If extraterrestrials ever stumbled across the modern gymnasium, a philosopher once mused, they might well confuse it for some self-service torture chamber, where the guilty strap themselves into fearsome machines and strain against metal weights in seemingly Sisyphean tasks. Yet the truth remains that gyms are packed, day and night, rain and shine, with men and women of all ages. The latest exhibition from Florida artist Caitlin Albritton wants audiences to think about why, and a panel discussion tonight at Art Center Sarasota wants to help kickstart the conversation about gender issues and body politics.

Entitled Let’s Get Physical and on display in Gallery 3 at Art Center Sarasota, the exhibition features 12 paintings from Albritton’s Gym Series, including a 2017 composition previously selected for the June cover of New American Paintings. The majority of the pieces come from 2019, however, with the artist working in rich purples and blues, reds and oranges—gem tones for gym scenes—as she captures her imagined subjects mid-routine (or mid-ritual). Closely cropped, the images eschew faces and romanticization, forgoing idealized forms and photoshopped perfection for something more relatable to the everyday gym scene. Figures struggle, they sweat, they contort in unglamorous ways—and they keep going, frozen mid-rep by Albritton’s brush for all eternity.

“It was a way to focus on body language,” she says, and explore “the limits and potential of body language,” when the audience has no face to read for emotion or mood.

In some ways, the artist says, the gym can be seen as commentary on an entire overworked world, where under a veneer of cooperation it becomes a competition of all against all, including self, and especially for women. Build a family, build a business, build a brand, Albritton says, “Oh, and also have a beach body with six-pack abs.” In response, the work takes on strong feminist undertones, with images of women helping women, and sly subversion of the male gaze.

Addressing these topics and more, a panel discussion, "Getting Physical," will be assembled tonight at 6pm at Art Center Sarasota with Albritton, licensed marriage therapist and certified sex therapist Dr. Mary Davenport, and Tim Watnem, owner of Balance Health + Fitness in Sarasota. Free and open to the public, the discussion will be moderated by curator Nathan Skiles.

Currently on display at Art Center Sarasota, Let’s Get Physical runs through July 5. 

Pictured: 'Deep Squat Spot' by Caitlin Albritton.

Manatee County Commissioners have unanimously confirmed Chad Butzow as director of Public Works, a department of nearly 460 employees that designs, maintains and builds County roads. It also maintains bridges, traffic signals, stormwater systems and Manatee County Area Transit, which transported 1.5 million passengers each year.

Butzow is in his 23rd year of Public Works service. Before joining Manatee County in 2007, he worked in Illinois for 10 years as a field construction inspector and later team leader for Public Works Operations. In 2007, he became Manatee County's Highway Division Manager, and was promoted Deputy Director of the Public Works Department in 2009. Butzow has served as acting director since Ron Schulhofer retired in April, 2018.  

Manatee County Public Works Department

United Way Worldwide, the world’s largest privately-funded nonprofit, has tapped Suzanne McCormick, now president and CEO of United Way Suncoast, to become its U.S. President, based on her 25 years of innovative leadership in advancing community causes. On July 31, McCormick will become U.S. President of United Way Worldwide, which is engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across 40+ countries. She’ll be the guiding force for almost 1,200 local and state United Ways in the U.S., as they transform to agile and digital organizations in the fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. McCormick will replace Mary Sellers, who has served in the role since 2017.

Carrie Zeiss, Chief Strategy & Operating Officer of UWS, will be appointed Interim CEO as United Way Suncoast conducts a national search for a new CEO. David Walker, long-time Board and Executive Committee member, will lead the Search Committee effort, expected to be completed by year’s end. 

United Way Suncoast

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded four specialty grants totaling more than $84,000 to local nonprofit organizations leading programs that support vision impairment, women, Alzheimer’s and dementia, and southern Sarasota County.

Through the James W. Wherritt Charitable Fund, $37,300 will be given to various nonprofit organizations in southern Sarasota County, including: Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter; Easter Seals of Southwest Florida; Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County; Loveland Center; Southeastern Guide Dogs; Suncoast Humane Society; and Florida West Coast Public Broadcasting (WEDU).

Gifts from the Margaret L. Bates Fund will provide more than $20,000 to strengthen efforts to advance the status of women and provide for disadvantaged women in Sarasota County through organizations like Children First; Harvest House; Pregnancy Solutions; and Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County.

With the gifts from the Harold E. and Ruth M. Niles Fund and the Elizabeth C. Muth Fund, $18,900 was awarded to four organizations to improve the quality of life for those with vision impairment: Sarasota County School District Adult and Community Enrichment at Suncoast Technical College; ITN SunCoast; Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center; and Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Alzheimer’s and dementia programs in the area have also been granted $7,000 in gifts in part from the Verna L. Grauel Fund, and the Martin & Rhoda Safer Memorial Fund III. 

Community Foundation of Sarasota County

The Music Compound held its inaugural Summer Fest fundraiser this past Saturday, June 8, at Music Compound’s downtown studio, adjacent to The Bazaar at Apricot and Lime. Raising funds for Child Protection Center, tickets were a $5 per person donation to the cause, and included: entrance, silent auction, wrist band for bounce house, beer samples, crafts and live music provided by Music Compound students and instructors. Based on day-of donations, sponsorship and auction, Music Compound raised $950 for Child Protection Center, the goal of which is to break the cycle of abuse prevalent in so many families. Summer Fest is part of CPC’s 40th anniversary fundraising campaign, and Music Compound has committed to raising $10,000 for CPC. 

Music Compound

Forty Carrots Family Center recently announced the election of new members to its 2019-2020 Board of Trustees. The new members include: retired judge Karimu F. Hill-Harvey; Kevin Stencik, a senior vice president with PNC; Tammie Sandoval Badger, a vice president with BMO Private Bank; and Dr. Sean Paul, a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. Officers include: Chair Chris Jarmul, retired executive, now in her third year as chair; Treasurer Ben Jones, president and Chief Investment Officer with Allegiant Private Advisors; and Secretary Susan Travers, nonprofit fundraiser, volunteer coordinator and event planner.

Other members of the Board of Trustees include John Annis, Kevin Cooper, Ariane Dart, Liz Diaz, Caroline Ellerson, Tomeika Hunter-Koski, Betsy Kane-Hartnett, Dr. Manav Malik, Nicholas Roberts, Alan Ross, Susan Sakhai, CEO Michelle Kapreilian and trustee emeriti Kim Githler, Stanley Kane and Jeff Steinwachs. 

Forty Carrots Family Center

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