“I’ve always attached the idea of retirement and relaxing to excessive smoking and drinking,” said Thomas Nudi, a Bradenton-based filmmaker whose latest short film, Greetings From Florida!, will be screening at this year’s Sarasota Film Festival in the SRQ Shorts block. A two-person show, the film captures a moment in time for a retired Florida couple, as they while away the day with drink, smoke and idle conversation. Starring Ed Schiff and Deborah Childs, this was the only collaboration between Nudi and Schiff before Schiff’s passing in February.

Nudi wrote the short story that would eventually become Greetings in 2011 while living in Tampa, inspired by the real-life habits of an older couple he befriended. Watching them, he remembered his days growing up near an old American Legion and seeing the same porchsitting traditions, cementing his particular vision of Florida retirement. Something seemed to sit poorly with Nudi - a feeling of emptiness, that something was missing – and it comes through in the characters. “It’s two people who know each other very well,” said Nudi, “having a conversation but not having true intimacy.”

A true Florida production, the film was co-written by William Stribling, with Bradenton-based filmmakers Trishul Thejasvi and JB Whirtley serving as cinematographer and first assistant director, respectively. Stribling’s film, Down in Flames, has also been accepted by the Sarasota Film Festival, as has Thejasvi’s short, The Sunny Side, which won Most Outrageous at this year’s Orlando Film Festival.

“It’s a hopeful step, getting into the Sarasota Film Festival. It’s one of the better festivals out there right now,” said Nudi. “It’s most exciting because it’s in my back yard and my friends and family will be able to come out and see the film.”

Still, Nudi tries to manage his excitement and expectations. Festivals and accolades are appreciated, but they can’t be the focus, according to the filmmaker. After the requisite years of rejection letters and criticisms that every artist experiences and must overcome, it seems as if he can’t dwell on the good either. “I’m going to push forward regardless,” said Nudi.

It’s only fitting that Nudi’s next project, a feature-length film called Monty Comes Back, revolves around an ego-driven artist hung up on his past successes, no matter how small, who alienates the world around him in an effort to hold onto his self-image. “It’s a very human story,” said Nudi. “It’s a look at a character who we all can be and are sometimes, but are afraid to admit it.” The project reached its funding goal on Kickstarter Mar. 5. 

It’s a good day for gallery-hoppers, as three separate exhibits open across Sarasota today. Whether your interest lies in historical exploration or cutting-edge sculpture, Dabbert Gallery, Alfstad& Contemporary and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art have you covered.

Entitled Fan-Tastic!, the latest exhibition from Ringling Museum dedicates two galleries to showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship of Ringling’s collection of more than 250 fans from countries as diverse as China, England, Indonesia, Germany and Switzerland. With one gallery dedicated to Asian fan traditions and the other to European fan traditions, viewers can trace cultural histories and trends through these artifacts and adornments. Made from a variety of materials, including silk, ivory and gold, several techniques are on display, such as painting, printing, carving and folding.

Over in the Rosemary District, Alfstad& Contemporary’s exhibit of Mike Solomon’s work, Sea of Light, displays the artist’s latest work in prints and fiberglass sculpture. Molded into great, looming semi-opaque waves of nets and fiberglass, Solomon’s sculptures are admittedly influenced by his years as a surfer, and it’s an energy he hopes to recapture in his work. “I wanted to take that experience and take it to a different context,” said Solomon. “In everything, there’s an event, there’s an X and Y axis. When you look at it, you’re getting that information even if not intellectually.” In addition to his sculptures, various prints and acrylics dot the walls.

The Dabbert Gallery celebrates sculpture with its latest exhibit opening just in time for the First Friday Art Walk on Palm. Called Metal, Marble and More, the exhibit features six renowned sculpture artists showcasing their talents in a variety of mediums, such as bronze, marble and wood. Artists Candace Knapp, Gert Olsen, George Paxton, James H. Smith, Myra Weisgold and Thyra Wexler explore the human form, music and abstraction with a collection both playful and thoughtful.

Fan-Tastic! will be on display at the Ringling Museum until Jun. 28, Sea of Light at Alfstad& until May 3 and Metal, Marble and More runs at Dabbert until May 31. 

There’s a fire roaring in the slopes of southern Vermont. Nestled next to a covered bridge atop the falls of the Ottauquechee River is the flagship location of Simon Pearce, where master artisans practice the intricate craft of glass blowing. Thirty years ago glassblower Simon Pearce brought his love for the craft to Vermont from Kilkenny, Ireland with the goal to share his passion for the ancient craft. While the process of glass blowing is complex and the medium unforgiving (any mistake means the artist must start over on a new piece), what is produced at the end is simplicity in its most mastered form. Welcome the emergence of spring with these clear glass pieces from Simon Pearce, found at Downtown Sarasota’s Pecky boutique, by filling them with fresh cut colorful tulips or lovely white lilies.  

The Eye Associates announced that Richard Hector, MD, has successfully fulfilled the requirements for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and has been recertified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology. MOC is a voluntary process with the goal of continually setting the standards of excellence in the quality of ophthalmic care by focusing on six general competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism and systems-based practice. The American Board of Ophthalmology also recognizes a seventh competency in surgical skills. 

The Eye Associates

Goodwill was named the Disability Nonprofit Brand of the Year as part of the 2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study, an annual brand equity study released in late March. The study ranked consumer awareness and perception of charitable nonprofit brands based on three factors — familiarity, quality and purchase consideration — that result in a brand equity rating for each brand. The study, which was conducted for the 27th year, surveyed more than 38,000 Americans who assessed brands across 148 categories. 

Goodwill Manasota

Staff Scientist at More Marine Laboratory, Dr. Erinn Muller, has received the 2015 Young Scientist Award from the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) in recognition of her research on coral disease and temperature. The Young Scientist Award is given to a scientist member under 35 who published exceptional work in the last six years. 

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium