Featured Artist
Jefferey A. Cornwell

Jefferey A. Cornwell is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art & Design, a Peace Corps volunteer a noted artist and teacher.  Jefferey has created a series of paintings that look to the sky. The sky we all share. No matter where you come from or where you have traveled you will find a peaceful memory in his work. Be sure to visit Jefferey’s website to see more paintings. (click here to nominate our next artist)

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The mission of anything arts is to help artists of every medium to promote their work and share their craft. The world is becoming, like it or not, increasing internet based. We have heard from our readers how much you like our issues because you can click on the links and learn more about the artist or event. Some artists have unfortunately not been included in our issues because we simply have no way to present their story, show their work or link to them. So, we have aligned with our web-guru-chick to offer an inexpensive web page service for artists, and others. The deal includes design, hosting and consultation for far less than you’d expect and will give artists the ability to be seen and contacted. Click here for a sample and here to contact Elle Productions for details on getting your site up soon. Rates (PDF).

String of Pearls is playing at the Asolo’s Cook Theatre on various nights. The play traces the journey of a string of pearls from the 1960’s to the present as they are handed-down, stolen, lost and ultimately returned to the original owner. The story of twenty-seven woman is performed by four actresses.

Through May 28
[ manatee follies ]

The Manatee Players present Follies and some of the greatest Sondheim hits as performed by a large cast of local talent. One run-on sentence is enough, nothing more needed, you think?

May 19
[ listen up ]

Elsie and Christine regularly bring you Sarasota After Dark on  1220 AM. It’s like a chick-fest where anything goes and the topics are wide-ranging and usually hilarious. This week Rick steps in as an “honorary chick” while Christine performs in The gg Monologues. Will Rick survive the chick seat? Will Rick need to chew tobacco and scratch a lot to keep his testosterone levels in check? Listen from 6:00 - 7:00 pm in you car at 1220 AM or on your computer by clicking right here. Elsie and Rick’s guest is Zac Chase, improv actor, writer, singer, dancer and former human cannonball with the now defunct Circus of Bosnia-Herzegovina (summer cast). Be sure to call in to discuss whatever is on your mind. 941-954-2339 or 941-954-2340

This Friday is the Towles Court Art Walk and you can catch the exciting work of Howard Cowdrick at the Katharine Butler Gallery and enjoy the artist’s reception from 6:00 - 10:00 pm.

May 19 - 20
[ jam time with crème ]

The Metro Café continues to serve up good times this weekend with Radio-Free Carmela on Friday night and Ishmael Katz & the Jigsaw Jug Band on Saturday. Jigsaw Jug band? They make music on, about and with everything. You will have feet tapping, hands clapping and your mouth smiling.

May 20
[ scrap it ]

Ok, not only was I unaware that there is a National Scrapbooking Association, but I was really in the dark about people taking classes and going on weekend retreats to learn how to scrapbook. Teresa Collard and Sue Jackson offer classes from one day to entire weekends. Must be a girl thing? Call 720-6545 for more info on the next event or check it online.

May 20
[ exhibit, lecture and food ]

An exhibition and lecture by Edward Povey starts at noon in the lobby of the Saba Plaza. Povey will discuss the psychology and symbolism of his paintings and sculptures at 2:00 pm. Or, by reservation, you can attend a catered reception at 5:00 pm followed by a lecture at 6:00. Contact Ann by email or call 284-4905.

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May 20
[ click, now what ]

You have a digital camera and you just point, shoot, print and hope for the best, right? Well, you can take control of what your pictures look like with Adobe Photoshop. The Digital Technology Centre is offering a one-day Photoshop Elements class to help with all the basics and share a few pro tips for better pics. Call Jon at 894-0362 or visit online.

May 20 - 21
[ festival latino ]

The Players Theatre presents the Sixth Annual Festival Latino. Enjoy song, dance, music (actually music probably goes without saying because it is hard to sign or dance without it) from a variety of bands. This year professional ballroom dancers will also be on tap (pun intended). Call for ticketing at 365-2494 and visit online.

The Jacobites Pipe and Drum Band are in concert to benefit the Tidewell-Hospice. The performance is at the Fraternal Order of the Eagle at 4:00 pm and is followed by a dinner, all for just ten bucks. Call 923-6788 or 713-6849 for information and reservations.

May 21
[ sing out louise ]

Louise who? Join Rochelle Seldin, Gary Kauffman and Dorian Beach for a Broadway sing-a-long from 6:30-10:30 pm at the Silver Cricket restaurant. There is no cover and you can come and go at any time. Just stop by, enjoy a drink, maybe a bite and hear some great tunes on the ol’ piano. 955-9179

May 22
[ ten-minute plays ]

Theatre Odyssey is presenting an evening of ten minute plays at the Art Center Sarasota. After the performance, one of the six local playwrights will be awarded “best play” of the evening and the audience is invited to participate in a post-production discussion and catered reception. Call 544-4672 and visit online.

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May 25 - 29
[ world premiere play ]

The Backlot continues to bring exciting and varied work to Sarasota audiences with the world premiere of Rebecca Ritchie’s The Memory Garden. The play, starring Emanuel Fried and Rosalin Cramer, investigates love, marriage and career. Directed by the renowned Jonas Jurasas. This is a limited engagement and advance ticket purchasing is recommended. 941-366-9300

May 31
[rejects ]

Don’t miss the improvisation comedy of Becky’s Rejects at the Backlot the last Wednesday of every month. Don’t let their name fool you, the “rejects” are at the top of their game and will have you laughing until you stop; and then you won’t be laughing anymore, until you laugh again. Anyway, catch Becky’s Rejects in Phonebook: The Musical. Call 363-9300 and visit online.

Special Offer
[ it pays to read anything arts ]

“Maria Lyle is a hoot.” That is a direct quote from Christine and is definitely a compliment. Maria is also a great photographer and she is offering a special deal to anything arts readers, and Sarasota After Dark listeners, on beach portraits. Contact Maria for details and check out her work.

May 20
[ screen ]
A local independent film, The Secret Lives of Waitresses, is be casting by appointment. Call 678-458-5576 for details (email) on this production to be filmed in and around Sarasota.

May 21 - 22
[ stage ]
The Glenridge Players are having auditions for their 2006-07 season, comprised of five plays. Actors are compensated and roles will vary. Contact George Loukides at 927-9391.

[ job ]
Are you a custom picture framer looking for some work? Foto-Booth is looking for you! They are looking for someone with experience, an outgoing personality and a desire to achieve. Please contact Christine at 359-3456 or email.

[class clown ]
McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre not only hosts nationally known comedians to tickle your funny bone, but they teach you how to do it too. Classes in Stand-up Comedy, Improvisation and Performance Writing start again at the end of May. At the end of class you perform on stage. Oh no, oh yes! Call 925-FUNY or visit their site.

[ got talent? ]
Elle Productions, a growing Sarasota web design and development firm, is seeking local creatives to work on a contract basis.  They are currently seeking Flash developers, illustrators, web designers, PHP developers and graphic designers.  Elle Productions is interested in helping other independent, creative professionals get business and be successful.  Please visit www.elleproductions.com/creatives for more information and to sign up.

[ freelance ]
Alison Abbey, former fashion writer for SRQ Magazine and it's Page 1 Newsletter, is offering her freelance services. Alison has written for both print and television in creative and promotional avenues. For assistance with anything from web content/marketing to magazine articles to script writing, email Alison at awabbey@msn.com.

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