Featured Artist
Dennis Kowal

Dennis Kowal has dedicated his energy for over 40 years creating sculpture, and has successfully collaborated with curators and corporations for private and public collections. The results have been over 50 one-man exhibitions, hundreds of group shows and over 30 public sculpture installations. Additionally, Kowal is the recipient of Florida's Department of States Millennium Cultural Recognition Award and State Seal. The Sculpture: Photon II is an official millennium public art project for the State of Florida. For more on Kowal’s work check out his site. (click here to nominate our next artist)

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Tickets on-sale now

Sarasota Actors Workshop (SAW) is gearing up for its third season with an evening of one-act plays in October. SAW enjoyed early sell outs for its first two seasons and looks to repeat the success. Details will follow but tickets are available now at SRQ Box Office.

tonight
[ still a chance to learn the truth ]

According to the Sarasota Film Society, Burns Court Cinemas had the highest attendance in Florida for Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and the movie version of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. For future dates and films, check out the Burns Court site.

August 8
[ royal treatment ]

Jazz aficionados and those who are looking to broaden their musical palettes as sure to be well-impressed by the offerings of Live Jazz at The Backlot. Head out August 8 to enjoy The Michael Royal Trio with special guests from 8:00 – 11:00 pm. $10 cover. Call 941-363-9300 for more information.

Now – August 20
[ change is the only constant ]

Allan Kollar directs I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change in the Venice Little Theatre Cabaret now through August 20. Tickets to this musical comedy revue are $22. While you may not have all of your questions on life, love and everything between answered, it’ll be nice to be in the company of the equally clueless.

August 14 - 20
[ artfully volunteering ]

Celebrating Community Volunteer Appreciation Week, August 14-20, the Ringling Museum will be showing community volunteers special treatment with 2 for 1 regular priced adult admission with volunteer ID from any non-profit organization. 

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August 18
[ new exhibits ]

The ArtCenter Manatee is proud to present two exciting new exhibits: “Sextet,” and “ArtCenter Manatee Faculty.” The public is invited to the free opening reception on Friday, August 18, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, at the ArtCenter. It’s a fun time with live music, hors d’oeuvres & cash bar. These exhibits will run through September 9. For more information call 941-746-2862.

Register by August 31
[ intelligent designers ]

Don't miss the inaugural Sarasota International Design Summit, an exciting new meeting of business and design professionals exploring design’s importance for business differentiation and competitive advantage today.  The Summit's keynote presentations, workshops, tours, and social events will focus on how organizations around the globe are integrating design and innovation strategies to create powerful emotional connections with their customers and greater return on investment. Speakers include top executives from Target, BMW Designworks USA, Philips Design USA, Procter & Gamble, The Mayo Clinic, METROPOLIS Magazine, and many others. Hosted by the Ringling School of Art & Design in partnership with sponsors Fast Company Magazine, EDC of Sarasota County, and SunTrust Bank. Register by August 31 for special early bird rates.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key recently announced its first cultural arts adventure, created as a unique fund-raiser for the organization. In October, anyone who wants to join the group will travel to New York City to experience this culturally rich city in ways that are not generally available to the public. Included in the $4198 price (which includes a $1000 tax-deductible donation to The Hermitage Artist Retreat) is five nights lodging at the four-star Michaelangelo Hotel, daily breakfast, hotel tax and service, all scheduled programming and transportation to events and gratuities. Tour guide Joe Rosenberg is one of New York’s foremost experts on theatre and architecture. For more information call Bruce Rodgers at 941-475-2098 or email director@hermitage-fl.org.

September 3
[ sunday in the park with george or betty or mack or… ]

After many years of waiting, the legacy of Sarasota’s Payne Family to endow the city with a destination, central park, will finally come to fruition on Sunday, September 3.  Ecstatic after years of lobbying the city to initiate development of the park, the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association, in coordination with the city, are inviting families from throughout the city and the county to come and enjoy a late summer Picnic in the Park.  Free Ice Cream in the Payne Park, Sarasota High’s marching band, local celebs Big Night Out (photo right) and Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters – all will be on hand to make sure the a good time is had by all. Festivities begin at 4:00 pm and end at dark.  Families should bring their own picnic dinner, blankets, lawn chairs and comfortable dancing shoes.  Rain date for the event is set for September 10, in case of inclement weather. For more information, call Kelly Kirschner at 941-928-9978 or Kathlyn Vieira at 941-954-2605. Directions. 2050 Adams Lane, Sarasota.

September 15 – October 14
[ art in the water ]

Art Center Sarasota is proud to be the host of the 35th Florida Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition. The exhibition kicks off with an opening reception Friday, September 15, 2006. Over 750 entries and only 91 were accepted and will be hung in the Main and Front Gallery of Art Center Sarasota. For information contact Anne Abgott at 941-795-5181.

Colleen Cassidy-Berns
2006 participant

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Deadline September 15
[ artist entries ]

Laughing Fish Artworks located in Bradenton's Village of the Arts is now accepting artist entries for the First Annual Noche de los Meurtos (Night of the Dead) Art Exhibition, a juried show which will be on exhibit at the Laughing Fish Artworks gallery October 1 – 31.  Designed to celebrate Manasota's rich Hispanic heritage and to increase cultural awareness, submitted entries should reflect the thematic and/or cultural components of this traditional Mexican holiday.  One cash prize of $150 will be awarded for Best of Show. For exhibit requirements and registration form, please Email laughingfishartworks@verizon.net.

...for Stephen Sondheim’s musical Sweeney Todd will be held at the Manatee Players, 102 Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton on Sunday, August 13 & 14.  Auditions are at 7:00 pm both evenings.  Those auditioning should prepare a song in their key.  The musical director, Rick Bogner, will accompany all auditions.  The musical calls for 7 male principals, 3 female principals and chorus.  Ages considered will be 16 and above.  There are no children’s roles in this show.  All roles, including the chorus, require strong singing voices. Performance dates for the musical are October 12 - 29. Questions should be directed to Rick Kerby at 941-748-0111.

Here's the skinny. The studio for rent is upstairs at Booth Studio. 1100 sq/ft studio available for rent! Studio, Office, Sales Room, Dressing Room. Looking for a 1 - 2 year lease. Use of the full kitchen, bathrooms and fax machine down stairs. Go and see it. They are there M-F 8:30 - 5:30. Call Christine 941-359-3456 or email studio@boothstudio.com

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