A chronology of Sarasota’s artistic history is now available for the public to see in downtown Sarasota. On January 16, Michael Saunders & Company unveiled a new public art installation, A Legacy in the Making: Sarasota’s Visual Arts History 1945-65. A Legacy is a 200-foot mural wall that can be seen through the windows of Saunders & Company’s downtown headquarters on the corner of Orange Avenue and Main Street, depicting a nearly complete history of the visual arts in Sarasota.

Starting with the arrival of John Ringling in 1911, the mural uses historical images and mixed media to create an easily digestible artistic timeline. “It’s a collage of historical images from 1945 to ‘65 and then we also added on three LED panel screens,” says Tim Jaeger, director of the Ringling College Galleries, who helped create the mural wall. “On one panel is a documentary with Michael Saunders on the significance of what we’re doing with this initiative. On the second is a collection of advertisements that ran in the Sarasota Arts Review from 1950 to ‘59 that features a lot of the original Sarasota artist colony artists, and the third panel features a collection of additional artworks—we wanted a digital component to the mural that we could continually update.”

The mural wall goes hand in hand with the Ringling College Galleries exhibition Origins: Sarasota Artist Colony, which delves into the wave of artists that flooded Sarasota after the second world war, creating what was then known as the Sarasota artist colony. It was this movement that helped create the basis for the artistic community that Sarasota has today—with the creation of the mural wall, which is accompanied by a website, Jaeger hopes to bridge the physical exhibition showcasing artworks of that era at Ringling College with a street-level experience for the public.

“We wanted to hit a sort of trifecta with this. You have a large-scale mural wall in a high-traffic area with moving images and bright colors that is easily digestible. The second part is to make it mobile, creating a website that we’ll continually contribute to as more history is brought to our attention, and the third is the exhibition, with the actual artworks and will contain docent tours and all kinds of engaging experiences,” says Jaeger.

For Jaeger, this three part initiative is about more than just the preservation and celebration of the visual arts history in Sarasota. From 1945-65, Sarasota’s artistic community flourished because of an intense spirit of collaboration. “The larger message underneath this is that we all need to work together and that when we understand and listen and work alongside each other, good things happen,” says Jaeger. “Sustainability happens and Sarasota becomes a healthier place for all of us in general.”

A Legacy in the Making, Michael Saunders & Company Downtown Office, 1605 Main St., #101, Sarasota. 

From left to right: Drayton Saunders, Susan McLeod, Michael Saunders, Tim Jaeger, Andrew Ford. Provided photo.

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There is science all around us. Especially in the circus. From January 14-16, the Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) presented the Marvelous, Miraculous, Circus Machine, a special circus performance at the Sailor Circus Arena. The show, which was attended by over 2,000 fifth-grade students from Sarasota and Manatee County schools, was the culmination of CAC’s educational outreach program of the same name that incorporates STEAM-learning (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) into the fifth-grade curriculum.

“In the fifth-grade, students in Florida study Newton’s Laws which include some really tough concepts,” says Jennifer Mitchell, CEO and president of the CAC. “The physics of gravity, motion and inertia can be difficult to grasp, so we use the circus arts as a tool to teach. What the kids are seeing today, after working in the classroom on small Rube Goldberg machines and other projects that they did with our teaching artists, is the culmination of all of these concepts brought to life.”

At the Marvelous, Miraculous, Circus Machine, a combination of Rube Goldberg-inspired contraptions and circus performers brought those concepts to life. On the Chinese pole, for instance, the performer’s balance illustrates friction and gravity, or while jumping on the trampoline, performers’ demonstrated how acceleration leads to larger leaps. Students from CAC’s Sailor Circus program displayed kinetic energy while jumping rope and performing acrobatics. An illusion cube juggler implemented elements of geometry into his act and a performance on the ever-impressive aerial silks demonstrated laws of gravity and inertia.

“Part of what we like to do is peer to peer inspiration. While a lot of these kids are learning science in the classroom, they’re not getting exposed to the arts. This is an opportunity for us to do all of it,” says Mitchell. “The students can hopefully take inspiration from the performers as some of them are also students in Sarasota and Manatee County schools while learning about these scientific concepts that are everywhere in the circus.”

In both the curriculum and the show, an emphasis is placed on collaboration. “Everything in the circus is about teamwork. We can’t put on a show without a team of performers,” says Mitchell. “We mimic the life of the circus and use it as a way to teach in the classroom.” 

Photo by Wes Roberts.

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Join us on February 10th at the Manatee Performing Arts Center for an extraordinary evening where visual art, live music, and culture come together in celebration. Begin your creative experience at the 2026 Art Innovation Zone Exhibition presented by Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative and sponsored by John S. and James L. Knight Foundation A time for creative conversation, moments shared by the artists presenting thoughtful dialogue, storytelling in art, and life-shaping creativity and identity. Let’s grow together! Catered Reception: 4:15 to 6:15pm. Delicious CHAZ51 hors D'oeuvres provided along with a cash bar. Take your seat for Motown Revue featuring The Soul Sensations Show times 2:00 and 7:00. Whether you come for the art, the music, or both-you’ll leave enriched and inspired in the arts of Black culture. 

Sarasota Opera will open its 2026 Winter Festival with Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème on Saturday, February 14 at the Sarasota Opera House. As the company enters its 67th season, it embarks on a momentous year celebrating the Opera House’s centennial and marking the final season of long-serving artistic director and principal conductor Victor DeRenzi.

Sarasota Opera, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, 941-366-8450 , SarasotaOpera.org 

Each year, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) recognizes an individual or couple who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership through stewardship, service, or philanthropic support. This year, FST is proud to present the 33rd Annual Spelman Award to Carol Williams, in recognition of her thoughtful support and lasting impact on the Write-A-Play program, Stage III, and McGillicuddy Arts Plaza. Carol will be honored publicly on March 2 at FST’s annual fundraiser, The Shindig: Dare to Imagine! This year’s Shindig will again be chaired by Anita DeVine, a longtime FST subscriber and Co-Producer. Proceeds from the event will support the construction of the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza, which will provide a new Mainstage Theatre, two Cabaret Theatres, 57 artist residences, and 127 secure parking spots for patrons, staff, and artists.  To reserve tickets or become a sponsor, contact Kristin Hartnett, Development Associate, at khartnett@floridastudiotheatre.org or by calling (941) 366-9017 ext. 316. 

The Sarasota Players invite the community to step into a night of enchantment, artistry, and transformation at Play On: A Celebration of Theatre, Community, and Our New Home in Payne Park, taking place February 7 at 6 p.m. at the Payne Park Auditorium (2100 Laurel St, Sarasota) . For tickets and more information, visit https://theplayers.org/play-on/.  

Circus magic reaches new heights as the Circus Arts Conservatory announces "Circus Sarasota® EPIC," a jaw-dropping assembly of some of the planet's most extraordinary performers, including record-shattering daredevils and beloved "America's Got Talent"  (AGT) stars, coming together for just 23 days. This annual one-of-a-kind production of circus artistry arrives Saturday, February 14, and runs through Sunday, March 8, 2026, under the iconic Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park. This family-friendly show is 50% off for the opening weekend, courtesy of ABC7. Tickets are available at CircusArts.org or by calling 941-355-9805. 

In just one month, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will glow with candlelight as Il Divo returns to Sarasota for an unforgettable evening on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 7 p.m. Il Divo by Candlelight celebrates more than two decades of music, artistry, and global acclaim, offering audiences a rare chance to experience the quartet’s signature sound in an intimate and visually stunning setting. Tickets are currently on sale.For more than 20 years, Il Divo has embodied the power of music, brotherhood, and artistic evolution. Since their debut in 2004, the iconic quartet, formed today with —Urs Bühler (tenor, Switzerland), Sébastien Izambard (tenor, France), David Miller (tenor, USA), and Steven LaBrie (baritone, USA)—have redefined classical crossover, captivating audiences worldwide with their breathtaking vocals and electrifying performances. To learn more about the Van Wezel, visit VanWezel.org. 

Creative Liberties continues “Reflected Currents,” a collaborative residency and exhibition by artists Sandra Wix and Gary LaParl, on view through February at Creative Liberties at ARCOS, 340 Central Ave., Sarasota. Blending Wix’s luminous undersea abstraction with LaParl’s emotive figurative narratives, the exhibition explores the shared rhythms of water and human emotion. An open house and new work review is Saturday, February 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Key Chorale’s 2026 Masterworks concert ignites the stage on February 7 with Felix Mendelssohn’s awe-inspiring oratorio, “Elijah” — a towering choral masterpiece that brings to life the most dramatic moments of the Old Testament. Few works in classical music offer the excitement of opera, the thrill of the symphony, the power of the chorus and glorious virtuosic solos. Under the baton of Maestro Joseph Caulkins, this epic performance will feature baritone Jamal Sarikoki in the title role, recounting a man’s unwavering devotion, persecution, and ascension in one of the greatest oratorios ever written. Joining him will be an extraordinary cast of soloists: tenor David Tayloe, mezzo-soprano Olivia Vote, soprano Jessica Beebe, and 15-year-old vocal soloist Cora Rohrs, performing alongside the Key Chorale Orchestra and a chorus of more than 100 musicians.

Saturday, February 7, 4pm, Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota. Tickets are $45. For tickets, go to keychorale.org or call the box office at 941-552-8768. Students 18 and under are free and college students are $10.

 The Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO), in collaboration with the Philadelphia-based Greenfield Foundation, has announced visual artist Charisse Pearlina Weston as the winner of the 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize (HGP). Her recent exhibits include group and solo presentations at the Whitney Museum of American Art, MOMA PS1, SITE Santa Fe and the Queens Museum, among other venues. Weston was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship from the Guggenheim Foundation in 2025. For more information about the Hermitage, the Hermitage Greenfield Prize, and upcoming Hermitage programs, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

CreArte Latino Cultural Center announces the promotion of Cinthia Peña to the position of full-time managing director. Peña has been part of the organization since 2018, beginning as a volunteer contributing marketing expertise. She was appointed part-time director of marketing in 2022 and now assumes expanded responsibility as a full-time member of the leadership team. This transition is supported by a recent Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation grant awarded through CreArte Latino’s multi-year “Strengthening Our Cultural Tapestry” initiative, designed to build long-term staffing, internal systems, and organizational infrastructure. 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design is pleased to present "Maria A. Guzmán Capron: Penumbra," running April 19-September 27, 2026. Through large-scale figurative textiles, Capron explores the complexities of identity, asking viewers to consider the way their own identities have been stitched together over time—beautiful, ever-evolving collages of ancestry, culture, and life experiences. More at SarasotaArtMuseum.org.