid,” 

said Jake Brown, City of Sarasota 

ADA Coordinator. “The EcoRover 

is like a little tank. It’s built 

Photo courtesy of the City of Sarasota 

tough to carry an individual through various terrain, including sand. So, people 

with disabilities who haven’t been able to get on the sand at Lido Beach can do so 

now with the EcoRover.” 

The EcoRover chair includes holders for an oxygen tank, umbrella and tools. An 

attendant remote control also is available, allowing a companion to walk alongside 

and control the EcoRover for someone who may not have use of their hands. 

“This is so exciting,” said Rosemary Krimbel, Citizens with Disabilities Advisory 

Board Chairperson. “The wheelchair works like a sand tractor. You can take 

it out onto the beach from Lido Beach Pavilion and enjoy the beautiful view just 

like someone without disabilities. It’s gratifying we’re able to offer this.” 

The Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board, appointed by the City Commission, 

researched the EcoRover and approved its purchase to enhance Lido Beach 

access. The $14,000 vehicle was funded through handicap parking violation fines. 

Sarasota County NAACP Announces 

2024 Freedom Awards 

The Sarasota County Branch of the NAACP has its Annual Freedom Awards Banquet 

which will take place on October 3 at 6pm. 

In its 39th year, the Freedom Awards Banquet serves as the primary fundraising 

event for the local chapter and a public forum for recognizing the outstanding 

individuals and organizations that have made exemplary contributions to our 

community and exemplify the NAACP’s mission. 

“This year’s Freedom Awards Banquet theme is The Power of the Dream: 

Justice for All, and our honorees serve as shining community examples of this 

theme in their commitment to making lives better for all living in our community 

everyday” said President Trevor Harvey. 

2024 Freedom Award Honorees: 

Lifetime Achievement Award-Dr. Florence Jackson 

President’s Award- Dr. Randall Morgan & Valerie L. Powell-Stafford 

Go Forth and Prosper Award-Jabari Williams 

Public Service Award-Chief Rex Troche 

Community Service Award-Carlos Yancy 

Education Award-Edna Sherrell 

Business and Industry Award – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 

For more information about sponsorship and tickets, call 941-355-2097. The vision 

of the NAACP is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights 

without discrimination based on race. 

Coming Up in WCW 

October is our annual Women’s Health issue and November and December are 

our Season Preview issues. Interested or need more info? Email us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. 

Louise Bruderle | Editor and Publisher | 


We welcome your thoughts and comments on this column and on other columns and features in this issue. 

You can reach us at westcoastwoman@comcast.net. We’re on the web at www.WestCoastWoman.com. 


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Caregiver’s 

Connection Coffee 

Join us for this coffee Q&A with our area's leading experts! 

August 9: Care Managers: A Caregiver's Lifeline 

with Heidi Brown, Care Manager in CRC, 10-11am 

September 13: Navigating The Caregiving Journey 

with Neema Patel, Director of Client Success, Golden Girls Solutions, in CRC 10-11am 

RSVPs 

kindly requested 

to Melanie Ellerkamp 

(941) 556-3268 

Caregiver Resource Center 

1820 Brother Geenen Way 

Sarasota 34236 

October 11: Revitalize Your Balance; Age-proof Your Stability 

with Butch Phelps, B.S., Muscle Repair Shop. This meeting in the Center Café, 9:30-10:30am 

November 8: Maintaining Caregiver Mental Health 

with Dr. Emma Ballantine, Director of Behavioral Health, Doctor's Hospital, in CRC 10-11am 

This monthly coffee is hosted in our Caregivers Resource Center and is intended to educate and support family caregivers 

in a casual setting with plenty of time for questions. Complimentary refreshments and snacks. Bring your questions! 


your healthier health you 

Craniosacral Therapy Can Be Life Changing 

CST treats the whole body physically, physiologically, mentally, emotionally and energetically 

Clients come to me because they are in physical 

pain such as neck, back, pain and TMJ as well as 

for chronic headaches and migraines. 

Pain and stress caused by 

shortened Fascia 

Fascia (strong connective tissue) encases all 

our muscles, organs, brain and spinal cord. 

Whenever fascia shortens any place in the 

body, the entire network of fascia creates an 

increased tension affecting the functioning 

of our physical body as well as our organs, 

our brain and spinal cord. 

Our body is the history of every major 

trauma we have experienced physically and 

emotionally beginning with birth issues, falls, 

head trauma, car accidents, childhood abuse 

issues, death, divorce and other emotional 

issues. Our body tries to minimize each trauma 

by shortening fascia to isolate the energy 

coming into the body from that trauma. 

Shortened fascia results in pain, loss of mobility 

and range of motion, organs becoming 

less efficient and with parts of the brain and 

spinal cord becoming stressed. 

To keep the brain functioning, the body 

transfers some of your functional work play 

energy (7:00 AM-10:00 PM) to the brain resulting 

in less energy to make it through each 

day. As we age, the accumulation of all the 

tightened fascia, from every major trauma 

in life, begins to restrict every aspect of our 

body’s functions resulting in pain, loss of mobility, 

mis-functioning organs, loss of energy, 

as well as our brain losing some its sharpness. 

How Craniosacral 

Therapy Works 

The Craniosacral Therapist creates a safe 

place, with gentle holding techniques, that 

engages your body’s ability to self correct, 

reorganize and heal itself with the release 

of some of that tightened fascia during 

each session. As the Craniosacral Therapist 

engages your body, you will feel fascia releasing. 

As the fascia releases, pain begins to 

decrease, range of motion and mobility improve, 

organs begin functioning better and 

with less stress on the brain feels, it returns 

the energy it borrowed at the time of each 

trauma resulting in an immediate increase in 

your energy levels. Rarely does anyone leave 

from my first session not feeling better. 

Short Leg Syndrome 

Eighty-five percent of my clients have one 

of their legs pulled up 1/2 to 1 by shortened 

fascia. The tension from short leg syndrome 

on the sacrum (5 fused vertebrae at bottom 

of the spine) is transferred up the dural tube 

that encases the spinal cord into the lower 

and upper back, the neck, the cranium and 

The physical stress in bodies caused by shortened 

fascia (connective tissue) shuts down 

energy flows to certain organs. Short leg syndrome 

by ½ to 1 in (where one leg is pulled up 

by shortened fascia) shuts down energy flow to 

the spleen (an important part of your immune 

system) and the small and large intestine. With 

the release of that shortened fascia, energy returns 

to these organs. 

the brain. Headaches, migraines, TMJ and 

neck problems can originate from the fascial 

stress in the sacrum. 

Releasing this sacral stress increases energy 

in the bladder, sex organs, kidneys and 

the chakras as well as releasing major stress 

in the upper part of the body. 

Cause of Shallow Breathing 

A great majority of the clients who come to 

me for various problems are also shallow 

breathers. Fascial stress in the diaphragm 

restricts the depth of breathing by restricting 

energy flow to the lungs, the pericardium 

and the heart. With the release of fascial diaphragm 

restriction, the client immediately 

starts breathing deeply and energy is restored 

to the pericardium and the heart. 

Shoulder blades that are cemented to the 

body also restricts how much the rib cage can 

open and thereby also restricting depth of 

breath. Without proper breathing, your cells 

do not get enough oxygen. Everyone, especially 

people suffering from bronchitis, asthma 

and COPD as well as shallow breathing can 

benefit when the fascial stress is released. 

Specialized Training 

to work with Brain 

Dysfunctions 

Just as the body physically gets stressed from 

physical and emotional trauma, the functioning 

of the brain is also affected by fascial stress. For 

our brains to remain healthy, we need dynamic 

production of craniosacral fluid which performs 

the important function of bringing nourishment 

to all the cells in the brain and spinal 

cord as well as cleansing all the metabolic 

wastes given off by those same cells. 

Once the craniosacral fluid cleanses these 

metabolic wastes, efficient drainage of these 

metabolic wastes into the lymph system is 

absolutely necessary. Research has shown, 

that at night, craniosacral fluid cleanses amyloid 

plaques from the brain. If the drainage 

is inefficient, then the brain is being bathed 

in a toxic slurry. How does 15 or 20 years of 

your brain being bathed in a toxic slurry 

affect you: senile dementia, Parkinson’s, 

Alzheimer’s and other brain dysfunctions? 

A Craniosacral Therapist, who has received 

training in working with the brain, can reverse 

that stress on the brain that eventually can 

result in those brain dysfunctions. As we all 

know, the proper functioning of the body is 

dependent on a healthy functioning brain. 

Babies and Children can benefit 

■ Our little boy Leo, four years of age, had a 

difficult birth and at 7 months was put on antibiotics 

for an ear infection and as a result developed 

c-diff. His development came to a stop. 

At 3 years, with the help of an OT, he started 

to walk and talk. In spite of the improvements, 

he was unable to answer questions and his 

communication skills were very poor. Leo 

had very poor muscle tone, a lot of stress in 

his body and physical activities such walking, 

jumping and climbing were difficult for him. 

Beginning with the first session with Terry, 

he began showing improvement and with each 

following session. Everyone from his teachers 

to his grandparents noticed an increase in his 

■ “I was in awful pain and the 

MRI showed 2 pinched nerves 

and stenosis. I scheduled surgery. 

My daughter suggested Craniosacral therapy. 

After only 2 visits the pain was reduced to 

advanced craniosacral about 80% and therapy I canceled the surgery. I went 

for a 3rd visit and I am about 90% better.” 

■ “Simply Amazing! One visit was all it took for 

Terry to relieve 85% of my year long, nagging 

(sometimes severe) neck/shoulder tightness/ 

pain!! My breathing improved tremendously.” 

physical strength, as well as improvements in 

comprehension, speech and communication 

skills. For the first time, he started participating 

in class lessons and interacting with his 

classmates. Terry has made a huge impact on 

getting Leo to a place a little boy should be at 

age four. We cannot thank Terry enough. 

■ Terry’s treatment helped our 6 week old 

baby boy from recent hospitalization into 

the first series of healthy bowel movements 

when seemingly nothing could help. Our son 

was able to latch onto the breast and for the 

first time completed his feeding. He was much 

calmer after working with Terry. 

■ “He was able to relieve tension that I have 

been carrying around for 15 years or more. 

I left his office table with more energy than I 

have had in years.” 

■ “I began working with him because I was 

dealing with anxieties, depression and lots of 

emotional pain inside and out. You don’t realized 

how much stress can cause damage to 

your body, mind and soul. I can say Terry was 

a big help.” 

Terrence Grywinski 

of Advanced 

Craniosacral Therapy, 

B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049 

Testimonials from Clients 

SOURCE: 

■ Terrence Grywinski of Advanced Craniosacral Therapy, 

B.A., B.ED., LMT #MA 6049. Terry has specialized in Craniosacral 

Therapy since 1994 when he began his training at the Upledger 

Institute. Described by his teachers, clients and colleagues 

as a “gifted healer”, Terry’s intuitive sense and healing energy 

provides immediate and lasting relief from injury, pain, mobility 

issues as well as dysfunctions of the body and the brain. Part 

of Terry’s ongoing education, he has completed 4 craniosacral 

brain and peripheral nervous system classes which enables him 

to work at a cellular 

level and with brain 

dysfunctions. 

Call 941-321-8757 

for more information, 

Google Advanced 

Craniosacral 

Therapy. 

■ “On a recent vacation to Siesta Key, I re-injured 

my back. I found Terry online. I can say 

with complete joy that was the best decision 

I made in the history of my back pain. I have 

sought many modalities and visit a CST regularly 

and never have I had such a healing in 

my entire body. 

After 3 sessions, I made a 16-hour drive 

home with no pain or discomfort in my entire 

body. Unbelievable. My body has a sense of 

moving freely and that is completely new. I’m 

advanced craniosacral therapy 

so grateful to Terry for his knowledge, for his 

sensitivity to my needs and his kind generosity 

in healing my body. I will see him when I return 

next year.” 

■ “I am a snowbird who spends 7 months 

in Sarasota. I have had back problems for 25 

years. Terry’s techniques have led to a great 

deal of release and relief in areas that have 

been problematic. I have been seeing him over 

the years when my body says ”it’s time”. Usually 

after a few sessions, I can tell a huge difference.” 

6 WEST COAST WOMAN SEPTEMBER 2024 

PAID ADVERTORIAL

out &about 

Special Events 

UF/IFAS Extension Manatee 

County Master Gardener Volunteers 

plant sale is on October 5 at the 

Barbara Davis Educational Gardens 

(1303 17th St W, Palmetto) from 8 a.m. 

- noon. Get the best selection of plants 

and beat the rush with one of our early 

bird tickets. Starting at $10 per person 

or $15 per family, the early bird ticket 

allows you access to the plant sale 

from 8-9a.m. Regular entry begins at 

9a.m. and is free. Pre-registration is 

required on Eventbrite. 

Experienced, university-trained 

MGVs will be available to answer 

questions about the plants they’ve 

grown and make recommendations 

based on your specific needs and site 

conditions. The sale offers affordably 

priced plants, a unique selection, and 

the opportunity to meet and chat with 

other green thumbs. 

Proceeds go to the operation and 

maintenance of the Master Gardeners’ 

Educational Gardens and Greenhouse, 

and to support Master Gardener educational 

and outreach programs. 

▼ 

“It’s the Green Pumpkin! Registration 

is is now open for the 13th 

Annual Tour de North Port, a scenic 

on-road organized bicycle ride fundraiser 

sponsored by People for Trees, 

a non-profit native tree advocacy 

group since 1997. Choose 15/35/65 

miles. Held on October 20. Group 

starts begin at 8am from Imagine 

School, 2757 Sycamore St. North Port. 

Breakfast, lunch, fully-stocked rest 

stops, support and gear (SAG), SWAG 

bag, t-shirt. Cost: $60 (9/1-10/18), $65 

at the door. Pre-registration closes 

October 18 at midnight. To register/ 

info: www.peoplefortrees.com or call 

(941) 468-2486. 

▼ 

Skyway 2024: A Contemporary 

Collaboration runs through January 

26, 2025. The exhibit is a partnership 

between five arts institutions in 

the Tampa Bay area celebrating the 

region’s artistic practices. Working 

together, curators from each institution 

(The Ringling, the Museum of 

Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida, the 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College, 

the Tampa Museum of Art, Inc., 

and the USF Contemporary Art Museum) 

offer context for the diversity of 

art being made in Hillsborough, Manatee, 

Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota 

counties. Held at The Ringling. www. 

ringling.org 

▼ 

ALSO Youth has their 2024 

Expressions Exhibition on Thursday, 

September 5 at the Sarasota Opera 

House. This community event is an 

opportunity to celebrate the talents 

of young LGBTQ+ youth artists and 

take home incredible pieces of artwork 

from local professional artists! This 

special one-night artistic exhibition 

displays the creative works of LGBTQ+ 

youth ages 10-24 in addition to a 

unique and diverse art auction with 

works from professional local artists. 

www.alsoyouth.org/expressions-exhibition 

▼ 

The Pops Orchestra 

The Pops Orchestra presents a 

recital-style program featuring The 

Stiletto Brass on Friday, September 

27 at 7:30 p.m. in Holley Hall in the 

Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 

709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

This recital-style concert titled 

▼ 

“Struttin with the 

Stiletto Brass” will 

feature several selections 

in the “struttin’” 

theme, including 

original compositions 

for brass quintet, 

such as a piece 

by trumpeter and 

composer Jens Lindemann 

about dodging 

taxi cabs in London 

called “When a Body 

Meets a Body,” “Central 

Park in the Morning” 

by David Chesky, 

and “Struttin’ 

with Some BBQ” by 

composer Kenneth 

Abeling. 

Other selections 

include a fantasy 

variation arrangement 

on George Gershwin’s 

“Summertime” 

that the Stiletto 

Brass first performed 

with Doc Severinsen, 

featuring 

recent Sarasota transplant and retired 

trumpet teacher at the University of 

Kentucky, Vincent DiMartino, and 

another Gershwin favorite, “Someone 

to Watch Over Me.” 

Formed in 2010, the Stiletto Brass 

features five women from the U.S. with 

careers spanning the fields of symphony 

orchestra, professional and military 

wind bands, university faculty members, 

and solo artists. Its diversified 

repertoire includes new music by leading 

composers of our time, as well as 

classical and popular selections from 

the Baroque period to Gershwin. 

Tickets are available at www. 

ThePopsOrchestra.org or call 941- 

926-7677. 

Fun Raisers 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has 

its Artful Lobster benefit on November 

9, from 11:30am to 2pm. Now in 

its 16th year, this outdoor event raises 

funds for the Hermitage’s artist residency 

program. 

The Artful Lobster is the only Hermitage 

benefit to take place on the 

grounds of the historic Gulf front campus 

– outdoors beneath a large tent – 

located at 6660 Manasota Key Road in 

Englewood. Michael’s On East offers a 

lobster feast, with performances from 

award-winning Hermitage Fellows. 

For more information, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

▼ 

Key Chorale, will bestow its 2024 

Perfect Pitch Award to Selby Gardens’ 

President & CEO, Jennifer O. 

Rominiecki who began her tenure as 

President and Chief Executive Officer 

of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 

February 2015. 

Rominiecki has also overseen the 

creation and execution of a five-year 

Strategic Plan, a new three-year 

Strategic Plan, as well as an innovative 

Master Site Plan for which more 

than $57 million has been raised. In 

May 2020, she oversaw the adoption 

of Historic Spanish Point as a companion 

campus to Selby Gardens’ 

Downtown Sarasota location to form 

one organization with two bayfront 

sanctuaries connecting people to air 

plants of the world, native nature, and 

regional history. 

Revel in the natural beauty of 

the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on 

▼ 

The Pops Orchestra presents a recital-style program featuring The Stiletto Brass on Friday, 

September 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Holley Hall. Tickets: www.ThePopsOrchestra.org or call 941-926-7677. 

November 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 

p.m., 1534 Mound Street, Sarasota, 

to celebrate the impact that choral 

music can have throughout life, from 

youth to adulthood, affecting our lives, 

careers, and communities. 

Guests will be welcomed with a performance 

by the Key Chorale Chamber 

Singers and the 2024-25 Student Scholars.Tickets: 

www.KeyChorale.org. 

Run for the Kitties from Wherever 

You Call Home. Cat Depot invites 

you to join them in their 5th Annual 

Virtual Fall Feline Fun Run in support 

of the cats and kittens they serve 

each year. 

Registration is $25 per registrant. 

Registration closes on October 31. www. 

runsignup.com/Race/FL/Sarasota. 

All proceeds raised benefit Cat 

Depot’s Community Cat program. 

Packet pick-ups will be scheduled for 

dates in September and October 2024 

at Cat Depot’s Community Center 

(2525 17th St, Sarasota. 

Packets include participants’ souvenir 

race bib, personalized certificate of 

participation, and if purchased, commemorative 

medal. 

The run/walk is held virtually each 

year to ensure more funds are allocated 

to our lifesaving work. Participants can 

complete the run of their choice at their 

leisure anytime through October 31. 

Participants can then upload their time 

online for it to be counted towards the 

final race standings if they choose. 

▼ 

Artist Series 

Concerts of Sarasota 

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota 

will present 26 concerts during its 29th 

season, Talent Unveiled. The season 

runs from September 22 through May 

8, 2025 and offers a diverse range of 

musical experiences featuring emerging 

and established classical, jazz, 

pops, and chamber artists. 

The season opens September 22 

with a concert in the Sunday Best 

series presented at First Presbyterian 

Church in Sarasota at 4 p.m. September 

Serenade features violist Milena 

Pajaro-van de Stadt, clarinetist Bharat 

Chandra, and pianist Natalie Nedvetsky 

in a program of trios by Mozart, 

Bruch, and Robert Schumann, and 

an arrangement of Prokofiev’s Romeo 

and Juliet for viola and piano. 

▼ 

Tickets: visit ArtistSeriesConcerts. 

org or call (941) 306-1202. 

Key Chorale 

Key Chorale’s 40th Ruby Jubilee 

season starts on September 21 with 

“On Our Way”, a celebration of Gospel 

music, and a little jazz too. The Stephen 

Lynerd Group, made up of some 

of the most sought-after session musicians 

in the country, combine with 

Jamal Sarikoki at the Hammond B-3 

organ, in an upbeat program of Gospel 

music and a little jazz too. Visit www. 

keychorale.org or call (941) 552-8768. 

▼ 

The Great Outdoors 

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota 

County has these classes: 

• September 4, 5-5 p.m. — Florida- 

Friendly Landscaping for Wildlife 

and Pollinators. Wildlife and pollinator 

gardens are a vibrant addition 

to any landscape, and a vital way for 

homeowners to help protect dwindling 

populations. 

Learn how to attract birds, bees, 

butterflies and other small animals 

to your landscape, and how to design 

a beautiful wildlife garden. Explore 

Florida-Friendly techniques for creating 

the right conditions and growing 

the best plants to make your yard a 

haven for animals and humans alike. 

Plants suitable for Sarasota County 

will be emphasized. Register only at 

ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com. 

Location: 13800 Tamiami Trail, 

North Port. Instructor: Forest Hecker, 

Florida-Friendly Landscaping Specialist, 

Sarasota County. For questions 

or further information, call 941-861- 

5000 or email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu. 

▼ 

• September 7, 10 a.m. to noon —History 

in the Park: Dr. C. B. Wilson 

House Open House. Location: Urfer 

Family Park, 4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota. 

Take a self-guided tour through 

the historic Dr. C.B. Wilson House 

to learn about the house, the Wilson 

family and other historical aspects of 

Sarasota County. Volunteer docents 

are onsite to guide you through the 

house. Call 941-861-5000. 

• September 13, 9-10 a.m. Florida 

Scrub-Jay in Peril. Location: Lemon 

Bay Park and Environmental Center, 

570 Bay Park Blvd., Englewood. The 

state and federally threatened Florida 

scrub-jay is the only species of bird 

unique to Florida. Why have the numbers 

been on the decline and is there 

anything we can do to help? Join Park 

Specialist Sean McGrail as he teaches 

us about Florida scrub-jays and their 

disappearing habitat. 

• September 29 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. 

National Public Lands Day. Location: 

Phillippi Estate Park, Sarasota. 

Help improve Phillippi Estate Park by 

weeding, pruning, removing nuisance 

plants, planting native plants and paving 

a path for a new trail. 

Bring loppers or hand pruners, 

a shovel, gloves, a hat, sunglasses, 

water, bug spray and sunscreen. Wear 

shoes such as hiking boots or sneakers. 

Bring a refillable water bottle, 

water and snacks will be provided. 

Register at SarasotaCountyParks.com 

or call 311. All ages welcome. 

Sarasota Orchestra 

Masterworks: 

• “Sounds of Nature” Nov. 8-10, Van 

Wezel. Rune Bergmann is joined by 

violinist Vadim Gluzman playing 

the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in a 

program that also includes Sibelius’ 

“Finlandia,” Respighi’s “The Pines of 

Rome” and Finnish composer Einojuhani 

Rautavaara’s “Cantus Arcticus.” 

• Discoveries: 

• At Sarasota Opera House, “Gershwin’s 

American Dream” is on Oct. 

5. David Alan Miller leads this program 

that features works by George 

Gershwin and composers he may 

have influenced. It includes Gershwin’s 

Piano Concerto in F Major, and 

pieces by Leonard Bernstein, Morton 

Gould, Viet Cuong, Dana Suesse and 

Michael Dougherty. Pianist Kevin 

Cole is the guest soloist. 

• Great Escapes: 

• Light classics mixed with pop favorites 

in a casual setting. Floor seats are 

at tables with refreshments in Holley 

Hall, “Reel Intrigue,” Oct. 16-19. 

Matthew Troy conducts a concert 

of music from theater and movies, 

including “Murder on the Orient 

Express,” “Vertigo,” “Chicago” and 

“The Phantom of the Opera.” 

• Intimate programs presented in 

Holley Hall: 

• “Baroque Banquet” Sept. 29. Francois-Andre 

Danican Philador’s March 

for Two Paqirs of Timpani,” Bach’s 

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and 

William Byrd’s Earl of Oxford March; 

“Mendelssohn and Maslanka” 

• Oct. 13 Felix Mendelssohn’s String 

Quartet Quartet No. 6, Eric Ewazen’s 

“Frost Fire” for Brass Quintet and 

the Sarasota Wind Quintet performs 

David Maslanka’s Wind Quintet No. 4. 

For tickets: 941-953-3434; sarasota 

orchestra.org 

▼ 

At Bookstore1 

Sarasota 

September 18—Tertulia Latina: 

An Evening of Spanish literature and 

music featuring poet Clara Eugenia 

Ronderos. A “tertulia” is a social gathering 

with literary/artistic overtones. 

Come hear from local Latin American 

authors as they share their work while 

accompanied by live instrumental 

guitar. Immerse yourself in the bohemian 

ambiance, enjoy some snacks or 

a beverage, and join us in a celebration 

of beauty and diversity. 

This collaborative event is produced 

by CreArte Latino Cultural Center 

and Bookstore1Sarasota. CreArte 

Latino Cultural Center was founded 

in 2012 as a creative hub for the Latino/Hispanic 

community in Sarasota 

continued on page 8 

▼ 


out and about continued 

and Manatee Counties. The nonprofit 

organization seeks to forge a bilingual 

cultural exchange between Latinos/ 

Hispanics and the community at 

large through the arts and education, 

including theater productions, book 

clubs, classes, workshops, and collaborations 

with artists from the area and 

throughout Latin America. 

Clara Eugenia Ronderos is a Colombian 

poet, short story writer, and literary 

critic. In 2010 she won the Carmen 

Conde Poetry Award (in Spanish) for 

her book Estaciones en Exilio (Madrid, 

Torremozas), in 2012 she published 

her second volume of poetry Raíz del 

Silencio with Universidad de los Andes, 

Colombia. Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. 

Pineapple Ave. Sarasota. Registration: 

www.sarasotabooks.com. 

At the Van Wezel 

Coming up: 

• September 20: Friday Fest. K-Luv 

and The United Funk Foundation. 

This is part of their Friday Fest, the 

free, outdoor summertime concert 

series. The event runs from 5-9 p.m. 

and is located on the lawn of the 

Van Wezel. Bring blankets or lawn 

chairs, take in the music and the 

sunset, and enjoy food and beverage 

from local vendors. 

Coming up (partial list): 

• Billy Ocean to Sarasota on October 

15 

• The Life and Times of George 

Michael on October 20 

• Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock ‘n’ Roll 

Part VI November 7 

• Dave Koz and Friends 2024 Christmas 

Tour December 1 

• The Four Phantoms in Concert 

December 18 

• Top Of The World – A Carpenters 

Christmas Show December 20 

Future updates on shows and productions 

can be found at www.Van- 

Wezel.org 

▼ 

The Hermitage 

Hermitage Artist Retreat on 

Manasota Key has an exhibit features 

work across a range of media, including 

sculpture, painting, installation, 

video, photography, printmaking, 

ceramics, and textiles. Artists include: 

Diana Al-Hadid, Sanford Biggers, Chitra 

Ganesh, Todd Gray, Trenton Doyle 

Hancock, Michelle Lopez, Ted Riederer, 

John Sims, Kukuli Velarde and William 

Villalongo 

▼ 

• The Truth of the Night Sky: A Hermitage 

Collaboration featuring the 

work of Hermitage Fellows Anne Patterson 

and Patrick Harlin is on display 

through September 29. 

Multidisciplinary visual artist Anne 

Patterson and composer / soundscape 

artist Patrick Harlin have joined forces 

to develop this one-of-a-kind immersive 

experience. 

The exhibition will feature several 

works by Patterson, expanding upon 

Harlin’s original composition Earthrise, 

an orchestral piece inspired by 

the eponymous 1968 photograph 

taken by Apollo 8 astronaut William 

Anders on humanity’s first-trip 

around the moon. 

Free and open to the public with a 

$5 fee. Registration required: HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

At The Ringling 

The John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art has this exhibit: 

▼ 

• Radical Clay: Contemporary 

Women Artists 

from Japan through 

Apr 6, 2025 in the Chao 

Center for Asian Art. 

Radical Clay is an exhibition 

of 41 ceramic 

sculptures by 36 contemporary 

Japanese artists, 

all of whom happen 

to be women. 


• Through January 

5, 2025, there are 

multi-gallery installation 

places featuring the 

work of contemporary 

artist Shinique Smith in 

direct dialogue with historic 

European art, a first 

in Smith’s career. 

Several of her largescale 

sculptures, along 

with smaller works, will 

be displayed in the permanent 

collection galleries 

of the Museum of Art. 

The exhibit speaks to the 

European artistic tradition 

revealing the universality 

of human experience explored by 

artists throughout time while also foregrounding 

notions of Black femininity 

and the history of the circus. 

• Joseph’s Coat: A Skyspace by James 

Turrel runs through October 31, 2024 

in the Searing Wing. Joseph’s Coat: 

A Skyspace is a triumph of technology, 

engineering, and aesthetics. The 

Skyspace, created by internationally-renowned 

artist James Turrell, is a 

gathering place for contemplation and 

offers a unique experience. 

At sunset, a sophisticated system 

of LED lights is employed to change 

the color of the space. In doing so, the 

artist changes the context in which 

we view the sky through the 24 foot 

aperture in the ceiling, affecting our 

perception of the natural environment 

and the surroundings. 

As we gaze up at the sky we are invited 

to contemplate light, perception, 

and experience. Door opens approximately 

20 minutes prior to sunset. Program 

begins at sunset and lasts one 

hour. Yoga mats are encouraged. Dress 

for outdoor conditions. 

Tickets: ringling.org. The John and 

Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 

Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota. 

Theatre 

Florida Studio Theatre has these 

shows: 

• The Four C Notes - Recreating the 

Music of Frankie Valli and the Four 

Seasons runs to October 13 in FST’s 

Goldstein Cabaret. Four guys, vintage 

dance moves, and a trip down memory 

lane with the Frankie Valli and the 

Four Seasons catalog. Featuring all of 

your favorite hits, including: “Big Girls 

Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t 

Take My Eyes Off You,” and “Let’s 

Hang On.” 

• Bringing the Summer Improv Season 

to a close is FST Improv Presents: 

Comedy Lottery, where twelve 

audience members select the night’s 

lineup of games. Once the games have 

been selected, FST Improv cast members 

spin scenes, sketches, and songs 

to win over the audience’s laughter. 

Comedy Lottery plays Saturdays in 

FST’s Bowne’s Lab to September 28. 

Location: 1241 North Palm Ave., 

Sarasota. Tickets: www.floridastudiotheatre.org. 

▼ 

502 Gallery, Sarasota’s 

newest art gallery located 

in the Historic Burns Court 

District opens with inaugural 

exhibition Shopliftable 

which runs to November 9. 

Back for the fifth year and taking 

place at Urbanite Theatre, the Modern 

Works Festival is a five-day playwriting 

contest, reading festival, and 

celebration of women in theatre running 

September 4-8. 

Three finalists will be selected by a 

panel of play readers to present their 

work as a staged reading during the 

Festival. The Festival will culminate 

in an audience roundtable discussion. 

Festival Passholders will have 

the opportunity to cast a vote for their 

favorite of the three works, awarding 

the winner a prize of $3,200. 

More info: https://www.urbanitetheatre.com/mwf. 

Urbanite is located at 

1487 2nd Street, Sarasota. 

▼ 

Sarasota Players has Seussical the 

Musical. Book by Lynn Ahrens and 

Stephen Flaherty; music by Stephen 

Flaherty with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. 

Co-Conceived by Eric Idle and based 

on the works of Dr. Seuss. Runs September 

12-22. 

Seussical is a fantastical, magical, 

musical extravaganza. The colorful 

characters transport us from the Jungle 

of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to 

the invisible world of the Whos. 

Held at The Crossings at Siesta 

Key3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, 

Sarasota, https://theplayers.org/ 

shows/2024-25-season/ 

▼ 

Manatee Performing Arts Center 

has Decades Rewind-Jukebox Revolution. 

Experience the greatest music 

of the 60s, 70s, and 80s and beyond on 

September 10. Jukebox Revolution is 

a high-energy concert and party experience 

that features disco, funk, rock, 

Motown, and pop hits that defined 

the best period in music history. With 

more than 60 songs, the show is the 

live music experience 

• The Fantasticks is a funny and 

romantic musical about a boy, a girl, 

and their two fathers who try to keep 

them apart. The boy and the girl fall 

in love, grow apart, and finally find 

meaningful love punctuated by a 

bountiful series of catchy and memorable 

classic songs. Runs September 

19-29. 

Manatee Performing Arts Center, 

502 Third Ave., W, Bradenton. www. 

manateeperformingartscenter.com. 

▼ 

Selby 

Gardens 

The Florida Highwaymen: 

Interstate 

Connections is at the 

Downtown Sarasota 

campus. View landscapes 

of the Sunshine 

State produced by the 

Highwaymen, a group 

of African American 

painters active in Fort 

Pierce on Florida’s 

east coast beginning 

in the mid-1950s. The 

exhibition celebrates 

the achievements of 

these talented artists, 

while also making 

connections between 

their remarkable story 

and the experience of 

the African American 

community in Sarasota 

in the middle decades 

of the 20th century. 

Presented in collaboration 

with the Sarasota 

African American Cultural Coalition. 

More info at selby.org 

▼ 

At The Galleries 

At Define Gallery, prepare to be 

dazzled by the gleaming allure of 

“Metallic Mirage,” an exhibition 

showcasing the transformative power 

of metallic elements in contemporary 

art. This showcase highlights the creations 

of visionary artists, alongside 

the works of talented artists from 

across the country who were juried 

into the exhibit. 

Together, they explore the captivating 

realm of metallic mediums. 

The interplay of light, texture, and 

form in these artworks creates a captivating 

mirage of reflections and 

illusions that promises to inspire all 

who attend. 

Closing reception: September 6, 

6-8 p.m. The exhibition will run to 

September 26. For information, visit 

www.definegallery.com 

▼ 

Island Gallery and Studios featured 

artist for September is well 

known photographer, David Tejada. 

His theme is “Harmony: Lines, 

Shapes and Color.” 

Tejada states, “I chose this theme 

because these three important elements: 

lines, shapes and color are 

the foundations to strong graphic 

images. I invite viewers to see the 

world through a different perspective, 

to appreciate the inherent 

artistry in the world around us. 

Photography, to me, is a dance with 

light and shadow, an exploration of 

patterns and contrasts, and a celebration 

of the fleeting moments that 

often go unnoticed.” 

Island Gallery and Studios is located 

at 456 Old Main Street in downtown 

Bradenton. For information, visit 

www.islandgalleryandstudios.org 

▼ 

502 Gallery, Sarasota’s newest art 

gallery located in the Historic Burns 

Court District opens with inaugural 

exhibition Shopliftable which runs 

to November 9. Small artworks can 

have a significant impact and this 

exhibition, will feature artworks 

small enough to steal by 50 of Sarasota’s 

favorite artists, highlighting the 

gallery’s commitment to innovative 

▼ 

and engaging presentations. They’re 

at 502 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 

Info: https://www.502.gallery/ 

The City of Sarasota’s Cultural 

Heritage exhibit in the City Hall atrium 

has been refreshed with 20-24 new 

Florida Highwaymen paintings. 

The exhibit is on loan from Roger 

Lightle, a Highwaymen art collector 

and owner of Highwaymen Art Specialists, 

Inc. in Vero Beach, Florida. 

Since the late 1990s, Lightle has collected 

approximately 700 Highwaymen 

paintings, amassing one of the 

most relevant collections of the genre. 

The Florida Highwaymen were a 

group of 26 Black artists known for 

capturing the untouched Florida landscape 

in vivid color. Widely credited 

for beginning Florida’s contemporary 

art tradition, they sold their artwork 

door-to-door and from the trunks of 

their cars due to racial barriers preventing 

them from exhibiting through 

traditional means. The 26 original 

Highwaymen were inducted into the 

Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004. 

The exhibit is free and open to the 

public during regular City Hall hours, 

Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Visit www.Sarasotafl.gov/Florida- 

Highwaymen. 

▼ 

Art Center Sarasota 

• Cycle 7: to September 28. 

• Precious Darling will present an 

exhibition that explores the complexity 

of femininities and its relation to 

objectification through photography 

and sculpture. 

• Boys & Girls Club: Art Center Sarasota 

and Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee 

County (BGCMC) have teamed 

up to present a special exhibition of 

artwork created by BGCMC members. 

ACS youth instructors will guide these 

young artists in the creation of works 

inspired by the Annual Juried Regional 

Show on view during the summer 

of 2024. Showcasing a variety of styles, 

media, and expression, these unique 

pieces will reflect the artistic voices of 

our youngest generation. 

• Tanner Simon will present an 

installation of his large-scale paintings 

that explore the intersection of 

humor, seriousness, and the absurd. 

This installation invites viewers to 

engage with the dynamic relationships 

and visual conversations that 

emerge between imagery and paintings 

in space. 

• Juried Show: “Flora & Fauna” 

invites artists to celebrate characters 

of the natural world, real and imagined, 

living and extinct, peaceful and 

poisonous. The juror is David Berry, 

vice president for visitor engagement 

and chief museum curator at Selby 

Gardens. 

Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami 

Trail, Sarasota. Info: www. 

artsarasota.org 

▼ 

Ringling College Galleries has 

these exhibitions: 

• “Our People, Our Places” - The 

Artistic Journey of Matteo Caloiaro & 

Brooke Olivares runs to October 18 in 

the Patricia Thompson and Skylight 

Alumni Galleries. Opening reception: 

October 11, 5-8pm; free and open to 

the public 

Featuring the captivating paintings 

of husband-wife duo Matteo Caloiaro 

and Brooke Olivares, both distinguished 

alumni of Ringling College of 

Art and Design, this showcase unveils 

a mesmerizing fusion of their distinct 

yet harmonious styles. 

▼ 

continued on page 10

happening this month 

Our 49th Season 

Senior Friendship Centers 

Continues “Joyful Journeys” 

Authors Series 

Free, monthly series celebrates the art 

of storytelling and highlights local authors 


continues its popular monthly 

authors series, “Joyful 

Journeys.” This free series celebrates 

the art of storytelling and 

highlights local authors. Each month, “Joyful 

Journeys” features a different author 

who will share their unique insights, captivating 

stories, and personal experiences. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to 

engage in discussions, participate in Q&A 

sessions, and connect with fellow literature 

enthusiasts. These monthly events are on 

Thursdays, 5-6:30 p.m., at Senior Friendship 

Centers, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, 

Sarasota. 

Upcoming sessions in the 

Joyful Journeys series include: 

• Thursday, September 19, 5-6:30 p.m.: 

“Transition Surprises 101 with Nancy 

Schlossberg, EdD, author of “Too 

Young to Be Old: Love, Learn, Work, 

and Play as You Age. Nancy Schlossberg, 

a 95-year-old author 

and life transition 

guru, discusses 

navigating 

life’s transitions 

with grace and resilience. 

For more 

than 50 years, 

Schlossberg has 

dedicated herself 

to helping others 

to grow and better 

themselves— 

as a distinguished 

educator and 

administrator in 

the field of counseling 

psychology 

for nearly four de- 

Nancy Schlossberg 

cades, the leader of a successful consulting 

firm, the author of 10 self-help books, and a 

renowned speaker, lecturer, and motivator. 

Schlossberg has earned such honors 

as the Eminent Career Award from the 

National Career Development Association 

and a Distinguished Alumna Award 

from the Teachers College at Columbia 

University. She was also named a Senior 

Scholar by the American College Personnel 

Association and as one of the “Women of 

Distinction for Outstanding Contribution 

to Literature or Research” by the National 

Association for Women Deans, Administrators 

& Counselors. Attributing her success 

to persistence, having a purpose, being a 

team player, and utilizing humor no matter 

the situation, she is motivated to continue 

speaking, writing, and helping others 

through her work. 

• Thursday, September 26, 5-6:30 p.m.: 

“Transition Surprises 102 with Nancy 

Schlossberg, EdD, author of “My Path 

My Transitions.” In this session, Nancy 

Schlossberg, a 95-year-old renowned 

author and life transition guru, will focus 

on teaching the theory so students can 

understand and creatively manage their 

own transitions. Discover how to take the 

mystery—if not the misery—out of change. 

Walk away with a deeper understanding of 

transitions. Don’t miss out on this chance 

to gain valuable insights and guidance from 

a living legend! For more than 50 years, 

Schlossberg has dedicated herself to helping 

others to grow and better themselves— 

as a distinguished educator and administrator 

in the field of counseling psychology 

for nearly four decades, the leader of a 

successful consulting firm, the author of 

10 self-help books, and a renowned speaker, 

lecturer, and motivator. “Nancy is one 

of the most ageless individuals I’ve ever 

known. She has maintained friendships, 

relationships, and interests that have kept 

her on the go and kept her mind flexible 

and absorbent,” says Senior Friendship 

Centers’ President/CEO Erin McLeod. She 

adds, “Nancy is the perfect example of an 

individual that redefines aging.” 

• Thursday, October 24, 5-6:30 p.m.: 

April Lynn James, PhD, author of “The 

Tenth Muse: How Maria Antonia Advanced 

the Pastoral Opera.” Reviewers 

call “The Tenth Muse: How Maria Antonia 

Advanced the Pastoral Opera,” “delightfully 

readable,” “educational and satisfying,” and 

“the perfect gift for a follower of the art of 

opera or history.” Take a captivating trip 

to the opulent courts of 18th-century Munich 

and Dresden, and meet Maria Antonia 

Walpurgis Symphorosa, known during her 

lifetime 

as “The 

Tenth 

Muse” for 

her accomplishments 

in 

multiple 

areas 

of the 

arts and 

for her 

visionary 

patronage 

of the 

April Lynn James 

arts. James brings this nearly forgotten figure 

to life in the first book-length biography 

in English about the princess who would 

become Electress of Saxony. Filled with 

anecdotes, musical illustrations, and quotes 

from letters by and about Her Highness, this 

biography reveals a figure who went beyond 

the expectations for a woman of her station 

to become a role model for many. 

Affectionately known as the “Ph Diva,” 

James is a classically trained soprano with 

a PhD from Harvard. Although she grew 

up taking vitamins and doing yoga, only 

during her doctoral studies did she begin 

her wellness journey to heal from stress-induced 

weight gain, depression, and tendonitis. 

The “Decade of Awfulness” following 

graduate school took her further along 

this path, with the Tim Burton film, “Alice 

in Wonderland” (2010), leading her down 

the rabbit hole and to her guardian angel, 

Madison Hatta, Sonneteer. Together, April 

plus Madison created Wonderland-inspired 

poetry, “Whimsical Things,” and events to 

help adults recover their innate joy and 

vitaliTEA. 

“Joyful Journeys” is free, but registration 

is required at www.friendshipcenters. 

org. For more information about Senior 

Friendship Centers, call 941-556-3269 

or visit FriendshipCenters.org. 

Struttin’ with the 

Stiletto Brass 

Fri. September 27, 2024, 7:30 p.m. 

Holley Hall 

A Wicked Fun 

Holiday 

Featuring Tiffany Haas, Wicked’s 

Glinda the Good Witch 

Sun. December 15, 2024 

Riverview PAC in Sarasota 

Mon. December 16, 2024 

SCF Neel PAC in Bradenton 

Love It 

Like a Local 

Featuring our Cultural Coast’s 

exceptional talent 

Sun. March 23, 2025 


Mon. March 24, 2025 


Great Balls of Fire 

and a Patriotic Salute 

Featuring Jason Cohen as the 

Rock-n-Roll icon, Jerry Lee Lewis 

Sun. November 10, 2024 


Mon. November 11, 2024 


Islands in the 

Stream 

Featuring Marty Edwards 

and Wendy Engler 

Sun. February 16, 2025 


Mon. February 17, 2025 


Season and single tickets 

available now. 

ThePopsOrchestra.org 

941-926-POPS (7677) 


out and about continued 

Hailing from disparate backgrounds 

– Matteo from Orlando, FL, and 

Brooke from San Diego, CA – their artistry 

resonates with shared influences 

and a deep-seated appreciation for 

familial bonds, culinary adventures, 

and globetrotting escapades. 

Matteo’s compositions exude a 

playful spontaneity, characterized by 

dynamic shapes and rich impasto textures, 

while Brooke’s meticulous precision 

infuses her pieces with refined 

elegance and controlled grace. 

• The Illest Illustration: Farmer’s 

Market runs September 23 - October 

25 in the Willis Smith Gallery. Opening 

reception: October 11, 5-8pm, free 

and open to the public 

The Illest of Illustration stands as 

a vibrant showcase, spotlighting the 

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. 

For information, call 941-359-7563 

or visit www.ringlingcollege.gallery 

Creative Liberties Artist Studios 

and Gallery has: 

• Through September 28: Work by 

featured artists will be on display and 

available for sale at Creative Liberties’ 

901B Apricot Ave., Sarasota, and 927 

N. Lime Ave., Sarasota locations. Work 

at 901B Apricot Avenue will be on view 

through September 28. 

Creative Liberties Artist Studios and 

Gallery now has three locations in 

Sarasota; the original location at 901-B 

Apricot Avenue features nine studio 

artists and gallery walls for five feature 

artists. The 927 N. Lime Avenue location 

features 12 studio artists, gallery 

walls for nine feature artists and the 

Creative Academy classroom/community 

space. 

Its third location, Creative Liberties 

Artist Residencies at Gaze Gallery, is 

in the ARCOS Apartments, 340 Central 

Avenue and offers limited-time artist 

residences for work and display space. 

For information, visit www.creativeliberties.net. 

The Limelight District 

studios are open to the public, 

Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 

and Sunday to Wednesday by appointment. 

The Rosemary artists residency 

at Gaze Gallery is open Monday 

to Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 

a.m.-5 p.m. 

▼ 

Classes 

Beach Yoga on Siesta Beach runs 

September 1-30 at 948 Beach Road, 

Sarasota. Offered year-round and 

is for all ages. Donations accepted. 

Runds Mondays-Saturdays, 9-10:30 

a.m.; Wednesdays, sunset. 

Bring a towel or mat and drinking 

water. Info: www.yogaonthebeach. 

com and www.siestakeyyoga.net. 

▼ 

Sarasota 

Art Museum 

The Truth of the Night Sky runs 

to September 29. Multimedia artist 

Anne Patterson and composer Patrick 

Harlin collaborated to create an 

immersive installation. Patterson, a 

synesthete who sees color and shape 

when hearing music, and Harlin 

expand on his composition, Earthrise. 

The orchestral piece was inspired by 

the eponymous photograph taken 

from Apollo 8 in 1968—an iconic 

▼ 

image that 

sparked a 

movement 

to care for 

the environment. 

• Molly 

Hatch: 

Amalgam 

runs to April 

26, 2026. 

Hatch’s 

newly commissioned 

“plate painting,” 

Amalgam 

(2023), 

was created 

specifically 

for Sarasota 

Art Museum. 

Consisting 

of more than 

450 earthenware 

plates 

hand-painted in white, blue, and gold 

luster, the abstract lines and shapes in 

Amalgam are drawn from a variety of 

historical ceramics from around the 

globe. 

• Modern Masterpiece Uncovered: 

Galloway’s Furniture Showroom by 

Victor Lundy runs through October 

27, 2024. This exhibition uncovers the 

modernist masterpiece of Galloway’s 

Furniture Store designed by architect 

Victor Lundy. 

Learn more about the iconic building 

through exploring the building’s 

architectural and cultural significance 

in the context of the Sarasota School of 

Architecture and the pioneering work 

of this renowned architect. The physical 

and digital analysis examines the 

building’s wood-laminated structure 

and extant architectural features. 

The exhibition concludes with 

design concepts for rehabilitating, 

expanding, and adaptively using the 

former Galloway’s structure prepared 

by architecture students from Hampton 

University—a project of the Hub. 

Architecture Sarasota’s Hub initiative 

supports innovative design that helps 

transform places and inspire lives. 

Put the art world in focus with 

Art on Film at SAM. They’re offering 

award-winning documentaries, 

short films, and biopics that highlight 

artists, reveal untold histories, and 

explore what it takes to make it as an 

artist today. 

• Next: The Price of Everything is 

on September 26 from 2-3:30 pm and 

also at Sarasota High School Alumni 

Auditorium at SAM 

The Price of Everything examines 

the role of art and artistic passion 

in today’s money-driven, consumer-based 

society. Featuring collectors, 

dealers, auctioneers and a rich range 

of artists, from current market darlings 

Jeff Koons, Gerhard Richter and 

Njideka Akunyili Crosby, to one-time 

art star Larry Poons, the film exposes 

deep contradictions as it holds a mirror 

up to contemporary values and 

times, coaxing out the dynamics at 

play in pricing the priceless. 

Info: sarasotaartmuseum.org/visit 

Art around 

the State 

Creative Pinellas has the Florida 

Watercolor Society 53rd Annual 

Exhibition.The Florida Watercolor 

Society (FWS) is one of the largest state 

watercolor societies in the country, 

▼ 

boasting almost 1,000 members. 

This exhibition will run through 

October 13 at the Gallery at Creative 

Pinellas. Artworks will be for sale 

through the closing at the Gallery 

at Creative Pinellas, 12211 Walsingham 

Road, Largo The Gallery is open 

Wednesdays-Sundays from 10am – 

5pm. The exhibition is free and open to 

the public. For additional details, visit 

CreativePinellas.org. 

The SHINE Mural Festival will 

celebrate its 10th Anniversary 

from October 11-20. Located in downtown 

St. Petersburg, the annual event 

is free and open to the public. The 

opening reception is on October 11 

from 5-8 pm at 719 Central Avenue, St. 

Petersburg. 

Located in the heart of downtown, 

a unique mural will be created on 

Reflection, St. Pete’s newest luxury 

condominium tower located at 777 

3rd Avenue North Street. The mural 

will not only highlight the unique 

architectural detail of angled walls 

along the west side of the building, but 

salutes the overall arts culture that 

makes St. Petersburg so special. 

Visitors are invited to watch live 

as 15 new murals come to life from a 

curated group of local, national, and 

international muralists. Create your 

own self-guided route, participate in 

one of the daily trolley tours or experience 

the art up close with a walking or 

biking tour with Florida CraftArt. 

Launch into SHINE week with a 

special group art exhibition at the 

Morean Arts Center, featuring over 100 

SHINE artists dating back to 2015. See 

the collection of work from the artists 

that have transformed the streets of St. 

Petersburg into a globally recognized 

destination for mural art. 

As the final brush strokes dry on 

walls across the city, experience a street 

art party at FloridaRAMA (formerly 

Fairgrounds/Factory St. Pete) featuring 

a solo show and book release by 2023 

artist Chris Dyer, custom installations 

from 2021 artists Ricky Watts and 

Nicole Salgar, DJ and a performance 

by Woes Martin and puppeteers of The 

Mighty Giants, Giano Currie’s interactive 

photography experience After 

Hours Photoshoot and more. Details: 

www.shinemuralfest.com 

▼ 

Reimagining Nature: Dalí’s Floral 

Fantasies presents Salvador Dalí’s 

best-loved botanical print suites 

sourced from The Dalí’s collection. 

This exhibition features three rarely 

▼ 

displayed 

suites of 

botanical 

prints made 

by Dalí 

between 

1968 and 

1972. On 

display 

together 

for the first 

time in two 

decades, 

these works 

transform 

renderings 

of fruits and 

flowers, 

reimagining 

them 

as surreal 

creations at 

the height 

of the Pop 

era. 

Crafted late in Dalí’s career, the 

three suites from the Museum’s 

vault, Flora Dalínae (FlorDalí), 1968, 

FlorDalí (Les Fruits), 1969 and Florals 

(Surrealist Flowers), 1972, were created 

when Dalí’s printmaking practice 

was becoming increasingly prolific. In 

these prints, Dalí often painted over 

original botanical illustrations, such 

as those by the 18- and 19th-century 

artists Pierre-Antoine Poiteau and 

Pierre-Joseph Redouté. 

The works in this exhibition transform 

these traditional depictions 

of fruits and flowers by juxtaposing 

incongruent elements, incorporating 

dream-like characters and iconic 

symbols often seen throughout Dalí’s 

career, such as flies, ants and melting 

clocks. Runs to October 20. Tickets: 

thedali.org/exhibit 

Sarasota Art Museum has Modern Masterpiece Uncovered: Galloway’s Furniture Showroom 

by Victor Lundy through October 27. The exhibit uncovers the modernist masterpiece of 

Galloway’s Furniture Store designed by architect Victor Lundy. 

The Boca Raton Museum of Art 

has Julie Evans: Eating Sunshine, on 

view through October 20. This is the 

first time the New York artist’s new 

ceramic sculptures are exhibited by a 

museum alongside her paintings. 

The timing of the exhibition “Eating 

Sunshine” coincides with the 

current cycle when our Sun’s magnetic 

poles prepare to reverse, and 

our planet is experiencing a peak 

period of solar activity. 

What’s happening now is the most 

extravagant fireworks display in the 

entire solar system, as the increased 

magnetic energy of the Sun creates 

more solar flares and coronal mass 

ejections. 

The title of the exhibition ‒ Eating 

Sunshine ‒ reflects the artist’s fascination 

with plants and organisms that 

need life energy and nourishment 

from the Sun to survive. 

Throughout her career, Evans has 

been awarded several prominent residencies 

that have influenced her artmaking, 

including a Fulbright Scholarship 

to India, and creative fellowships 

to MacDowell, Yaddo, Ucross, 

Millay, and Tamarind Institute. 

Boca Raton Museum of Art 501 

Plaza Real, Boca Raton. www. 

bocamuseum.org 

▼ 

Tampa Museum of Art has Suchitra 

Mattai: Bodies and Souls on view 

through March 16, 2025. The exhibition 

explores migration, matriarchy, 

and materiality. Mattai uses found 

objects, such as vintage saris, to create 

colorful monumental installations. 

She wraps, braids, stitches, and 

weaves fabrics together as allegories 

▼ 

for historical and personal narratives. 

For her first museum exhibition in 

Florida and the Southeast, Mattai will 

premier new installations in conversation 

with recent works, highlighting 

the artist’s ongoing investigations of 

the past and present. 

• Jennifer Steinkamp: Madame 

Curie is on view through 2025. It’s a 

multi-channel video installation that 

nods to the achievements and life 

of scientist and Nobel Prize winner 

Marie Curie. Eve Curie, Marie and 

Pierre Curie’s daughter, wrote the 

definitive biography on the scientist 

and noted her mother’s passion for 

gardening. Steinkamp, a pioneer in 

video art and animation, depicts in 

Madame Curie over 40 flowers and 

plants described in Curie’s biography. 

In this room-sized installation, 

entangled and intertwined flora 

appear to swirl and sway as the 

branches and flowers slowly move 

across the projection. Animations of 

apple blossoms, daisies, eucalyptus, 

passion flowers, periwinkle, and wisteria 

are amongst the flowers featured 

in Madame Curie. 

• The Art of Coptic Egypt is on view 

September 20, 2024 through May 

2025. The word “Copt” refers to the 

native population of Egypt, many of 

whom converted to Christianity in the 

early centuries of the Roman period. 

Tradition maintains that the Holy 

Family sojourned in Egypt and that 

Saint Mark, the Evangelist, established 

the first Christian church in Egypt in 

Alexandria in the first century. The 

Copts shared a common material culture 

with their polytheistic neighbors. 

Imperial edicts established Christianity 

as the religion of the empire in the 

late 4th century, which allowed the 

Coptic community to flourish. 

The Art of Coptic Egypt showcases 

over 50 artifacts from a local private 

collection dating from early centuries 

of the Roman Imperial to the Middle 

Ages, although special attention is 

given to objects specifically associated 

with the Coptic church. Today, there is 

still a thriving, vibrant Coptic community 

in Egypt and beyond, including 

in Tampa. 

Location: 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, 

Tampa. tampamuseum.org/upcoming-exhibitions/ 

Save the Date 

Atomic Holiday Bazaar returns to 

the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium 

on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, 

December 15. Atomic is back at 

Municipal Auditorium 

The street fair is located on Plaza 

De Santo Domingo which are two one 

way streets between the Municipal 

Auditorium and the Art Center. In 

the past Atomic was only on one side 

of the streets, however, this year, the 

street fair will be populated on both 

sides. The fair will showcase more food 

trucks, rolling wheels retail experiences.Atomic 

features a fresh range of 

handmade indie artsy-crafty items for 

all and is the place for shopping for last 

minute holiday gifts. For more information 

about Atomic Holiday Bazaar, 

contact Adrien at 941-539-9044 or 

atomicholidaybazaar@gmail.com 

Tickets for Brunch on the Bay will 

go on sale later this summer. Visit 

the Brunch on the Bay website, www. 

sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/brunchon-the-bay 

for the latest updates. 

▼ 



Arts Advocates’ 

September Events 

JC Wayne’s exhibit, a VW tour and 

“An Artistic Life with Katherine 

Michelle Tanner” lecture 

Arts Advocates’ September 

events includes 

JC Wayne’s exhibit 

“Wondrous World: 

Illuminating Sacred 

Spaces of Memory with Art & Words 

in Dialogue”; a “Behind the Curtain: 

Exploring the Van Wezel from the Art 

to the Stage” tour; and the art talk, 

“An Artistic Life with Katherine Michelle 

Tanner.” 

Arts Advocates member artists exhibit 

monthly in the Arts Advocates Gallery, 

located in the Crossings at Siesta Key 

mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. 

Shows runs from the first Saturday to the 

last Saturday of each month. 

JC Wayne artist member exhibit 

JC Wayne’s “Wondrous World: Illuminating 

Sacred Spaces of Memory with 

Art & Words in Dialogue” will be on 

exhibit from September 7-28, Saturdays 

only from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wayne is a 

sustainable existential artist and wisdom 

word-worker, weaving together 

her eco-responsible visual art and her 

original poetry to create a revelatory 

“cartography of the unseen” as a path 

into universal wisdom and spiritual understanding. 

Her paintings, poetry and 

writings reveal the beauty of our seen 

and unseen worlds. Admission is free; 

registration not required. 

The “Behind the Curtain: Exploring 

the Van Wezel from the Art to the Stage” 

tour takes place September 17 from 1:30 

to 3:00 p.m. The art in the Van Wezel, 777 

N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, was created 

by noted Florida artists and is on loan 

from Arts Advocates. A docent leads 

a tour of the paintings and sculptures 

including those by Robert Chase, William 

Hartman, Eugene White, Ben Stahl, 

Art Talk with 

Katherine Michelle 

Tanner Sept 17 2024 

Thornton 

Utz, Frank 

Colson, 

and others. 

Participants 

then 

step onto 

the stage 

where a 

Van Wezel 

guide 

shares 

stories 

and anecdotes 

about the colorful world of show 

business. Tickets are $15 per person and 

can be purchased at the Van Wezel box 

office or by calling (941) 263- 

6799. Presented in partnership 

with the Van Wezel Performing 

Arts Hall, proceeds benefit 

the education/outreach programs 

of Arts Advocates and 

the Van Wezel. 

Arts Advocates presents 

the art talk “An Artistic Life 

with Katherine Michelle Tanner” 

on September 17 from 

4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Arts 

Advocates Gallery. Tanner is 

the owner and artistic director 

of Tree Fort Productions 

Projects, a not-for-profit 501c3 

production company specializing 

in classes for youth, teens, 

adults, and ongoing education. 

She works as an actor, 

playwright, singer, director, filmmaker, 

choreographer, photographer, and teaching 

artist. Tanner received her B.A. triple 

major in theatre, dance, and education 

from St. Olaf College and her M.F.A. in 

acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory 

for Actor Training. Her passion for 

performance has taken her from Broadway 

to regional theatre, from film to 

television, and from country to country. 

Free for Arts Advocates members; $5 for 

non-members. 

The Arts Advocates’ collection of 

Sarasota Art Colony and Florida Highwaymen 

works is on permanent display 

in the Arts Advocates Gallery, which is 

open every Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 

p.m. Admission is free. Free docent-guided 

tours are available for gallery visitors 

who wish to learn more about the art 

and written information is available for 

self-guided tours. 

To learn more about or become a 

member of Arts Advocates, or to register 

for events, visit ArtsAdvocates.org. 

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you’re news 

Accolades 

■ Congrats to Sarasota Memorial’s 

latest TEA ROSE Award winner: Patty 

Guzman, MST. The “TEA ROSE” 

award — or Technician Excellence 

Award Recognizing 

Outstanding 

Service 

& Experience 

— is 

a nomination-based 

honor given 

to standout 

patient-care 

Patty Guzman technicians 

who are role models in clinical skill 

and compassionate care. 

As a trilingual individual, Patty 

is always willing to assist patients 

who speak Spanish or Italian, even 

when she is not their designated 

technician. “Patty’s bedside manner 

is unmatched. Patients love her, and 

she loves them. You can tell that she 

truly loves what she does,” said one 

of her colleagues. 

■ Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. 

Hoffman announced the graduation 

of Emergency Operations Manager 

Kristen Schultz from the Association 

of Public Safety Communications Officials 

(APCO) Certified Public Safety 

Executive Program. 

Schultz completed two 12-week 

online courses and one 10-day capstone 

course at APCO headquarters 

in Daytona Beach. This program is 

designed to elevate professionalism, 

enhance individual performance, 

and recognize excellence in the 

public safety communications industry. 

Participants in this program 

are taught indispensable skills for 

Emergency Operations Manager Kristen Schultz and 

Captain Dan Tutko. 

leadership within the complex and 

ever-changing environment in which 

public safety agencies operate. 

Communications Operator III 

Alyssa Rodriguez received the Life 

Saving Award for her handling of a 

911 call regarding an unconscious 

male within the Carlton Preserve. To 

assist in locating the victim and the 

caller, Operator Rodriguez utilized 

her Rapid Deploy Radius map which 

allowed her to narrow down the 

incident location to within 22 feet. 

Operator Rodriguez assessed the 

victim’s condition over the phone 

and provided CPR instructions to the 

caller while updating the sheriff’s 

office Aviation Unit as well as other 

responding units. Days later, family 

members contacted the sheriff’s 

office to inform that the male subject 

had survived and credited Operator 

Rodriguez for her commitment to 

help save the victim’s life. 

Deputies Aleksandr Gorislavets 

and Leonard Weg Jr. received the Life 

Saving Award for their actions at a 

call for an unresponsive male inside 

a vehicle. Upon his arrival, Deputy 

Gorislavets pulled the victim from 

the vehicle and initiated CPR. Deputy 

Weg arrived shortly after and took 

over lifesaving efforts until Sarasota 

County Fire Department paramedics 

arrived and transported the patient. 

Paramedics confirmed that Deputies 

Gorislavets and Weg’s decisive 

actions helped save the patient’s life. 

Human Resources Director Staci 

J. Pickavance, Personnel Manager 

Emily M. Mruczek, Senior Human 

Resources Specialist Lacy Zahidi, 

Human Resources Specialists Laura 

L. Carlen and Carrie D. Shaw, Administrative 

Assistant III Shannon L. 

Benton, and Background Investigators 

Keith E. Muncy and Paul G. Santos 

received the coveted Meritorious 

Achievement Award for their work to 

streamline recruitment efforts. 

By building an online application 

program, the Human Resources 

Bureau used innovation and teamwork 

to modernize their efforts and 

make the process more efficient. The 

improved process allowed for double 

the number of screened applications. 

Investigators Muncy and Santos meticulously 

processed 204 applicant 

files ensuring that each candidate 

met the rigorous hiring policies. 

Appointments 

■ The Sarasota Players have 

announced the addition of their 

new Director of Development, Amy 

Gorman, who brings expertise from 

the fields of finance, education, and 

non-profit organizations. 

Gorman most 

recently served 

as the Director 

of Development 

at Cardinal 

Mooney 

Catholic High 

School, where 

she focused on 

fundraising, 

community relationships, 

student 

programs, 

and more. 

Gorman 

earned her Juris Doctor degree from 

the State University of New York at 

Buffalo and a Bachelor of Arts in 

English from the State University of 

New York at Stony Brook. Previous 

positions included Parents’ Fund 

Director and Assistant Annual Fund 

Director at The Taft School and 

Corporate and Community Advancement 

Associate at the State College of 

Florida Foundation. 

■ Tidewell Foundation has added 

Rebecca Blitz and Lisa Adams to 

its team. Rebecca joins the Foundation 

as a Senior Philanthropy 

Advisor, while Lisa will serve as its 

new Events Manager. Rebecca has 

worked with nonprofits throughout 

her career, serving as CEO for Sarasota 

Manatee Association for Riding 

Therapy for several years, as well as 

Regional Director for the Make-A- 

Wish Foundation. 

Lisa earned her Bachelor of 

Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant, 

and Institutional Management from 

The Pennsylvania State University. 

As the region’s only not-for-profit 

hospice serving Sarasota, Manatee, 

Charlotte, and DeSoto counties, 

Tidewell Hospice provides care for 

nearly 10,000 patients annually. The 

Tidewell Foundation provides perpetual 

support for the hospice and 

home health care of Tidewell Hospice, 

a member of Empath Health. 

Learn more tidewellfoundation.org 

■ The Manatee County Clerk of 

the Circuit Court & Comptroller 

announces the retirement of Crystal 

Waiters, the Director of the Child 

Support Program, and the appointment 

of Brea Styles as her successor. 

Waiters retired on August 2 after an 

outstanding 

32-year 

career with 

the Clerk’s 

Office. Styles 

officially 

stepped into 

her new role 

as Director 

on August 5. 

Brea Styles 

Brea Styles previously 

served as the Deputy Director of the 

Child Support Program, where she 

worked in recruiting, retaining, and 

developing staff. 

Clerk of the Circuit Court & 

Comptroller Angel Colonneso 

expressed her gratitude and pride in 

both Waiters’ and Styles’ contributions. 

“Crystal Waiters has been an 

invaluable asset to our office, dedicating 

over three decades to serving 

our community with unwavering 

commitment and excellence. While 

we will miss her greatly, we are excited 

to see Brea Styles step into this 

role. Brea has already demonstrated 

her leadership and dedication, and 

I am confident she will continue to 

enhance our services and support for 

Manatee County families.” 

In addition, the Clerk’s Office 

welcomes back Lisa Bell to the Child 

Support Program as the new Deputy 

Director. Her return not only brings 

a wealth of experience but also ensures 

continuity and stability within 

the team. 

■ Catholic Charities Diocese of 

Venice, Inc. has appointed Aniko 

Barna-Roche, MBA, as the new 

Program Manager of Our Mother’s 

House, a two-year transitional 

program for mothers and their 

children. Aniko brings a background 

in education, speech therapy, and 

social services. 

Born and raised in Hungary, 

Aniko’s early 

career was as 

an elementary 

school 

teacher. 

With a desire 

to further 

support her 

students, 

she pursued 

a degree in 

Aniko Barna-Roche speech therapy, 

enhancing her ability to positively 

impact children’s lives through improved 

communication skills. 

After five years in the public 

school system, Aniko began working 

for an American-based company in 

human resources. This move marked 

her entry into the corporate world, 

where she balanced professional 

responsibilities with academic pursuits, 

ultimately earning a master’s 

degree in business. 

During a visit to the United States, 

Aniko met her future husband and 

decided to relocate here, embarking 

on a new path in social services. 

Most recently, she served as a 

Program Manager for The Salvation 

Army. 

Business News 

■ Discover Sarasota Tours has 

been recognized as Tripadvisor 

2024 Travelers’ Choice Award Winner 

for the third year in a row. The 

coveted award celebrates businesses 

Discover Sarasota Tours 

that have consistently received great 

traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over 

the last 12 months, placing these 

winners among the 10% of all listings 

on Tripadvisor globally. 

“On behalf of our entire team of 

exceptional Tour Guides, friendly 

Reservationists, and expert Drivers, 

we are proud to have won this award 

again recognizing our 17 different 

entertaining and informative tours 

of Sarasota. To maintain this level of 

quality and customer service in the 

tour and entertainment business day 

in and day out, is not an easy task. 

I want to thank all the supportive 

customers who have rated our tour 

experiences so highly and give a 

huge shoutout to my amazing staff,” 

said Discover Sarasota Tours’ Founder 

and CEO, Tammy Hauser, M.B.A. 

“Congratulations to the 2024 Tripadvisor 

Travelers’ Choice winners,” 

said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer 

at Tripadvisor. “Earning a Travelers’ 

Choice Award demonstrates that 

you have provided great experiences 

to those who matter most: your 

guests. With changing expectations, 

continued labor shortages, and 

rising costs, this is no easy feat, and 

I am continually impressed with the 

hospitality industry’s resilience and 

ability to adapt. Cheers to another 

successful year!” 

Board News 

■ The Library Foundation for 

Sarasota County is a non-profit 

organization that raises private 

donations to supplement county tax 

support to keep our libraries strong, 

innovative and accessible to all. 

They work closely with the Sarasota 

County Library System, the county’s 

Library Advisory Board and with 

the various Friends’ organizations at 

each library branch. They focus on 

ways to enhance the library system 

for everyone in Sarasota. 

They have added Alexandra Jupin 

and Mark Steinwachs to the Library 

Foundation’s Board of Directors. 

Jupin has devoted her personal and 

professional life to advocating for 

the performing arts, education, civil 

rights, and human rights. She is a 

retired performing arts administrator 

who served at several universities 

and performing arts centers throughout 

her career. 

Her board affiliations include 

American Friends of the London 

Philharmonic, American Friends 

of the English National Opera, Hermitage 

Artist Retreat, The Invisible 

Theatre, New College Foundation, 

and Bucks County Playhouse. 

Mark Steinwachs is a writer and 

editor who has lived in Sarasota for 

30 years. A native 

of Buffalo, he has 

taught composition 

at State 

College of Florida 

and creative writing 

at The Ohio 

State University. 

Since 2018, he has 

served as contributing 

editor for 

Story Magazine. 

Mark is a 

frequent patron 

of Selby and Betty 

J. Johnson North Sarasota Libraries 

and is currently wearing through his 

third library card. More info at www. 

sarasotalibraryfoundation.org/ 

■ Child welfare agency Safe 

Children Coalition (SCC) has 

announced its board of directors. 

Tony Gamelin is the new chair of the 

board, Brian Goodrich is vice chair, 

and Chris Stobaugh is treasurer. 

Directors are Ken Alexander, Jamara 

Clark, Paul Couzelis, Darren Gambrell, 

Rob Goldstein, Ann Marie 

Jones, and 

Lee Lipton. 

Gamelin is 

the owner of 

CFO Integrity 

LLC, which 

provides fractional/outsourced 

CFO, 

accounting 

clean-up, 

Chris Stobaugh personnel 

management, mergers and acquisitions 

due diligence, and forensic 

accounting services to businesses 

and nonprofits. 

Goodrich is an attorney and shareholder 

of Bentley Goodrich Kison, 

P.A., where he concentrates on commercial 

and real estate litigation. 

Stobaugh is currently the Chief 

Financial Officer of Gulf Coast 

Community Foundation. She has a 

background in corporate finance and 

accounting, and previously served 

for eight years as CFO of Grain Management, 

a private equity firm with 

approximately $5 billion in assets 

under management. 

For more information, visit sccfl.org. 


wiser you 

s a r a s o t a 

VENUE 

AESTHETICS 

Women’s Resource 

Center Offers 

DINING & 

DRINKS 

The Women’s Resource Center 

presents Divorce 101, a free, 

five-part workshop series 

that comprehensively explains 

the divorce process. 

It is divided into five sessions, each 

dedicated to a specific topic. The sessions 

will delve into the emotional aspects of divorce, 

the laws governing divorce in Florida, 

ways to assert your financial rights, 

dealing with children and the family home 

during divorce, and home financing during 

and after divorce. 

The series launches on Wednesday, 

September 11, 6-7:30 p.m., with “Financial 

Decisions” with Dr. Laura Mattia, PH.D., 

MBA, CFP, a financial advisor, educator, 

and author. Sessions following are: “Legal 

Considerations” with Chris Florand, a certified 

family and civil court mediator (September 

18, 6-7:30 p.m.); “Understanding 

and Conquering the Emotions of Divorce” 

with Kim Boyd, a board-certified divorce 

coach (September 25, 6-7:30 p.m.); “Mortgage 

Financing Planning During and After 

Divorce” with Luz Ruiztagle, CDLP 

(October 2, 6-7:30 pm); and “Parenting 

Through Divorce” with Chris Florand and 

Kim Boyd (October 9, 6-7:30 p.m.). 

This in-person series is at the Women’s 

Resource Center Sarasota, 340 S Tuttle 

Ave, Sarasota. Participants can attend one 

or all of the sessions. To register, visit 

mywrc.org/divorce101. For more information, 

call 941-366-1700. 

“The WRC has a long history of providing 

programs that address divorce’s 

practical and emotional aspects. We are 

thrilled to have this talented group of professionals 

sharing their knowledge and 

expertise with our clients,” says Ashley 

Brown, CEO and president of the Women’s 

Resource Center. 

Financial Decisions: 

September 11, 6-7:30 

p.m.: Laura Mattia, 

PH.D., MBA, CFP, a 

financial advisor, educator, 

and author, will 

discuss how grief affects 

financial decisions, 

Laura Mattia 

marital property, and 

asset division and offer 

ten steps to reclaim financial 

power. 

Legal Considerations: 


p.m.: Chris Florand, a 

Divorce 101 

The Free Workshop Series runs 

Sept. 11-Oct. 9 

Chris Florand 

certified family and civil court mediator, 

will provide an overview of Florida divorce 

law and explore ways to approach 

divorce, equitable distribution, alimony, 

health insurance, attorney fees, financial 

requirements and considerations, child 

support and more 

Understanding and 

Conquering the Emotions 

of Divorce: 


p.m. Kim Boyd, a 

board-certified divorce 

Kim Boyd 

coach, will review and 

discuss conflict resolution and navigating 

stress, empathy, managing expectations, 

setting boundaries, and decision-making. 

“Mortgage Financing 

Planning During and 

After Divorce: October 

2, 6-7:30 pm. Luz 

Ruiztagle, CDLP, will 

introduce divorce mortgage 

planning, a holistic 

Luz Ruiztagle 

approach to evaluating 

mortgage options in the context of overall 

financial objectives related to divorcing 

situations. 

Parenting Through Divorce: October 

9, 6-7:30 p.m.: Chris Florand and Kim 

Boyd will discuss ways to protect children 

from the changes brought on by divorce, 

so they are less traumatized. They will 

also help participants understand the 

legalities of the parenting plan, time-sharing, 

and child support. 

WRC offers mental health counseling, 

career coaching, legal and financial consultation, 

and more. To learn more about 

its services, call 941-256-9721 or visit mywrc.org. 

About the Women’s Resource Center: 

For more than 40 years, the Women’s 

Resource Center has been dedicated 

to engaging, educating, enriching, and 

empowering women of all generations 

and socioeconomic levels. Today, WRC 

serves thousands of women and families 

in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Its 

vision is to provide unique strategies and 

programs that strengthen women through 

life’s transitions and provide balance, confidence, 

and determination, which meet 

their immediate needs and provide hope 

for the future. To learn more, visit www. 

MyWRC.org. 

Whether planning a wedding or a corporate event, The Ora 

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happening this month 

Bookstore1 Sarasota events 

for September 

These events are in person in 

the loft at Bookstore1, at 

The Mark, 117 South Pineapple 

Ave. 

❑ Floating in Florida: 

A Conversation & Book Signing 

with Author Lucy Tobias 

September 9, from 5-6 p.m. 

Celebrate the release of Floating in Florida: 

Discover 21 Amazing Adventures on 

Florida’s Hidden Waters. Come chat with 

the author, buy the book, and get it signed. 

About the Book 

Explore the undiscovered adventures on 

Florida waterways where the journey is 

the destination. A Florida boat tour is a 

short ride, usually two hours or less, where 

you and your fellow passengers learn 

something new about Florida history, ecology 

or wildlife from a spirited and helpful 

guide while gliding across supple, sun 

filled waters. You may see dolphins, manatees, 

turtles, alligators, and more. Cruise 

past famous and infamous homes, Indian 

mounds, and ancient cypress trees where 

diving birds sit on branches spreading 

their wings to let them dry. A boat tour is a 

floating adventure with friends. 

About the Author 

Lucy Tobias is an award-winning author, 

blogger, independent journalist, and photographer. 

She is a former reporter for the 

New 

York 

Times 

Regional 

Group 

and 

served 

as Authentic 

Florida 

expert 

for 

VISIT 

FLORI- 

Lucy Tobias 

DA. She 

is author 

of the best-selling book 50 Great Walks in 

Florida (University Press of Florida); the 

ultimate gardening book The Zen of Florida 

Gardening, winner of the Best Outdoor 

Book in the Florida Outdoor Writers Association 

Best in Craft awards in 2021; the 

children’s book Mary Margaret Mantee 

available in English and Spanish. 

Tobias lives in Sarasota. Learn more 

about her at https://www.lucytobias.com/. 

This is a ticketed event. More information 

and RSVP here: https://www.sarasotabooks.com/events 

❑ Tertulia Latina: An Evening 

of Spanish Literature & Music 

Featuring Poet Clara Eugenia 

Ronderos 

September 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. 

A “tertulia” is a social gathering with literary/artistic 

overtones, and this one is sure 

to be inspiring. Come hear from local Latin 

American authors as they share their work 

while accompanied by live instrumental 

guitar. Immerse yourself in the bohemian 

ambiance, enjoy some snacks or a beverage, 

and join us in a celebration of beauty 

and diversity. 

This collaborative event is brought to 

you by CreArte Latino Cultural Center and 

Bookstore1Sarasota. 

Featured Artist: 

Clara Eugenia Ronderos is an 

award-winning Colombian poet, short 

story writer, and literary critic. She is currently 

a 

retired 

professor 

at 

Lesley 

University. 

Her 

latest 

book 

Unfoldings 

was 

published 

in 2021 

Clara Eugenia 

Ronderos 

by Nixes 

Mate. It 

includes 

translated poems from her books in Spanish 

and new poems in translation as well 

as original English poems. Her poems, 

articles, and short stories are available online, 

in literary and academic journals and 

anthologies. 



❑ Ground Control: 

An Argument for the End of Human 

Space Exploration 

A Conversation & Book Signing 

with Author & Space Anthropologist 

Savannah Mandel 

September 20 from 6-7 p.m. 

Come spend some time with author and 

space anthropologist, Savannah Mandel, as 

she explores questions like, “Is it worth it 

to send humans to space?” and “What cultural 

outcomes will result from continued 

human space exploration and the colonization 

of other worlds?” She’ll answer your 

questions and personalize your books. 

About the Book: 

In the 1960s and ‘70s, America spent $24 

billion (around $150 billion in today’s 

dollars) to land humans on the moon and 

“win” the space race. And while humans 

took their first steps on an extraterrestrial 

landscape, protesters at Cape Canaveral 

asked: Why waste money on space when 

there are so many issues here on Earth? 

More than 50 years later, an oligopoly 

of commercial space companies - SpaceX, 

Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic - has begun 

sending civilians into space. These 

civilians are the first generation of what 

will undoubtedly be an extensive family of 

space tourists. Commercial space companies 

aim to expand access to space, find 

new sources of energy, mine outer space 

resources, and conquer extraterrestrial 

lands. But their goals remain that of a capitalist 

and imperialist class, intent on new 

frontier profiteering. 

Savannah Mandel uses cultural anthropology 

to trace the trajectory of the space 

industry as it faces the social, political, and 

economic repercussions of commercial 

space ventures head-on. In doing so, Mandel 

holds the space industry accountable 

for its actions by asking the same questions 

that some thought leaders asked in 

the 1960s: Should we go? Is it worth it to 

send humans to space? What cultural outcomes 

will result from continued human 

space exploration and the colonization of 

other worlds? And last, what can we learn 

about our present selves by studying our 

most extreme visions of the future? 

About the Author: 

Savannah Mandel is one of just several 

dozen space anthropologists worldwide 

and a PhD candidate in science, technology, 

and society at Virginia Tech. Mandel 

has conducted fieldwork at Spaceport 

America 

in addition 

to 

working 

with 

more 

than 80 

commercial 

space 

companies. 

She 

holds 

Savannah Mandel 

several 

degrees 

in cultural anthropology and has had 

research featured in Ozy magazine, Anthropology 

Now, The Geek Anthropologist, 

Physics Today, and many more media 

outlets. 



❑ September Book Clubs 

Book clubs meet in person in the loft at 

Bookstore1 at The Mark, 117 South Pineapple 

Ave. 

Registration for all our book clubs can be 

found here, https://www.sarasotabooks. 

com/bookclubs, or call 941-365-7900. 

❑ Poetry Book Club 

September 11 at 2:00 p.m. 

This monthly book club led by Doug 

Knowlton is for those who like to read and 

discuss poetry. It celebrates the integral 

role of poets and poetry in life and literature. 

September’s selection is Proverbs 

of Limbo, the first new book of poems in 

eight years by the three-time poet laureate 

Robert Pinsky. 

About the Book 

Robert Pinsky, one of our most ambitious, 

inventive, and finely tuned poets, 

takes an original approach to the fraught, 

central matter of borders in Proverbs of 

Limbo, his first new book of poetry in 

eight years. 

In this collection, the poet mines and 

maps limbal regions: those spaces between 

differences that can be at once creative 

and oppressive, enlightening and dark, 

exciting and fatal. For Pinsky, they include 

the familiar borders between demographic 

categories, as well as limbal realities that 

are more personal—clashing ways of understanding, 

personal history and world 

history, health and illness, freedom and 

compulsion, intimacy and community, 

personality and culture—all the countless 

variations of in-between. 

A fee of $26 is required for participation. 

This includes a copy of Proverbs of Limbo 

to be picked up at Bookstore1 and the 

book club meeting. 

❑ The Banned Book Club 

September 24 at 11 a.m. 

This monthly book club is led by Bryn 

Durgin. It is dedicated to reading and protecting 

the most important and threatened 

books for our generation. September’s pick 

is Jonathan Safran Foer’s energetic, inventive, 

and ambitious novel Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly Close. Set in New York 

with a nine-year-old narrator, it is one of 

the most popular and widely read novels of 

the post 9/11 fiction subgenre. The smart, 

quirky novel has been banned in multiple 

school districts across America for most of 

its time in print. 

About the Book: 

A funny, uplifting novel about a boy’s journey 

through New York in the aftermath of 

September 11th from one of today’s most 

celebrated writers. 

Nine-year-old Oskar Schell embarks on 

an urgent, secret mission that will take him 

through the five boroughs of New York. 

His goal is to find the lock that matches a 

mysterious key that belonged to his father, 

who died in the World Trade Center on 

the morning of September 11. This seemingly 

impossible task will bring Oskar into 

contact with survivors of all sorts of an 

exhilarating, affecting, often hilarious, and 

ultimately healing journey. With humor, 

tenderness, and awe, Jonathan Safran Foer 

confronts the traumas of our country’s difficult 

history. 

A fee of $19 is required for participation. 

This includes a copy of Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly Close to be picked up at 

Bookstore1 and the book club meeting. 

Registration for all book clubs can be 

found at https://www.sarasotabooks. 

com/bookclubs, or call 941-365-7900. 


The Sarasota Ballet Presents 

OCTOBER 11 – 13, 2024 

FSU CENTER 

Jessica Lang’s 

World Premiere 

Ricardo Graziano’s 

Amorosa 

Johan Kobborg’s 

Napoli Act III 

MEDIA SPONSOR 

OCTOBER 25 – 27, 2024 

FSU CENTER 

MEDIA SPONSOR 

Xin Ying in Martha Graham’s Errand into the Maze | Photo by Hibbard Nash 

Victoria Hulland and Daniel Pratt in Ricardo Graziano’s Amorosa | Photo by Frank Atura 

941.359.0099 | SarasotaBallet.org 


Anne Essner 

Board Chair, 

Architecture Sarasota 

Alot of people 

care about 

preserving historic 

structures, but 

not many own and 

steward two significant 

Midcentury Modern 

homes designed by Paul 

Rudolph. Over the years 

she and her husband, 

Bob, have acquired the 

Hargavy and Umbrella 

houses on Lido Shores 

- their commitment 

to preserving a part 

of Sarasota’s unique 

architecture and history. 


Alot of people care about 

preserving historic 

structures through 

various efforts. But not 

many own and steward 

two significant 

Midcentury Modern 

homes designed by 

Paul Rudolph. 

I met Anne at her Lido Shores home 

which she shares with her husband, Bob. 

Both retired from the pharmaceutical industry 

- she was the marketing manager 

at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, retiring in the 

mid-80s while Bob was formerly Chairman, 

President and CEO of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, 

Inc. and retired in 2008. 

The couple moved to our area in 2009. 

Perhaps surprising is that architecture did 

not draw them here, she states. What did 

attract them was “the arts and cultural 

scene” even though they had lived in the 

New York metro area with all of its extensive 

arts opportunities. 

But there was also another reason - Sarasota 

“felt like a place…a real place,” she 

says. They had traveled the state for Bob’s 

work and visited many cities. They considered 

Naples, but chose Sarasota. “Florida,” 

she feels, “doesn’t feel like a real place, but 

Sarasota did.” 

A sense of community was what she felt 

here - where people got involved. So no, 

it wasn’t for the Sarasota School of Architecture, 

but that would change. They purchased 

their current home (not Midcentury 

Modern) and wanted a guest house. 

They discovered the Harkavy House (1957), 

also on Lido Shores, was for sale and they 

purchased the minimalist style house that 

is often described as having a “pavilion 

design.” 

She calls it “a big cube” and bought it not 

knowing all that much about Midcentury 

Modern architecture but, as she says, they 

“loved it…and wanted to protect it.” The 

couple then had a “crash course” on Paul 

Rudolph and the Sarasota School of Architecture. 

Then the couple purchased the Umbrella 

House (built 1953), another iconic (and 

equally beautiful) Midcentury Modern 

home which just so happened to be across 

the street from their home. In 1953, developer 

Philip Hiss hired architect Paul 

Rudolph to create what is considered one of 

the 20th century’s most iconic houses. 

Before Sarasota had wide roads, I-75, 

malls, big hotels, condos and lots of tourists 

and residents, it had the Sarasota School of 

Architecture which came into being after 

World War II. The homes were tailored to 

life in humid climates like Florida and, 60+ 

years later, they don’t seem dated. 

Mid-century homes are beautiful - they 

let in light from all sides yet are designed to 

be cool with overhangs. Their interiors are 

spacious with open floor plans. “Rudolph 

was successful because he adapted to the 

environment,” she explains. “Some of his 

ideas are coming back into play.” 

Sadly, between 1960 and 1990 and before 

their importance was better understood, 

most of the Midcentury Modern structures 

in Sarasota fell into disrepair and were 

demolished. But not all Midcentury work 

was housing. There’s the Sanderling Beach 

Club, Riverview High School, and Sarasota 

High School. Portions of the Rudolph Sarasota 

High School addition have been preserved, 

but the preservation of Riverview 

High School failed and it was demolished 

in 2009. 

Anne is too modest to say they saved the 

two Midcentury Modern homes they have. 

But given Sarasota’s penchant for leveling 

older homes only to build very large and 

sometimes unattractive ones (my words) 

in their place, you’d have to say they did 

indeed save them. 

I had also met Anne briefly during the 

opening of the exhibit “Moderns that Matter” 

at Architecture Sarasota, a nonprofit 

that “stewards the legacy of the Sarasota 

School of Architecture,” for which she is 

board chair. 

Anne, while board chair of the then 

Sarasota Architectural Foundation, helped 

facilitate the merging of that organization 

with Center for Architecture Sarasota. 

From that, Architecture Sarasota was 

created in 2021 and subsequently hired 

Anne-Marie Russell as its first Executive 

Director. Marty Hylton III now runs the 

nonprofit as President. 

Showing a special kind of dedication 

and caring, the couple makes the Umbrella 

House available for Architecture Sarasota 

events, tours, speakers and journalists as 

well as for visiting family members. The 

house will be part of the MOD Weekend 

2024 held on November 14-17. On the 17th 

there will be a Lido Shores walking tour 

that includes and starts at their very own 

Umbrella House. 

Investing in her community with her 

time and resources is something Anne has 

done before. She served on the Women’s 

Board of the Pennsylvania Academy of the 

Fine Arts in Philadelphia and was board 

chair of the Great Swamp Watershed Association, 

an environmental stewardship organization 

based in central New Jersey and 

she served on many school boards. Locally, 

she’s also a director at the Gulf Coast Community 

Foundation. 

Anne won’t critique area architecture or 

building styles, but says that Sarasota’s mix 

of architecture “Is what draws people here.” 

And adds that our area “also has so many 

good architects and designers that pull 

from the Sarasota School of Architecture.” 

Simply put, it’s about keeping the things 

that make Sarasota what it is. To that end 

she feels strongly that the city of Sarasota 

needs to update its Master Plan. The last 

was done in the early 2000s when the city 

adopted a master plan for its downtown 

developed by Andres Duany. A lot has 

changed since then to say the least. 

Speaking as board chair of Architecture 

Sarasota, Anne notes, “Our overarching 

goal is to keep Sarasota, Sarasota.” Their 

mission statement states, “Architecture 

Sarasota stewards the legacy of the Sarasota 

School of Architecture and provides a 

forum for the education, advocacy and celebration 

of good design in the global built 

environment.” 

Architecture Sarasota is located in the 

restored Scott Building at 265 South Orange 

Avenue in downtown Sarasota. You 

can visit their gallery which is open to the 

public (and it’s free) Monday-Friday, 11 

a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Be sure to check out their Moderns That 

Matter: Sarasota 100 exhibit which is a list 

of 100 places and spaces that give Sarasota 

its sense of place and character. “Organized 

chronologically across 10 use categories, 

these sites represent more than 100 years of 

architectural and cultural heritage and the 

built environment of Sarasota,” says their 

website. 

Considering the commitment this couple 

has brought to the community, Anne is 

modest. “I just appreciate and want to contribute 

to a place I like. I love Sarasota.” 

STORY and IMAGE: Louise Bruderle 

For more on MOD Weekend in November 

or to learn more about Architecture Sarasota, 

visit 

ww.architecturesarasota.org. 

AAUW Sarasota mission is to advance gender equity for 

women and girls through education, advocacy, and research. 

Why AAUW Sarasota 

The need for women to stand united and champion each other 

has never been more crucial. At the heart of our mission is the 

unwavering belief that very woman deserves an equal opportunity 

to thrive, succeed and lead. 

AAUW has been empowering women as individuals and as a 

community since 1881. For more than 130 years we have worked 

together as a national grassroots organization to improve the lives 

of millions of women and their families. AAUW Sarasota has been 

actively involved in the local community since its inception. We 

support multiple education initiatives related to the AAUW mission. 

We Support 

Advocating for Womens’ Rights—The Sarasota branch of AAUW 

advocates for change by joining campaigns, lobbying efforts, and 

community outreach initiatives. Together we can work to close the 

gender pay gap and ensure equal compensation for equal work; 

challenge discriminatory policies in workplaces, schools and 

communities and work to create a world where every woman can 

reach her full potential. 

Advocating for Gender Equity—We provide a supportive network 

where you can connect with like-minded individuals fostering a 

sense of community and solidarity. You’ll find friends who’ve walked 

similar paths, sharing wisdom and forging connections that last 

a lifetime. AAUW plays a crucial role in empowering women and 

girls by fostering leadership skills, encouraging civic engagement, 

supporting academic success, and promoting personal growth. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

September Business Meeting and Picnic Lunch 

Speaker: League of Women Voters Sarasota 

Date: Wednesday, September 18, 1:00pm 

Location: Women’s Resource Center, 340 South Tuttle, Sarasota 

Cost: $15 Click HERE or go to https://aauwsarasota.org/ 

registration-single/ 

Registration Deadline: September 13, 2024 

Sheryl Faye as Eleanor Roosevelt 

A Fundraiser to Benefit AAUW Education 

Opportunities for Girls in Sarasota 

Eleanor Roosevelt’s legacy as a champion 

for women’s rights, her leadership and 

empowerment of women, her willingness to 

challenge gender norms, her commitment to 

humanitarianism and social justice, and her 

resilience in the face of adversity all make her 

incredibly important to today’s women and 

society as a whole. 

Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. 

Cost: $40.00 per ticket. Click HERE or visit https://aauwsarasota. 

org/events-eleanor-roosevelt/ 

Location: Unitarian Universalist Church, 3975 Fruitville Road, 

Sarasota 

• January, February and March 2025 — Book Reviews at the Selby 

Library Auditorium – no registration required 

• May 2025: Spring Luncheon 

Interested in joining? 

Let us take you out for coffee! Whether you’re new to Sarasota, 

are looking to get more involved in advancing equity for women 

and girls or just want to chat, we’d love to get to know you 

better. Email sarasota.AAUW@gmail.com for a coffee meeting 

with an AAUW member 

For more information visit www.aauwsarasota.org 



UnidosNow has its Third 

Annual NocheUnidos 

The October 18 show will light 

up the Museum of Art Courtyard, 

bring a close to Hispanic Heritage 

Month, and kick off The Ringling’s 

Art of Performance Season. 

79rs Gang 

Bomba Yemayá 

UnidosNow colabora 

con el Museo Ringling 

en la tercera entrega 

anual de NocheUnidos 

79rs Gang 

Bomba Yemayá 

For the third annual 

NocheUnidos UnidosNow 

has partnered with The 

John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art for this concert celebration. 

Bomba Yemayá, hailing from 

Puerto Rico, and the 79rs Gang, bringing 

the spirit of Carnival from their New Orleans 

community, will light up the Museum 

of Art Courtyard on October 18. 

“UnidosNow is honored to be hosting 

our 3rd annual NocheUnidos concert in 

The Ringling Courtyard,” says Evelyn 

Almodovar, UnidosNow’s Executive 

Director. “For our region, this beautiful 

space is the nido or nest of cultural arts 

and has been that place since being built 

in the early 20th Century. As UnidosNow 

works to integrate our area’s rapidly 

growing Latino population into the full 

fabric of our community, this concert at 

the Ringling continues to be a musical 

metaphor of our work—a fusion of seemingly 

disparate sounds that is not only 

harmonious, but creates something new 

and beautiful, bringing new life and dynamism 

to Sarasota and Manatee counties.” 

NocheUnidos is an evening dedicated 

to unity that celebrates the energy, spirit, 

and beauty of our diverse community. 

The Caribbean and coastal areas of the 

Gulf of Mexico share a rich and dynamic 

heritage from the African diaspora, Indigenous 

America, and Iberia among other 

European cultures and influences. “This 

celebratory evening of dancing, food, and 

fellowship will testify to the extraordinary 

mix of linguistic, musical, spiritual, and 

culinary richness of our region,” says Elizabeth 

Doud, the Currie-Kohlmann Curator 

of Performance at The Ringling. 

The event will begin with festive Puerto 

Rican rhythms from Bomba Yemayá and 

will parade into the night with an upbeat 

Mardi Gras spirit captured by the New 

Orleans-based 79rs Gang. Both traditions 

draw from deep cultural roots that reflect 

a carnival’s joyousness and the sanctified 

dedication of honored traditions. Through 

this unique combination, NocheUnidos 

will honor unity and mutual appreciation, 

with artist groups who represent an inspirational 

fusion of culture from the Caribbean 

and greater Gulf Coasts. 

This year’s attendees are invited to 

dress in white to call in the season with 

elegancia as we come together to honor 

unity and the riches of our region. 

Bomba Yemayá (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 

is a leading bomba performance group 

born out of the island’s rich cultural heritage. 

Bomba is an emblematic Puerto 

Rican musical genre that emerged 400 

years ago from the colonial plantations 

where West African enslaved people and 

their descendants worked. It remains one 

of the most popular forms of folk music 

on the island and serves as significant evidence 

of its rich African influences. 

79rs Gang (New Orleans, LA) is led by 

musicians Jermaine Bossier and Romeo 

Bougere, the Big Chiefs of two rival Mardi 

Gras Indian tribes, the 7th and the 9th 

Wards, which are both municipalities 

and cultural communities of greater New 

Orleans. These young talents interweave 

traditional Mardi Gras rhythms with vibrant 

contemporary hip-hop styling and 

sophisticated lyrics. Their fresh takes on 

timeless themes fuse together funky hits, 

traditional Mardi Gras sounds, and Carnival 

celebration energy. 

All funds raised by the event will benefit 

UnidosNow to further empower the 

growing number of Hispanic/Latinx community 

members in our region through education, 

integration, and civic engagement 

to achieve the American dream. Tickets 

are available at ringling.org. 

About UnidosNow 

Founded in 2010, with a mission to elevate 

the quality of life of the growing 

Hispanic/Latinx community through 

education, integration, and civic engagement, 

UnidosNow has established itself 

as a leader in postsecondary education 

attainment. UnidosNow empowers leaders 

of tomorrow with its intergenerational 

programs, including the Parent Leadership 

program, which offers parents the 

skills to navigate the education system 

to advocate for their children; and the 

Future Leaders Academy program, which 

provides college preparation for students 

interested in attending college or pursuing 

a high-quality technical certification. Visit 

unidosnow.org for more information. 

Para la tercera entrega anual 

de NocheUnidos, Unidos- 

Now se ha unido a The 

John and Mable Ringling 

Museum of Art (The Ringling) para 

esta celebración de conciertos. Bomba 

Yemayá, procedente de Puerto Rico, y la 

79rs Gang, que trae el espíritu del Carnaval 

de su comunidad de Nueva Orleans, 

iluminarán el patio del Museo de Arte el 

18 de octubre. 

“Para UnidosNow es un honor celebrar 

nuestro tercer concierto anual NocheUnidos 

en el patio de The Ringling”, afirma 

Evelyn Almodóvar, Directora Ejecutiva 

de UnidosNow. “Para nuestra región, este 

hermoso espacio es el nido de las artes 

culturales y ha sido ese lugar desde que se 

construyó a principios del siglo XX. A medida 

que UnidosNow trabaja para integrar 

a la creciente población latina de nuestra 

área en todo el tejido de nuestra comunidad, 

este concierto y su ubicación siguen 

siendo una metáfora musical de nuestro 

trabajo: una fusión de sonidos aparentemente 

dispares que no solo es armoniosa, 

sino que crea algo nuevo y hermoso, 

aportando nueva vida y dinamismo a los 

condados de Sarasota y Manatee.” 

NocheUnidos es una velada dedicada 

a la unidad que celebra la energía, el 

espíritu y la belleza de nuestra diversa 

comunidad. El Caribe y las zonas costeras 

del Golfo de México comparten una rica y 

dinámica herencia de la diáspora africana, 

la América indígena e Iberia, entre otras 

culturas e influencias europeas. “Esta velada 

festiva de baile, comida y hermandad 

dará testimonio de la extraordinaria mezcla 

de riqueza lingüística, musical, espiritual 

y culinaria de nuestra región”, señala 

Elizabeth Doud, Curadora Currie-Kohlmann 

de Espectáculos de The Ringling. 

El acto comenzará con ritmos festivos 

puertorriqueños de la mano de Bomba 

Yemayá y se adentrará en la noche con 

un alegre espíritu de Mardi Gras capturado 

por la 79rs Gang de Nueva Orleans. 

Ambas tradiciones tienen profundas 

raíces culturales que reflejan la alegría 

del carnaval y la dedicación consagrada 

a respetadas tradiciones. A través de esta 

combinación única, NocheUnidos honrará 

la unidad y el aprecio mutuo, con grupos 

de artistas que representan una fusión 

inspiradora de la cultura del Caribe y de la 

gran costa del Golfo. 

Este año, los asistentes están invitados 

a vestirse de blanco para llamar a la 

estación con elegancia mientras nos reunimos 

para honrar la unidad y las riquezas 

de nuestra región. 

Bomba Yemayá (San Juan, Puerto Rico) 

es un destacado grupo de bomba nacido 

de la rica herencia cultural de la isla. La 

bomba es un género musical emblemático 

de Puerto Rico que surgió hace 400 años 

en las plantaciones coloniales donde trabajaban 

los esclavos de África Occidental 

y sus descendientes. Sigue siendo una 

de las formas más populares de música 

folclórica en la isla y constituye una prueba 

significativa de sus ricas influencias 

africanas. 

79rs Gang (New Orleans, LA) 

La 79rs Gang está liderada por los músicos 

Jermaine Bossier y Romeo Bougere, 

los Grandes Jefes de dos tribus indias 

rivales de Mardi Gras, los distritos 7º y 

9º, que son municipios y comunidades 

culturales de la gran Nueva Orleans. Estos 

jóvenes talentos entrelazan los ritmos 

tradicionales del Mardi Gras con un vibrante 

estilo hip-hop contemporáneo y letras 

sofisticadas. Sus frescas versiones de 

temas intemporales fusionan éxitos funky, 

sonidos tradicionales del Mardi Gras y la 

energía de la celebración del Carnaval. 

Todos los fondos recaudados por el 

evento se destinarán a UnidosNow, con el 

fin de empoderar al creciente número de 

miembros de la comunidad hispana/latina 

de nuestra región mediante la educación, 

la integración y el compromiso cívico 

para alcanzar el sueño americano. 

Los boletos están disponibles en ringling.org. 

Acerca de UnidosNow 

Fundado en 2010 con la misión de elevar 

la calidad de vida de la creciente 

comunidad hispana/latina a través de la 

educación, la integración y el compromiso 

cívico, UnidosNow se ha establecido 

como líder en el logro de la educación 

postsecundaria. UnidosNow capacita a 

los líderes del mañana con sus programas 

intergeneracionales, incluyendo el programa 

de Liderazgo para padres, que 

ofrece a los padres las habilidades para 

navegar el sistema educativo para apoyar 

mejor a sus hijos; y el programa de la 

Academia de Futuros Líderes, que proporciona 

preparación universitaria para 

los estudiantes interesados en asistir a la 

universidad u obtener una certificación 

técnica de alta calidad. Visite unidosnow. 

org para obtener más información. 


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MORE THAN A CIRCUS 

THE CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY EMBODIES: 

PERFORMANCE 

The CAC offers year-round 

professional performances 

featuring international circus 

stars. Our seasonal Sailor Circus 

Academy shows are a Sarasota 

tradition—fun for the whole family! 

TRAINING 

Try out our programs for 

team bonding, fitness, or just 

curiosity—You can even try 

the flying trapeze! Sign up for 

as many classes as you like or 

bring your whole corporate 

team for a one-of-a-kind team 

bonding experience. 

OUTREACH 

In addition to our arts-integrated 

classroom programs, we offer 

recreational classes for children 

and adults, summer camps, and 

events with community partners. 

The CAC makes it easy to find 

circus fun in the Sarasota area. 

LEGACY 

The CAC, founded by 

Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs, 

preserves Sarasota’s rich and 

vibrant Circus Arts legacy 

through everything we do, 

including supporting annual 

events like the Circus Ring 

of Fame induction. 

FOLLOW YOUR CIRCUS DREAM and try a recreational class! Let your 

child join the circus for a week of camp or have an unforgettable circus 

team-bonding experience with your colleagues. Be dazzled and delighted 

by a circus show! 

Learn more about how you can Join the Circus at circusarts.org 


good news 

Manatee Community Foundation Announces 

2024 Scholarship Awards 

Manatee Community Foundation has announced 

the 2024 Scholars Program scholarship 

awards. According to Simone Peterson, 

MCF’s community investment officer, 93 scholarships 

were granted this year, for a total of 

$223,063.40 awarded. Among the recipients,74 

are Manatee County students, and 15 are Sarasota 

County students. 

Peterson notes that the program was 

launched in 1998 and provides graduating 

high school students from Manatee and Sarasota 

counties—and those already in college 

or an accredited trade school—with scholarships 

to attend accredited post-secondary 

education institutions. She says it’s funded 

by “generous donors who believe education 

lifts our community” and that a dedicated 

Natalia Urbanski 

scholarship committee, comprised of MCF 

board members and community representatives, 

meticulously review all applications 

and select recipients. “This collaborative effort 

ensures that deserving students receive 

the financial support they need to pursue 

their academic goals,” she said. 

Natalia Urbanski is one of the recipients 

and a graduate of State College of Florida 

Collegiate School, SCF’s dual enrollment high 

school-to-college program. She is majoring 

in marketing at Florida Gulf Coast University 

and graduating this May. Urbanski says that 

receiving the MCF scholarship has allowed 

her to “avoid student debt and truly enjoy the 

college experience. The funds provided to me 

have taken the pressure off working excessive 

hours to cover my academic costs. 

Alejandro Peralta Jacome graduated from 

Sarasota High School and is attending Johns 

Hopkins University, with a major in neuroscience/pre-med. 

He notes that MCF’s scholarships 

have been instrumental in his academic 

journey by alleviating the financial burden of 

tuition and related expenses. 

Tremaine Rumph received his GED from the 

state of Florida and is attending State College 

of Florida Manatee-Sarasota to obtain an associate 

in science degree. He thanks “everyone 

at Manatee Community Foundation who 

makes it possible for students like me to continue 

their education. 

The MCF Scholars Program’s next call for 

applications will be for those who are majoring 

in a vocational field, and will open on October 

1, 2024, and close on November 1, 2024. 

The next call for applications for MCF’s general 

application cycle will open on January 1, 

2025, and close on March 1, 2025. 

For more information about Manatee Community 

Foundation, visit www.ManateeCF.org. 

G.R.A.S.P. Inc. Receives $6,000 Grant from 

Manatee Community Foundation 

G.R.A.S.P. Inc. has received a $6,000 grant 

from the Bishop Parker Foundation Fund of 

the Manatee Community Foundation.This 

grant will enhance their ongoing efforts to stabilize 

individuals transitioning out of incarceration 

or rehabilitation financially. 

G.R.A.S.P. Inc.’s Financial Stability Program 

is dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated 

individuals and those coming out of rehabilitation 

achieve financial independence and 

rebuild their lives. Partnering with organizations 

that provide comprehensive services, 

including financial literacy education, job 

placement assistance, and personalized financial 

planning, G.R.A.S.P can support the 

individuals most at risk. 

By addressing the unique financial challenges 

faced by these individuals, they aim to 

reduce recidivism and foster their long-term 

stability and success. For more information 

about G.R.A.S.P. Inc. and their Financial Stability 

Program, visit graspsrq.org. 

Gecko’s Hospitality Group Supports 

Mote Marine Laboratory 

Alejandro Peralta Jacome 

Tremaine Rumph 

In July, co-owners Mike Gowan and Mike Quillen 

from Gecko’s Hospitality Group presented 

a check for $15,000 to Dr. Michael P. Crosby, 

President & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory & 

Aquarium. 

The donation is part of a years-long partnership 

where Gecko’s provides proceeds 

from the sale of their ‘Shark Lady’ philanthropic 

cocktail to support Mote’s globally 

impactful red tide and marine science research. 

Gecko’s donation from sales of ‘Shark 

Lady’ cocktail have now provided Mote with 

approximately $62,000 to support its mission 

since the specialty drink was launched 

in 2018. 

The aqua-blue cocktail is named after 

Mote’s Founding Director, Dr. Eugenie 

“Genie” Clark, who is known as ‘The Shark 

Lady’ because of her extensive research on 

sharks. Developed by Anne Rollings & Gecko’s 

Beverage Director, the libation is a mix of rum, 

blue curacao, pineapple juice and sour mix. 

The partnership between Gecko’s and 

Mote goes back to 2018 when the region experienced 

an unusually persistent red tide 

bloom. Wanting to support the science-based 

red tide mitigation work being conducted 

at Mote, Anne Rollings, an executive with 

Gecko’s, came up with the concept as a way to 

create an ongoing source of education about 

the work being done at Mote to Gecko’s guests 

as well as contribute with financial support. 

Hermitage Artist Retreat Receives 

Over $238,000 in National and Regional Grants 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has been 

awarded nearly a dozen grants totaling over 

$238,000 that will support a variety of programs 

and initiatives, including residencies 

for Hermitage Fellows, arts education support, 

and program accessibility. 

Grants were awarded by the Aaron Copland 

Fund for Music, Amphion Foundation, 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Community 

Foundation of Sarasota County, The 

Exchange, Koski Family Foundation, Tourist 

Development Cultural/Arts Program, National 

Endowment for the Arts, and Plantation 

Community Foundation. 

The Board of Sarasota County Commissioners 

recently approved the Tourist Development 

Cultural/Arts Program (TDC/A) funding, 

resulting in a grant award in excess of 

$52,000 for the Hermitage to facilitate artist 

residencies and programming that supports 

tourism to Sarasota County. 

Hermitage Fellows, alumni, and curators 

are some of the leading artists and thinkers 

in their respective fields from all over the 

world. These creators share their artistic talents 

and insight into their creative process 

through free community programs held on 

the Hermitage campus, as well as at partner 

arts, cultural, and educational institutions 

throughout the region. These programs offer 

a wide variety of free events to tourists staying 

in all areas of Sarasota County. 

The Welles Murphey Fund at Gulf Coast 

Community Foundation (GCCF) provided a 

$50,000 Empowering Arts Grant in support 

of the Hermitage’s mission: to inspire and 

foster the most influential and culturally 

consequential art and artists of our time. 

The Hermitage became one of Gulf Coast’s 

“Arts Appreciation” grantees in 2021, and this 

year’s grant marks a $10,000 increase from 

previous years; GCCF has additionally supported 

the Hermitage through other special 

programs and with pandemic/hurricane relief 

efforts in recent years. 

The Hermitage was awarded a $50,000 

grant from the Community Foundation of 

Sarasota County (CFSC) to once again serve 

Art 4 Change Receives $5,000 Grant from 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation 

Art 4 Change received a $5,000 grant from 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf 

Coast). This funding, designated for Art 4 

Change’s 2024-2025 initiatives, is made possible 

through the Carl A. Savickas Charitable 

Fund, a donor-established legacy endowment, 

at Gulf Coast. 

The contribution makes Gulf Coast the first 

Platinum Sponsor for Art 4 Change, marking 

a milestone for the arts organization. The 

support enables Art 4 Change to advance 

its mission to create positive social change 

through art and serve underrepresented 

communities. A key initiative supported by 

this sponsorship is Art 4 Change’s “A Better 

World Through Art” poster contest. 

Submissions are now open to Sarasota and 

Manatee County students in grades 6-12, with 

a deadline of December 20, 2024. Art 4 Change 

has been dedicated to fostering collaboration 

with local galleries, businesses, and educational 

institutions to create opportunities 

for artists and students alike. 

Their efforts focus on using art as a catalyst 

for social change, providing a platform 

for diverse voices, and nurturing a vibrant, 

inclusive cultural landscape. For information, 

visit art4changeinc.org. 

Asolo Rep Awarded $50,000 from 

Designing Women Boutique 

Asolo Repertory Theatre has received a 

$50,000 grant from the Designing Women 

Boutique. This grant continues a longstanding 

partnership between Designing Women Boutique 

and Asolo Repertory Theatre; this year’s 

grant is in support of the theatre’s upcoming 

2024-2025 Season. 

Celebrating 22 years of giving back to the 

Sarasota community, Designing Women Boutique 

& Estate Services has given $12,000,000 

in grants and merchandise to more than 100 

non-profit recipients. 

The grant will provide essential support for 

as the Lead Community Sponsor for the Hermitage 

Greenfield Prize Weekend. This will 

be the eighth year of CFSC’s support of this 

annual celebration, which is presented in 

partnership with the Greenfield Foundation; 

this year’s events are scheduled for the first 

weekend in April of 2025. 

The Koski Family Foundation again awarded 

the Hermitage a $50,000 grant to support 

residencies for teaching artists, in addition 

to the continued support of the Hermitage’s 

Sarasota Cross Arts Collaborative initiative. 

This grant allows the Hermitage to foster the 

development of new work for teaching artists 

while providing local schools the benefit of 

these artists’ insight and instruction. 

The Cross Arts Collaborative was designed 

to give performers who call local arts institutions 

“home” a chance to expand their artistic 

practice from ‘performer’ to ‘creator.’ Recipients 

receive two weeks of uninterrupted time 

at the Hermitage Artist Retreat to develop a 

new project and present a free public program 

for the Sarasota community. 

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 

renewed its support for the Hermitage with 

a $15,000 grant. These funds are intended to 

support the Hermitage’s artist residency program. 

Additional community program support 

came from The Exchange, which awarded 

$10,000 to support “Hermitage North” programming 

through series such as “Hermitage 

Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” and “Hermitage 

Sunsets @ Benderson Park.” 

In addition, The Exchange awarded a 

$5,000 Elizabeth Lindsay Arts in Education 

grant to support the Hermitage’s “A Gift of Education 

to Sarasota County Schools” project 

that brings leading artists to Sarasota County 

public schools. 

Grants from the Amphion Foundation, Aaron 

Copland Fund for Music, and the Plantation 

Community Foundation will provide support 

for the organization’s music-focused initiatives, 

as well as specialized program equipment 

for events on the Hermitage Beach and 

other locations. 

the 2024-25 mainstage season. Productions 

include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical 

(November 13, 2024 – January 5, 2025), Ken 

Ludwig’s Lady Molly of Scotland Yard (January 

17 – February 8, 2025), Anna in the Tropics 

(February 19 – March 13, 2025), Dancing 

in Lughnasa (March 19 – April 19, 2025), Good 

Night, Oscar (April 2 – April 27, 2025), Jesus 

Christ Superstar (May 14 – June 15, 2025) and 

All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (December 

4 – 25, 2024) in partnership with The 

Ringling and The Historic Asolo Theater. 

To learn more, visit www.asolorep.org. 


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travel news 

Palm Springs Modernism Week - 

October 24-27 

Modernism Week, the annual festival 

celebrating midcentury modern 

architecture, art, design, and vintage 

culture in Palm Springs, is back with 

Modernism Week in October. The festival 

will feature over 50 events in four days, 

many of which are free or low-cost. 

New events include Sinatra’s Rat Pack 

Homes & Hangouts Bus Tour. Climb aboard 

a double-decker bus to 

explore the homes and 

hangouts of the iconic Rat 

Pack. Or experience Discover 

Historic Bel Air Estates in 

Idyllic Indian Wells - a walking 

home tour that showcases 

four midcentury homes 

and includes a poolside 

reception at a 1964 William 

Cody designed house. 

Other bus tours include 

The Homes That Define 

Palm Springs Bus Tour - a 

90-minute tour that showcases 

popular Palm Springs neighborhoods 

and spectacular home styles. 

Special events include Cul de Sac “Swinging 

’66” where you tour six William Krisel 

homes with classic cars, a vintage vinyl DJ, gogo 

dancers, and more, complete with a guided 

tour of pool and garden areas redesigned with 

drought-tolerant landscaping. 

For more details at modernismweek.com. 

Second Annual SAVOR St. Pete 

Food and Wine Festival Nov. 2-3 

This This year’s festival 

offers tastings and indulging 

in VIP experiences at 

the Vinoy Waterfront Park, 701 

Bayshore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg 

along the Tampa Bay waterfront 

They’ll have a Grand Tasting 

Village: A culinary haven with 

renowned chefs, restaurants, 

national brands, wineries, and 

craft breweries showcasing their 

best. 

Also on tap: Interactive Experiences: 

Enjoy cooking demonstrations 

on the San Pellegrino Cooking 

Stage featuring both local and national chef 

talent, plus brand activations, bites, sips, and 

giveaways Publix and over 50 national brand 

partners. 

Explore Explore the heart of the Federal 

City on Capitol Hill Mondays and Saturdays, 

10am, 2pm. This tour takes visitors 

through the political core of Washington 

DC. From the original L’Enfant city plan to 

the tumultuous construction of the Capitol 

and Grounds, the rise of the magnificent 

Plus there’s ELECTRIC LOUNGE: Dive into 

luxury with Sarasota Lamborghini and BMW, 

featuring the latest electric vehicles and 

tech-savvy EMOTO electric bikes in this allnew 

lounge area. https://savortheburg.com/ 

Take in Some Capitol Architecture 

Beaux Arts Library of Congress 

and imposing Supreme Court, 

and into the present day. 

Prolific designers like Thomas 

Jefferson, Robert Mills, Frederick 

Law Olmstead, and Daniel 

Burnham will feature prominently. 

Controversy, chaos, and red 

tape abound! A tour not to be 

missed by architecture and history 

enthusiasts with DC Design 

Tours. Sights and stops include: 

Union Station, U.S. Capitol 

Building, Capitol Grounds, Supreme 

Court Building, Library of 

Congress and the Capitol Visitors 

Center. Cost: $35. 

This tour meets in the Great Hall of Union 

Station under the big clock. The tour takes 

about 2 hours and covers approximately 1 mile, 

ending at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center. Offered 

by DC Design Tours. Info: (202) 525-7315 

or visit www.dcdesigntours.com/ 

Stay Steps from Disney World - 

at a Great Price 

Special rates starting 

at $79* are available 

to book at Disney 

Springs Resort Area 

Hotels for stays through 

November 23, 2024. (Be 

sure to visit their site and 

see the details.) 

Disney Springs Resort 

Area Hotels include the 

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton 

Orlando, Drury Plaza Hotel 

Orlando, Hilton Orlando 

Buena Vista Palace, Hilton 

Orlando Lake Buena Vista, 

Holiday Inn Orlando Disney 

Springs, Renaissance Orlando Resort and 

Spa, and Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista. 

All Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels are 

located at Walt Disney World Resort. Each 

resort is an Official Walt Disney World Resort 

Hotel and is within walking distance of the 

area’s shopping, dining, and entertainment via 

the pedestrian sky bridge to Disney Springs. 

*This offer is exclusively available through 

the promotion website and is not valid with 

any other special offers, promotions, existing 

reservations, or groups. 

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando - $95 

Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando - $127.49 

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace - $182 

Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista - $165 

Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs - $79 

Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa - $127 

Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista - $84 

Guests of Disney Springs Resort Area 

Hotels receive additional benefits including: 

Complimentary transportation – Hourly 

bus shuttle service is available to all Walt Disney 

World Theme Parks for Disney Springs 

Resort Area Hotels guests. Individual hotel 

shuttle schedules vary. 

Early Access – Disney Springs Resort 

Area Hotels guests get 30-minute early 

entry to any theme park every day. 

Visit https://disneyspringshotels.com/ 

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest 

Island Hopper 

Songwriter Fest is a 

10-day music festival 

in Southwest Florida 

featuring performances 

by BMI singer-songwriters 

from Nashville and 

nationwide. The festival 

is broken up into four 

locations with the first 

weekend kicking off 

on Captiva Island, then 

moving to Cape Coral 

and downtown Fort 

Myers during the week, 

and ends with a weekend 

on Fort Myers Beach. 

Majority of the shows are free with the 

exception of some ticketed experiences like 

the headliner show at the Pink Shell Beach 

Resort, along with other specialty shows. 

Avelo Airlines in Sarasota / Bradenton 

has Nonstops to Philadelphia 

Avelo Airlines is offering nonstop, 

seasonal service between Sarasota 

Bradenton International Airport and 

Philadelphia / Delaware Valley region’s 

Wilmington Airport. 

On September 29 Scotty McCreery 

will perform at Pink Shell Pool Party, 

Fort Myers Beach 

Enjoy over a hundred 

free performances in 

intimate island venues 

showcasing BMI’s best 

singer-songwriters. 

Schedule: 

September 29: Scotty 

McCreery at Pink Shell 

Pool Party, Fort Myers 

Beach, Pink Shell 

Beach Resort And 

Marina 

Captiva Island—Sept 

20-22 

Cape Coral—Sept 23-24 

Downtown Fort Myers— 

Sept 25-26 

Fort Myers Beach—Sept 27-29 

Ranked fourth-best music fest in the 

2024 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice 

Awards. Info www.island-hopperfest 

Beginning November 23, 2024, Avelo will 

operate this route to Philadelphia / Wilmington 

twice weekly on Wednesdays and 

Saturdays utilizing Boeing Next-Generation 

737 aircraft. Travelers can make reservations 

at AveloAir.com. 

Philadelphia / Delaware Valley will rejoin 

Avelo’s current nonstop service to Southern 

Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport 

(HVN). 

Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew 

Levy said, “SRQ – We’re growing again. 

We’re excited to continue growth in the 

Sarasota / Bradenton region and bring back 

our nonstop, seasonal route to Philadelphia.” 


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Alumni Association 

Past - Present - Future 

Dedicated socials and seminars for our 

Alumni Association members. 

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dining in 

September is Mushroom Month 

Mushrooms can make for a “Meaty” substitute 

It’s easy to forget about mushrooms. It’s a humble ingredient, often taking 

the role of supporting actor in pastas, soups, stews, and side dishes. But don’t 

overlook mushrooms, or you run the risk of missing out on one of nature’s 

most complex, versatile, and surprising foods. 

First, mushrooms are incredibly healthy; they’re low in calories, fat- and cholesterol-free, 

and contain nearly no sodium. They’re also a great source of B vitamins and 

are excellent sources of antioxidants, like selenium, which help protect the body 

from cell damage, supports the immune system, thyroid functions, and our reproduction. 

Mushrooms are easy on the planet, too, contributing only a small fraction 

of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to meat and other animal products. 

The mushrooms and lentils in 

this meatless sauce create a 

full-bodied feel, and the combination 

of additional veggies, 

spices and red wine provides 

that yummy umami flavor we’ve 

all come to love and expect in 

a traditional Bolognese sauce. 

Don’t worry, folks—this vegan 

recipe isn’t just for vegans or 

vegetarians. It’s so delicious that 

carnivores will crave it, too. 

Makes 8 cups 

Lentil and Mushroom Bolognese 

Ingredients: 

1½ tablespoons olive oil 

1 cup celery, finely diced (~3 

stalks) 

1 cup carrots finely diced (~2 

to 3 small) 

1½ cups leeks, finely diced (1 

large or 2 small) 

1 cup red bell pepper, finely 

diced (1 medium) 

1 pound mushrooms, finely 

diced (~6 to 7 cups) 

3 cloves garlic, finely minced 

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 

1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped 

1 tablespoon tomato paste 

1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to 

taste 

Freshly ground pepper 

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper 

flakes, optional 

¼ cup red wine 

1½ cups low-sodium vegetable 

broth, mushroom broth or water 

One can (28 ounces) crushed 

tomatoes 

1 cup dry lentils (rinsed and picked 

through) 

1 to 2 teaspoons tamari, optional 

1 tablespoon fresh parsley and/or 

basil, minced 

Directions: 

In a heavy bottom pot, warm the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the celery, 

carrots, leeks and bell pepper, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently to 

prevent scorching. The vegetables will begin to soften and caramelize. 

Add the mushrooms and continue to cook over medium-high heat for another 8 

minutes, stirring frequently until most of the moisture has evaporated. You will be left 

with a caramelized and flavorful vegetable pulp. 

Add the garlic, thyme, oregano, and tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute, scraping the 

bottom of the pan and incorporating the paste. Add the salt, freshly ground pepper, 

and crushed red pepper flakes. 

Add the red wine and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Continue to cook over medium-high 

heat for 1 to 2 minutes until the liquid evaporates. Add 1½ cups broth or 

water, crushed tomatoes, and dry lentils. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to 

low. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until lentils are tender and 

most of the liquid is absorbed. 

Remove lid and cook for another 5 minutes adding any additional liquid if needed to 

create tender lentils and a thick rich sauce. Season with additional salt, freshly ground 

pepper and the fresh minced parsley. Serve over zoodles, spaghetti squash or whole 

grain pasta. 

This sauce will last up to 4 days in the fridge, or you can freeze for up 2 months in an 

airtight container 

One study showed that you can grow as much as 1 million pounds of mushrooms 

on just 1 acre of land. 

But besides being healthy and sustainable, mushrooms are also delicious. In your 

average supermarket, you may find nearly a dozen different types of mushrooms, 

each with its own unique properties. White button mushrooms have a mild flavor 

that intensifies when cooked or sautéed; cremini mushrooms take well to roasting, 

and have a deep earthy taste that adds a heartiness to dishes; Portobello mushrooms 

are a larger relative of the cremini with a tough texture that makes them 

ideal candidates for the grill; shiitake mushrooms are excellent sources of umami 

(a savory, meaty flavor) and perfect for flavoring soups and stews or providing a 

meaty chew to stir fries. 

But a lot of the fun of cooking with mushrooms is experimenting with different 

varieties and seeing what works and what doesn’t. Mushrooms are excellent sources 

of umami — one of the five basic tastes that gives foods a savory flavor. Because 

of their natural meatiness and hearty chew, they can often take the place of red 

meat in dishes like stews, braises, and sauces. 

Meaty Mushroom Stew over Garlic Mashed Potatoes 

Ingredients: 

For the Garlic Mashed 

Potatoes: 

2 pounds Yukon 

Gold potatoes, 

peeled and diced 

½ teaspoon salt, or 

to taste 

2 tablespoons 

plant-based 

butter or extravirgin 

olive oil 

½ cup lite coconut 

milk, plus more as 

needed 

½ teaspoon garlic 

powder, or to 

taste 

For the Meaty 

Mushroom Stew: 

2 tablespoons olive 

oil 

1 yellow onion, 

diced 

2 cloves garlic, 

minced 

2 carrots, peeled and diced 

10 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms 

10 ounces sliced shiitake mushrooms 

1 tablespoon tomato paste 

2 tablespoons tamari, coconut 

aminos, or soy sauce (gluten-free, 

if desired) 

2 teaspoons dried thyme 

2 teaspoons dried sage 

1½ teaspoons salt, or to taste 

¼ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste 

1½ cups low-sodium vegetable 

broth 

1 cup frozen green peas 

Directions: 

For the mashed potatoes: Add the potatoes to a large pot on the stove. Cover the 

potatoes with water by 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm). Add ½ teaspoon of salt. Turn the 

heat to high and bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 to 20 

minutes until the potatoes are tender and easily pierced with a knife. Drain and add 

the potatoes back to the pot. Add the butter and coconut milk. 

Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes until smooth. Add additional milk 1 tablespoon 

(15 ml) at a time if you like your mashed potatoes a thinner consistency. Add 

the garlic powder and additional salt to taste. Switch to a spatula or wooden spoon to 

stir and incorporate the seasonings well. Set aside. 

For the Meaty Mushroom Stew: Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a 

large pan. Add the onion and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until soft and translucent. Add 

the garlic and carrots and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sauté for 

8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add the tomato paste, tamari, thyme, sage, salt, pepper, and vegetable broth. Increase 

the heat to bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low to simmer for 10 

minutes. Add the green peas, stir to incorporate, and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to 

heat through. Serve over the Garlic Mashed Potatoes. 

24 WEST COAST WOMAN SEPTEMBER 2024

dining in continued 

Quick Cooking Tips 

Salt mushrooms after cooking to avoid having them simmer in their own liquids. 

Always wash mushrooms whole. Give them a quick dunk in a bowl of water and 

scrub for no longer than 10-15 seconds, then lay out for an hour or until dry. 

Don’t be afraid to use oil and a hot pan (medium-high heat). Mushrooms will absorb 

oil and leach out liquid as they cook. Make sure the liquid totally evaporates 

before turning off the stove. 

Resist the temptation to stir frequently. Let the mushrooms brown completely 

on each side before stirring. 

Don’t cut too thin. Mushrooms get smaller as they release their juices. Aim for 

half-inch pieces for stews, soups, and stir-fries. 

This recipe is a vegan riff 

on paprikash. Easy, yet 

opulent, this dish features 

paprika, an homage 

to Bohemian/Romanian/ 

Hungarian cooking. 

Bohemian Mushrooms 

make a stylish side dish 

served over soft, fresh 

greens, paired with polenta 

or mounded on top 

of toast. 

Ingredients: 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

3 garlic cloves, minced 

Pinch red pepper 

flakes (optional) 

1 pound mushrooms, cremini or 

white button mushrooms, wiped 

clean and sliced 

1 small tomato, chopped (about 1/2 

cup) 

1 tablespoon sweet paprika 

1 teaspoon caraway seed 

1 teaspoon coriander 

Directions: 

In a skillet, preferably cast iron, heat oil over medium-high heat. When it starts to shimmer, 

add minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes. Give them a stir and let them 

dance around for a minute, releasing their fragrance. When garlic starts to soften and 

turn golden, add the mushrooms. 

Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms darken, shrink and start to 

release their liquid, creating their own broth— about 8 to 10 minutes. Add chopped 

tomatoes, paprika, which blooms in hot liquid, caraway and coriander. 

Cook for another 5 minutes or so, letting flavors meld and the sauce thicken and reduce. 

Just before serving, scatter in the chopped dill and stir in in lemon juice. Season to taste 

with sea salt and pepper. 

This is egg salad like you’ve 

probably never had it before. 

This classic American comfort 

food gets a face lift with the 

addition of crispy sautéed 

mushrooms and shallots. 

Bohemian Mushrooms 

1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped 

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to 

taste 

Juice of 1 lemon 

To garnish: 

Additional chopped dill 

Chopped cilantro 

Mushroom Egg Salad 

Ingredients: 

2 tablespoons olive oil 

4 ounces baby portabellas 

or crimini mushrooms, 

chopped 

1/2 shallot – minced 

kosher salt/pepper 

6 hardboiled eggs – peeled and sliced 1/4 cup mayonnaise 

2 Ciabatta rolls – toasted 

Instructions: 

Into a small sauté pan heat oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms and shallots and 

cook until softened and browned. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. 

Into a medium bowl add: eggs, mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Using a fork 

press down with tines until eggs are crushed to desired size. 

Add mushroom mixture. Stir to combine. Check for seasoning, adjust if necessary. If you 

like additional mayonnaise, add to taste. 

Divide egg salad between Ciabatta rolls. 

Grilled Mushroom Cobb Salad 

Meaty portabella mushrooms top this 

vegetarian Cobb salad, perfect for 

lunch or as a hearty side salad. 

Ingredients: 


Salt and pepper to taste 

1 red bell pepper, cut in 2-inch pieces 

4 portabella mushrooms, sliced 

4 cups chopped romaine lettuce 

1/4 cup prepared vinaigrette salad 

dressing, or more to taste 

6 hard boiled eggs, coarsely chopped 

4 ounces crumbled blue cheese 

Instructions: 

Wish together oil, salt and pepper and 

brush mushroom strips and red peppers 

with mixture. Place red pepper pieces on a 

skewer and grill peppers and mushrooms, 

turning once, for about 10 minutes. 

Toss lettuce with vinaigrette and arrange on a shallow serving platter. Arrange mushrooms, 

roasted peppers, eggs and blue cheese in four “stripes” across the bed of lettuce. 

Serve chilled. 

Marinated Mushroom and Chickpea Salad 

This refreshing 

mushroom and 

chickpea salad can 

be served as a side 

or a main dish. 

Ingredients: 

8 ounces baby 

portabella 

mushrooms, 

cleaned and cut 

into quarters 

2 roasted red 

peppers, cut 

into small 

pieces 

One, 15 ounce 

can chickpeas, 

drained and rinsed 

1/3 cup red wine or sherry vinegar 


2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced 

Small pinch red pepper flakes, to taste 

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian 

parsley and/or fresh oregano 

Salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions: 

Combine mushrooms with chickpeas and roasted red peppers in a large mixing bowl. 

In a small saucepan, over medium heat, combine sherry vinegar with olive oil, garlic and 

red pepper flakes. Bring to a low boil and turn off heat. Pour vinaigrette over mushrooms, 

chickpeas and red peppers and gently stir. 

Let sit for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so that ingredients absorb dressing. 

Add freshly chopped herbs and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve at room 

temperature or chilled. Stir before serving (to distribute the dressing). 

More recipes at: www.mushroomcouncil.com/recipes/ 

Fungus FAQs 

Q: Are mushrooms classified as a fruit or vegetable? 

A: Neither. Mushrooms are fungi, which are so distinct in nature they are classified 

as their own kingdom – separate from plants or animals. While commonly 

placed in the vegetable category for dietary recommendations, mushrooms are, 

however, not a vegetable based on their cellular organization and composition 

such as chitin and ergosterol. 

Q: Where are mushrooms grown in the U.S.? 

A: Mushrooms are grown in nearly every state, however, Pennsylvania accounts 

for approximately 60 percent of total U.S. mushroom production. 

Q: What types of mushrooms are grown in the U.S.? 

A: The most popular mushroom variety grown in the U.S. is white button, followed 

by crimini (brown or baby bellas), portabellas, enoki, oyster, maitake and 

shiitake. 

Q: Which wild mushrooms can I eat? 

A: There are thousands of species of fungi in the world, but only a few are edible. 

Take caution when handling wild mushrooms, as they may be poisonous. If you 

are looking to identify wild mushrooms, it’s best to contact a trained mycologist. 

Q: When are mushrooms grown? 

A: Mushrooms are grown and harvested year-round. 

Q: Should I wash my mushrooms? 

A: Yes. According to the FDA, you should “wash all produce thoroughly under 

running water before preparing and/or eating, including produce grown at home 

or bought from a grocery store or farmers’ market.” 

Q: Do mushrooms contain vitamin D? 

A: All mushrooms contain some vitamin D1, but mushrooms have the unique 

ability to increase vitamin D amounts due to UV-light or sunlight exposure2. 

Q: What are mushrooms’ health benefits? 

A: Long celebrated as a superfood source of powerful nutrients, fresh mushrooms 

are a healthy addition to your plate. They are fat-free, low-calorie, nutrient-dense, 

low in sodium and contain natural antioxidants. For more nutrition 

information, visit: http://www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata 


THESE DOCTORS ARE AMONG 

THE BEST 

ONE OF THE BEST 

SPINAL DECOMPRESSION 

PHYSICIANS 

PHYSICIANS 

IN IN AMERICA 

2023 

(Sarasota, Florida) Dr. David Cifra, DC who is 

board certified in the specialty of Non-Surgical 

Spinal Decompression has been peer-nominated 

and recognized again in 2023 by the International 

Medical Advisory Board on Spinal Decompression. 

This advanced certification is provided 

in conjunction with Disc Centers of 

America, which sets the gold standard 

in training and research, on the 

latest, most effective options for the 

alleviation & treatment of 

spinal disc disorders, which 

often cause low back 

pain, neck pain, sciatica, 

numbness, tingling, pins 

and needle sensations 

and more. 

Dr. Cifra is committed to helping 

his patients AVOID narcotics, epidural 

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Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression 

provides safe, gentle, and effective 

relief for upwards of 90% of patients that 

qualify for care. 

Neck or 

low back pain? 

Avoid surgery and 

get your life back! 

DR. CIFRA IS LOCATED AT: MIDTOWN MEDICAL PARK 

1215 S. EAST AVE. SUITE 210, SARASOTA FL 34239 

SarasotaDiscCenter.com 

CALL (941) 358-2224 OR (315) 345-7390 TODAY 

TO SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION 

UN I QU E 24 

25 V O I C E S 

FLORIDA 

DAILY TROLLEY Dr. David TOURS Cifra, D.C. 

ENTERTAINING 2415 • INFORMATIVE 

University Parkway 

Sarasota, Fl 34243 

315-345-7390 

WHO KILLED THE CIRCUS QUEEN? 

WASHINGTON 

Dr. Steven Thain, D.C. 

14700 NE 8th St. # 115 

Bellevue, WA 98007 

425-644-8386 

NEW MEXICO 

Dr. 

★ 

Brian 

★ ★ ★ 

Hesser, 

★ 

D.C. 

3850 Loved E. Lohman It!” Ave. 

-Jane 

Las Cruces, NM 88001 

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“My Whole Family 

MOTIVE. MEANS. OPPORTUNITY. 

Thursdays & Saturdays 7:30PM VIRGINIA 

Ticket includes complimentary wine/beer before boarding. 

Dr. Chris Lauria, D.C. 

4915 Brambleton Ave. 

Roanoke, VA 24018 

540-725-9501 

Step right up to solve the murder of Dahlia the Queen of the High Trapeze 

on this interactive Murder Mystery Musical Tour where 

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SHOW! 

Haunted Sarasota 

GHOST STORIES, MYSTERY GUESTS & SPOOKY FUN 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

“Excellent ghost tour 

with fabulous actors! ” 

Jill 

Prizes for BEST 

costumes 

on each tour! 

$3 OFF w/code WCW 

8PM Nightly, October 11-31 


OHIO 

Dr. Carey Girgis, D.C. 

383 West Main Street 

Westerville, OH 43081 

614-890-3500 

ILLINOIS 

Dr. Richard Lohr, D.C. 

3090 N. Main Street 

Decatur, IL 62526 

217-706-5551 

WILLIAM DAROFF 

KRISTALLNACHT 

These four featured events are part of an extraordinary season-long 

exploration of Jewish identity and culture through film, provocative 

speakers, visual arts, literature, and learning! 

OCTOBER 29 

7PM • The Ora 

As CEO of the 

Conference of 

Presidents of Major 

Jewish Organizations, 

a national group of 52 

member organizations 

representing a wide 

cross-section of American Jewish life, 

Daroff is uniquely qualified to share 

how the upcoming election will impact 

our Jewish community, no matter who 

wins the White House. 

NOVEMBER 10 


Join us as we commemorate 

Kristallnacht 

and celebrate 

the 60th anniversary 

of the Memorial Scrolls 

Trust. This is a unique 

opportunity to view 

torah scrolls collected by the Jewish 

community in Prague during the Nazi 

invasion. Musical performances, speakers, 

and a torah scroll processional will 

honor these witnesses to the atrocities 

of the Holocaust. 

For more information about this season’s 

events check out JFEDSRQ.org/events. 

HEN MAZZIG 

KLEZMER MUSIC FESTIVAL 

For tickets, visit JFEDSRQ.org/events 

NOVEMBER 6 


Hen Mazzig is a globally 

recognized speaker, 

educator, author, and 

digital influencer. He has 

gained 600k across his 

social media platforms, and 

over 100 million users have 

interacted with his content. He has appeared 

as an expert on Jewish issues in media on 

four continents, including BBC, CNN, The 

Washington Post, SkyNews, LA Times, Haaretz, 

and more. Mazzig is founder of the Tel Aviv 

Institute, a social media outlet providing 

resources, data and proven strategies 

to fight online antisemitism. 

DECEMBER 28 


Celebrate the rich tradition 

of this joyful Eastern 

European Jewish and 

Yiddish music! Dance 

along to lively, energetic 

tunes, featuring 

Sarasota’s own Yiddish 

Cowboys, one of Florida’s 

only professional 

Klezmer bands! 

Scan me! 

Hop on board the trolley for an historical journey through Sarasota’s 

haunted buildings, famous murders, and spooky tales with guide, 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Loved the singers, lights 

& caroling! 

Kris 

Lady Melody and Mystery Spirits! 

tRolley 

Letters To Santa 

December 1-23, 5:30PM or 7:30PM 


Celebrate the holidays on our heartwarming Christmas Carol Trolley 

downtown music and lights tour with performances by 

The Trolley Troubadours! 

DiscoverSarasotaTours.com 

941-260-9818 

1826 4th Street, Sarasota | FREE Parking! 


healthier you 

A PROGRESSIVE CULINARY EXCURSION 

An Integrative 

Medical Approach to 

Healthy Aging 

The Blend is breaking 

the mold of the 

traditional wine dinner. 

Learn More at Eatlikealocal.com 

During these exclusive, limited attendance events, 

guests will embark together via trolley on a guided 

dining experience to locally-owned eateries that 

are Members of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals. 

When I was in medical 

school and throughout 

my residency I was 

taught how to diagnose 

and treat medical problems, mostly 

using medicines and surgery. This 

concept worked quite well with my earlier 

practice in ER medicine, and also in my 

OB-GYN career. In the ER, my patients 

were in acute crises, while OB-GYN patients 

were usually younger or pregnant. 

However, as I got older and my patients 

got older, I found that this style of medicine 

was clearly not enough. The diseases 

of older patients did not respond to healing 

like younger patients and at best were 

dealt with a steady decline. 

Most of the conditions I began to treat 

at the time were then called the chronic 

medical conditions of aging, i.e. Heart 

Disease, Cancer, Arthritis, Diabetes, 

Cognitive Disorders, Hormone Disruptions, 

etc., and the generally accepted 

perspective was for people to just accept 

their fate, get old, and decline until they 

finally die. 

But my own experience had taught 

me that, while there are many things in 

terms of health that we can’t control, 

there are also many things that we can. 

So my quest became a question: How 

can we age gracefully and maintain our 

health for as long as possible? 

Maintaining Health 

Instead of Treating Disease 

The “diagnose and treat” style of medicine 

was simply not getting me to the 

root cause of the problem. This led me 

on an educational journey to discover 

modalities outside of what I was taught 

in medical school. I sought out three 

different programs: the first was in Regenerative 

and Anti-Aging Medicine, the 

next was in Metabolic and Nutritional 

Medicine, and the most recent was in 

Functional Medicine. 

Through these three programs, I 

learned (and continue to learn) eye-opening 

techniques taught by PhDs and MDs 

from around the world. I discovered that 

Integrative Medicine is a healing-oriented 

approach based on finding the root cause 

of the disease and, in many cases, finding 

it before it causes disease. 

Today 

Through world knowledge and the quest 

of many more doctors and other academics, 

the Integrative method of treating 

diseases has swung doors wide open 

to new discoveries. Presently, there are 

Schools of Medicine popping up in many 

of the world’s Centers of Excellence. 

Here in the U.S., for instance: The 

Osher Center for Integrative Health (at 

Miami and Vanderbilt University Schools 

of Medicine); Cleveland Clinic Center for 

Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine; Cleveland 

Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine 

(with Director Dr. Mark Hyman). 

If you or a loved one has been experiencing 

signs and symptoms that are 

bothering you, we encourage you to 

schedule a consultation. We do a careful 

assessment of each patient’s symptoms, 

health history, lab/blood work, and current 

health state to determine a course of 

action that’s not only going to treat the 

symptoms but also get to the root cause 

of the problem. 

At The Renewal Point, we’ve been 

helping patients get to the root cause of 

their symptoms for decades. By listening 

to our patients and carefully reviewing 

test results, we can get an accurate picture 

of what’s going on and move forward 

with a personalized plan of care. We are 

here to help! To learn more or schedule 

a consultation, you can give us a call at 

941-926-4905. 

————————————————— 

SOURCE: Dr. Watts, MD, 

ND, MSNM and Deb 

Spinner, ARNP, MSN, 

are experts in Integrative 

Medicine. With over 

25 years experience in 

Hormone Balancing, a 

Post-doctoral Certification 

in Metabolic Endocrinology, 

and a Fellowship in 

Anti-Aging, Regenerative, 

and Functional Medicine, 

Dr. Watts has put 

together programs that 

have helped thousands of 

patients renew their love 

and vigor for life. 

Dr. Dan Watts 

MD, ND, MSMN 

The Renewal Point 

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR 

4905 Clark Road, Sarasota 

Phone: 941-926-4905 

www.TheRenewalPoint.com 

Each stop features a specially curated dish paired with 

a wine. Our journey continues on September 25 with 

a delicious adventure in Bradenton and Palmetto. 

Wednesday 

SEPTEMBER 25, 5 to 8:30pm 

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS 

Riverhouse Waterfront 

Restaurant 

Birdrock Taco Shack 

Mean Deans Local Kitchen 

Ortygia 

Mattison’s Riverwalk 

Reserve Your Seat 

at Eatlikealocal.com 

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APRIL 2024 WEST COAST WOMAN 25 


‘Portrait Ukraine: 

Capturing Faces of Resistance 

Amid The Chaos of War’ 

Photography Exhibition set to run 

to April 19 at the Lexow Gallery in Sarasota 

The Lexow 

Gallery is 

set to host 

the Portrait 

U k r a i n e 

Photography Exhibition 

from March 15 to April 

19, 2024. This profound 

exhibition presents a compelling 

collection of photographs 

meticulously curated 

from three journeys to 

Ukraine undertaken by distinguished 

photojournalist 

Allan Mestel. The Portrait 

Ukraine Exhibition captures 

the faces of resistance 

amid the chaos of war. 

Within weeks of Russia’s full-scale 

invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, 

Allan Mestel embarked on a mission 

to document the harrowing realities 

faced by Ukrainians. Witnessing the 

devastation firsthand, Mestel’s photographic 

journey spans three visits 

to the war-torn region, first focusing 

on the Ukraine/Poland border, documenting 

the massive refugee crisis. 

A subsequent trip details the devastating 

aftermath of Russia’s military 

attacks and missile strikes, revealing 

the profound human toll on the people 

of Ukraine. His most recent journey 

in September 2023 covered cities 

and small towns throughout Ukraine, 

immersing himself in the environments 

of those significantly impacted 

by the war and taking intimate portraits 

reflecting the authentic human 

experience amid war. 

The Portrait Ukraine Exhibireminder 

of the dire conditions and 

ongoing challenges the Ukrainian 

people face, serving as a call to the 

world for more support. 

As viewers of the exhibition embark 

on their visual journey, they 

should understand that Mestel’s work 

is ongoing. He is not merely presenting 

a snapshot in time but an evolving 

chronicle. Mestel is planning a 

fourth journey to Ukraine in the first 

half of 2024, ensuring that the world 

remains informed and connected to 

the ongoing struggles and triumphs 

of the Ukrainian people. 

Spotlight Ukraine, a volunteer 

initiative dedicated to supporting 

Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, 

stands alongside Mestel in his commitment 

to documenting the truth 

and sharing the personal stories 

of those impacted by the war. As 

a part of this ongoing effort, Spotlight 

Ukraine supports the ‘Portrait 

tion will showcase over thirty photographs 

from all three journeys, 

offering viewers a visual narrative 

that reveals the anguish, courage, 

and resilience of individuals facing 

heart-wrenching losses endured by 

countless Ukrainians. The exhibition 

serves as a visual testament to the 

enduring spirit and courage of the 

Ukrainian people. 

The essence of the Portrait 

Ukraine Exhibition lies in distilling 

the complexities of war into individual 

visual stories. Through these evocative 

portraits, Mestel aims to forge 

a profound connection between the 

viewer and the brutal reality of the 

war, inviting reflection on the shared 

humanity that transcends borders. 

Despite global support for Ukraine 

in the first year of the war, aid and 

public support have declined during 

this second year. The Portrait 

Ukraine Exhibition serves as a stark 

EXHIBITION INFORMATION: 

through April 19, 2024 • Lexow Gallery 

3975 Fruitville Rd Sarasota, FL 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: 

Gallery Hours: 

Tuesday - Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM • Sunday 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM 

Or by appointment, call 941-371-4974 

LIMITED-EDITION PRINTS 

Limited-edition prints of select images from the Portrait 

Ukraine collection will be available for purchase from Allan 

Mestel. Profits will be used to fund his next journey to Ukraine 

to continue the Portrait Ukraine project. Information will be 

provided at the event. 

Ukraine’ project by actively sharing 

stories and photographs from Allan 

Mestel’s journeys, aiming to generate 

awareness with a broader audience. 

Those unable to attend the exhibition 

and attendees interested in reading 

about the backstory of the ‘Portrait 

Ukraine’ project, Mestel’s journeys, 

and personal stories about the portraits 

are encouraged to visit www. 

spotlightukraine.com. 

More information on the upcoming 

exhibition is available online 

at: www.portraitukraine.info. 

West Coast WOMAN 

LOVES THE ARTS! 

12 WEST COAST WOMAN APRIL 2024 


Sarasota Art Museum 

Engages the Senses with Celestial 

Spring Exhibition 

‘The Truth of the Night Sky’ is a collaboration between 

multimedia artist Anne Patterson and composer Patrick Harlin 

Imagine an intergalactic 

voyage. Waves 

of vibrant color and obscure 

darkness surround 

you. Music and ambient 

sound envelop you. Sarasota 

Art Museum of Ringling 

College of Art and Design 

will take visitors on a journey 

through space and time with 

The Truth of the Night Sky: 

Anne Patterson and Patrick 

Harlin, on view April 21- 

Sept. 29. 

Organized in collaboration 

with the Hermitage Artist 

Retreat, the immersive installation 

conveys possibility, 

wonderment and unity with 

Harlin’s orchestral composition 

and Patterson’s paintings, 

sculpture, and signature 

ribbon installations. 

Patterson, a multimedia artist, 

is a synesthete who visualizes 

color and shape when she 

hears music, especially classical 

music. Harlin, a composer, 

combines classical, jazz, and 

electronic traditions to produce 

music that displays his 

respect for the great outdoors. 

When the two met and began 

collaborating in 2014 while in 

residence at the Hermitage 

Artist Retreat on Manasota 

Key, Florida, they discovered 

their shared affinity for drawing inspiration 

from nature. Their collaboration in The 

Truth of the Night Sky at Sarasota Art Museum 

expands upon the iconic photograph 

of Earth taken from Apollo 8 in 1968. 

Harlin’s Earthrise serves as the processional, 

the sound that sets the mood and 

guides visitors through the exhibition. 

In 2021, Harlin applied to be among eight 

artists who would join SpaceX’s inaugural 

tourist flight around the moon. He imagined 

the trip would prompt him to compose a 

new soundtrack for space travel. When he 

wasn’t chosen, he turned his attention instead 

to the Apollo 8 photograph. With the 

revered image from space in mind, he composed 

Earthrise, which he coincidentally 

completed on Earth Day in 2022. 

“There is a sense of awe in looking at the 

night sky, the vastness of the universe, and 

the improbability of reaching the moon, let 

alone our closest stars,” said Harlin. “To 

date, 24 humans have taken the 240,000- 

mile trip and experienced the excitement 

of skyward travel accompanied by the violence 

of exiting Earth’s atmosphere and 

gravitational pull. I hope visitors to Sara- 

Anne Patterson. Celestial Orbs, 2024. Steel piano 

wire, resin and gold leaf, dimensions variable. 

Composer Patrick Harlin recording in the Amazon Rainforest. 

Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Audrey Kelley 

Artist Anne Patterson in her studio. Courtesy of the artist. 

Photo: Kat Choe 

to the floor. Projected onto the ribbons 

will be abstract black-and-white video images 

moving in sync with the cadence and 

rhythm of Harlin’s music. 

“Patrick Harlin and I will challenge perceptions 

and transform the space with celestial 

sculptural forms, vivid hues, dazzling 

light, and a mesmerizing, inviting musical 

score to create an air of transcendence and 

uplift,” said Patterson. “The viewer will witness 

the wonderment of the universe and nature 

that surrounds us and be reminded that 

only when it is dark can we see the stars.” 

The exhibition will offer a tactile sensory 

experience with a galactic space that instills 

a sense of hope and resilience—qualities 

from nature that both Patterson and Harlin 

find as sources of their creative inspiration. 

Patterson, a New York-based artist, holds 

a graduate degree in theater design from the 

Slade School of Art in London and a bachelor’s 

degree in architecture from Yale University. 

Her work has been widely exhibited 

and collected in museums and cultural 

institutions including exhibitions at The 

Ringling Museum in Sarasota and Trapholt 

Museum in Denmark. Patterson’s theatrical 

and symphonic partnerships have included 

Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center. 

Harlin holds a doctorate in music composition 

from the University of Michigan and 

currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

His works have been performed by the St. 

Louis Symphony and the Rochester and 

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestras, among 

others. He was the inaugural recipient of 

the Hermitage Prize in Composition at the 

Aspen Music Festival. 

sota Art Museum might vicariously experience 

the feeling that astronauts who have 

taken the trip beyond the moon have.” 

The Truth of the Night Sky will offer 

immersive encounters with both artists’ 

works. The exhibition will open with ambient 

sounds, such as those of a trumpet 

or string instrument. These excerpts from 

Harlin’s 20-minute orchestral composition 

will be paired with Patterson’s drawings 

and sculptural pieces that conjure celestial 

bodies, stars, and birds in flight. 

Featured are several series by Patterson, 

including Stars Spinning Through Spring 

(2018-19), The Truth of the Night Sky (2018- 

19), and We Are All Stardust (2019-23). A 

majestic tree assembled from driftwood 

will be suspended from the ceiling, anchoring 

the dimly lit gallery and providing 

a grounding image of nature in contrast to 

the world of outer space. 

Harlin’s full composition will then play 

as visitors enter the adjacent gallery and 

walk through a kaleidoscope of colorful 

satin ribbons cascading from the ceiling 

Exhibit Details: 

SARASOTA ART MUSEUM 

is located at 

1001 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 

On view April 21-September 29. 

14 WEST COAST WOMAN MARCH 2024 


Choral Artists of Sarasota Presents 

“Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight” 

and Joseph Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” on March 10 

Choral Artists of Sarasota’s 

45th season continues with 

“Abraham Lincoln Walks at 

Midnight,” based on a poem 

by Vachel Lindsay and composed 

by Florence Price, the first African 

American woman to have her music performed 

by a major symphony orchestra. 

The program also features Joseph Haydn’s 

“Lord Nelson Mass” (also known as “Mass 

in a Time of Anxiety”), which is recognized 

as one of his greatest compositions. 

Featured soloists for both works are singers 

in Choral Artists: Lily Wohl, soprano; 

Krista Laskowski, mezzo-soprano; Stephanie 

Jabre, alto; Zachery Stockman, tenor; 

and Jesse Martin, bass. 

“We paired these two works as a reflection 

of our own time,” says Joseph Holt, artistic 

director and conductor. “Both were composed 

during times of anxiety and unease. 

Haydn’s ‘Mass’ was composed towards the 

end of the 18th century when Napoleon 

was ransacking the continent. The work is 

composed in the turbulent key of d minor 

and it is arguably Haydn’s greatest composition. 

The Florence Price work is the 

musical setting of a poem written at the 

outset of World War I by Vachel Lindsay. 

Abraham Lincoln emerges from his grave 

and wanders the streets of Springfield, Illinois 

– very concerned about the state of 

affairs in the world of 1914.” 

Holt further explains that “both works offer 

dramatic passages of anxiety and upheaval 

yet contain moments of consolation 

and ultimate peace. We live in a time 

of anxiousness and concern about the 

future and yet yearn for a sense of peace 

and calm – very much the tenor of these 

compositions from a different era.” 

Composer Florence Price, the first African 

American female composer to gain national 

status in the 20th century, was also 

the first Black woman to have her work 

premiered by a U.S. orchestra—the Chicago 

Symphony Orchestra. When Price 

died in 1953, the bulk of her music was excluded 

from study and performance due 

to a lack of widespread publication, and a 

bias towards white, European traditionalism. 

In 2009, a substantial amount of her 

compositions was discovered in a trunk at 

Price’s abandoned composing retreat in 

St. Anne, Illinois, which has given rise to 

a renewed interest in and appreciation of 

her work. Her legacy continues to unfold. 

More Information: 

The concert is Sunday, March 10, at 7 

p.m., at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee 

Ridge Road, Sarasota. For more information 

and to purchase tickets, visit www. 

ChoralArtistsSarasota.org or call 941- 

387-4900. 

Coming up at 

Choral Artists of Sarasota: 

• Considering Matthew Shepard: Featuring 

Craig Hella Johnson’s “Considering 

Matthew Shepard,” a modern-day “Passion” 

(modeled after the great “Passions” 

of J.S. Bach) that tells the story of Matthew 

Shepard, a gay American student at 

the University of Wyoming who was beaten, 

tortured, and left to die near Laramie 

on the night of October 6, 1998. In partnership 

with Embracing Our Differences, 

Project Pride, ALSO Youth, and the First 

Congregational Church UCC, this beautiful 

musical story transcends tragedy. 

Sunday, April 14, 7 p.m., at Church of the 

Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. 

• Memorial Day Concert: United We 

Stand: The Choral Artists teams with 

the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble to 

perform a moving tribute to those in the 

armed forces who have made the ultimate 

sacrifice. This concert is also the kick-off 

for the group’s tour to France to participate 

in the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 

Normandy. Sunday, May 26, 4 p.m., at 

Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple 

Avenue, Sarasota. 

• D-Day Commemoration Journey: 

June 3-11. Choral Artists of Sarasota has 

been invited by Historic Programs, which 

partners with the Department of Defense, 

Office of Commemorations, to be the principal 

choral ensemble for the 80th D-Day 

anniversary commemorations in France in 

June. In addition to participating in commemoration 

ceremonies at the cemeteries 

in Normandy and Brittany, the group will 

perform a concert in the town square at 

Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy and also 

at L’église de la Madeleine in Paris. Choral 

Artists is inviting the public to join them on 

this journey. For more information, contact 

info@ChoralArtististsSarasota.org. 

Florence Price 

Choral Artists of Sarasota 

Joseph Holt 


About the Choral Artists of Sarasota 

The Choral Artists of Sarasota, entering 

its 45th season, features 32 professional 

singers and eight apprentice singers. 

The group celebrates the rich, artistic expressiveness 

of choral music through innovative 

repertoire, inspired performances 

and stimulating educational outreach. 

Under the artistic direction of Dr. Joseph 

Holt, Choral Artists of Sarasota performs 

a repertoire spanning four centuries, and 

includes symphonic choral works, intimate 

madrigals, folk songs, close-harmony 

jazz, and Broadway show music. 

The ensemble also specializes in premiere 

performances of lesser-known choral 

works—particularly music by living American 

composers. Choral Artists of Sarasota 

has performed premieres by René Clausen, 

Dick Hyman, Robert Levin, Gwyneth 

Walker and James Grant. As part of the 

organization’s educational outreach, eight 

young singers from area schools, colleges 

and universities, ages 16 to 22, are invited 

to join the group each year. 

18 WEST COAST WOMAN MARCH 2024 

Cartwright, who also oversees 

the museum’s European collection, 

adds, “Shinique chose the 

works on view in response to 

The Ringling’s magnificent gallery 

spaces. The synergy between her 

work and our collections is palpable, 

and the museum is full of unexpected 

moments of beauty and 

emotion.” 

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, Smith’s 

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. 

“My hope for this show is to 

create a bridge between differing 

depictions of people and the art 

histories that inform my hand while 

celebrating the beauty 

found in our belongings 

and honoring the 

resilience and magnanimity 

of Black women,” 

says Smith. 

Moving through the 

Museum of Art galleries, 

which display 

European art from 

the fifteenth century 

through the late nineteenth, 

visitors will 

find several examples 

of Smith’s large-scale 

fabric sculptures in 

conversation with European art, for 

example with Italian Baroque paintings 

in Gallery 8 and with Gilded 

Age interiors from the Astor Mansion 

in New York City in Galleries 19 

and 20. 

Smith’s works in the exhibition 

emphasize femininity, as seen 

through the eyes of a woman artist. 

In works such as Inflamed by 

Golden Hues of Love and Mitumba 

Deity II, Smith explores her 

reverence for the curves and resilience 

of Black women, conveyed 

through shapely forms bejeweled 

and draped in gold. Notions of divinity, 

light, death, renewal, and 

rebirth pervade sculptural works 

like Grace Stands Beside and Stargazer, 

the latter inspired by the 

imagined path of an enslaved woman 

following the stars and counting 

the days to her freedom. 

The exhibition moves from the 

mythic and monumental to the 

personal and familial with ease. 

Inspired by her admiration for the 

beauty that her grandmother and 

mother created in times of “making 

do” and building magic from 

everything they had on hand, the 

installation in Gallery 6 will display 

a collection of photographs 

of the women in Smith’s family 

dressed to the nines, along with 

some of her own personal treasures, 

to form a venerated visual 

poem. On view through January 5, 

2025. More info at ringling.org 

About the Artist 

Born in Baltimore, MD, and currently 

residing in Los Angeles, 

Smith holds BFA and MFA degrees 

from the Maryland Institute College 

of Art and an MA in Education from 

Tufts University. She has received 

awards and prizes from Joan Mitchell, 

the Tiffany Foundation, Anonymous 

Was a Woman, and the American 

Academy of Arts and Letters 

among others. 

Her work has gained attention 

through her participation in biennials 

and group exhibitions and has 

been exhibited and collected by 

institutions such as the Baltimore 

Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum 

of Art, California African American 

Museum, Denver Art Museum, 

Deutsche Guggenheim, Los Angeles 

County Museum of Art; Minneapolis 

Institute of Art, MOMA 

PS1, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 

Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, 

National Museum of Women 

in the Arts, and the Whitney Museum 

of American Art. 


Shinique Smith: 

Parade Exhibit at the Ringling 

Features Contemporary Sculpture in Conversation with the European Art Collection 

V 

isitors to The John and Mable Ringling Museum 

of Art have the opportunity to experience 

the work of contemporary artist Shinique 

Smith (b. 1971) in conversation with the 

museum’s collection of European art. 

Shinique Smith: Parade is on view in the Museum 

of Art through January 5, 2025. Unfolding across six galleries, 

the exhibition creates a series of unique stories 

that together form an abstract narrative of the “parade” 

as a metaphor for life. 

“We are so thrilled that Shinique Smith has chosen 

to present her work to Sarasota audiences within our 

European galleries, where it will provoke conversation 

and inspire new ways of seeing and understanding both 

historic and contemporary art,” says the exhibition’s curator, 

Sarah Cartwright, Chief Curator and Ulla R. Searing 

Curator of Collections at The Ringling. 

This is the first exhibition of 

Shinique Smith’s work at The 

Ringling Museum and the first time 

she has presented her work in direct 

dialogue with a museum collection 

of historic European art. The 

placement of the work reveals the 

universality of human experience 

explored by artists throughout time. 

On View through Jan. 5, 2025 

Another scene from the European galleries 

Visitors will find several examples of Smith’s 

large-scale fabric sculptures 

in conversation with European art 

Shinique Smith 

standing in front of her sculpture 

Mitumba Deity II (2018-2023) 

on display in the Astor Salon (Gallery 19) 

A sculpture called “Stargazer” 

12 WEST COAST WOMAN FEBRUARY 2024 


Each year, the Circus Arts 

Conservatory’s professional 

arm, Circus Sarasota, offers 

a showcase of top global circus 

artists performing in a one-ring 

traditional circus 

circus setting. Featuring new 

and innovative acts, Circus Sarasota’s 2024 

production will offer high-flying action, 

heart-stopping thrills, laugh-out-loud comedic 

antics, and acts that defy both expectations 

and the boundaries of physical 

limitations. 

“While this may be Circus Sarasota’s 26th 

year, we work very hard to make sure that 

no two productions are ever alike,” said CAC 

Founder/President & CEO Pedro Reis. “Our 

goal is to recruit the perfect balance of talent 

and variety to ensure patrons of all ages will 

be thrilled, inspired and entertained each 

and every year. We are confident this year’s 

show will take things to an entirely new level 

for our guests, whether they are a circus regular 

or brand new to the circus arts!” 

THE LINEUP FOR 

Circus Sarasota 2024 INCLUDES: 

? Joseph Bauer Jr. (Ringmaster): The 

multi-talented Bauer – a Sarasota native – 

returns to Circus Sarasota to provide his elegance 

and prodigious skills as Ringmaster. 

Bauer, a star of Bauer’s Circus Maximus and 

a 15th generation member of one of Switzerland’s 

oldest circus families, has performed 

from a very young age, thrilling audiences 

with acts such as the motorcycle on the incline 

wire, skywalks on the highwire, the 

death-defying 90-foot swaypole, and the 50- 

foot whirling Wheel of Destiny. His circus 

career has taken him all around the world 

as well as to numerous illustrious circus 

venues, TV appearances, and competitions. 

? The Bello Sisters (Acrobatic Hand 

Balancing): Loren, Celine and Joline Bello 

are an Italian-German acrobatic trio of sisters 

who come from a circus family. Their father 

performed with Cirque du Soleil for 12 

years and their mother was the first woman 

to walk on a highwire on stilts. Since developing 

their act, the sisters have become one 

the most-requested halftime show performers 

within sports leagues like the NBA and 

NCAA Basketball. In 2020, the Bello Sisters 

competed on both “America’s Got Talent” 

- where they made it into the Top 10 - and 

“Italy’s Got Talent” and then, in 2023, they returned 

for another shot at the championship 

on “America’s Got Talent: All-Stars.” 

? Caleb Carinci (Horseback Riding): 

Caleb made his performance debut at the age 

of 6 as an acrobat for the Pennsylvania Renaissance 

Festival. Hailing from performing parents, 

his enthusiasm for the performing arts 

is only rivaled by his love for horses. Caleb 

and his horses have toured through Europe, 

Canada and Peru. He was featured in The Big 

Apple Circus and had a role in the filming of 

“The Greatest Showman.” He’ll make his official 

Circus Sarasota debut this year. 

? Duo Minasov (Quick Change Artistry): 

Married couple Elena and Victor Minasov 

are the fastest in their profession, which 

combines stunning costume changes with 

dance and illusion. Victor is a sixth-generation 

performer from a Russian circus family, 

starting out as a clown with his brothers 

and then presenting an animal/illusion act 

with his father. Elena was a champion acrobatic 

gymnast in Russia. Together, the two 

have presented a bear and wolf training act, 

then transitioned to a quick change/magical 

transformation act, through which they’ve 

wowed audiences worldwide. 

? Elan España (Diabolo Juggling): 

Elan is the youngest of the eighth generation 

of the performing España family. Elan 

began juggling the diabolo (a two-headed 

top caught with a string stretched between 

two sticks or batons) at the age of 6 and, 

since then, has traveled around the world 

presenting his fun, energetic and skillful 

routine, juggling up to four diabolos at one 

time. He has performed in Australia, Italy, 

toured the U.S. – including a performance 

at the Hollywood Bowl – and more. Now 

19, he has also mastered the Cyr Wheel. In 

2022, during the Ring of Fame Induction in 

Sarasota, Elan was awarded the “Generation 

Next Award,” honoring young artists 

on the stairway to stardom. 

? Noe España & Marcos Ponce Lopez 

(Double Wheel of Destiny): Noe España 

is a fifth-generation circus artist with worldwide 

circus experience. He is always pushing 

the envelope with creative interpretations of 

the Flying Trapeze, Wheel of Destiny, Globe 

of Death, and Motorcycle High Wire, among 

others. He has performed with Ringling 

Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s U.S. and Japan 

tours; at The Sydney Opera House; in Madison 

Square Garden; with Le Grand Cirque 

in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and on numerous TV 

shows. Marcos Ponce Lopez took an interest 

in break dancing at the age of 10 and began 

competing at the age of 13, winning titles including 

“Champions of Spain.” He traveled in 

“Cirque Musica” to the U.S. and Canada. He 

has now mastered the Wheel of Destiny and 

also performs on the Chinese Pole. 

? Noemi España (Contortion & Hand 

Balancing): Noemi, an eighth-generation 

circus performer, debuted her hula hoop 

act in Spain at the age of 14, later performing 

in Circo Price in Madrid, Spain. She has 

since performed in Australia, Italy, Panama, 

and other locations. She landed a symphony 

theatre tour with Cirque Musica across 

the U.S. and Canada, including a monumental 

performance at the famous Hollywood 

Bowl. Her unique ability to shoot a bow 

and arrow with her feet keeps audiences 

amazed and in suspense. 

? Flying Tabares (Flying Trapeze): 

For nearly three decades, The Flying Tabares 

have reigned supreme among trapeze 

royalty. Renowned for their unparalleled elegance 

and artistry, this new generation of 

precision flyers includes: eighth-generation 

circus performer, Mariella Arata Quiroga, 

who is following in the footsteps of her famous 

parents, Katya Arata-Quiroga and Nelson 

Quiroga; Isabel Patrowicz, one of the 

few women in the world to consistently execute 

the legendary triple somersault; and 

experienced catcher Thomas Payne-Tobin. 

Direct from their Silver Medal win at the 

prestigious International Circus Festival of 

Italy, this elite group of aerialists is excited 

to make their Circus Sarasota debut. 

? Jimmy Folco (Clown): Luigi Rodolfo 

Folco comes from one of the largest dynasties 

in the circus, with seven and 11 generations 

of a family dedicated to the circus business 

for over 300 years. He has more than 

30 years of experience in the world of entertainment, 

finding his passion at the tender 

age of 6. Jimmy has toured with all the major 

circuses around the globe, receiving a variety 

of special recognitions and numerous 

awards. His work has been influenced by his 

great admiration for the artistry of Buster 

Keaton and his trademark physical comedy. 

He performed previously with Circus Sarasota 

in 2008 and returned to perform in Circus 

Sarasota’s “Ovation” in 2018. 

? Anton Monastyrsky (Hula Hoop 

Artistry): Moscow-born Monastyrsky is a 

fourth-generation circus artist who began 

perfecting his craft at the age of 10. His first 

professional performance was in Germany 

at the age of 15 and, over the years, he has 

earned the nickname “Lord of the Ring.” His 

unique discipline – featuring difficult tricks 

and stylish choreography – has enabled him 

to perform in many of the top circuses in 

the world, from Cirque du Soleil to Circus 

Krone, as well as television shows, variety 

and theater shows, and festivals. He has 

won awards at festivals including the Circus 

Festival of Monte Carlo and European 

Youth Circus Wiesbaden. 

“At the Circus Arts Conservatory, we are 

proud to honor the legacy of the circus arts 

365 days a year,” said Circus Arts Conservatory 

executive vice president/COO Jennifer 

Mitchell. “We have seen the demand 

for world-class circus performances in our 

community grow and look forward to welcoming 

residents and visitors alike for our 

2024 Circus Sarasota show!” 

Circus Sarasota runs Friday, February 

16 - Sunday, March 10; showtimes are 

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2 

and 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7 p.m.; and Sundays 

at 1 and 5 p.m. Performances take place at 

the Ulla Searing Big Top at Nathan Benderson 

Park (5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, 

Sarasota. Tickets are $30-$80; there 

is a 20% discount on the opening week’s 

shows, thanks to support from WWSB ABC 

7. Parking can be secured on-site for $10. 

Visit circusarts.org or call the Box Office 

at 941-355-9805. 


presents 

star-spangled lineup for 2024 show 

Circus Arts Conservatory gathers an international cast of world-class circus artists 

for 26th year of professional, one-ring circus extravaganza 

Noemi Espana’s contortion/hand 

balancing act features a special trick 

with the bow and arrow 

Young artist Elan Espana is a 

skilled diabolo juggler 

The Bello Sisters will showcase 

exceptional strength and balance 

during their act 

Marcos Ponce Lopez will perform 

on the Chinese Pole and Double 

Wheel of Destiny 

Equestrian artist Caleb Carinci 

will be making his Circus Sarasota debut 

20 WEST COAST WOMAN DECEMBER 2023 

The Perlman Music Program Suncoast’s 

2023-2024 Season 

Celebrating 20 Years of the PMP Winter Residency 

This year marks a milestone for 

The Perlman Music Program 

Suncoast (Perlman Suncoast). 

It’s the 20th anniversary of one of 

its largest events: The Perlman 

Music Program (PMP) Winter Residency. 

Led by acclaimed violinist and conductor 

Itzhak Perlman and his wife, Toby Perlman, 

this two-week event energizes local audiences 

while providing unparalleled musical 

training for gifted students ages 12-20+ from 

all over the world, who play the violin, viola, 

cello and bass. 

Lisa Berger, executive director of Perlman 

Suncoast says that they are “honored 

to support the PMP Winter Residency for 

the past two decades. Last year, after a 

two-year hiatus, audiences were thrilled to 

watch the transformative interplay once 

again between young, gifted musicians and 

world-renowned faculty, including Itzhak 

Perlman.” 

Berger explains that, in addition to the 

PMP Winter Residency, Perlman Suncoast 

also presents PMP alumni concerts and recitals 

throughout the year—and this year 

is no exception. “Some of the outstanding 

events we’ve planned include a concert celebrating 

the legacy of Juilliard Quartet violist, 

Roger Tapping; the Carr-Petrova duo’s 

“HERS” celebration of women composers 

throughout history; and the return of the beloved 

Ariel Quartet.” 

As PMP participants complete their graduate 

studies and become professional musicians, 

Perlman Suncoast supports their 

future endeavors by inviting them back for 

concerts and recitals, as well as school and 

community outreach programs. “With this 

opportunity, they gain performance experience 

and delight new audiences as their 

careers advance,” says Berger. She adds 

that PMP alumni are “trained in community 

outreach, providing educational information 

and insights into classical string music. 

In addition, Q&A sessions at each performance 

allow audiences to ask questions 

of the musicians, broadening their engagement 

and enjoyment.” 

PMP Winter Residency 

Each December, musically gifted students 

from the Perlman Music Program (PMP) 

Summer Music School, Israel Residency and 

Chamber Music Workshop reunite on the 

USF Sarasota-Manatee campus for lessons, 

studio classes, works-in-progress (WIP) recitals, 

chorus and orchestra rehearsals. Participants 

come from all over the world and 

include 28 gifted students, ages 12 to 20+, 

alumni fellows who mentor the students, 

and an exceptional faculty led by acclaimed 

violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman. 

Starting on December 29, the public can 

attend free master classes and works-inprogress 

(WIP) recitals. Special evenings are 

scheduled for guests to watch PMP orchestra 

rehearsals under the baton of Itzhak Perlman. 

Audiences will also be able to watch 

Patrick Romano, choirmaster, rehearse with 

the PMP choir. This season’s Winter Residency 

runs December 29-January 5 in a heated 

tent on the campus of USF Sarasota-Manatee. 

On January 6, PMP Winter Residency 

students and faculty present the “Celebration 

Concert,” featuring the PMP String Orchestra 

under the baton of Itzhak Perlman, 

and the PMP Chorus, led by Patrick Romano, 

at the Sarasota Opera House. The “20th 

Anniversary Celebration Gala” follows the 

concert at Michael’s on East. 

PMP Alumni Concerts 

Perlman Suncoast’s season includes special 

performances and recitals by PMP alumni 

including the Punchline Quartet on February 

12. Berger says she is especially honored to 

present “Remembering Roger: Celebrating 

the Legacy of Roger Tapping,” on January 20. 

A beloved member of the Juilliard quartet and 

faculty member of The Perlman Music Program 

for many years, Tapping inspired generations 

of musicians for his wit and charm, 

biting humor, and consummate artistry. 

Violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova 

will present “HERS” on March 3. As the 

Carr-Petrova Duo, they will perform pieces 

from their new album, which celebrates 

female composers from the 1100’s to the 

present day. “HERS vibrantly celebrates the 

vision, strength, resilience, and incredible 

accomplishments of eight fearless women – 

from the 12th-century’s Hildegard Von Bingen 

to today’s Beyoncé,” says Berger. 

The Ariel Quartet returns to Sarasota on 

April 4 in partnership with The Jewish Federation 

of Sarasota-Manatee. This exhilarating 

quartet has garnered critical praise worldwide 

for more than 20 years—and is a favorite 

among regional audiences. The concert will 

be at the Ora on the Federation’s new campus. 

2023-2024 Season at a Glance 

g 20th Annual PMP Winter Residency - 

December 29-January 8 

PMP Suncoast hosts the PMP Winter Residency 

for young musical prodigies ages 

12-20+ who play the violin, viola, cello and 

bass. The program provides valuable mentoring 

and performance opportunities for 

young, promising musicians from all over 

the world. This is a life-changing experience 

that shapes the lives of these young musicians. 

PMP’s world-class faculty, led by acclaimed 

violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman, 

oversee a curriculum of solo, chamber 

music, and orchestral repertoire at the 

highest level. Events include orchestra and 

chorus rehearsals, works-in-progress (WIP) 

recitals, and master classes. 

g Tent Rehearsals, Master Classes 

and Recitals: December 29-January 5 on 

the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Non-reserved 

seats are free to the public for master 

classes and WIPs. Reserved seats for all 

tent events are free to supporters. The Winter 

Residency’s daily schedule is available at 

www.PMPSuncoast.org. 

g Celebration Concert: January 6, 5 

p.m., at the Sarasota Opera House. Get tickets 

by calling Sarasota Opera House’s box 

office at 941-328-1300 or at www.sarasotaopera.org. 

g 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner: 

January 6, following the Celebration 

Concert at Michael’s on East, 1212 S East 

Ave., Sarasota. The evening includes dinner 

and entertainment with PMP students, faculty 

and the Perlmans. 

g NEW! PMP Student Chamber Quartet 

Recitals: January 8, 5 p.m., at First 

Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, 2050 Oak 

St, Sarasota. The PMP students, under the 

direction of violist Caitlin Lynch, are paired 

together in quartets that blend their individual 

styles. Seven quartets that were formed 

during the residencies will perform at this 

event, showcasing the students’ talents. 

PMP Alumni Recital 

g Punchline Quartet on February 12, 7 p.m. 

Sarasota Art Museum, Thomas McGuire 

Hall, Sarasota. 

Combining musical mastery with a touch of 

wit, the Punchline Quartet delivers engaging 

performances that crescendo to a captivating 

musical punchline. 

Formed in 2022 by violinists Kate Arndt, 

Ria Honda, violist Sarah Sung, and cellist 

Elena Ariza, the quartet members have individually 

been a part of the PMP community 

as far back as 2010 and have found their way 

together in the fall of 2022 with the shared 

passion for chamber music and community 

engagement. Comprising four women, they 

felt it most suitable to champion Caroline 

Shaw’s music, alongside the classic Beethoven 

and Dvorak. 

PMP Alumni 

Special Performances 

g Remembering Roger: Celebrating the 

Legacy of Roger Tapping is on January 20 

Pre-performance salon talk at 6 p.m., with 

concert to follow. 

Unitarian Universalist Church, Sarasota. 

Roger Tapping, former violist of the Juilliard 

Quartet, passed away in January 2022. 

This concert was conceived by Michelle 

Ross and Max Tan 

as an opportunity 

for PMP alumni 

from different 

generations to pay 

tribute to a mentor 

whose legacy lives 

through them. A beloved 

faculty member 

of The Perlman 

Music Program for 

many years, Tapping 

inspired generations of musicians for 

his wit and charm, biting humor, and consummate 

artistry. 

Michelle Ross’ String Quartet, titled “For 

Roger,” will receive its Sarasota premiere at 

this concert. Her work is built on themes of 

a Haydn string quartet, a favorite of Roger’s 

and incidentally, the last quartet that Michelle 

played with him. With David Kaplan, piano; 

Michelle Ross, violin; Max Tan, violin; William 

Frampton, viola; and Lev Mamuya, cello. 

g “HERS” 

The Carr-Petrova Duo: Molly Carr, viola; 

Anna Petrova, piano on March 3 

Artist talk at 6 p.m.; followed by a concert 

at 7:15 p.m. 

The Harvest, 3650 17th Street, Sarasota. 


will present a concert performing pieces 

from their album that celebrates female 

composers from the 1100’s to the present 

day. In a pre-performance talk, they will 

speak about the composers and their importance 

in music history. “HERS” celebrates 

the vision, strength, resilience, and incredible 

accomplishments of eight fearless women 

– from the 12th-century’s Hildegard Von 

Bingen to today’s Beyoncé. 

g The Ariel Quartet 

In partnership with The Jewish Federation of 

Sarasota-Manatee on April 4, 7 p.m. concert 

The Ora, 578 McIntosh Road, Sarasota 

This quartet has garnered critical praise 

worldwide for more than 20 years. They 

formed when they were just teenagers 

studying at the Jerusalem Academy Middle 

School of Music and Dance in Israel. Celebrating 

their 25th anniversary in 2023, the 

quartet serves as the Faculty Quartet-in-Residence 

at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory 

of Music (CCM), where 

they direct the chamber music program 

and present a concert series in addition to 

touring in the United States and abroad. 

With Gershon Gerchikov, violin; Alexandra 

(Sasha) Kazovsky, violin; Jan Grüning, viola; 

Amit Even–Tov, cello. 

For tickets, visit www.PMPSuncoast.org. 

For more information, 

visit PerlmanSuncoast.org. 

Led by acclaimed violinist and conductor 

Itzhak Perlman and his wife, Toby Perlman, 

The Perlman Music Program Winter Residency 

providing musical training for gifted students 

from all over the world. 

Remembering Roger: 

Celebrating the Legacy 

of Roger Tapping is on 

January 20 

Carr Petrova Duo: 


The Ariel Quartet 

24 WEST COAST WOMAN DECEMBER 2023 

Art Center Sarasota’s 

2023-2024 Exhibition Season 

Diverse offerings include both solo exhibits and group shows 

Art Center Sarasota’s 

2023-2024 exhibition 

season is underway and 

features an array of “captivating 

solo artists and 

thought-provoking juried shows that shed 

light on our unique cultural climate,” says 

Christina Baril, ACS’s exhibition director. 

“At the heart of this season is a celebration 

of diversity, not only in the personal histories 

of our artists, but also in their materials, 

techniques, and concepts.” 

According to Baril, the season explores a 

spectrum of artistic prowess by solo artists 

whose distinct voices capture an array of 

visual expressions. “Inspired by topics from 

Brutalism to feminism, these solo artists are 

sure to inspire creativity and lively debate.” 

She adds that, in addition, to the solo 

shows, the unique open call shows, juried 

by professionals in the arts community, “are 

carefully curated to spark intrigue and contemplation. 

We invite artists from all walks 

of life to submit their artwork, resulting in 

an eclectic fusion of styles, concepts, and 

cultures.” Art Center Sarasota will also offer 

Artist Talks, lectures, and special events. 

“The opening of a new season is a highlight 

for our artistic community as well as the 

many visitors who travel to Sarasota to enjoy 

and engage with the multitude of arts and cultural 

programs offered,” says Kinsey Robb, 

ACS’s executive director. “We live in a world 

where we see, read, and hear about events 

that impact us all the time—these are things 

that cannot be captured by words alone.” 

Art Center Sarasota’s 2023-2024 

Season at a Glance 

Cycle 2: through January 13, 2024 

Opening Reception: Thursday, 

December 7, 6-8 p.m. 

• Aimee Jones: Aimee Jones’ paintings use 

Florida’s landscape of desire and lust to portray 

the body, interwoven with the American 

idea of paradise. She 

plays with the dichotomy 

of the female form as a 

political landscape and 

the power of a woman’s 

bodily agency. 

• Ethan Fielder: Ethan 

Fielder will exhibit a body 

of sculptural ceramics, 

which examines personal 

and collective 

growth inspired by formative moments of 

transformation that he experienced through 

his turbulent countrywide travels in 2020. 

• Tom Casmer: In his 

upcoming exhibition, 

“ges•talt,” Tom Casmer 

brings to life the 

infrastructure that lies 

beneath the skin, the fabric of the world 

around him. Drawing inspiration from the 

organic and inorganic alike, Casmer’s sources 

include the human figure, nature, and machine-made 

elements. His work recognizes 

the mechanism of organic and addresses the 

connection between the mechanical form 

and the human system. 

• Juried Show: “Still Life.” Artists are invited 

to present their formal and conceptual 

notions of modern day stil life. Stil life work 

often holds suggestive and symbolic imagery 

that informs the viewer on the artist’s 

message, biography, or cultural climate. The 

juror is Mara Torres, owner and curator of 

MARA Art Studio + Gallery in Sarasota. 

Cycle 3: January 25 - March 2, 2024 


January 25, 6-8 p.m. 

• Brian V. Jones: Brian Jones’ upcoming 

exhibition is a visual conversation with light 

and color, traditions and growth, fear and 

joy, technology, and romance. An ongoing 

project of over three years, these photographs 

serve as a visual narrative representing 

the artist’s relationship with the complexities 

of the city of Sarasota. 

• Carole Lyles Shaw: Carole Lyles Shaw 

exhibits a series of textile collages, or art 

quilts, that represent the essence of an individual 

and their personal and historical 

context. These “Spirit Portraits” celebrate 

Black women musicians who played significant 

roles in the history of music, from 

opera to country to rock and roll. 

• Christopher Skura: Emphasizing improvisation 

and freehand drawing for phenomenological 

effect, Christopher Skura captures 

the speed of living in Lower Manhattan. 

His new body of work took root during 

the 2020 pandemic. 

• Juried Show: “Annual Members Juried 

Show.” Juror: Paul Toliver is a passionate 

advocate in promoting all forms of 

art and is particularly motivated to uplift 

artists of the African Diaspora. 

Cycle 4: March 14 - April 20, 2024 


March 14, 6-8 p.m. 

• Natasha Dikareva: Natasha Dikareva reflects 

on the current state of her homeland, 

Ukraine in her upcoming exhibition featuring 

a variety of narrative, figurative ceramic 

sculptures. 

• Angela Pilgrim: Drawing on a skillful 

fusion of printmaking, painting, and mixed 

media, Angela Pilgrim imbues each work 

with a sense of depth and dimensionality, 

presenting each subject as an essential living, 

breathing entity. Her upcoming exhibition 

celebrates the complex inner worlds 

of Black women and invites viewers to contemplate 

the spiritual dimensions of our existence, 

exploring themes of identity, faith, 

and resilience. 

• Michael Kinsey: Michael Kinsey’s exhibition, 

“Listening to Black Voices,” showcases 

stunning black and white portraits, highlighting 

the richness and diversity of Sarasota’s 

Black community. 

• Juried Show: “Great Artists Steal.” 

“Great Artists Steal” encourages artists to 

create works inspired by their favorite artists 

and artworks from contemporary art 

and art history. This inspiration may come 

from the technique, content, or style of the 

artist(s) or artwork(s) in reference, and 

uniquely recontextualizing these elements. 

Juror is Alecia Harper, professor, State 

College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

Cycle 5: April 30 - May 11, 2024 

• North County Sarasota Public 

Schools, Spring Art Show: Organized by 

school coordinators Angela Hartvigsen and 

Debra Markley, the Spring Art Show is one 

of the art center’s most cherished exhibition 

traditions. The North County Sarasota 

Schools Spring Art Show highlights over 

1500 pieces of artwork from the county’s 

youngest artists in grades K-12, representing 

the best of their creations from the past 

school year. 

Cycle 6: May 23 - July 27, 2024 

Opening Reception: Thursday, July 27, 

6-8 p.m. 

• Annual Juried Regional Show: “Beyond 

Comfort.” The Annual Juried Regional 

Show is Art Center Sarasota’s largest 

juried show of the year and encompasses 

all four gallery spaces. The show is open 

to all artists in the southeast region of the 

United States. The juror for this season’s 

show is Virginia Shearer, executive director, 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of 

Art and Design. This year’s show, “Beyond 

Comfort,” invites artists to express their 

perception of beauty and/or the grotesque 

in contemporary art and society. This show 

allows artists to define and explore aesthetics 

while joining the long debated concept 

of beauty and its function in art. 

Cycle 7: August 15 - September 28, 2024 

Opening Reception: Thursday, September 

28, 6-8 p.m. 

• Precious Darling will present an exhibition 

that explores the complexity of femininities 

and its relation to objectification 

through photography and sculpture. 

• Boys & Girls Club: Art Center Sarasota 

and Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County 

(BGCMC) have teamed up to present a special 

exhibition of artwork created by BGC- 

MC members. ACS youth instructors will 

guide these young artists in the creation 

of works inspired by the Annual Juried Regional 

Show on view during the summer of 

2024. Showcasing a variety of styles, media, 

and expression, these unique pieces will 

reflect the artistic voices of our youngest 

generation. 

• Tanner Simon will present an installation 

of his large-scale paintings that explore the 

intersection of humor, seriousness, and the 

absurd. This installation invites viewers to 

engage with the dynamic relationships and 

visual conversations that emerge between 

imagery and paintings in space. 

• Juried Show: “Flora & Fauna” invites 

artists to celebrate characters of the natural 

world, real and imagined, living and 

extinct, peaceful and poisonous. The juror 

is David Berry, vice president for visitor 

engagement and chief museum curator at 

Selby Gardens. 

Art Center Sarasota, 

707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 

Visit www.artsarasota.org. 

Aimee Jones, Situationship 

Ethan Fielder, In Bloom 

Tom Casmer, Solstice 

DECEMBER 2023 WEST COAST WOMAN 23 

Westcoast Black Theatre 

Troupe is gearing 

up for the holidays, 

ready to celebrate the 

season with its holiday 

production and Christmas card to the 

community, “Joyful! Joyful!” Theater 

fans of all ages and religious backgrounds 

are invited to celebrate the season with 

high-spirited, uplifting songs as only 

WBTT’s singers, dancers and musicians 

can perform them. The show runs from 

November 29-December 30, 2023. 

The original musical revue – created, 

adapted and directed by WBTT Founder/ 

Artistic Director Nate Jacobs and performed 

for the first time in 2021 – features 

a blend of new takes on traditional holiday 

tunes, gospel-infused classics and pop 

songs. The show will include “Joy to the 

World,” an O’Jays-inspired take on “Carol 

of the Bells,” a gospel-infused rendition 

of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” “African 

Drummer Boy” and many more. 

Performing in “Joyful! Joyful!” are a number 

of WBTT regulars, including Ariel Blue, 

Michael Mendez, Delores McKenzie, Nate 

Summers, Raleigh Mosely II, Jazzmin Carson, 

Stephanie Zandra, Maicy Powell and 

Samuel “Sammy” Waite as well as artists 

new to WBTT’s stage. Students from the 

Stage of Discovery summer musical theatre 

intensive program will also be featured. 

“As the holidays approach, there is so 

much for our organization to be thankful 

for, and we’re honored to share our joy 

with families and the wider community,” 

said WBTT Founder and Artistic Director 

Nate Jacobs. “We’ve made some changes 

in the show since its premiere in 2021 and 

welcome previous and new patrons to join 

us for this year’s production. In fact, we 

invite everyone to attend and help us unwrap 

the present of joyful, seasonal music 

with WBTT!” 

Choreographer is Donald Frison. Music 

director is Matthew McKinnon, who also 

plays main keys. The rest of the band is 

Charlotte Corporan, auxiliary keys; Marvin 

Hendon, bass; Brad Foutch, guitar; and 

Caleb Miller, drums. 

Kevin White is production manager, 

Jennifer Woodford is stage manager, Ka- 

Cie Ley is assistant stage manager, Patrick 

Russini is sound designer, Michael Pasquini 

is lighting designer, Austin Jacobs is projection 

designer, Darci Collins is costume 

designer, Donna and Mark Buckalter are 

scenic designers, and Annette Breazeale is 

properties designer. 

Tickets are $50/adults, $20/students and 

active military (prices include all applicable 

ticket fees). Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. 

Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on 

Saturdays and Sundays; there will be no 

performances on December 24, 26 or 27. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, 

visit westcoastblacktheatre.org or call 

the Box Office at 941-366-1505. 

ABOUT Westcoast Black 

Theatre Troupe 

The mission of Westcoast Black Theatre 

Troupe (WBTT) is to produce professional 

theatre that promotes and celebrates 

African American history and experience, 

engages a broad base of patrons and audiences, 

supports the development of a dynamic 

group of aspiring artists, and builds 

self-esteem in youth of color. 

Visit westcoastblacktheatre.org 

for more information. 

Artists featured in 

‘Joyful! Joyful!’ 

include (clockwise 

from left) Ariel Blue, 

Nate Summers, 

Michael Mendez, 

Raleigh Mosely II, 

Amber Myers and 

Stephanie Zandra. 

Photo by Sorcha Augustine 

WBTT presents this 

season’s holiday show, 

‘Joyful! Joyful!’ 

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s 

‘Christmas card to the community’ 

features traditional holiday tunes, gospelinfused 

classics and pop songs 

14 WEST COAST WOMAN APRIL 2024 

Hina Khuong-Huu, Violin Channel 

“Rising Star” and first prize winner of 

the 2023 Elmar Oliveira International 

Violin Competition, performs around 

the globe. She has collaborated with 

artists such as Grammy Award-winner 

Jennifer Koh and shared a stage with 

Maxim Vengerov at Carnegie Hall and 

Buckingham Palace. 

Khuong-Huu and Steinway Artist Rohan 

De Silva, whose collaborations with 

Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, 

Midori, Joshua Bell and others have 

been acclaimed worldwide, will present 

a soirée concert at 4:00 pm on April 

1 in the music room of the Fischer/ 

Weisenborne residence in Sarasota. 

The duo will perform compositions by 

Saint-Saëns, Frank, Wagner, and Ravel. 

Single ticket: $60. 

Australian classical guitarist Rupert 

Boyd and his wife, American cellist 

Laura Metcalf have toured the world 

as Boyd Meets Girl, sharing their eclectic 

mix of music from Schubert to Radiohead 

and Beyoncé. The duo arranges 

much of their repertoire themselves, 

drawing inspiration from artists across 

all genres, and they speak from the stage 

to create an engaging, conversational 

concert experience. This luncheon concert 

on April 4 at Sarasota Yacht Club 

features, in part, their own arrangements 

of works by Lennon/McCartney, 

Debussy, Bach, Shaw, and Price. Single 

ticket: $68 (includes lunch). 

Founded in 2008 by the husband-andwife 

team of internationally renowned 

pianists Catherine Lan and Tao Lin, 

Duo Beaux Arts takes the power of the 

piano and doubles it. Known for their 

adrenalized performances, this dynamic 

duo has performed to critical acclaim 

across the U.S., Europe, and China. 

This recital features works for piano 

“four hands” and two pianos, including 

Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in 

D major, K448; Schubert’s Fantasie in f 

minor for piano four hands, Op 940; and 

pieces by Vivaldi, Debussy, and Strauss. 

The pair perform at the Studio for Performing 

Arts Recital Hall at State College 

of Florida on April 16 at 7:30 pm. 

Single ticket: $40. 

The April concerts conclude at the 

Fischer/Weisenborne residence with 

Shannon Lee, violin and Ying Li, piano 

on April 28 and April 29 at 4:00 p.m. The 

first place winners of Artist Series Concerts’ 

2017 and 2018 international violin 

and piano competitions join forces for 

this spectacular soirée program. 

Lee made her solo debut with the Dallas 

Symphony at age 12. Since then, she has 

been a prize winner in the Sendai Competition 

in Japan, the Queen Elisabeth 

Competition in Belgium, and the Shanghai 

Isaac Stern Competition. 

Li won first place of Young Concert 

Artists 2021 Susan Wadsworth International 

Auditions, and recently made 

her Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center 

recital debuts. Single ticket: $60. 

For tickets and more information, visit 

ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call 

(941) 306-1202. 


Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota’s 

April Lineup 

All concerts this month will feature duos 

▲ Violin 

Channel 

“Rising 

Star” Hina 

Khuong-Huu 

and Steinway 

Artist Rohan 

De Silva ▶ 

Artist Series 

Concerts’ 

international 

competition 

winners 

▲ Shannon Lee, 

violin, and 

Ying Li, piano ▶ 

Married pianists Catherine Lan 

and Tan Lin of Duo Beaux Arts ▶ 

▼ Australian 

classical guitarist 

Rupert Boyd and 

his wife, American 

cellist Laura 

Metcalf ▶ 

photo credit: Todd Rosenberg 

photo credit: Shervin Lainez 

photo credit: John Beebe 

14 WEST COAST WOMAN JANUARY 2024 


Sarasota Concert Association 

Invites You To Hear 

What the World is Raving About 

Celebrating its 

79th Season with 

world-renowned orchestras, 

chamber 

ensembles and phenomenal 

soloists, the Sarasota 

Concert Association brings a 

stunning array of internationally-acclaimed 

artists to Sarasota this season, 

featuring three fabulous orchestras, 

three top pianists, one amazing 

cellist, and a Grammy Award-winning 

chamber ensemble. 

Praised as “Bulgaria’s most illustrious 

musical institution” by Gramophone 

Magazine, the acclaimed Sofia 

Philharmonic makes its Sarasota 

debut to open the Sarasota Concert 

Association’s 2024 Great 

Performers Series on January 

15 at the Van Wezel 

Performing Arts Hall. 

The Sofia Philharmonic 

is the national orchestra 

of Bulgaria and has long 

established itself as one 

of the leading cultural institutions, 

representative 

of the overall contemporary 

musical culture of 

the country. Since 2017, 

Nayden Todorov has 

been the general director 

of the Sofia Philharmonic 

and will lead the orchestra 

in an all-Beethoven 

program featuring the 

Egmont Overture, Symphony 

No. 7, and Piano 

Concerto No. 5, Emperor, 

featuring the extraordinary 

16-year-old Bulgarian 

pianist Ivaylo Vassilev. 

Celebrated for their “panache” 

by The New York 

Times and hailed in the 

Cincinnati Enquirer for 

“bringing a new attitude 

to classical music, one 

that is fresh, bracing and intelligent,” the 

Grammy Award-winning Harlem Quartet 

has dazzled audiences from Carnegie Hall 

to the White House, and is now coming to 

Sarasota at the Riverview Performing Arts 

Center on January 24. Join us for this onenight-only 

concert as the Harlem Quartet 

performs Beethoven’s String Quartet Opus 

18, No. 5, Fanny Mendelssohn’s String Quartet 

in E-flat Major, Guido López-Gavilán’s 

Cuarteto en Guaguanco, and Caroline 

Shaw’s Entr’acte. 

World-renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein, 

described as “a new generation’s cello superstar,” 

joins the Detroit Symphony in 

Elgar’s Cello Concerto on February 19, at 

the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The 

fourth-oldest orchestra in the country, the 

acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra is 

known for trailblazing performances, collaborations 

with the world’s foremost musical 

artists, and a deep connection to its city. 

The Orchestra is led by Music Director Jader 

Bignamini, who conducts the orchestra 

in Pulitzer Prize-winning composer 

Michael Abels’ Emerge as well as 

Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestral showpiece, 

Scheherazade. 

Celebrated as one of Europe’s finest 

orchestras, the Rotterdam Philharmonic 

comes to Sarasota on March 

3, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts 

Hall. The Orchestra is led by Lahav 

Shani, the youngest Chief Conductor 

in the orchestra’s 100-year history 

and an esteemed maestro with numerous 

accolades. Described by The 

Times of London as “the most astounding 

pianist of our age,” Daniil 

Trifonov, who has performed as a 

soloist with just about any world-renowned 

orchestra you can think of, 

joins the orchestra for 

Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto 

No. 2. The program 

also includes Arvo Pärt’s 

Swansong and excerpts 

from Prokofiev’s Romeo 

and Juliet. 

Concluding our season, 

and back in Sarasota by 

popular demand, pianist 

Bruce Liu performs a recital 

featuring works by 

Rameau, Ravel, Chopin 

and Liszt on March 29 at 

the Riverview Performing 

Arts Center. Bruce 

Liu was brought to the 

world’s attention in 2021, 

when he won the First 

Prize at the 18th Chopin 

International Piano Competition 

in Warsaw. Since 

then, he has been engaged to perform 

in concert halls from Milan to Seoul. 

He draws on various sources of inspiration 

for his art: European refinement, 

Chinese long tradition, North American 

dynamism and openness. 

5-concert Great Performers 

Series tickets are still 

available at a savings of up to 

30%. Choose 3 concerts and 

single tickets are also available. 

Visit www.SCAsarasota.org or 

call 941-966-6161 to get tickets 

or more information. 

Sofia Philharmonic 

Harlem Quartet 

Alisa Weilerstein 

Daniil Trifonov 

Bruce Liu 

S R SOT CONCERT SSOCI TION 

28 WEST COAST WOMAN FEBRUARY 2024 


ArtCenter Manatee will 

host the pre-eminent 

156th Traveling Exhibition 

of the American 

Watercolor Society International 

Exhibition. Chosen from 

a field of 160 water media masterpieces 

selected into the International Exhibition 

(from over 1,000 entries), the traveling 

show features the work of 40 artists. 

This year’s show is sure to inspire 

artists and art lovers. 

As one of only three venues in the country 

and the only in Florida to host this 

show, ArtCenter Manatee will display 

the diverse water media work in the Kellogg 

Gallery from January 30 through 

March 8, 2024. The exhibit will also 

feature a slide show of the entries not 

included in the traveling exhibit for a 

more immersive art experience. Admission 

is $5, which assists in bringing such 

a prestigious exhibition to the ArtCenter 

and Bradenton. The opening reception 

is on Thursday, February 1 from 5-7pm. 

While inclusion in this exhibition is itself 

an honor, participants also compete 

for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals 

of Honor as well as other awards, with 

27 artists sharing more than $40,000 in 

prize money. 

Accompanying the exhibit will be the 

annual aqueous show of the Florida 

Suncoast Watercolor Society (FSWS) in 

the Reid Hodges and Searle Galleries. 

FSWS was formed in 1983 to foster 

the advancement of and promote excellence 

in the art of watercolor painting. 

They seek to inform and educate 

through exhibitions, lectures and painting 

demonstrations as to the best work 

currently being done in watercolor. 

Join them for the opening reception 

on Thursday, February 1, 5pm to 7pm. 

Meet the artists, discover the amazing 

talent of these local as well as international 

water media artists, and enjoy the 

wonderful atmosphere in our galleries. 

Hors d’oeuvres and beverages available. 

A B O U T 

the American Watercolor 

Society 

The American Watercolor Society 

(AWS) is one of the oldest and most 

prestigious art societies in the world. 

Election to the Society as a Signature 

Member is one of the most sought-after 

honors in the painting world. AWS 

Membership comprises many of the 

greatest names in painting throughout 

the Society’s history and includes (to 

name drop a few) the American impressionist 

Childe Hassam, regionalists Edward 

Hopper and Charles Burchfield, 

plus virtually every member of the important 

“California School” of watercolorists, 

and everyone in between, up to 

and including the late Andrew Wyeth. 

156th International Traveling Exhibition of the 

American Watercolor Society 

On display through March 8 at ArtCenter Manatee 

A B O U T 

ArtCenter Manatee 

Located in downtown Bradenton, Art- 

Center Manatee is the premier center 

for art, art education and unique gifts 

in Manatee County. The Center features 

three galleries, five classrooms, 

an artisan gift shop and an art library 

featuring over 3,000 art volumes. 

Day, evening and weekend art classes 

for adults and children are offered 

year-round in painting, drawing, pastels, 

pottery, jewelry design, photography 

and more. 

The artisan boutique features unique, 

affordable gifts by local and national 

artists. Exhibitions in the galleries 

change monthly and showcase local, 

regional and national artists. Meet the 

exhibiting artists at the monthly evening 

opening receptions that are always 

free and open to the public. 

For more information, 

visit www.artcentermanatee.org 

or call 941-746-2862. 

They’re located at 209 9th St W, 

Bradenton. 

Hours: M/F/S 9:00-5:00, 

T/W/Th 9:00-6:00 

(Top Left:) John Salminen, High Street Umbrellas; (Top Right:) Ken Call, Solitaire; (Bottom 

Right:) Wu Jianzhon, Blank Leaving 

Advertise with us next season. 

Advertise with us next season. 

Let us create a custom advertising package just for you. 

Let us create a custom advertising package just for you. 

Call 

Call 941-928-2056 

941-928-2056 or email us at 

or email us at westcoastowman@comcast.net 

westcoastowman@comcast.net 

Here are some of the features we ran this past season.

Be prepared before the next power outage. 

Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying 

purchase* - valued at $535. 

Call 941-894-3813 to 

schedule your free quote!

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