As the semester winds down, New College’s soon-to-be grads engage in the traditional race to the finish line, working on essays and assignments long into the night and readying themselves for the next step. For eight young artists in the New College Art Department thesis program, this means the unveiling of a body of work each has spent the last year creating. Entitled “Octonocular,” the group exhibition gives each individual artist a chance to shine, while displaying the breadth of the program as well, with everything from graffiti-inspired painting by Jeanine Tatlock to abject sculptures and installations from Coral Chepren-Moore and monastic and religious scenes quilted by Jennifer Ng.

“It’s a body of work representative of them,” said Kim Anderson, associate professor of art at New College, who, along with assistant professor of sculpture Richard Herzog, spent the last year guiding the students through the thesis process. In addition to the work on display, students must also learn the art of installation and promotion - vital steps in the preparation of an exhibit. “All the components are a practical learning opportunity,” said Anderson.

“I really wanted to explore the root system of the plant, hidden underground,” said New College artist Paige Rawitz, standing next to one of her many sculptures that dot the inner landscape of Isermann Gallery, this one made of gel medium rods containing flashing LED icicle lights and clustered atop tendrils of molded plastic. Exploring the connections between the natural world, artificial materials and human activity, Rawitz utilizes a vast array of media in her sculpture, including plaster, silicone, wood, metal and plastic cutlery. Both playful and intricate, Rawitz’ creations demand a full walkaround to be appreciated, and leave the viewer intrigued, not revealing all at first blush. “It’s less about telling a viewer to think about something specifically,” said Rawitz, “but just to get them to think.”

Running through the Isermann corridor and into the studio space beyond, additional work from Rachel Zucker can be found. Beginning most often from original photographs, Zucker’s paintings - done largely in oil or acrylic, some with silver leaf on wood – contain an energy and eroticism hard to resist, complete with a healthy dash of the surreal. The paintings of Isabelle DuVall are similarly eye-grabbing, but for radically different reasons. Operating in the landscape tradition, the sun hangs heavy with luminous color in many, as the particulars of the scene give way to great almost-liquid swaths of psychedelic color.

There is one video presentation in the exhibit, this from Samantha Kreeger, who went to Ireland to investigate her heritage and collect stories from the people, before returning to make a hand-drawn animated video based on her experience. Stills from the film - individual ink and acrylic paintings – are on display, as well as an interactive mutoscope and zoetrope, which viewers can use to experience some of the history of animation. Last but not least, Wesley Thorp’s portraiture explores both traditional and modern methods, using an innovative combination of computer software and theoretical texts to create anomalies or “glitches” that lend an air of the techno-uncanny to the work.

“Octonocular” is on display at the New College Isermann Gallery behind the Mildred Sainer Pavilion and is open through May 18. 

Photo by: Kim Butler

For the first time, Bradenton restaurant chain First Watch was recognized with the 2015 Consumer Picks award for Family Dining by the Nation’s Restaurant News annual Consumer Picks survey. The winners are based on the magazine’s fifth annual survey, and First Watch’s win resulted from its first time included in the survey. The 2015 Consumer Picks survey ranked 172 restaurant chains. The survey was fielded in January, and the results reflect more than 42,000 consumer attitudes on 10 attributes: Food Quality, Value, Cleanliness, Service, Menu Variety, Reputation, Atmosphere, Craveability, Likelihood to Recommend and Likelihood to Return.  

First Watch

World of Beer is opening its 36th tavern on Monday in Sarasota on Main Street and plans to open its 37th Florida tavern in Bradenton in June. World of Beer-Main Street will host a special wooden barrel firkin tapping with local brewery partner Big Top Brewing Company on April 21, featuring local dignitaries and guests. The rare firkin-based cask ale will give WOB guests an exclusive taste of Big Top Brewing Company’s ale mixed with Drum Circle Distilling’s Siesta Key Gold Rum. Proceeds from the tapping will go to Southeastern Guide Dogs charity. WOB-Main Street is hosting a Grand Opening Party April 25. 

World of Beer

Goodwill was named the Disability Nonprofit Brand of the Year as part of the 2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study, an annual brand equity study which was 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

Of all the basic things we need to teach our puppy, leash protocol is the very most important thing, because the leash sends the most significant message about our leadership, and provides the daily exercise our dog will always require. - Most of us are not seeking obedience titles but still, our dog needs to have a good idea of what to do on the leash because from time to time we'll need to take him to the vet or other places out in public.

His requirement for daily exercise cannot be overstated either. And running around in your back yard is not sufficient physically or psychologically. He sees your back yard as a big kennel. He needs to get out in his territory with you, his leader. And we need to teach him how to do this the right way, but it's important to be very careful to not create what I call "a bad leash experience" with your little guy. We want him to love the leash, not hate it, and if we expect too much too soon from him and start jerking him around (essentially acting like a jerk ourselves), this will slow the process.

An average age for him to learn how to heel (or walk at your side), is 6 months, but some puppies are ready by the time they're only 4 months, so it really depends on the pup. At first, just to give him the idea of what you want, keep things very simple. There are only a few things he needs to know in the beginning. The first thing, is that we keep moving. In other words, we continue to move along at a regular to brisk pace, not stopping until you (the leader) initiates the stop. - Next time, more on leash work.

A native of Louisiana, SRQ Daily Columnist Gregg Flowers owns Dog's Best Friend Dog Training Services here in Sarasota, where he "teaches dogs and trains people." Gregg became fascinated by our relationship with dogs as a boy in the '60s, and by 1985 had developed his own unique style of working with dogs and their humans.