This week at the Art Ovation Hotel, two local artists, Peg Green and Beck Lane, have joined forces to create a wholly original and distinct series of works. Green and Lane have spent the week in the lobby of Art Ovation as co-artists in residence—Green works as a fabric artist, specializing in fabric tapestries or “Art Quilts”, while Lane is an artist and painter, most currently focusing on portraiture of marginalized subjects.

Although both Green and Lane are working on their own individual projects, they are also working on what they call “collaborative portraits”. The collaborative portraits, in which Lane’s paintings on canvas are bordered by Green’s fabric art, evolved from a series Lane has worked on based upon the photographs of William Bullard, a 19th century photographer who took portraits of African-Americans and Native Americans in the Beaver Brook community of Worcester, Massachusetts. In the collaborative portrait of Mr. Thomas Dillon, for example, quick brush strokes of oil atop acrylic and spray paint bring out tones of blue, green and yellow, all of which are echoed in the surrounding fabric. “When I first asked her if she would be interested in collaborating, I only had two requests: please don’t use a sewing machine and please don’t finish the edges,” says Lane. “I wanted to keep the work as raw as possible and she’s done so perfectly. She’s enhanced my work and pulled out colors I never even knew were there.”

“It’s become a collaborative piece,” adds Green. “It’s no longer my work or their work, it’s a piece in and of itself.”

Portraiture is at the heart of both Green and Lane’s individual work as well, although they approach the medium in different ways. Lane—who wears a multitude of hats and also works as Urbanite Theatre’s full-time artist—creates massive portraits, often split into multiple canvases, of marginalized figures. It’s critical to Lane as well to know who the subjects are, where they come from and their personal histories.

Green, on the other hand, often creates impressionistic portraits in which the subjects are more like characters that speak to her over the course of their creation. Critical to both artists, however, is the thread of social justice that runs through their individual and collaborative works. “I’ve been involved in social justice for most of my life,” says Green. “I was watching and participating in all of the emerging development in Newtown and felt the need to express that in my quilting.”

Closing Reception August 22, 5-7pm, Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N Palm Ave., Sarasota, 34236 

Portrait of Mr. Thomas Dillon by Beck Lane and Peg Green. Provided photo.

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Some of classical music’s best young minds are coming to Sarasota. Earlier this month, the Perlman Music Program Suncoast announced that it will be moving its Winter Residency program to downtown Sarasota. The PMP Winter Residency, which is celebrating its 22nd year this winter, was previously held at the USF-Manatee Sarasota Campus. While venues are still being determined, PMP confirmed that some of the rehearsals will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota.

The Perlman Music Program, founded in 1994 by violinist Toby Perlman, wife of violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, is a haven for string-instrument prodigies from around the world. Students, aged 12-18, audition for a spot in the highly competitive 7-week summer music camp in New York’s Shelter Island—after which they are invited to travel to Sarasota, for the PMP Winter Residency. “The program was established to be a holistic, non-competitive approach to learning for these very gifted string music students from all over the world,” says Lisa Berger, Executive Director of PMP Suncoast. “They come here and work very hard, but there’s no competition—nobody is featured over anybody else. We provide them with good, healthy food and lots of recreational activities as well. It’s like a camp, but for extremely dedicated musicians.”

From December 30, 2025 to January 10, 2026, roughly 28 students will descend on Sarasota for the Winter Residency. During the residency students will engage in individual and group lessons, orchestra rehearsals, chorus rehearsals and debut works in progress, all in preparation for the PMP Celebration Concert, held at the Sarasota Opera House on January 9. These rehearsals are not just for the students—they are free for the public to attend and enjoy top-notch classical orchestral and chamber music.

“The orchestra rehearsals are conducted by Mr. Perlman, who wears a microphone, so you get to hear what he’s saying to the kids and he addresses the audience as well. The WIPS or works in progress are solo recitals—a student string instrumentalist is accompanied by a pianist and they get to try out whatever it is they are working on, be it an audition for a college or a competition, in front of a live audience,” says Berger. “Audiences get to know a lot of the students because they come back year after year, which is even more exciting because then they see them grow up and become professional musicians.”

PMP Winter Residency, Downtown Sarasota, December 30, 2025-January 10, 2026 

The Winter Residency Celebration Concert. Provided photo.

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The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club invites the public to attend its discussion about the future of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on September 4, 11:30 a.m., at Michael’s On East, 1212 East Avenue South in Sarasota. This conversation features Dave Bullock, Mollie Cardamone, Morris “Marty” Hylton III, and Drayton Saunders. “What’s Next for the Purple Lady by the Bay?” panelists include Dave Bullock, interim city manager; Mollie Cardamone, former city commissioner and mayor; Morris “Marty” Hylton III, president of Architecture Sarasota and member of the Purple Ribbon Committee; and Drayton Saunders, president of Michael Saunders & Company and co-chair of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation.  

For students of all ages seeking new learning experiences, Venice Theatre's fall semester offers classes in acting, singing, dancing, audition preparation, improvisation, technical theatre, and writing. Classes take place at Venice Theatre's campus located in downtown Venice at 140 Tampa Ave. W. and in Wellen Park at Solis Hall, 19745 Wellen Pk Blvd., Venice, FL 34293.

Families and adults who are curious about classes are encouraged to sign up for one of two free "Play With Us" events on Sept. 6, 2025 to get to know instructors, try out hands-on theatre games, and tour the theatre. More than 30 different classes – including daytime opportunities for homeschooling families – are available for children, teens and adults. Classes typically run four to eight weeks with some shorter-term sessions. 

Sarasota Opera has been awarded a $60,000 Empowering Arts Grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The grant, made possible through the Zoe Anderson Charitable Fund and the Venice Endowment Fund, will support Sarasota Opera’s mission-driven programming and operations during the 2025–2026 season. Sarasota Opera will utilize this grant to strengthen its ability to present world-class opera performances and produce educational and outreach programs that enrich the cultural fabric of Sarasota and the surrounding region.