Guests gather at a previous 10x10 event. Provided photo.

Sarasota, from its very beginnings as a circus city, has always been a place where creativity has blossomed. From the acrobats of the Ringling Bros. Circus to the painters of the post-World War II Artist Colony to the innovative leaders of the Sarasota School of Architecture, the area is home to forward thinkers. That legacy of creativity was on full display on January 22, when Sarasota Art Museum hosted the most recent 10x10 event, in which leaders and creative minds within the community take five minutes to present 10 images of their work and inspiration. The slides change every 30 seconds, keeping the presentations brief, but impactful. The 10x10 series, initially organized by Michael Halflants of Halflants + Pichette Architects, occurs every four months and has been in production since 2009.

The most recent lineup was diverse and included the city of Sarasota’s Public Art Administrator Ciera Coleman, USF Architecture Director Ron Dulaney, software engineer Steven Harris, communications director Kathleen Murray, creative director and artist Lindelwa Ntshakla, Ringling College distinguished faculty member Anthony Rice, Through Women’s Eyes president E. Scott Osborne, designer/builder Eric Schaefer and Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith.

Ntshakla, an interdisciplinary artist whose work spans from creative direction to photography and writing, is currently completing his BA at Ringling College of Art and Design, and spoke on the power of collaborative storytelling. Most recently, Ntshakla was the creative director of Ringling College’s Genesis Fashion Show, an award-winning show that employs the efforts of students from all 13 majors. “This year alone, 116 students are collaborating across creative direction, production, media, set design and talent management,” says Ntshakla. “Genesis is not just a show, it's a living ecosystem built on trust, teamwork and a shared vision. This year's story explores the journey through life itself. The show examines the tension between internal struggles, identity and purpose and as well as external pressures brought by societal roles and expectations.”

Coleman spoke on some of the projects that have been featured in Sarasota’s Public Art Plan 2030 and how honoring Sarasota’s cultural legacy is central to the Plan. Poly, a 20-foot-tall sculpture by husband and wife team Hou de Sosa, for instance, was installed this month at the U.S. 41 and 14th Street roundabout. “Public art is personal,” says Coleman. “It’s personal to the artists who create it, to the individuals and communities that experience it and the city that stewards it. Public art is more than installations or objects, it carries stories, memories and connections from one generation to the next.”

Guests gather at a previous 10x10 event. Provided photo.

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