SRQ DAILY Dec 12, 2025
Friday Weekend Edition
"I think that it is an invitation to engage on a deeper level than if these were small scale photographs."
What defines a perfect body? Is it a certain build or a specific body fat percentage? Is it the size of one’s waist, the angularity of one’s face or the brightness one's smile? There are “standards” of beauty that have been propagated upon society since the dawn of mankind, standards of which 99% of the population cannot meet, standards that serve no one except those that claim to fit within them.
This concept is explored in Sarasota Art Museum’s (SAM) exhibition Selina Roman: Abstract Corpulence, which debuted in August and is on view through March 2026. Featuring new works from Florida native Selina Roman, Abstract Corpulence uses Roman’s love of self-portraiture to dissect traditional notions of beauty, particularly in the female figure. “Selina works in photojournalism and fine art photography, and has been the lead photographer in different fashion campaigns,” says Virginia Shearer, Executive Director of SAM. “She noticed that the fashion industry is organized around the “perfect” body. Selena is tall, she is a plus-size person and it struck her that in her own work, she could be fully herself.”
In Abstract Corpulence, Roman staged images where she is dressed in brightly colored outfits, before creating self-portraiture of her body in different positions to create shapes. These portraits, blown-up to a large scale and printed on aluminum, are purposely deceptive—at first glance, it’s difficult to ascertain that the shapes are actually body parts. “In some of the images, she’s wearing a ballerina body suit, but you don’t know that when you first scan the images. You have to look very closely,” says Shearer. “Within the exhibit, she’s created an environment around her photography and hung the images in such a way that it feels as if we are immersed in them, that we are entering into her world.”
Roman’s decision to create large scale prints on aluminum as opposed to printing smaller photographs is also emblematic of the exhibition’s theme. “I think it’s an invitation to engage on a deeper level than if these were small-scale photographs,” says Shearer. “She’s overlaid the images on the walls to create a little more texture and chaos for us to figure out what’s really happening. She’s really exploring how we inhabit spaces.”
Selina Roman: Abstract Corpulence, August 31-March 29, 2026, Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 
Selina Roman, "XS12", 2021. Dye sublimation on aluminum. Provided photo.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall presents the ultimate theatrical tango experience straight from Argentina, Tango After Dark, coming to Sarasota on January 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Tango After Dark merges the intoxicating music of the great Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla with jaw-dropping choreography and breath-taking moves to reveal tango in its most authentic but sophisticated form. Tickets start at $36 and can be purchased at VanWezel.org, by calling 941-263-6799 or by visiting the Veteran Air Box Office at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
SPAACES is pleased to present Subterranean Voices, a five-week artist residency and exhibition by Sabrina Small that transforms the gallery into an immersive, hybrid space—part living studio, part evolving installation. Visitors are invited to engage with Small’s completed works and her active creative process, encountering an environment rich with personal objects, vinyl records, and works-in-progress. Rooted in themes of identity, transformation, and resistance to digital efficiency, Subterranean Voices explores the tension between outward persona and inner consciousness through hand-stitched and drawn works that celebrate slowness, tactility, and imperfection. Small’s symbolic figures—both monstrous and tender—serve as avatars for deeply personal narratives. This residency reflects SPAACES’ ongoing commitment to artist support, offering free residencies and exhibition opportunities that prioritize care, process, and artistic freedom.
After more than a decade of serving the Latino/Hispanic community with almost no full-time staff, CreArte Latino Cultural Center is taking a historic step toward long-term sustainability. Catalyzed by support from Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, the organization has launched “Strengthening Our Cultural Tapestry,” a multi-year initiative designed to build the internal structure, staffing, and operational foundation CreArte has never had the resources to establish—until now “For years we have poured our hearts into serving the community, often relying on volunteers and the sheer commitment of people who believed in this mission,” says Carolina Franco, co-founder and producing artistic director.
Lee Wetherington Homes, a top rated privately owned custom luxury home builder in Sarasota, is pleased to offer its Sand Dollar model home, located in Shellstone at Waterside, for sale, with a model lease-back opportunity. The Sand Dollar model is listed for $3,449,900 and features 3,289 square feet of living space, with three bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus a bonus room. The builder is offering a lease back opportunity of 18 to 24 months. “This unique opportunity will allow a buyer the advantage of locking in today’s early community pricing and availability for a future move-in,” said David Hunihan, Lee Wetherington Homes CEO.
Principals from Jebco Ventures and ORE Development, the development team behind The Edge Sarasota, gathered with buyers at the construction site located at the corner of Cocoanut Avenue and Fruitville Road. Together, they signed a concrete plinth that will be part of the building, marking the pouring of the top floor of this exciting condominium community. The Edge Sarasota, featuring ten stories with 27 meticulously designed residences and a rich array ofamenities, is on schedule for completion in fall 2026. “It’s always thrilling to witness a project come to life,” said James Bridges, owner of Jebco Ventures and the visionary behind this boutique development.
Program Three showcases The Sarasota Ballet in a dynamic blend of classical precision and expressive storytelling from two of ballet’s most celebrated choreographers. The evening opens with Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15, an audience favorite admired for its intricate partnering, elegant formations, and radiant musicality set to Mozart’s score. Originally created to honor the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, the ballet reflects Balanchine’s enduring admiration for the composer and highlights the purity and clarity of his choreographic mastery. Making its debut with The Sarasota Ballet, Mozartiana joins the program as a Company Premiere. Set to Tchaikovsky’s music yet inspired by Mozart, the work beautifully weaves the composers’ shared reverence into a serene and spiritually rich ballet shaped by Balanchine’s refined aesthetic. The evening concludes with Sir Frederick Ashton’s Jazz Calendar, a witty, vibrant, and colorful portrayal of the days of the week, brought to life with playful choreography and a lively 1960s jazz flair.
Photo Credit: The Sarasota Ballet in George Balanchine's Divertemento No. 15, Photo by Frank Atura
Pet photos with Santa and fee-waived adoptions are happening this weekend. Join us for two days of festive fun at Humane Society of Sarasota County. Friday, December 12: adoption Hours 10am-7pm; Holiday Open House, 4pm-7pm; pet Photos with Santa, 5pm-7pm. Saturday December 13: Adoption Hours, 10am-4pm; Holiday Open House, 11am-4pm; Pet Photos with Santa, 2pm-4pm.
This exhibition highlights contemporary Native design, craftwork, and art that employ the formal and aesthetic elements of abstraction as meaningful motifs and coded tools of Indigenous expression to communicate tribal cultures and histories, ancestral knowledge, and the lived experiences of the artists and their communities. Explored in a variety of media, including basket weaving, beadwork, collage, clay, textiles, photography, metalwork, and printmaking rooted in ancestral technologies, their work shares similar stylistic and social concerns, such as vibrant color, hard-edged geometries, curvilinear patterns, and bold mark-making, all infused with personal stories and those of their kin.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Hatch’s newly commissioned “plate painting,” Amalgam (2023), was created specifically for Sarasota Art Museum. Consisting of more than 450 earthenware plates hand-painted in white, blue, and gold luster, the abstract lines and shapes in Amalgam are drawn from a variety of historical ceramics from around the globe.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Enjoy live jazz weekly on Fridays with many of the area's best musicians and some visiting or touring artists. We present various genres of jazz; straight ahead jazz, music from the American Songbook, swing, dixieland, blues, bossa and cabaret jazz.
Unitarian Universalists of SRQ, 3975 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota
Known for his multidisciplinary approach and dynamic visual language, Rice's work explores the intersection of identity, culture, and materiality through a diverse range of media including painting, sculpture, and mixed media installation. Drawing upon personal narrative, historical references, and formal experimentation, Rice invites viewers into layered compositions that challenge perception while offering space for reflection and discovery. This exhibition highlights Rice’s commitment to both conceptual depth and technical rigor, showcasing new and recent works that reflect his evolving practice as both artist and educator.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
Rent takes us to the heart of New York City’s bohemian underground, where artists, outcasts, and lovers fight for survival, self-expression, and the right to live without fear.
The Sarasota Players, 3501 S Tamiami Trl Suite 1130, Sarasota, FL 34239
In this heartwarming tale, a man visits a tailor to have his suit pants let out after realizing he’s gained some weight since he last wore them. What starts as a simple alteration turns into a transformative journey. Through their deepening conversations both their lives are altered. A Tailor Near Me is a story of self-discovery, friendship, and the magic of a perfectly tailored suit.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Now in its 10th year, this beloved event, presented jointly with First Presbyterian Church Choir & The Lubben Brothers Band, celebrates the season with the sounds of the Celtic nations. The concert features a 70-voice choir, piper Kevin Wiegand, and the acclaimed folk band, The Lubben Brothers.
First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak Street, Sarasota FL 34237
2nd Fridays Creative Happy Hour brings the party to the gallery and transforms ArtCenter Sarasota into a vibrant hub of creativity, conversation, and connection. These lively monthly gatherings feature rotating themes, interactive art activities, live music, dance, film, and collaborations with local artists and arts organizations. It's a fresh take on the classic art salon, welcoming all ages to mix, mingle, make, and experience art in motion.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
We are thrilled to partner with Southside Elementary School to bring you an afternoon filled with festive fun. Enjoy a bounce house, delicious hot cocoa, exciting giveaways, and raffles, plus a special visit from Santa himself! Bring the whole family for an unforgettable evening of holiday cheer and community spirit. Let's celebrate the season together and make cherished memories! Don’t miss out on this fun-filled event!
Gecko's Grill & Pub, 1900 Hillview St, Sarasota, FL 34239
Celebrate over 75 years of Sarasota circus tradition with the beloved Sailor Circus Holiday Show. It’s a festive holiday showcase of local student performers (ages 6 - 18), featuring everything from heart-stopping hand balancing to the soaring thrills of the flying trapeze.
Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota, FL 34239
The season’s dramatic offering is Paradise Blue, written by renowned American playwright and actress, Dominique Morisseau. In a strip of Detroit known as Paradise Valley, a man named Blue struggles to keep his father’s business, Paradise Club, afloat during a push towards gentrification. The city wants to kick African-Americans in the community of Black Bottom out by buying properties up and down the strip. Blue, who is haunted by the memory of his father, teeters on the edge of madness as he decides whether selling the club is selling his soul. The people who occupy Paradise Club begin to turn on each other and change as the city changes around them. Morisseau illuminates the effects of gentrification and the erasure of Black history on the African-American community with her first play.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
These concerts not only provide the congregation opportunities to enjoy fine music, but also an opportunity for others in the community to visit and appreciate the wonderful place that is St. Mark’s Church.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 508 Riviera St, Venice, FL 34285
Recognized as the U.K.’s most in-demand orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic, led by Music Director Vasily Petrenko, performs Sibelius’ poignant and dramatic Symphony No. 2. British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor has an acclaimed international career and performs regularly with the great orchestras of Europe and the U.S.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Once Upon a Mattress flips the classic fairy tale upside down in this hilarious, high-energy musical that’s bursting with charm, cleverness, and contagious fun for all ages. With toe-tapping tunes, outrageous characters, and non-stop laughs, this is a royal romp that will have you grinning from start to finish.
Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
Tradition Reimagined brings together a diverse group of Illustration Department faculty whose practices are rooted in traditional painting techniques while actively challenging and expanding their boundaries. This group exhibition celebrates the enduring power of representational art while highlighting each artist’s unique approach to storytelling, process and visual interpretation.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
He is one of the most influential entertainers in history. Now, Michael Jackson’s unparalleled artistry comes to Sarasota in MJ, the multiple Tony Award-winning musical about the creation of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. Created by Tony Award-winning Director and Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the iconic moves and music to explore his creative process.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
This smart, dark revenge comedy by Lauren Gunderson takes a Shakespearean stage direction and runs with it. Hilarious, poignant, and wickedly empowering, the play follows a woman taking control of her story, with duct tape, a frozen steak, and a wild plan.
FSU/Asolo Conservatory, 5555 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
The Sarasota Farmers Market Vendors Incorporated (“SFMV”) has been established as a not for-profit organization under laws of the State of Florida, continuing the 40+ year tradition of enhancing and improving the quality of life in Sarasota. Our charitable mission is to create a social opportunity for residents and visitors to gather and interact, to bring foot traffic to downtown Sarasota sustaining the economic viability of the entire downtown area, and to provide a venue for other not-for-profit organizations benefiting Sarasota.
Sarasota Farmer's Market, N Lemon Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
SRQ DAILY is a daily e-newsletter produced by SRQ MEDIA. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. 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. SRQ DAILY includes content excerpted from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Robinson Valverde at 941-365-7702 x703 or via email |
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe
