Members’ Show: Contemporary Craft at its Finest is a juried exhibition of original art showcasing the best of handcrafted work by Florida CraftArt members. Forty-six artists created 79 pieces from intricate jewelry to glass sculptures. Visitors will have the opportunity to virtually meet the artists and the show’s judge Susana Weymouth at the virtual opening reception on Friday, January 29 at 6 p.m. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82206474125. The show runs through March 20 when the People’s Choice Award will be presented at the closing reception. People can vote for their favorite work of art in the Florida CraftArt Exhibition Gallery.

Now in its 12th year, the Ringling College glass sculpture exhibition from the Richard and Barbara Basch Collection presents A Few of Our Favorite Things from January 11 through March 27 at the Richard and Barbara Basch Gallery in the Larry R. Thompson Academic Center. This exhibition features some of the most exceptional examples of art glass and brilliant one-of-a-kind commissions by the greatest masters of the medium from around the world. It highlights the Basch Collection of more than 300 works of art glass by iconic artists, including Giampaolo Amoruso, Martin Blank, Latchezar Boyadjiev, Peter Bremers, Lucio Bubacco, Dale Chihuly, Laura di Santillana, Laura Donefer, Robin Grebe, Colin Heaney, Shin-ichi Higuchi, Richard Royal, Lino Tagliapietra, and Bertil Vallien. Appointments are required to view this exhibition. Admission to this exhibition is free and open to the public. Gallery Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm.

As we enter the festival’s 12th year, we are especially proud to present a premier line-up of 21 remarkable and diverse films that will impact, provoke, and move you. They are documentaries, narratives, tragedies and comedies, mysteries and love stories. Most have won awards and will have special meaning to our community of viewers. All films are being held virtually. During this time of COVID we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our Sponsors for their continued support of the Jewish Film Festival. In doing so, you are fulfilling our Federation’s mission and the tenet of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world, ultimately, helping to provide our community much needed enjoyment. The Jewish Film Festival is one of many programs also sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. The yearly Film Festival that attracts so many movie-goers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, is all about strengthening Jewish life in Sarasota-Manatee. We hope you will leave energized, inspired and moved by the rich traditions and culture of Judaism found in movies celebrated around the world. See you at the movies.

Madeby Gallery hosting Disney Fine Artist - Ringling College of Art and Design Alumnus Tim Rogerson and the original Tinker Bell Margaret Kerry. Zoom Virtual Opening Reception on Wednesday, February 10 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Margaret, a Sarasota resident, will be sharing her amazing journey of how Walt chose her to be the original Tinker bell model for the Disney Animators’ in her book, "Tinker Bell Talks." Tim will be taking us on a tour of his magical Disney artwork. Originals, giclees and prints will be available for purchase. Tim has created exclusively for the show, his newest original of Tinker Bell, titled "Pixie Pose." The show runs from February 10 through Friday, March 12.

Light Up The Night, WBTT’s outdoor concert series that launched in October, is back by popular demand. This 90-minute concert features WBTT’s beloved live band and some of your favorite WBTT singers who will take you back to the 1970s with R&B classics including "Reach Out, I'll Be There," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," "Love Train," "Superstition," "Let's Get It On," I Want You Back," "Brick House," "September" and many more. Light Up The Night features a live band led by Resident Music Director (and bass player) James “Jay” Dodge II, accompanying a variety of popular WBTT artists – including favorites like Raleigh Mosely, Henry Washington and more. Joining Dodge in the band are Todd Bellamy, piano, Brennan Stylez on auxiliary keys, Brad Foutch, guitar, and Etienne “EJ” Porter, drums. Performances run Thursday, February 12, 2021 – Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 7:30pm on the WBTT Campus at 1012 North Orange Avenue, we will be using our specially set up outdoor performance area that includes our courtyard and parking lot. Seating is available for up to 84 people in separate 2-person 6 ft circles.

For the sixth year, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe – in collaboration with The Jazz Club of Sarasota and the Sarasota County Schools – will help history to come alive for area students. Jazzlinks is an integrated arts experience to help illustrate, through music and theatre, the contributions of African Americans in U.S. history. Due to the coronavirus, WBTT will present Jazzlinks virtually this year, streaming the songs and stories of the Harlem Renaissance into high school classrooms from February 16 through March 12. The presentation will feature musical performances by WBTT artists and interactive discussions with cast members and students about the historical and cultural contributions of African Americans. This year’s installment of Jazzlinks is one of the programs supported by a 2020 Gulf Coast Community Foundation Arts Appreciation Grant to WBTT. At press time, Jazzlinks is slated to perform for more than 1,500 students. The presentation will be via Zoom and interactive, incorporating video from a previous Jazzlinks production with added commentary from artists Syreeta S. Banks, Brian L. Boyd, Brentney Stephens and Donovan Whitney. The subject matter will focus on the Harlem Renaissance. WBTT founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs worked with staff members Travis Ray, Michael Mendez and Adrienne Pitts on the script and creating related program materials. Jacobs directs and Ray is the coordinator. Teachers can sign up for Jazzlinks through the “EdExplore” website (edexploresrq.com).

Plein Air Painting Class with Joseph Melancon will take place offsite at outdoor locations on Wednesdays from February 17 through March 24 from 1pm to 4pm. Join Joseph in painting outdoors at various locations around Sarasota. Among other things, you’ll paint trees, water and beaches as well as structures and boats with distant and close up views. Learn methods and techniques to produce exciting paintings. You can eliminate unnecessary detail while being more spontaneous and painterly! He will emphasize keeping everything simple including brushes, limited colors, and easels. Joseph will be available to give you each individual guidance as your paintings develop. You will see how you can alter the composition of the scene to create a better relationship of the parts. He encourages risk taking and boldness in painting. With opaque paints you can easily make changes if things don’t work out as planned. Each outing will start with a demonstration of how to choose a view and block in the scene. This will establish the basic composition of shapes and values without thinking in terms of final colors. He’ll show you how you can mix color and apply it in a loose bold style with various types of brushes. You can get to the next level using your own style. Joseph will supply maps for the various locations around town, all easy to get to. We’ll have big fun and stay as safe as possible by being outdoors, masking up and socially distancing.

Exploring Watercolor Class with Gail White on Fridays February 19 through March 26 from 9:30am to 12:30pm. This class is friendly and supportive, and offers guided instruction and demonstrations. The lessons include: design aspects of planning a composition, use of photo references and live setups, watercolor techniques and discussion of color usage and properties of various pigments. This is an online course. When you register (and are paid in full), a Zoom link will be emailed to you. If your teacher has additional handouts, those will also be emailed to you.

The Sarasota Concert Association (SCA) today announced “Musically Speaking,” a free, three-concert virtual series featuring preeminent classical musicians in unique performances, highlighted by informal conversations with the artists. World-acclaimed pianists Garrick Ohlsson and Kirill Gerstein launch the series with a duo piano performance and conversation on Thursday, February 25, at 7pm. Violinist Samantha Bennett and percussionist George Nickson will share their unique artistry on Thursday, March 11, at 7pm. The world-renowned chamber orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, concludes the series on Thursday, March 25, at 7pm. Conducting the conversations with the artists is Charles Turon, a musician, educator, and SCA board member. The series is free, but registration is required. Each link will be viewable for seven days.

James Gabbert, Art Uptown’s March solo artist, presents a series of lyrical, flowing, bronze sculptures that reinterpret the human figure and nearly defy gravity.  The sculptures’ sinuous forms and rich tones cut through space, inviting the viewer to explore every expression.  As the artist explains, “I strive to have each sculpture be beautiful from every angle.  As I see it, sculpture is really four-dimensional.  By walking around the form, the dimension of time transforms the piece with each new view.” James continues to ground his work in the examination of the human figure, which is relatable to everyone. However, his imagination moves the figure into complex visual and spatial situations, often connecting the forms with natural forces. The relationship and tension between the two, captured in bronze, provides a powerful aesthetic experience. James says, “I create my art to lift and enlighten the spirit, to touch the heart, to awaken the intellect. I intend for my art to be provocative, that is, to provoke the mind, heart or spirit to experience something new or rekindle something forgotten.” Explore James Gabbert’s bronze collection at Art Uptown, located at 1367 Main Street, open Monday through Friday, 11am to 5pm, Saturday, 11am to 3pm and Sunday, noon to 5pm.  Meet the artist during Saturday gallery hours on February 27 and March 6. Private appointments can be arranged by calling 914.955.5409. The gallery continues its commitment to visitor and staff safety by the use of masks, sanitizer, frequent cleaning and social distancing. Starting in March, we will be open from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays.

Brimming with pulsating rhythms, pure energy and melodic music, the National Dance Company of Ireland’s Rhythm of the Dance show has reached 50 countries with over seven million fans for over 20 years. Fans around the world are enjoying 2,000 years and more of dance, music, songs and culture from pre-Celtic times to modern day sounds, all compacted into a two-hour concert. It’s full of flailing feet and fiddles, futuristic dances, eye-catching lighting and costumes and sensational sound effects, and is now hailed as one of the top three Irish step dance shows in the world. Streaming on demand from Monday, March 1 through Wednesday, March 31. Tickets are $20.

Join the Sarasota Film Festival for a fun free family screening of Finding Nemo as part of its "Movies for Sarasota" program at Ken Thompson Park on Saturday, March 27 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. The screening will be outside, following Covid-safety procedures including social distancing. Please bring a blanket, chair or something to sit on.

Meet the original Broadway stars of "The Lion King." Your purchase includes access to view the Video On Demand from 12am PST on March 11 through 11:59pm PST on March 14. Featuring (from the Original Broadway Cast): Heather Headley (Nala), Max Casella (Timon), Tom Alan Robbins (Pumbaa), Geoff Hoyle (Zazu) plus Bradley Gibson (current Simba). The Broadway Cast Reunion Series gives audiences a chance to do what they may never have done before: visit “backstage” with the cast and hear personal, hilarious, unscripted stories and gossip – as the casts really let their hair down. Viewers can even ask questions via the chat feature.