Art, Music and More

Ringling School of Art's "Strength of Community" series unfolds a number of events this month. Celebrated African-American artist, illustrator and author Faith Ringgold (best known for her painted story quilts) is the focus of a retrospective show at the school's Selby Gallery (opening Jan. 10 to run through Feb. 15); she'll present a slide talk about her work and career at 5 p.m. Jan. 24 at Sudakoff Hall on the New College campus. (Reception and book signing will follow.) Also planned for the festival: performances and workshops featuring cellist Karen Patterson, Keter Betts (longtime Ella Fitzgerald bassist), Delta blues singer Guy Davis (son of Ossie), blues player Narek Patterson and singer Gary Pritchard, going on all day Jan. 25 on the Ringling campus and culminating with a blues and jazz concert that evening. For tickets to the Saturday events and other info, call 359-7563.

Film

Film lovers rally around the Hollywood 20 this month in extra (and extra well-dressed) numbers for the Sarasota Film Festival, expanded to 10 days (Jan. 24-Feb. 2) to include lots of screenings, parties and schmoozing among directors, stars and locals. No details at press time about new movie titles or luncheon and dinner honorees, but the first-time CineSymphony event featuring Oscar-winning composer Elmer Bernstein (Jan. 25 at the Van Wezel, a co-presentation with the Florida West Coast Symphony) promises lots of grand movie music. All sorts of tickets package and special events, so call 364-9514 (make that 953-3434 for CineSymphony) or visit the festival Web site at www.sarasotafilmfestival.com for complete details.

Art

Ringling Museum of Art. Closing Jan. 5: Rodin: A Magnificent Obsession. Coming up Jan. 25: Chinese Ceramic Masterpieces: The Koger Collection from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Information: 359-5700.

South Florida Museum. Continuing through Jan. 12: Natural Florida: Paintings from the George Percy and Debbie Geiger Collection. Information: 746-4131.

Art Studio of Colleen Cassidy-Berns. On view through Feb. 28 at this studio on South Tamiami Trail: Animal Kingdom art featuring wildlife and landscapes native to Africa. Information: 924-1200.

Sarasota Season of Sculpture. Continuing through May 2003 along the Sarasota bayfront: 22 large-scale public works of art. Information: 331-2008.

Salvador Dali Museum. Dali Objects/Dali Fetishes continues through Jan. 19. Coming up Feb. 1: The Shape of Color: Joan Miró's Painted Sculpture. Information: (727) 823-3767.

Missing Link Gallery. Large-scale sculpture from West Africa, contemporary photography and more. Information: 366-6600.

Santa Fe Trails Gallery. Serigraphs by John Nieto are on view all month. Information: 954-1972.

Palm Avenue Gallery. On view this month: oils by Bette Caffrey, as well as sculpture, hand-blown glass bowls and ceramic pieces. Information: 953-5757.

Apple & Carpenter Galleries. Age of Elegance, American and European Paintings from 1850 to 1950, on view Jan. 2-31. Information: 951-2314.

Miramar Gallery. Work by sculptor Leslie Fry and photographer Burk Uzzle on view this month, from Jan. 2 on. Information: 366-2093.

Galleria Silecchia. On view Jan. 2-31 are mixed media abstract paintings by Ron strong, ceramic sculpture by Yasuko Nakamura and Alanna Roth, and new works in bronze from The Irish Memorial, by Glenna Goodacre. Also, Jan. 2-Feb. 28, glass artist Hiroshi Yamano will be featured. Information: 365-7414.

Burns Square First Friday Walk. A chance to stroll the charming Burns Court area, from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3. Information: 954-0533.

L'Attitude Gallery. The First Street gallery offers Out of This World Abstraction, recent work by Marilyn Gross Jan. 3-30 (reception 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3). Information: 373-0767.

Sonnet Gallery. Abundance offers paintings by Margarita Deleuze, Jan. 3-Feb. 6. Information: 955-6443.

Palm Avenue First Friday Walk. "Pops on Palm" is the theme for this month's art walk, 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3. Information: 951-2314.

Robert Wilson Gallery. This new Main Street gallery offers contemporary traditional realism and impressionism, including figurative, still life, landscape and marine scene works. Information: 955-7709.

Venice Art Center. An invitational exhibition of Oriental art runs Jan. 6-24, with a reception Jan. 10. Also on display: watercolors by Sandi Olsen. Opening Jan. 27 (reception Jan. 31): Face & Figure, along with a Solo Salon exhibit of works by Jeanne Norman Chase. Information: 485-7136

ArtCenter Sarasota. La Selva (The Jungle) features abstract paintings by Nancy Hall, Jan. 8-Feb. 8. (Opening reception 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 10.) Also on view: photography by J.D. Dragan and an "open to all" show. Information: 365-2032.

Selby Gallery. Faith Ringgold, in Retrospect presents a look at African-American artist Ringgold, through her paintings, sculpture, children's books and story quilts. Ringgold will present a lecture, followed by a tribute from cellist Karen Patterson, Jan. 24. The exhibit runs Jan. 10 (reception 5 to 7 p.m.) through Feb. 15. Information: 359-7563.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. The Town of Longboat Key Exhibit opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 10 and continues through Feb. 5. Works by Bill Buchman are also on view, Jan. 5-25. Also this month: a jazz concert at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21; a fashion show and luncheon Jan. 24, a Jazz Concert in the Park at 2 p.m. Jan. 26; and lectures by Bill Buchman and Linda Molto Jan. 29 and Fred Nagel Jan. 30. Information: 383-2345.

Towles Court Third Friday Walk. From 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 17 in the artists' colony. Information: 955-4546.

Sarasota National Fine Arts Festival. ArtCenter Sarasota presents this arts show and sale as a fund-raiser, Jan. 25 and 26 at Phillippi Creek Estate. Information: 365-2032.

Children

Circus Sarasota. Performers from the troupe performs in the Saturday Morning for Kids series, at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 18 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Comedy

Jackie Mason: Prune Danish. What's Mason kvetching about this time? Find out at 8 p.m. Jan. 23 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Dance

Tango Buenos Aires. Fall under the spell of the Latin dance with this acclaimed Argentinian company, at 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Sarasota Ballet of Florida. A new piece from Jim Buckley, Anne Frank (based on the young girl's diary). Onstage Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at the FSU/Asolo Center for the Performing Arts. Information: 351-8000.

Film

Fourth Annual Women's International Video-Film Festival. Presented by the Gulf Coast Chapter of UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women), this festival offers both local women filmmakers presenting and discussing their films (Jan. 10 at Selby Public Library) and films from women around the world, including Hanoi, South Africa and Canada (Jan. 11 at the Sainer Pavilion at New College). A fund-raiser reception is also set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Sainer; for complete details call 922-5303 or 954-0237.

Sarasota Film Festival. Offering a host of films, educational programs and parties, Jan. 24-Feb. 2. Information: 364-9514.

Miscellaneous

Ferraris at St. Armands Circle. More than 55 "racing machines" from all over Florida will take over St. Armands Circle Park, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 11. Information: 388-1554.

Thunder by the Bay Motorcycle Poker Run & Downtown Festival. Set for Jan. 12 to benefit United Way and the Smith Center; the Poker Run is in the morning and a festival on Main Street follows. A kickoff party is also planned for Jan. 10 at Michael's on East, from 8 p.m. to midnight, with "leather and fringe" the suggested wear. For complete info call 366-2686.

Circus Ring of Fame. Another St. Armands event, this one honoring inductees into the Circus Ring on St. Armands. New names include four members of the aerialist-animal trainer Bale family, low-wire specialist Lola Dobritch, choreographer Richard Barstow, and clown Pat Valdo. The Sarasota Circus Concert Band leads off the ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 18; the induction follows. Information: 388-1554.

Arts Day. The annual celebration of what Sarasota has to offer in music, dance, theater and the visual arts, downtown from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 19. Information: 365-5118.

ASID Showhouse. A 1930s beauty on St. Armands is the choice for this year's showhouse, which will feature the work of more than 20 designers out to dazzle. Open Jan. 19-Feb. 16; call 926-7794.

The New Shanghai Circus. Be dazzled by feats of acrobatic expertise, at 2 p.m. Jan. 21 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Circus Sarasota. While we're on the subject of circus, The Art of Circus is the latest production from our very own circus company, Jan. 31-March 2 under the big tent near the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Information: 355-9335.

Music

Salute to Vienna. The Strauss Symphony of America and dancers from the Sarasota Ballet team for his New Year's concert, at 8 p.m. Jan. 1 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Ringling Museum Concerts. Celtic harpist Deluna performs Jan. 2 in the museum's Rubens Gallery; she's followed by soprano Erin Windle, Jan. 9; the Florida String Quartet, Jan. 21; and the Earlye Musicke Consort, Jan. 30. Information: 359-5700.

Michael Feinstein. At the keyboard with his interpretations of the American songbook, at 8 p.m. Jan. 2 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Florida West Coast Symphony Salon Series. "Four on the Fourth" features the Florida Brass Quintet, Florida Wind Quintet, New Artists Piano Quartet and Florida String Quartet ringing in the New Year, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4 at Holley Hall. Information: 953-3434.

A Tribute to Benny Goodman. From the Terry Myers Orchestra, with Peter Appleyard and Lynn Roberts. At 8 p.m. Jan. 5 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Budapest Festival Orchestra. The Sarasota Concert Association presents this orchestra, with music director Ivan Fischer and pianist Jean Yves Thibaudet, Jan. 9 at the Van Wezel. A subscription event, but return tickets are usually available the night of the performance. Information: 955-0040.

Johnny Mathis. Mathis' silken tones fill the Van Wezel at 8 p.m. Jan. 10. Information: 953-3368.

Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks. Violinist Corey Cerovsek joins the orchestra for Bach's Violin Concerto No. 1 and Berg's Violin Concerto; Brahms' Symphony No. 4 is also on the program. At 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at Neel Auditorium and 8 p.m. Jan. 11 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3434.

Richard Nader's Original New York-New Jersey Reunion. Ronnie Spector, Jay Siegel (The Tokens), Larry Chance & The Earls, Joey Dee and the Starliters.you get the idea. At 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Information: (727) 791-7400.

.38 Special. The rockers appear Jan. 11 at Robarts Arena as part of "Thunder by the Bay," an event to benefit United Way of Sarasota County and the Smith Center for Therapeutic Riding. Doors open at 5 p.m., and tickets are on sale through the fairgrounds office and Rossiter Harley-Davidson. Information: 366-2686.

Jazz Club Members' Concert. The Noel Freidline Quintet performs, at 8 p.m. Jan. 12 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Marvin Hamlisch. Composer-pianist Hamlisch entertains at 8 p.m. Jan. 13 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

An Evening with Harry Belafonte. Belafonte reaches into his bag and fishes up a half century of musical memories, at 8 p.m. Jan. 16 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Casual Classics/Concert Lite/Enchanted Evening and Enchanted Afternoon. "Rock Around the Clock" is the theme for Florida West Coast Symphony performances, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17 and 8 p.m. Jan. 18 (all at Holley Hall) and 3 p.m. Jan. 19 at Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center. That means music including Dance of the Hours, the Minute Waltz and of course Bill Haley and the Comets. Information: 953-3434.

The Righteous Brothers. Regain That Lovin' Feeling with Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, at 8 p.m. Jan. 17 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Concertino International Chamber Ensemble. Performing at Venice Little Theatre on Jan. 19. Information: 955-6229.

JoAnn Castle. Castle offers ragtime and honky tonk at the keyboard, Jan. 19 at Neel Auditorium. Information: 752-5390.

Jose Carreras. The famed tenor performs opera highlights, at 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at Eckerd Hall. Information: (727) 791-7400.

Coffee Concert. The Florida String Quartet and Chamber Players offer works by Rossini, at 10 a.m. Jan. 22 at Holley Hall. Information: 953-3434.

Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra offers Bernstein's Symphony No. 1 and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, at 8 p.m. Jan. 22 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Venice Symphony. The symphony presents pops concerts at 8 p.m. Jan. 23 and 24 and 4 and 8 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Church of the Nazarene in Venice. Information: 488-1010.

The Jazz Singers. Kenny Soderblom leads a group of jazz players in concert at 8 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Players Theatre. Information: 365-2494.

Itzhak Perlman. The violin virtuoso returns to the Van Wezel, at 8 p.m. Jan. 28. Information: 953-3368.

Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks. Glinka's Russlan and Ludmilla, Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 are planned, at 8 p.m. Jan. 31 at Neel Auditorium and 2:30 and 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Van Wezel, as well as 3 p.m. Feb. 2 at the North Port Performing Arts Center. Information: 953-3434.

Talks

Ringling Museum's ViewPoints Lectures. Three are set for this month: Los Angeles County Museum curator Mary Levkoff discussing Rodin, Jan. 4; and two others, Jan. 11 and 18, with guest speakers TBA. Each is at 10 a.m. in the historic Asolo Theater; call 358-3180.

Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning. SILL kicks off its 2003 programs with Music Appreciation (10:30 a.m. Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27 at Holley Hall, with discussions of composers from Italy, France, England and Austria), Contemporary Public Issues (10:30 a.m. Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at the Players, with speakers including Dr. Susan McManus), Arts and Humanities (10:30 a.m. Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29 at the Players, with Islamic Cities and Cultures the focus), International Challenges (10:30 a.m. Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30, also at the Players); and, in Venice, Today's World at 2 p.m. Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29 (Venice Community Center) and International Issues (10:30 a.m. Jan. 10, 17 and 24 (also at Venice Community Center). For complete info, call 365-6404.

Books & Coffee. V.S. Naipaul's A House for Mr. Biswas is the book under discussion at Selby Library, at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 14. Information: 365-5228.

Education Center Lecture Series. The Longboat center presents Robert Barylski on the Middle East, Jan. 14; Leslie Lerner on Private Visions, Public Venues: Art as Propaganda, Jan. 21; and Inge Gurevich on Infectious Disease, Past, Present and Future, Jan. 28. All are 3 p.m. Information: 383-8811.

Art and Wine. The next installment in the series at Ringling School's Selby Gallery, Jan. 16. Information: 359-7589.

Ringling School Library Association Art Lecture. Selby Gardens' Meg Lowman talks about "Life in the Treetops," at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at the school's A-2 Lecture Hall. Coffee and comments by Selby Gallery's Kevin Dean precede the talk, at 10 a.m. Information: 925-1343.

Palm Literary Society Luncheon. Longtime White House correspondent Helen Thomas discusses her latest, Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President: Wit and Wisdom from the Front Row of the White House, Jan. 27 at Michael's On East. For complete ticket info call 957-3660.

Ringling School Library Association Town Hall Today. Master negotiator and sometime writer Richard Holbrooke opens the Town Hall season, at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 29 at the Van Wezel. Information: 925-1343.

Theater

Mame. The Jerry Herman musical winds up Jan. 12 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. Information: 366-5454.

Disney's The Lion King. Julie Taymor's award-winning interpretation of the animated film story, through Jan. 26 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Information: (800) 955-1045.

Proof. David Auburn's Pulitzer winner about a young woman facing the dubious legacy of her brilliant father continues through Feb. 8 at Florida Studio Theatre. Information: 366-9000.

Inherit the Wind. The courtroom drama about religion, evolution, and freedom of thought continues through Feb. 22 at the Asolo. Information: 351-8000.

Brighton Beach Memoirs. Neil Simon's autobiographical memoir of the Jerome family continues through Feb. 23 at the Asolo. Information: 351-8000.

You Never Can Tell. George Bernard Shaw's comedy about love, social rank and the changing role of women at the turn of the century-the 19th to the 20th, that is. Onstage at the Asolo through April 5. Information: 351-8000.

I Do! I Do! The joys and sorrows of marriage over decades of time, with songs by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. Jan. 2-Feb. 23 at the Venice Golden Apple. Information: 484-7711.

South Pacific. James Michener's tales of the islands, with all that Rodgers and Hammerstein music. At 8 p.m. Jan. 3 and 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 4 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

Scattered Belongings. A new play by Brit Mark Wheatley, whose work has often been seen at the Complicite company. It's about three generations of an American family. Onstage Jan. 8-26 in an Asolo Conservatory production. Information: 351-8000.

The Cemetery Club. Three widows bicker and bond over their husbands' graves, Jan. 8-26 at the Lemon Bay Playhouse. Information: 475-6756.

Deathtrap. Ira Levin's durable thriller about what writers are willing to do-including murder-to have a success. At the Island Players Jan. 9-26. Information: 778-5755.

Dames at Sea. Shades of 42nd Street with this affectionate spoof of the whole tap-dancing-young-love-big-show thing, Jan. 10-Feb. 9 at Theatre Works. Information: 952-9170.

Over the River and Through the Woods. The funny, touching hit about a young Italian man and his four grandparents, Jan. 14-Feb. 2 at Venice Little Theatre. Information: 488-1115.

Damn Yankees. A diehard baseball fan sells his soul to beat the always winning Yankees.some things never change. Jan. 14-March 9 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. Information: 366-5454.

Guitar Girls. A show celebrating the music of such luminaries as Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Carole King, opening Jan. 14 on Florida Studio Theatre's Cabaret Club stage. To run through March 22; call 366-9000.

Cabaret. Welcome to Berlin, with performances of the touring musical at 8 p.m. Jan. 14 and 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 15 at Van Wezel. Information: 953-3368.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. "Something familiar, something peculiar".It's Comedy Tonight with this burlesque vision of old Rome, Jan. 16-Feb. 2 at the Players of Sarasota. Information: 365-2494.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. A rambunctious musical about a Western clan so badly in need of women they're ready to kidnap them, onstage Jan. 16-Feb. 2 at the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre. Information: 748-5875.

The Corn Is Green. Emlyn Williams' play about a determined schoolteacher in a poor Welsh mining town (Bette Davis in the 1945 film version). Onstage Jan. 17-May 24 at the Asolo. Information: 351-8000.

Eye of the Storm. A one-man show featuring Will Stutts as Alabama judge Frank Johnson Jr., whose decisions included the one allowing the historic civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery. Onstage in the Asolo's Cook Theatre, Jan. 31-Feb. 22. Information: 351-8000.

Noel Coward at the Café de Paris. The versatile Will Stutts switches from the South to the continent with his portrayal of the urbane Mr. Coward. Also Jan. 31-Feb. 22, in rotating rep with Eye. Information: 351-8000.

The Importance of Being Earnest. Wilde's wittiest, Jan. 31-March 2 at American Stage in St. Petersburg. Information: (727) 823-7529.