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SRQ DAILY Jul 22, 2016

Friday Weekend Edition

Friday Weekend Edition

"The Prize and the Retreat are such incredible gifts...Without that support, theater as an art form cannot continue."

- Emily Mann, director
 

[Gallery]  Remembering "The Guy Who Paints On The Beach"
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

On one wall a Venice street scene: bright and busy storefronts peopled with bright and busy figures eating, walking, talking—living the Florida life in great gobs of textured oil paint. Another wall, another scene: an explosive Siesta Key sunrise captured in streaks of salmon, yellow and fiery orange playing across a deep blue ocean behind a foreground of delicate reeds. To the right, dark earthen tones lay out an impressionistic landscape like a distressed photograph or patched memory of a land already lost. Nine more pieces populate the ground floor of the Center for Arts and Humanity with a handful more on the third floor, where the Arts and Cultural Alliance makes its home. The life’s work of painter and Sarasota staple Gary Ritzenhein, the late artist is commemorated this summer with a special exhibit entitled The Guy Who Paints On The Beach and an opening reception tonight at 5pm.

“Through his interpretation of these scenes, he shows you Siesta Beach, he shows you what this community looks like and what we’ve become known for,” says Jim Shirley, executive director for the Arts and Cultural Alliance. Known for posting up by the lifeguard tower at Siesta Key Beach with his easel, his paints and his palette knife (often used in place of a brush), Ritzenhein made a name for himself not only through his constant presence, but an uncanny ability to capture, if not the strict reality of the scene, the beach feel in all its seemingly paradoxical brightness and heat haze. “That was a real talent of his,” says Shirley.

Following Ritzenhein’s passing last September, the family continued to receive requests to view his work. Holding a sizable collection, they reached out to the Arts and Cultural Alliance as to the possibility of exhibition and Shirley was quick to act. The Alliance tries to host local work in the building at least once a month, he says, and Ritzenhein’s Sarasota renown and subject matter made him the perfect candidate.

“We’re a community that’s centered around beautiful beaches and we’re blessed to have a great artistic community,” says Shirley, “and when you combine the beauty and simplicity of the beaches and the artists who are able to capture them, it’s a good combination.”

The opening reception for The Guy Who Paints On The Beach begins tonight at 5pm at the Center for Arts and Humanity. Beach refreshments will be served and dress is casual summer beach attire. The exhibit hangs through Sep. 15. 

[Theater]  Greenfield Prize Commission Lands World Premiere
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

Bathing in Moonlight, the latest work from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz and the result of the Hermitage Artist Retreat’s 2014 Greenfield Prize Commission will enjoy its world premiere Sep. 9 at the McCarter Theatre Center in New Jersey. Created in conjunction with the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation, the Greenfield Prize is an annual award commissioning new works of art from promising artists to be created in a two-year time span. Sarasota audiences glimpsed an early draft of Bathing in Moonlight at Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Unplugged new play festival in April of 2015, but the McCarter run will be the first unveiling of the final draft and full production. Emily Mann directs.

“When Nilo’s plays are really working, there’s an enchantment that happens,” says Mann, who previously collaborated with Cruz on a McCarter production of his Pulitzer Prize-winning Anna in the Tropics, which Mann brought to Broadway in 2004. “This is one of those—one of his most enchanting. He has a way of spinning words that is just beautiful and takes you to another level.”

The story of a multi-generational Cuban-American family living in modern day Miami, problems attendant with the current housing crisis are assuaged and exacerbated by the arrival of a former priest into their lives. “It’s a love story and a family story,” says Mann, with overtones of spirituality and what it means to find home.

A multinational cast brings the story to life, with actors hailing from Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Puerto Rico and bringing credits ranging from Broadway to HBO. Mann reunites with Tony Award-winning Priscilla Lopez, whom she directed in Anna in the Tropics, and Michael Rudko, who appeared on Broadway with Helen Mirren in The Audience. Frankie J. Alvarez joins from HBO’s Looking and Raúl Mendez is set to make his American stage debut after a banner breakout year with The History Channel’s Texas Rising and the Netflix hit Narcos. Observing last month’s workshop, Mann was “blown away” and knew she had exactly who she needed to do the play justice. “Sometimes you just get lucky,” she says, “and the chemistry in the room is just beautiful.”

But even with all the luck in the world, Mann admits that the arts need help—the kind provided by the Hermitage and the Greenfield Prize. “The Prize and the Retreat are such incredible gifts,” says Mann. “It’s so hard to find the time, the space, the money to be able to spin these gorgeous tales. Without that support, theater as an art form cannot continue.”

Bathing in Moonlight premieres at the McCarter Theatre Center in New Jersey Sep. 9 and runs until Oct. 9. 

[Good Bite]  Pici Keen
Aviel Kanter, aviel.kanter@srqme.com

Throw out your Barilla and Ronzoni—time make room in your fridge for the real taste of authentic Italian pasta. Both Peperonata Pasta’s little shop and its Sarasota Farmers Market booth almost overflow with Capellinis, Bucatinis, Pappardelles and Radiatores, each made daily and doused in a healthy film of snowy Semolina flour, smelling of hearty dough ready to bring families together. A specialty only found in the shop, Pici noodles coil around one another, frozen and begging to be thrown in a pot of salty boiling water. Resembling spaghetti that ate too many helpings of spaghetti, the noodles are thick and fat, chunky like a golden garden snake. The Pici requires dedication not usually found in most Italian restaurants, forcing the maker to forgo the traditional noodle machine for the tedious task of hand rolling. The Tuscan pasta gets twisted and tubed, leaving tiny air pockets throughout each string. Not for the faint of heart, this pasta makes for a filling meal, best paired with gamey meats and tomato-based sauces. Salute! 

Peperonata Fresh Pasta, 4141 South Tamiami Trl., #13, Sarasota, 941-870-2729.

[Recipe]  Gourmet Summer Tacos
Diana Morales

Hard boiled egg, asparagus, lettuce and tomato chopped up and tossed with lump crabmeat placed in a soft shell tortilla make for the perfect summer dish. Surf Shack is drawing attention with its crab Louie tacos, complete with its zesty and infamous Louie dressing drizzled on top. Available every day at Surf Shack and The Terrace at Surf Shack, this plate is a decadent combination of crab and greens with an added kick to make for a refreshing bite.

Louie Dressing

Ingredients: 2 cups heavy mayonnaise; 1 Tbsp. Sriracha sauce; ½ tsp. black pepper; ½ tsp. kosher salt; 2.5 oz. ketchup; 1.5 oz. green chiles; ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce.

Whisk all ingredients lightly in a bowl until smooth.

Crab Louie Tacos

Ingredients: 1 80/20 flour to corn ratio tortilla; 2 oz. shredded lettuce; 1 oz. diced Roma tomato; 2 oz. chopped hard boiled egg; 2 oz. blanched and chopped asparagus; ½ oz. Louie dressing drizzled over top; 2 oz. lump crabmeat; pinch of Paul Prudhommes blackened seafood magic.

Grill tortilla over medium/high heat for 20 seconds on each side. Ideally place the tortilla on a taco stand as seen in photo but you can also place tortilla(s) in a small bowl to get them to stand up. Add ingredients in order and spread each evenly on tacos.  

The Terrace at Surf Shack, 328 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, (941) 960-1151 and Surf Shack, 326 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, (941) 960-1122

[Philanthropy ]  Realtor Association Supports Manatee County Habitat

The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM) presented a $5,000 donation to Manatee County Habitat for Humanity. The donations support construction projects and ultimately facilitate the mission of the organization. In addition to RASM’s donation, members of the association will support Manatee Habitat by volunteering at home builds throughout the year.  

Realtor Association

[Hires]  Willis Smith Construction Appoints Loeppke

Willis Smith Construction announced Bruce Loeppke, director of client relation healthcare for the organization as integral part of their overall marketing and business development team. With over 35 years experience in the healthcare design and construction industry, Loeppke specializes in mechanical building systems engineering and construction.  

Willis Smith Construction

[Hires]  David Jones As Sarasota High Principal

Current North Port High School principal David Jones requested the Sarasota High School principal position following the retirement of current SHS principal Jeff Hradek. Jones began his career with the Sarasota County schools at SHS in 2005 where he was a math teacher for five years and then an assistant principal. In 2010 he was named principal of McIntosh Middle School and in 2012 became principal of North Port High.  

Sarasota County Schools

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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