Southwest Florida's natural beauty and ever-shifting light attract artists-and art lovers-from around the world. As a result, we have a rich concentration of galleries and several outstanding museums.

Many of these galleries are concentrated in the downtown area, a situation that creates marvelous walking tours. The first Friday of every month, Palm Avenue galleries extend their hours to accommodate those who have daytime working schedules.

Close to downtown lies Towles Court, an artists' colony where rehabilitated Florida cottages double as working studios that also open their doors to the public the third Friday of every month.

Also downtown is the new Museum of Asian Art, while the world-famous Ringling Museum is on the North Trail near the airport. We've also included information about Tampa Bay museums, just an hour or so away.

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

Apple & Carpenter Galleries of Fine Art, 64 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 951-2314. 19th- and 20th-century paintings by American and European artists.

ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 365-2032. Association offers classes, workshops, shows by members and non-members.

Art Uptown, 1367 Main St., Sarasota. 955-5409. Cooperative gallery featuring paintings, sculptures, ceramics and basketry.

A Step Above, 1288 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 955-4477. Original art and glass, ceramics and jewelry.

Beauverre Gallery, 1905 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota. 365-4442.

Blue House Gallery, 1958 Adams Lane, Sarasota. 366-0211. Architectural ceramics.

Brock Gallery, 468 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands. 388-2275. Art and sculpture from international variety of artists. Also Peruvian folk art.

Butler & Butler Antiques & Fine Art, 60 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 954-2393.

Cattleman Gallery of Western Art, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. 371-6811. Western and wildlife art, cowboy collectibles.

Celery Barn Studio & Gallery, 266 Links S., Sarasota. 952-9889.

Chasen Galleries, 16 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 366-4278. Sculpture, handmade tapestries, large canvases.

Chasen Reed, 10 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 953-4400. Interior design showroom featuring fine art exhibits.

Collector's Wall Fine Art Galleries, 4976 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 927-2643. Original paintings, graphics and posters.

Corbino Galleries, 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 387-0822. Artists include Jon Corbino, Dorothy Gillespie, Paul Sierra.

Crissy Galleries, 640 S. Washington Blvd., Suite 150, Sarasota. 957-1110.

John Dineen Gallery, 415 St. Armands Circle,

Sarasota. 388-2992. Contemporary paintings, posters,

and prints.

Elizabeth Rice Fine Art, 1467 Main St., Sarasota. 954-8575. In addition to artworks, carries Biedermeier furniture.

Exit Art, 203 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 387-7395. Paintings, jewelry and more.

Frame Center and Gallery, 2881 Clark Road, Sarasota. 924-4141.

Galleria Silecchia, 20 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 365-7414. National and international artists; regular shows.

Gaylord Studio Gallery, 1821 Morrill St., Sarasota. 952-0678.

Glass Reflections, 999 Cattlemen Road, #A, Sarasota. 955-3839. Contemporary glass art and gifts.

Goldfish, 1451 Main St., Sarasota. 366-0088. Fine art and jewelry.

William Hartman Gallery, 48 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 955-4785. 18th- and 19th-century antique prints.

Hodgell Gallery, 46 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 366-1146; 540 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 366-1131. Contemporary fine art and glass works.

Kennedy Studios, 1512 Main St., Sarasota. 952-0358. Prints and posters.

L'Attitude Gallery/Sculpture Garden, 1219 First St., Sarasota. 373-0767. Eclectic and unusual artwork and sculpture from around the world.

Longboat Framing Gallery, 6824 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 383-8914.

Longboat Key Center of the Arts, 6860 Longboat Drive S., Longboat Key. 383-2345. Center offers classes, exhibits, sales gallery.

Marise Art Gallery, 6506 Gateway Ave., Sarasota 922-7169. Prints, posters, limited editions.

Mira Mar Gallery, 1284 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 366-2093. Prints, paintings, original works of art.

Missing Link, 556 S. Pineapple, Sarasota. 366-6600. Art from Africa, the Americas and Asian furniture.

Museum of Asian Art. 640 S. Washington Blvd. (Arts and Antique Center). 954-7117. Rare jade carvings and more from China and other Asian countries.

Palm Avenue Gallery, 45 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 953-5757. Contemporary art and sculpture.

Paradise Gallery, 1359 Main St., Sarasota. 366-7155. Paintings, sculpture, jewelry and graphics.

Plum Door Arts Studio & Gallery, 1950 Adams Lane, Sarasota. 362-0980.

Provenance Gallery, 1282 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 366-6777. Palm Avenue's only gallery dedicated to resale art consignments.

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bayshore Road, Sarasota. 359-5700. State museum of Florida houses extensive Baroque collection, modern collection and changing exhibitions.

Robert Wilson Gallery, 1475 Main St., Sarasota. Contemporary traditional realism and impressionism; figurative, still life, landscape and marine scenes. 955-7709.

Sage Spirit Gallery, Inc., 17 Fillmore Drive, St. Armands. 388-2975. Collectible Native American jewelry, pottery, weavings and more.

Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg. (727) 823-3767. Permanent collection of works spanning Dali's career.

Santa Fe Trails Art Gallery, 1429 Main St., Sarasota. 954-1972. Southwestern and Native American art.

Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 359-7563. Exhibition schedule includes traveling shows, faculty exhibit and "Best of Ringling" student show.

Sonnet Gallery, 1480 Main St., Sarasota. 955-6443. Contemporary paintings, glass and sculpture.

Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. (813) 274-8130. Changing exhibitions along with a permanent collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.

Towles Court Artist Colony, just west of U.S. 301 between Adams and Morrill streets. 365-9146. Working artist colony; studios open daily. Gallery walk 6-10 p.m. every third Friday of the month.

Wyland Galleries of Sarasota, 465 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands. 388-5331. Marine and wildlife art by Wyland and other environmental artists.

Yellow Bird of St. Armands, 640 S. Washington Blvd., Sarasota. 388-1823. Antiques and more.

Ziegenfuss Gallery of Fine Art, 76 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 365-3266. Contemporary artists.