Get a glimpse of bygone stars and celebrity darlings in a new light through the pop-stylized eye of artist Janine Hoffman and her collection of digital paintings currently on display at Art Uptown Gallery. A striking assemblage of pop-culture portraiture, Hoffman’s “Iconography: New Pop Images” reasserts the classical beauty of some of 20th century America’s most sought-after women while simultaneously challenging the nature of such a pedestal through the curated stares of its subjects.

“I wanted to put images and words together that would be bold, reflecting the commercialization of everything but trying to make it art,” said Hoffman in a statement. “Something that is beautiful, but strong.” Openly influenced by pop artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Hoffman continues the tradition in the modern style, creating digital paintings with an electronic pen. The result represents a marked shift from the artist’s previous, more detailed pencil work. “Which was a challenge for me,” said Hoffman. “I was trying to capture the essence of a person with three main elements: eyes, mouth and hair.”

With 11 works on display under names like “La Femme” and “Killer,” there’s a certain playful aggression in the collection, daring the viewer to lock eyes with the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe as they peer down from their frames with unblinking eyes and set mouths. Incorporating some collage sensibility alongside minimalist portraiture, Hoffman effectively evokes the atmosphere of high-fashion and glamour nigh synonymous with her subjects, lending a sense of scene to the whole endeavor.

On display through Jan. 29, the opening reception begins at Art Uptown Gallery tonight at 6pm with Hoffman in attendance. 

Pictured: "Marilyn 4 Pop" by Janine Hoffman. Courtesy of Janine Hoffman.

Joining the ranks of budding area filmmakers looking to put the region on the map, the one-man film crew known as Barry Gaines is nothing if not ambitious. Moving to Sarasota from New York little more than a year ago, Gaines and his studio, Gaines Entertainment, are currently starting production on a sprawling science-fiction/fantasy epic web series entitled A World of Worlds. With plans for a 14-episode debut season, Gaines hopes to have the first episode completed by April.

Eschewing the standard independent film fare of character dramas and plodding meditations on social ills, Gaines went straight to a parallel universe and a planet named Ressear, the focal point for his story of evil warlocks, ancient prophecies and one woman’s race to save her world. “Why can’t we make our own Avatar? Why can’t we make our own Star Wars?” asked Gaines, cognizant of the weirdness of his proposition but seeing it as strength. If Sarasota is to stand out in the film world, then it needs to be seen as willing to take risks, he continued, and kickstarting a whole fictional universe from the mind of a single writer/director/producer, he’ll admit, is anything but safe. But his chief concern is not failure, but that someone somewhere else will beat him to it; that the next Lord of the Rings is being written somewhere in Georgia and he's already rested for too long.

Currently filming, Gaines has enjoyed putting the town itself on display, shooting at various places such as the Sarasota Wine Bar, the HuB, the Manatee Performing Arts Center and recently at Dolphin Aviation. A purely Florida production, all of the cast and crew are locally-based, which is important to Gaines, who sees A World of Worlds as a potential jumping off point for the region’s film scene. The resources are here, he’s sure of it; the rest of the industry simply needs to catch on and filmmakers here need to make that happen. “Even Miami had to do that at one time,” said Gaines, remembering a time before Miami Vice when the town was known more for "swamps and gangsters" than cinema potential. “But we can build something new here, something creative.” 

Pictured: Barry Gaines directs actor Daphnee Avril Bless on a green screen set. Photo courtesy of Gaines Entertainment.

Curious about a real alternative ingredient list? The Manatee County extension for the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Science offers this recipe that includes bugs, something officials say may be a wave of the future thanks to sustainability and the ample protein. Take a risk and try this recipe out.

Banana Worm Bread

Ingredients: ½ cup shortening; ¾ cup sugar; 2 bananas, mashed; 2 cups flour; 1 teaspoon soda; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ cup chopped nuts; 2 eggs; ¼ cup dry-roasted mealworms.

Mix together all ingredients. Bake in greased loaf pan at 350 degrees for about one hour. 

Halfacre Construction Company wrapped up a multi-phase renovation of the Sarasota County Tax Collector and Property Appraiser building.The remodeling, which began July 2015, was completed on time and on budget early this month, taking only about six months to finish. The project included a complete interior renovation of the Sarasota County Tax Collector and Property Appraiser offices on the first floor of the Terrace Building. These areas received new finishes, electric and systems updates, enhanced workspace areas and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. 

Halfacre Construction Company

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance will hold its Annual Membership Luncheon on  Jan. 20 from 11:30am-1pm at the Fete Ballroom at Polo Grill. Business Alliance members and prospective members are invited to attend the event. Incoming Chair Darren Inverso and Immediate Past Chair David Fink will introduce the 2016 Board of Directors, thank the outgoing Board and present the Chairman’ s Award Winner for 2015. 

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance