SRQ DAILY Apr 10, 2026
Friday Weekend Edition
"We know that we need a place for our artists to be cared for."
Oftentimes, it can be difficult for a city or community of any size to find something to hang its hat on. An event, a presentation or a gathering that says, “this is who we are”. Tuesday’s 10 x 10 series, held at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, was just that. Hundreds of audience members filed into the event center to hear from the various voices of Sarasota. The series, initially organized by Michael Halflants of Halflants + Pichette Architects, has been in production since 2009.
The premise is simple—10 leaders and creative minds of the community each have five minutes to present 10 slides of their work, be it a recent project or past inspiration. The slides change every 30 seconds, keeping the presentations brief, yet meaningful. This event’s lineup leaned heavily towards those working in architecture and art circles, yet still managed to be diverse.
The speakers were architectural associate Taylor Brunsvold, executive director of Art Center Sarasota Katherine Ceaser, cyclist Emmanuel Charron, owner of Sarasota Real Estate Auction Andrew Ford, CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County Brian Hersh, CEO of Architecture Sarasota Marty Hylton, project designer Edwin Martinez, co-president of the Phillippi Crest Club Ted Ritter, president and CEO of Selby Gardens Jennifer Rominiecki and mount maker Casey Schelhorn.
Charron, who is French, moved to Sarasota from Switzerland over a decade ago. A former client of Halflants, Charron quickly became swept up in the area’s cycling scene. “When people think of cycling in Sarasota, they think of the Legacy Trail, which is great,” says Charron. “But there is so much more than the Legacy Trail. This area is astounding for cycling.”
Hersh spoke on Sarasota’s legacy within the arts and of the Arts and Cultural Alliance’s plans to build affordable housing for artists and employees of arts organizations in a development named Artscape. “We know that we need a place for our artists to be cared for,” says Hersh. “We know that we need to care for the artists that have made this the community that we care about so deeply.” 
Audience members gather at the latest 10 x 10 event at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Photo by Dylan Campbell.
A uniquely local documentary is premiering this week at the Sarasota Film Festival. Fish Fry & Fellowship, directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Paul Ratner and written by Durand Adams, a former circuit judge and documentary filmmaker, the documentary shines a spotlight on a local fish fry at St. Andrews AME Church in Palmetto.
“We’ve been working on this film for over four years,” says Ratner. “Our partners in production, Charles Williams—a current judge—and Durand Adams are also documentary filmmakers who attended these fish fries and came to us with the idea to do a film about it. This film tells the story of this particular fish fry in Palmetto, but also of all fish fries in the South and their importance to the community.”
Both Ratner and his wife, Petra, a veteran in international film production, worked together to bring Fish Fry to life. In the South, fish fries hold a place of historical significance as a way for Black communities to gather during segregation. “Blacks were largely not allowed in white restaurants, so these Friday fish fries were the only chance for the community to get together and have fun,” says Ratner. “In our film, we have a lot of folks who were or are prominent in Manatee County. In particular, we followed the legendary football coach Eddie Shannon, who recently passed away, and former school principal Barbara Harvey, who shared a lot of her memories.”
Throughout filming, the Ratners discovered another element of the story—a nearby historical Black cemetery, in which the community worked together to identify unmarked graves. “It’s a cemetery where a lot of people connected to the fish fry are buried. Two ladies at the fish fry started a project to identify all the graves, over 700 of them, and created a map and a type of search engine for it,” says Ratner.
As for the fish itself? Ratner could attest that it indeed was tasty. “The fish is very good and the company is even better,” he says.
Fish Fry & Fellowship, April 11, 2pm at Sanier Pavilion of New College of Florida, 5313 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota.
Provided photo.
Back and better than ever, don’t miss the iconic Derby and Dressage Dinner Party at TerraNova Equestrian Center. Experience the elegance of Olympic dressage followed by a lively Kentucky Derby viewing celebration. Enjoy pavilion seating for live international dressage competition, then settle in for one of the best Derby viewing experiences around. Savor a Bluegrass-inspired dinner menu, an open beer and wine bar, spirits for purchase, and complimentary mint julep cocktails and mocktails.Dress to impress—Derby hats, bold ties, and classic style encouraged—for an unforgettable evening in the heart of horse country.
Pricing:
Single: $125
Table of 2: $250
Table of 4: $500
Table of 6: $750
Fast Facts:
Pavilion opens at 4 PM
Derby post time between 6–7 PM ET
Menu includes gluten-free and vegan options
A new exhibition of recent paintings by Susan McLeod, “Patience and Peace,” offers an intimate look at portraiture, memory and emotional resonance. On view through May 2 at the Andrew Ford Fine Art Gallery in downtown Sarasota, the exhibition features approximately 30 works. The paintings are primarily oil, with select acrylic and drawing pieces spanning portraiture, landscape and still life. Rooted in classical technique, the work reflects a contemporary, deeply personal sensibility shaped by decades of observation and experience.
Burns Gallery on Central invites the community to experience "Journeys of Light" on Sunday, April 12, from 1–4 p.m. The luminous exhibition at 1348 Central Avenue features the works of Nina K and Tammy Keller. Guests are invited to join the artists over a glass of wine and engage in conversation about their process, inspiration and the narratives behind their work. Follow @burnsgalleryoncentral on Instagram and Facebook or visit burnsgalleryoncentral.com.
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) has announced the winners of its 2026 Young Playwrights Festival (YPF), recognizing the creativity and courage of student playwrights from across Florida and around the world. Selected from over 5,000 playwrights during the 2025-2026 school year, the winning plays are now being brought to life onstage in FST’s production of The Pirate Ship and the Sea Monster & Other Winning Plays.
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota is pleased to announce Katherine Baloff has joined its team as director of competitions & community experiences. Baloff has held numerous arts administration positions, served as personnel manager of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, interned as student services coordinator at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival & School in Colorado, and helped launch the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition in its inaugural year as assistant to their executive director. She is passionate about arts education and in addition to serving as adjunct professor of chamber music at New College of Florida and being a faculty member of the Sarasota Music Conservatory, she founded the Katherine B. Violin Academy where she teaches a full studio of private violin students. For more information about Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.
Selby Gardens research botanist, John L. Clark, recently published three new plant species of tropical air plants in the genus Glossoloma (Gesneriaceae) discovered in Ecuador’s Cerro Candelaria Reserve. During an exploratory research expedition by Clark in the in the Pastaza Valley on the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes, three new species were discovered along a single trail in one day, standing as living proof that collaborative conservation and local stewardship work. All three species are named in honor of three stakeholders from diverse backgrounds who collaborated to conserve one of the last remnants of Andean forests in the Pastaza Valley. The new species names commemorate their contributions to protecting these rapidly disappearing forests. The new species are Glossoloma jostii, G. puroanum , and G. recaldeorum. The species were published in the peer-reviewed journal PhytoKeys.
Join us at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater for “Repetition, Enfoldment, Concealment:" A Conversation on Art and Practice with 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Winner Charisse Pearlina Weston and 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize juror Larry Ossei-Mensah. Winner of the 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize in Visual Art, Charisse Pearlina Weston is a conceptual artist and writer whose work contends with the dynamic interplay of violence and intimacy through repetition, enfoldment, and concealment. Weston will spend this hour in conversation with 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize juror Larry Ossei-Mensah, independent curator and founder of ARTNOIR.
Saturdays, 1pm. This tour led by circus historian Bob Collins explores the fascinating legacy of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Make your Saturday mornings even more fun! Check out the Backyard Science program for elementary-aged learners at The Bishop’s incredible indoor Mosaic Backyard Universe. This wildly popular learning program offers a wide range of activities, observations, and crafts that are sure to spark curiosity and ignite learning.
Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th Street West Bradenton FL 34205
Thursdays, 10am. Discover with our expert guide, Kendra Cross, why Sarasota is the only place in the world that the Amish and Mennonite communities come to vacation en masse. In Pinecraft, enjoy the tour stops at Alma Sue’s Quilt Shop, The Carlisle Inn and Der Dutchman Amish Kitchen Cooking Restaurant for shopping and a pie shooter sample of their delicious pie!
Stelliferous is your monthly guide to the night skies and the latest news from the world of astronomy. You can enjoy our upgraded Planetarium system and feel like an astronaut as you experience our 50-foot dome!
Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W, Bradenton
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
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.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Join us for a weekly guided tour of the night sky in our state-of-the-art planetarium. As Earth moves around the sun, different objects come into view. We'll not only discuss what you can see this season, we'll fly you there!
Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W, Bradenton
Award-winning Hermitage Fellows offer a unique glimpse into their creative process, sharing original works in process with our Gulf Coast audiences. These free hour-long programs take the shape of musical performances, playreadings, concerts, visual art demonstrations, panel discussions, master classes, exhibitions, open studios,and more. The presentations are often works in process, giving Hermitage audiences a look into the creative process before these works go on to leading theaters, concert halls, and museums around the world.
Hermitage Artist Retreat, 6660 Manasota Key Rd, Englewood, FL 34223
Art immersion class for children ages 6-18. Small classes with fine arts materials. Visit linarinconart.com for more information and to register.
Creative Liberties Artist Studios, Gallery & Creative Academy, 927 N Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237
The summer 2026 exhibition at Selby Gardens will celebrate the creative collaboration between two legendary figures and longtime friends, photographer Lynn Goldsmith and singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who is Selby Gardens’ artist in residence. The exhibition will feature Goldsmith’s photographs of Smith, past and present, in the Museum of Botany & the Arts. The images will offer an intimate portrait of an iconic artist over the course of her remarkable career.
Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Juana Romani (1867–1924) was one of the most fascinating and successful painters in late-nineteenth-century Paris. Born in Italy, Juana—whose given name was Giovanna Carlesimo—moved to Paris with her mother and stepfather at the age of ten. She took up painting, studying under the well-known painters Jean-Jacques Henner (1829–1905) and Ferdinand Roybet (1840–1920). Romani quickly earned both critical praise and significant fame for her deftly painted, richly colorful depictions of strong, sensual women adorned in lavish textiles.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Enjoy music, theater, literature, dance, and more as part of the Hermitage Sunsets at Selby Gardens series. Each hour-long program features selections of work as well as candid and engaging conversations with the world-class artists who come to the Hermitage to create art in an inspirational environment.
Selby Gardens
Thursdays and Saturdays, 7:30pm. Step right up to solve the murder of Dahlia the Queen of the High Wire on this interactive murder mystery who-dunnit.
Wednesdays, 10am. Go back in time to the 1920’s in Sarasota to hear from three leading ladies (Bertha Palmer, Marie Selby and Mable Ringling) as portrayed by Kathryn Chesley, who shaped Sarasota into a cultural icon.
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
Sundays, 1pm. Join psychic and tarot reader, Deni Dreazen on a metaphysical exploration trolley tour of Sarasota. Visit Pixie Dust gift shop, experience a sound bath at the Crocker Memorial Church with sound healer, Kaylene McCaw, and then walk the labyrinth.
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
This new speaker series, Art, Actually, explores how art intersects with identity, community, and change through conversations with artists, curators, and cultural leaders.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
The monthly Saturday Night Sketch Club offers chill, creative vibes with costumed models or themed still lifes, and refreshments. Come solo or bring a friend. No experience needed.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Wednesdays, 10:30am. Explore Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern (the Sarasota School of Architecture) and Mediterranean Revival Architecture buildings, homes and structures of Sarasota on this 90-minute mainland tour.
Mondays, 1pm. Join Jerome Chesley as you explore more than 60 pieces of public art located in downtown and St. Armands.
Mayer explores the impact of technology on the human body through this interactive sculpture series. Slumpies invites viewers to sit and slump on these sculptures, much like furniture, and find a place of comfort while using their technological devices.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Step into the spotlight with One Hit Wonders, a toe-tapping celebration of those unforgettable songs that lit up the charts and became part of our lives. From the epic storytelling of “American Pie” to the carefree whistle of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” this show celebrates the artists who gave us a single great hit.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Crabapalooza is back at Anna Maria Oyster Bar, arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day and bringing a seasonal celebration of crab to the table. While oysters may be for lovers, crab is for romantics, and this limited-time menu is designed for sharing, cracking, and savoring together. The Crabapalooza lineup features three signature highlights, including a show-stopping Seafood Tower, a drool-worthy Seafood Boil, and a Maryland-style Crabcake Salad. Each dish is crafted to spotlight premium ingredients, generous portions, and the kind of hands-on dining that turns a meal into a memorable night out. To round out the experience, Crabapalooza also introduces a curated lineup of featured drinks, including the Mai Oh Mai Tai, Paloma, and Passionfruit Aperol Spritz, along with a featured wine, Maddalena Chardonnay, selected to pair beautifully with the bold, coastal flavors of the menu.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar
Calder’s work is a great source of interest to the team at Selby Gardens. His fascination with energy and motion, coupled with his exploration of suspension and equilibrium, provides creative inspiration for the dynamic display of epiphytes, or air plants. Selby Gardens is a leading center for the study of air plants and is home to the best scientifically documented collections of living epiphytic orchids and bromeliads in the world. The Calder exhibition at Selby Gardens will highlight the artist’s use of abstract forms rooted in nature and emphasize his interest in science and engineering. The exhibition will also explore Calder’s enchantment with the circus, stemming from his studies of performers and animals at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1925.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
An exhibition showcasing the recent work of Sarasota-based artist and Ringling College alumnus Tom Stephens (Class of 1996). Known for his expressive use of color, gestural brushwork, and emotionally charged compositions, Stephens’ paintings explore the tension between abstraction and representation. His dynamic surfaces reveal a deep engagement with process and intuition, resulting in works that resonate with both personal introspection and universal human experience.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
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