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SRQ DAILY Apr 29, 2016

Friday Weekend Edition

Friday Weekend Edition

"Working from the inside out, Gaga conditions and prepares the body so dancers can move to their full potential."

- Leymis Bolanos Wilmott, Sarasota Contemporary Dance
 

[Exec Moves]  Blackketter Leaving SANCA, Benderson Park
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Before landing the World Rowing Championships, before any international competitions were held in its water, before sports officials for crew, pentathlon and any other number of sports, Nathan Benderson Park was a mining ditch. But Paul Blackketter could see something world-class in that ditch. With an Olympic event just completed and another qualifier days away, Blackketter, the first president and CEO for Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, has announced he has reached his own personal finish line and will leave his position by the end of the fiscal year. “This has been an incredible adventure,” he said. “Honestly, I have been working on this project for a really long time. Now I want to take the lessons we’ve learned here off to different locations.”

Blackketter plans to start his own consulting firm in coming months, a business built on a 20-year career spanning a period in the US Army, project management at Benderson Development and ultimately to the opening of Nathan Benderson Park as a competition venue.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Blackketter faced trials of his own in 2014 when SANCA failed to get all the required information to the state of Florida and was temporarily unable to raise private funds, and then last year, the CEO’s management style came under heavy fire when an expletive-laden video of him yelling at a project manager at the park was posted on YouTube. But today Blackketter feels confident the organization is on sound financial footing, noting a drive to create a boathouse at the park will provide a sustainable income there. And he says the video scandal ultimately forced him to address some personal issues dating back to his military service. “The board here basically forced me to go and address my PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and I did,” he said. “This really helped me to be in this place I am now, and it opened up so many different perspectives to me.”

The successes at Nathan Benderson still stand tall over any low points. In rapid order, the park beat out sports venues around the globe when it was selected to host the World Rowing Championships in 2017. The venue will also host the World Masters Rowing Championships in 2018, and the Florida Sports Foundation in 2015 named the park as the Sports Venue of the Year.

Just last weekend, the park hosted the US Olympic and Paralympic Trials, and officials with the sport lauded the event as one of the best they had ever attended. It was then Blackketter knew the hard work of the past seven years paid off. “It was such a lift,” he said. “We’ve arrived.” He decided then it would be a good time to exit, and this week he announced his resignation from SANCA. Next weekend, Nathan Benderson will host the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final, an event international federation officials for Modern Pentathlon have already labeled the “best World Cup event in 40 years.” 

SANCA chairman Bill Robertson praised Blackketter, saying the outgoing CEO “established a worldwide network of relationships and connections, and the idea of becoming a consultant is a natural fit for him.” Blackketter said he will stay as long as Sept. 30 to ease a transition. Any new president, Blackketter says, should make sure improvements to the park continue, but must also remember that Nathan Benderson Park belongs to the community, as does the Fort Hamer Rowing Facility maintained by SANCA in Manatee County. He spoke of how local rowing clubs today practice in water alongside collegiate teams from Harvard and other schools. “These kids now have a gateway into these colleges,” Blackketter said. “This unveils opportunities they may have never thought of or dreamed they could have.” 

[Dance]  Zohar Brings Gaga To Sarasota Contemporary Dance
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Sarasota’s dance community is in for a treat and a challenge May 14 with the arrival of Erez Zohar of Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company, who will be visiting the state and stopping in Sarasota for one day to teach a master class with Sarasota Contemporary Dance. Invited to Sarasota in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, which also sponsored the trip, Zohar will lead a single 75-minute session introducing Gaga, the movement language originated by Batsheva Artistic Director Ohad Naharin and taking the dance world by storm over the last decade.

Described as a movement language as opposed to a technique or style, Gaga supplements a dancer’s development through integration into daily practice and exercise. Much like movement-oriented yoga, the goal of Gaga is not only to increase strength, flexibility and stamina but also to go beyond the physical into the realm of self-awareness and discovery. A rarity in the dance world but in tandem with the inward focus, Gaga practitioners often forgo the mirrored studios commonly preferred.

As co-founder and artistic director for Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Leymis Bolaños Wilmott can express passing familiarity with the Gaga technique, having taken a class here or there and working with practiced performers, but she looks forward to bringing something new to her company and the community. “Working from the inside out,” she said, “Gaga conditions and prepares the body so dancers can move to their full potential.”

But more than a dance opportunity, Zohar’s visit also represents a continuing cultural exchange. “The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is proud to partner with Sarasota Contemporary Dance for this special class,” said Orna Nissa, director of Holocaust education and Israel programs at the Federation. “An important part of our mission is to provide positive Israel experiences for our community; one way we accomplish this is through partnership with the arts community.”

Held in College Hall at New College of Florida on May 14, Gaga begins at 10am and should run for 75 minutes. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased through Sarasota Contemporary Dance at info@sarasotacontemporarydance.org. Dance experience is recommended. 

Photo by Ascaf. Courtesy of Sarasota Contemporary Dance.

[Community]  Sarasota Issues Call To Artists
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

The face of public art in Sarasota is poised for a revival as the city issues a call to artists this week for an original sculpture to install in the future roundabout at Orange Avenue and Ringling Boulevard. This is the first call to artists in what is projected to be a series of efforts installing roundabouts at select intersections, each with its own contribution to Sarasota’s public art collection.

Accepting submissions between now and June 5, all proposals will be reviewed by the Public Art Committee and winnowed to three finalists who will be invited to pitch their work in-person. From these presentations, the Public Art Committee will make final recommendations to the City Commission, which will make the final decision. There’s no guarantee these decisions will align, “but generally [city commissioners] have followed the recommendation,” said Neighborhood and Development Services General Manager David Smith.

The City expressed no preference in terms of style or theme with the call but did lay down criteria for aspiring artists to follow. Proposed sculptures must be original creations, thereby hopefully avoiding community controversy as surrounds the Unconditional Surrender statue on Tamiami Trail, and must be free-standing under 20 feet in height. Submissions should also show an awareness of the surrounding Orange Avenue/Ringling Boulevard environment and complement existing design. Water features are disallowed, as installations at busy intersections must require minimal maintenance.

For reasons of safety, message displays, signs and flashing lights will not be allowed and the work must be designed for viewing at a distance. “We don’t want people walking into the roundabouts,” said Smith.

A national call, submissions are not limited to local artists and there is no indication preference will be given to local submissions. “But it would be great if a local artist was selected,” said Smith. But all artists, local or not, should keep the Florida climate in mind when choosing materials. “Because of the environment we’re in,” said Smith, “you don’t want metal that will rust or be eaten by salt air.”

The submission deadline is June 5. Budget must not exceed $150,000.

View the full details of this call to artists at the website below. 

Call to Artists

[Film]  'Barry Baker' Premieres At Sunscreen Film Festival
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Sarasota filmmaker and Ringling College graduate Tony Ahedo heads to St. Petersburg today, where the pilot episode of his new web-series, Barry Baker: Aspiring Serial Killer, will premiere as an Official Selection of the Sunscreen Film Festival. Written and directed by Ahedo and starring Peter Konowicz, the planned series follows the bloody and comedic escapades of an earnest but inept Barry Baker as he struggles to find the courage and faculty to brutalize his officemates. Said Ahedo, “Nobody starts as a professional.” 

Pictured: Peter Konowicz as Barry Baker.

Read the full story on SRQ Backlot.

[Good Bite]  Selva Strikes Gold with Cuzco Corn
Aviel Kanter

Cuzco corn could have jumped out of the pages of a Dr. Seuss story—bulbous, milky-white kernels crackle and pop when bitten, revealing an incongruous creamy center. Peruvian "choclo" is starchy, blown up to five times the size of North American sweet corn, with a texture that is revelatory: the saccharine flavor of yellow corn is trumped by the Cuzco's savory nuttiness, brought to the forefront when grilled. 

Selva Grill lets its Cuzco corn, which is flown in from Peru, speak for itself. A dash of salt and pepper is all that touches the skewered kernels before it meets the grill. A few minutes later, the food is lightly toasted for the perfect crunch, paired with a crispy fried plaintain chip. House-made chimichurri adds subtle spice while the sweet chili sauce lends a tangy kick. 

Selva Grill, 1345 Main St., Sarasota, 941-362-4427

[From The Chef]  Margarita Mama
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day margarita? Matthew Serrano, general manager and bar chef for The Table Creekside and Philippi Creek Oyster Bar offers up this mix, which he recommends building a brunch menu around. And he even offers a way to give this imbibe an extra kick.

Summer-Rita

Ingredients: 2 oz. house-infused strawberry jalapeno tequila; 1 oz. strawberry liquor; 1 oz. fresh lime juice; ½ oz. simple syrup.

In a shaker, combine all ingredients with ice and shake well. Pour into a salted rim glass and garnish with lime and a slice of jalapeno.

Ingredients (for Strawberry Jalapeño infusion): 1 bottle of tequila; 1 quart of strawberries (hulled and sliced); 1 jalapeno sliced in half, seeds intact.

Place the strawberries and tequila into a large mason jar, seal and store. On the second day of infusion, add ½ jalapeno and store for one more day (three days total). On the third day, strain the infusion. 

[Recognition]  Osprey Biotechnics Wins EPA Honor

Osprey Biotechnics was named a 2016 Partner of the Year Award winner by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice Program. The company received the award in the manufacturer/formulator category for its outstanding achievement in the design, manufacture and promotion of products that are safer for families, workplaces, communities and the environment. Osprey Biotechnics also received this national award in 2015. 

Osprey Biotechnics

[Exec Moves]  Wilson Joins MindSpa

Jennifer Wilson has joined MindSpa’s Integrative Team as a wellness advocate and the founder of The Wilson Institute at MindSpa. She previously sold medical devices in Philadelphia before owning a medical device recruiting firm for 10 years. She developed an interest in alternative medicine while helping her daughter with an autoimmune condition. The various symptoms were due to an overgrowth of candida, dysbiosis (leaky gut) and full adrenal failure. The Wilson Institute at MindSpa offers nutritional IVs and injections, hyperbaric treatments, BEMER sessions, H2 Bev (for reducing inflammation), supplements, neurotransmitter and adrenal Studies, GI 2000 Genova studies, micro-needling and chemical peels.  

MindSpa

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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