Between the yearly-juried exhibitions, single-artist shows and themed exhibits, such as this summer’s Confluence France, Art Center Sarasota continually proves difficult to categorize, with shows running the gamut in terms of theme, medium and presentation. This past year, the Center has hosted curated exhibits ranging from encaustic art, minimalist exploration and conceptual community collaborations such as the recent MASHterpieces, seeing local artists create original works of art inspired by items and artistic works donated from Goodwill Manasota, not to mention hosting summer camps and workshops. And according to Art Center Sarasota’s artistic director, Dustin Juengel, that’s exactly the way it should be.

“It’s important that the Art Center is a destination for everybody interested in art,” says Juengel. The goal is inclusivity, where everyone feels welcome, regardless of personal talent or taste. As artistic director, this means being open to shows in all mediums, exploring disparate themes and seeking novel methods of presentation, including performance art, being introduced this season between gallery runs. “Nobody should feel alienated,” says Juengel. “No one should feel disappointed.”

At the same time, Juengel wants the Art Center to continue experimenting with the edgy and avante garde, the work on the vanguard. Shows should be accessible and enjoyable for even the casual enthusiast, but also offer something challenging for Sarasota’s more culturally-inclined. “There’s room for both,” says Juengel. “They engage in different ways. Nothing should feel out of place.” While one group may enjoy a series of peaceful still life representations, another can delve into the mystery of numbers and dream-states in a presentation next door. “The attitude one should have walking into the Art Center is one of acceptance,” says Juengel. “They know their work and interests are appreciated and welcome, and in return, they should also bring this acceptance to whatever else they might encounter.”

In the Center’s quest to engage the community at large, it hosts many juried exhibitions throughout the year, which Juengel describes as “a cross-section of the arts within the community,” and a series of summer camps and workshops that afford many local youth the opportunity to create in a professional setting. “They seem to be making something non-stop,” says Juengel of the children he sees running through the gallery, their parents forced to pull the brushes from their hands when it’s time to go. It’s an important step for them, says Juengel, to make art in a place that displays art, to demystify the process and remove that fear. “Hands-on is the best way to get introduced to the arts,” he says. “It deepens our engagement with art and adds another dimension.”

Featured Artwork Clockwise From Top: Craig Lefebvre, “End of the Inka Trail”; Noa Haim, "Collective Paper Aesthetic"; Morgan Janssen, “No Guts No Glory”; Sarah Viviana Valdez, "Palm Tree Princess."