SRQ DAILY Jul 17, 2026
Friday Weekend Edition
"We went to the water, and until that moment I was holding my breath."
Abstract art can take countless forms, but it always comes from somewhere. For painter Cat Tesla, her art has long been inspired by the natural world, and how her life is reflected in it. Tesla, who specializes in large scale abstractions, currently has an exhibition on view at Art Center Sarasota, titled Living by the Water. The paintings in the series include more literal nature-inspired abstractions from her Exhale series as well as non-objective abstractions from her Feeling Good series.
Exhale came out of a health issue Tesla was presented with. In 2022, prior to moving to Sarasota from Atlanta with her husband Simo, Tesla was given an early stage breast cancer diagnosis. After receiving surgery, Tesla needed to connect with nature. “When I was able to travel, the first thing that I said to my husband was, ‘I want to go to the water,’” says Tesla. “We went to the water, and until that moment I was holding my breath. I had this big exhale and then I was so enamored with the beauty here in Florida, so as soon as I started to paint, I was creating these nature-based abstractions.”
Tesla’s Feeling Good series originated during the pandemic, when she felt that her art could be uplifting for those facing difficult times. To create her works, Tesla employs an arsenal of drawing materials. “I use wax crayon, graphite, oil stick, oil pastel, tempura sticks—there are so many different drawing mediums to pull from. As far as the application of the paint, I probably have 1,000 different brushes,” says Tesla. “The brushes are anywhere from something as skinny as a pencil tip to a 12 inch wide brush made of brushes that I tape together. I also use the large sponge that you would use to wash your car with.”
Living by the Water, May 21-July 31, Art Center Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota 
New Moon by Cat Tesla. Provided photo.
The Sarasota Players and Players Studio invite audiences to journey to the underworld this summer with Hadestown: Teen Edition, the acclaimed musical by Anaïs Mitchell that has captivated audiences around the world. Performances run July 23 through August 2 at The Sarasota Players (3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239). Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Hadestown intertwines the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone into a powerful contemporary folk opera exploring love, hope, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit. Featuring a hauntingly beautiful score infused with folk, jazz, blues, and New Orleans-inspired music, the production has become one of the most celebrated musicals of the past decade.
Provided photo.
Sarasota Opera proudly announces its 2026–2027 Signature Events season, a distinguished series of fundraising events that celebrate the artistry and mission of the company. Join us for a curated series of culinary experiences, performances, and a gala celebration. Proceeds from these events directly support Sarasota Opera’s internationally recognized productions, artist training programs, community outreach and education initiatives, and Sarasota Youth Opera — one of the nation’s leading youth opera programs. The season begins with the Sarasota Opera Food and Wine Festival on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 1:00 pm at the Sarasota Opera House. The event features food and wine tastings from area vendors and supports the Sarasota Youth Opera and Education programs.
Provided photo.
BookStore1 is hosting The Script Society, a limited-series collaborative play reading group led by Roxanne Baker. The event is Wednesday July 22nd from 4 to 5:30 and we'll be reading Jennifer Haley's Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom —winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and the subject matter of teens addicted to violent video games is very timely considering the Tic Toc Teen Takeover Challenge. Participants can choose to be a listener or reader. The event will be in person in the loft and you can stop by to buy the book which includes the gathering’s admission fee at BookStore1 Sarasota 117 S. Pineapple Ave Sarasota, FL. Email the moderator with any questions at roxanne@sarasotabooks.com.
Join FPL and community partners for its inaugural Touch-a-Truck Hurricane Expo — a free, family-friendly event designed to help the community prepare for hurricane season through hands-on experiences, emergency preparedness resources and interactive exhibits.
Saturday, July 18, 9:00am – 1:00pm, Sensory Hour: 9:00-10am, LECOM Park, 1611 9th St W, Bradenton.
SRQ MEDIA’s Love Local Arts Initiative celebrates the art and culture organizations in our region throughout the year by cultivating a connection between our readers and local arts organizations. New this year, SRQ Magazine will debut a biweekly online Love Local Arts e-newsletter to support the arts and culture season in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Join us by reserving a space today!
Space Closing August 14, 2026
This long-term installation in Gallery 10 of the Museum of Art showcases five outstanding examples of 17th-century Dutch painting on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Featuring a dramatic seascape, an expansive landscape, and captivating portraits set in detailed interiors, this exhibition offers a window into the vibrant artistic production of the Netherlands as the small nation rose to global prominence in the 17th century. The five exceptional paintings from the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, complement The Ringling's holdings of Dutch art and provide additional perspective on the artistry, historical significance, and continuing appeal of Dutch painting from this period.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
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
Featuring works by such acclaimed modern and contemporary artists as Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Yoko Ono, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei, and more, this never-before-seen exhibition offers a rare glimpse into private collections held throughout Southwest Florida.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
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
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
Get ready to move this summer with Sarasota Contemporary Dance and guest teachers in sunny Sarasota for a week-long dance intensive, unlike any other! You have three weeks to choose from-or do all three!
Sarasota Contemporary Dance, 1400 Boulevard of the Arts Suite 300, 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
