Sarasota is a place where connections are made. Karl C. Bernhard, a partner at local architecture firm Sweet Sparkman Architects, is a board member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gulf Coast Chapter. At the previous firm Bernhard worked for in New Orleans, he would often organize “art walks”, turning the firm’s studio into an art gallery where pieces could be auctioned off for a local charity. In Sarasota, Bernhard was looking to do the same thing—it just so happened that SARTQ Artist Collective wanted to do an event with Architecture Sarasota. The team at Architecture Sarasota connected Bernhard with SARTQ and the Reflections silent art auction was born.

Held at Architecture Sarasota this Saturday, Reflections will feature the work of SARTQ artists and local artists alike, with the proceeds benefitting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Desoto Counties. The theme of Reflections centers around the use of mirrors to create distinct sculptures—what does self-reflection look like and how can art meld that perception?

“It’s an interesting merging of creativity between artists and architects,” says Bernhard. “Mirrors are a multi-dimensional material—it can purely reflect what’s in front of it or it can make space. As architects, we are space makers. There are different ways of looking at mirrors, either from the beauty of the material itself or from the more ethereal aspects of mirrors themselves.”

A submission from a group of Sweet Sparkman architects—Rob Harrison, Mary Alvarez, Mahdi Amhed, Laura Lozano and Bernhard—titled Reflexion is a 22”x12” sculpture of mirror, 3D-printed film and wood, that depicts how self-perception becomes easily fragmented, dismantling the traditional notion of a single-image mirror.

SARTQ artist Ellen Kantro, who works in paintings and dimensional work such as totems and sculptures, used painted cardboard and pieces of a shattered mirror to create her mixed-media abstract piece. “I never plan my work, which is why they are abstract, I never know where they are going. Having something as finite as the requirement to use a certain size mirror in the piece was a challenge for me,” says Kantro. “I had these shards of a mirror I’d broken a couple of weeks prior, and the idea came to me instantly.”

Reflections Auction Event, April 25, Doors open at 6pm, Free Admission, Architecture Sarasota, 65 S Orange Ave, Sarasota. 

"Reflexion" from the Sweet-Sparkman Artist-Architect Collective. Provided photo.

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Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and Fever, the world’s leading tech platform for discovering culture and live entertainment, are proud to announce Candlelight®: The Lord of the Rings, an international concert series celebrating the 25th anniversary of the beloved film franchise in 2026. Sarasota is among the select cities worldwide chosen to host this special series, with limited tickets available. In Sarasota, the St. Boniface Episcopal Church serves as the setting for this one-of-a-kind musical experience taking place in iconic venues renowned for their historic nature or distinctive character — from cathedrals and theaters to museums — in cities such as New York, São Paulo, Singapore, Madrid, Milan, Sydney and many more across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Fans can book their tickets via Fever’s app and website to be part of this global celebration of one of cinema’s most beloved sagas. 

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The Hermitage Artist Retreat today announced a new program, “Songwriting for Character” on the Hermitage Beach, featuring Grammy Award-nominated artist, musical theater composer, and returning Hermitage Fellow Rona Siddiqui. On Thursday, May 28 at 6:30pm, Siddiqui returns to the Hermitage Beach to offer insight into her approach to songwriting in this sunset program. Having won some of musical theater’s most prestigious awards as a songwriter, including the Kleban Prize for lyric writing and a Jonathan Larson grant, Siddiqui has also collaborated on notable Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals as a music director and orchestrator – including the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Strange Loop, written by Hermitage Fellow Michael R. Jackson. Siddiqui has previously shared her work at a Hermitage Beach program in 2020, at the 2024 Hermitage Artful Lobster, and as Music Director for the Hermitage’s Twentieth Anniversary Celebration at the Van Wezel, which featured Hermitage Artistic Director Andy Sandberg and multiple Tony Award-nominated Broadway talents. For her upcoming program on May 28, Siddiqui will offer a look into her songwriting techniques and share some of her original work as the sun sets into the Gulf on Manasota Key.  For more information, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org. 

As the Venice area continues to grow as a destination for artists and collectors, Creative Liberties artists Barbara Gerdeman and Ava Young are expanding their presence in the south county market with representation at Number 33 Gallery of Arts, where they will host a public reception on Friday, May 15, 5–8 p.m. The gallery is located at 325 W. Venice Ave., Suite A, Venice. 

Fresh Fridays takes over S. Palm Ave in Downtown Sarasota next week for one of the most anticipated nights of the season, and the excitement is already building. With just two events left, the energy continues to grow as the community gets ready for another unforgettable night downtown. Join us May 1 from 7–10pm as we go Back to the 80s with live music, standout giveaways, and a vibrant atmosphere you won’t want to miss. 

Saxophone Splendor April 30, 11am performance followed by lunch at Sarasota Yacht Club. This program showcases classical saxophonist Valentin Kovalev, an ebullient and highly eclectic performer whose unique style was developed after studying in Russia, France, and the United States. Winner of multiple prestigious international competitions, Kovalev gave a sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall during the 2023-24 season. He has committed support to Ukrainian saxophonists and other marginalized voices in the classical music world. Joined by Joseph Holt on piano, Kovalev’s program includes music by Bach, Rachmaninoff, Bizet, and Piazzolla. Tickets are $75 (includes lunch); reserve by April 24. This concert is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend Claire Seminario. 

What if a shadow was not something to escape, but something to embrace? That idea is at the center of “Maria A. Guzmán Capron: Penumbra,” a solo textile exhibition on view through Sept. 27 at Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design. More at SarasotaArtMuseum.org.  

Catch the first glimpse of the newest performances being made in the Sarasota-Manatee area. Now in its fourth year, the HAT’s MicroWIP (Micro Works-in-Progress) presentations provide local creatives with a platform to advance new work. This evening features ten-minute max excerpts of freshly made performances and represents the museum’s commitment to supporting artists based in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

May 8, 7:30pm, Historic Asolo Theater, $10, $5 for Members. 

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 Thanks to the extraordinary commitment of 888 members, Impact100 SRQ has officially launched the 2026 Giving Year with $888,000 in grant funding, making possible eight high-impact grants of $111,000 each for nonprofits serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The announcement was revealed during the energy-filled Annual Big Reveal at The Ora, Sarasota's Premiere Event Venue, where members gathered to celebrate the power of collective giving and witness firsthand how one shared commitment can shape an entire community. By the close of the 2026 Giving Year, Impact100 SRQ will have awarded 46 grants totaling more than $5 million—fueling bold ideas, expanding critical services, and empowering local nonprofits to create lasting change across our region.  

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