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Featured Artist
Mark Runnals

The Village Potter Mark Runnals is a self-taught potter who has managed to carve out a niche in the world of pottery. Using Jordan clay, a high-fire stoneware, Mark creates wheel-thrown pieces which are intricately incised and applied forms. His work is both decorative as well as fully functional. The work and glazes are food, dishwasher and microwave safe. Recent collaboration with aluminum sculptor Victor Garcia has resulted in a whole new line of pottery not offered anywhere else. Each piece is one of a kind and offers the collector, or those looking for really unusual work, myriad choices. Mark's work is in collections throughout the United States and has recently been featured on "Crafters Coast To Coast" which airs on HGTV. Visit Mark at The Village Potter, 1015 12th Avenue West (map) in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts, Saturdays between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm during ArtWalks, or make an appointment by phoning 941-870-3204. (click here to nominate our next artist)

The new AnythingArts.com will be coming to a computer screen near you in March. As you have no doubt heard, AnythingArts.com is offering Artists, Actors, Photographers, Writers, etc, a free web page like these: Artist Page, Actor Page, Photographer Page (sans working links for sample pages). Just send us something fairly similar to this: some photos and a description of you and your work and your contact information and we will do the rest (actually Christine will). (the sample links are for example only and the links on the pages you look at will not work, it’s a surprise for later!)

Manatee Players presents “Best Seller!” tonight through March 16. Enjoy the world premiere of this winner in the Andrew Lloyd-Webber Worldwide Competition for new musicals. It’s a sparkling comedy with joyous music and an affectionate celebration of New York City! Call 941-748-5875 for tickets.

Mattison’s Riverside on the Manatee River at the Twin Dolphin Marina, 1200 First Avenue West in Bradenton (map), offers live music from 6:00 – 10:00 pm Thursday through Saturday each week. Thursdays it’s Doc and Buster, soul, R&B and oldies; Fridays enjoy the swing of The Venturas; and Saturdays Jennifer Leigh and Her New Digs perform contemporary soft rock. More info: 941-748-8087.


 

Support local authors at Village Voices, 1010 10th Avenue in Bradenton’s charming Village of the Arts. On March 1, Peggy Cline will sign “Know When to Keep Em” from noon – 2:00 pm. On February 7, Jean Cline will sign “Silencing the Voices” from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. March 8 Gene Domienik will sign “I Remember the Yorktown” from noon – 2:00 pm.

Cigma, a summer day camp that teaches children magic and turns fun into an art form, along with Little Bookworms, 8111 Lakewood Ranch Main Street #103 (map), are sponsoring Ilan the Magician in a family magic show. This show is unique and geared for families with children 7-13 but all are welcome! From noon – 12:45 pm, the show is free. More info: 941-907-3808

Women Contemporary Artists present “Interpretations: Landscape,” a juried exhibition at The Joan Peters Gallery, 1210 11th Avenue West (map) in the Village of the Arts, from March 1 – 31. A reception to meet the WCA artists will be held March 7 from 5:00 – 9:30 pm. More info: 941-544-5344.

The Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts celebrates its 38th anniversary March 1 and 2 when more than 300 artists exhibit along Franklin Street and in Lykes Gaslight Square Park in downtown Tampa. Considered one of the country's premier juried fine art festivals, the event includes national and international award-winning artists presenting mediums such as painting, watercolor, glass, drawing, ceramic, fiber, sculpture, mixed media, jewelry and digital. Admission is free. Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday. The awards ceremony is 6:00 pm Saturday at the main stage in Lykes Gaslight Square Park. (Poster designed by Glen Perotte of Tampa’s International Academy of Design & Technology.)

The American Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibition represents the finest watercolor artists internationally. This breathtaking exhibition makes its only Florida appearance at ArtCenter Manatee, 209 Ninth Street West in downtown Bradenton (map), March 3 through April 12 with the opening reception on March 7 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. More info: 941-746-2862

The Manatee Community College (MCC) Choirs Winter Concert at 8:00 pm will feature MCC student sopranos and an inaugural performance by a newly-formed High School Honor Choir of MCC. The concert will be held in the Neel Performing Arts Center located off 26th Street at 60th Avenue West in Bradenton (map). General admission is $8, $4 for Florida students. For more information call Melodie Dickerson at 941-752-5580.

Venue Ensemble Theatre (VET) presents “A Bench in the Sun” from March 6 – 16 at Venue Theatre, 9125 US 19 N, Pinellas Park (map). When a once-famous actress moves into a retirement home, two longtime friends compete for her attention. Think “The Odd Couple” + “Sunshine Boys” + “Grumpy Old Men.” For tickets, call 727-822-6194 or visit their site by clicking here.

Hearts Desire, 1221 12th Street West (map), Village of the Arts in Bradenton, features the contemporary paintings and giclées of award-winning local artist Frank Creaturo throughout March and April. Frank's varied style ranges from realism to collage to contemporary. A reception will be held March 7 from 6:00 – 9:30 pm during the Village of the Arts ArtWalk. Pottery, glass, ceramic wall hangings and silk paintings from local and national artists are also featured as well as one of a kind jewelry designs by owner Vicki Rollo and unique women's fashions. (Shown: Creaturo’s New Movement.)

Enjoy a moonlight movie and a martini in the Village of the Arts from 6:00 – 10:00 pm. The movie is “Across the Universe,” with a script based on an original story that incorporates 34 compositions written by members of The Beatles. Shown on the corner lot at 12th Street and 11th Avenue (map), there is no charge and lawn chairs are welcome. Martini bars will be located throughout the Village. Dine at one of the Village’s restaurants or shop the galleries if you’d rather skip the movie! For more info: 941-747-8056.

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Florida Writers Association Manatee meetings are held at Village Voices, 1010 10th Avenue in the Village of the Arts (map). March will be critique month; take five copies of up to 10 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, original work to read. Come and sit in for a session or two to see if it’s a comfortable setting for you. Meetings are March 1 and 15 at 4:00 pm and March 4 and 18 at 6:30 pm. For more information contact Dona Lee at 941-748-6865.

Venue Theatre and Actors Studio is holding open auditions for “Standing on the Corner – A Day in the Life of a Paperbox” these two Sundays beginning at 7:00 pm. An original play by Gidget Cross, they are seeking a male in his 20s, a male or female between 30 and 50, and an ensemble cast of eight to 10 males and females able to play characters ranging in age from 18 – 70. Auditions will be held at Venue Theatre and Actors Studio, 9125 US 19 North, Pinellas Park (map). For more information, call Gidget Cross at 727-536-7407.

Island Players Theatre is holding open auditions for “The Long Weekend” beginning at 7:30 pm. Two males and two females are needed. Auditions will be held at the Island Players Theatre, 10009 Gulf Drive, at the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue in Anna Maria (map). No preparation is necessary - the director will have those auditioning read scenes from the play. If you have never auditioned for the Island Players before, or it's been a while, please show up a little early to fill out an audition form and have a file picture taken. Newcomers are welcome! Questions? E-mail by clicking here.

Carole Kleinberg is teaching a master class in acting for adults at The Players Studio: four sessions, March 31 through April 21 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Fee $90. This is a great opportunity to work on audition material, or sharpen your skills. Anyone interested can register by calling Michelle Pingel, 941-365-2494 or Carole at 941-232-4123.  

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