The 2016 Ringling International Arts Festival has come and gone, bringing with it 21 performances from dancers, musicians, storytellers and satirists from around the world and leaving the community invigorated, inspired and hungry for more. Whether through the stimulating but challenging compositions of the Grammy Award-winning Eighth Blackbird, the narrative adventures of Thaddeus Phillips or satirical choreography of LMnO3, RIAF serves as a yearly reminder of the breadth and depth of contemporary performance art and the joy of shared exploration.

And explore the community did, coming out in droves for a series of festival firsts, including performances within the Ringling Circus Museum and the historic Ca d’Zan. 5,407 ticket holders came out, filling 87 percent of the seats throughout the festival—a 10 percent increase over 2015 numbers—and revenue from ticket sales increased by 15 percent, with a demographic spread.

“Genre-bending performances of theater/movement/music/comedy/dance drew cheers and hoots from large audiences that included a high percentage of younger people,” says Ringling Museum Curator of Performance Dwight Currie. “Both 17 Border Crossings and B.A.N.G.S.: made in america added bursts of creative energies in unconventional ways that the audiences seemed to love.” Explorations into the world of avant garde music met similar success, with audiences flocking to performances from both Eighth Blackbird and cellist Matt Haimovitz. “The audience response to both productions helps lay to rest any concern that Sarasota is ‘not ready’ for new musical expressions,” says Currie.

Participation in the augmented auxiliary programming, which this year included After Hours Jazz performances and Lounge on the Lawn events with food, drinks and live music, “increased dramatically” as well, according to The Ringling.

The continued importance of the circus traditions Sarasota maintains also received a spotlight this year, with performances from Finland’s Circo Aero and the Australian acrobats of Gravity and Other Myths harkening back to the feats and spectacle of a Ringling Brothers circus. “It was a joy to further expand our engagement with the world-wide phenomenon of ‘New Circus,’” says Currie. “Both productions were received with great enthusiasm, and many of the performance were sold out.”

With RIAF in the rearview, the audience looks forward to next year and Currie is already hard at work. 

Pictured: Thomas Monckton collaborates with Circo Aero for a performance of "The Pianist." Photo courtesy of the artists.

The Sarasota County School Board voted Tuesday to name Todd Bowden, the district’s executive director of Career, Technical and Adult Education and the director of Suncoast Technical College, as the next superintendent of Sarasota County Schools.

“I am extremely grateful to the School Board for the confidence they have placed in me,” Bowden said. He credited White for being “responsible in large part for my success in this district. It is such a well-run, respected district and I want to perpetuate that trust the community has in us.”

Board members cited widespread community support for Bowden as well as his collaborative work with businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the county. Board Member Frank Kovach said he is a “huge believer in promoting from within,” citing the success of current superintendent Lori White and former superintendent Wilma Hamilton, both of whom rose from the ranks in the district. Board Member Jane Goodwin agreed, saying Bowden will “hit the ground running.”

Before coming to Sarasota County Schools in 2007, Bowden served in the Hillsborough County School District as principal of Gary Adult High School and of Aparicio-Levy Technical Center and assistant principal for curriculum at Bloomingdale High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida, a master’s in business administration from Florida State University, and a master’s and doctorate in educational leadership from the University of South Florida. Bowden grew up in Brandon and Valrico and attended Bloomingdale High. He and his wife Janene have two children who attend McIntosh Middle School in Sarasota.

The district must still negotiate a contract with Bowden, a process expected to begin Nov. 1. White is expected to retire Feb. 28, 2017. After an approximately two-week overlap starting in mid-February, Bowden will begin as the next superintendent March 1. 

Cool and tangy while finding an added dose of natural sweet, The Coolinary’s chilled gazpacho veers away from the traditional tomato-filled soup. Instead of a veggie-centric base, the chefs put forth a blend of watermelon, salsa verde and raspberries, giving the gazpacho a fruity, almost smoothie-esque zing. Still, the olive-oily salsa surfaces with a nice balance to the succulent red fruits, staying distinctly on the Spanish side of the palate. The chilly soup energizes and restores, leaving ample room for the next course.  

The Coolinary, 1359 Main St., Sarasota, 941-312-4773.

Kathy Smith has joined Jennette Properties and will be working in its new Gulf Gate office. Smith is a real estate agent specializing in leasing and property management in Sarasota County with over 20 years of experience in the real estate business and has knowledge in professional training, marketing and negotiation skills. Smith takes great care of her property owners to ensure the least amount of inconvenience and with the highest customer satisfaction. Her expertise will help match seasonal and annual tenants to the right property.  

Jennette Properties

Jack Kelly, Tiffany Elling, Cynthia Porpora and Rich Warno have all joined Keller Williams Realty Select as real estate agents. Kelly brings a long career of client service and support to all his transactions. After his retirement from IBM in 1994 he earned a Florida Contractors license and earned the title Realtor. Elling is originally from Pennsylvania but has made Florida her home since 1987. Porpora is a 20-year veteran of management and service in banking and security services. Warno worked with Coldwell Banker and Exit Realty before joining Keller Williams Select Lakewood Ranch. 

Keller Williams

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently gave scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory a grant for more than $500,000 to continue advancing electronic monitoring of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. The newest phase will launch January 2017 when electronic monitoring equipment is installed on commercial longline vessels based in Southwest Florida and the panhandle, Louisiana and Texas. The monitoring effort will focus on reef fisheries important to Gulf economies, particularly on improving information about bycatch. 

www.noaa.gov

Step into a lustrous wonderland of color and light with a front row seat into the phenomenon of studio glass. In Working Glass Heroes, writer Phil Lederer unpacks the art form and delves into why Sarasota is becoming a Mecca for the glass world, bringing to light both the proponents pushing the form forward and those who aren’t as convinced. Explore the collaborative efforts taking place around the area in an effort to bring these wonders to light. 

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