On Exhibit

99 ½ Won’t Do Selby Gallery at Ringling College of Art and Design will open the New Year with a new work it has commissioned Leslie Fry to create. The foundation of her installation, titled 99 ½ Won’t Do, is Quercus Emancipation, the large head seen here. Piled over and around this head will be plaster fragment casts from molds of past sculptures Fry has created. She will also import sand, hemp and the skins from rubber molds to layer up from the floor, making an irregular wall that’s five feet high in the southwest corner of the gallery and diminishes in height as it extends toward the northwest corner. The lowest point of the stack near the gallery entryway will be a small trail of brown sand.

The installation is made from more than 100 different-sized plaster fragments, hence the title, taken from the song, 99½ Won’t Do. This gospel tune gives the viewer 100 ideas for contemplation on love and God, suffering, freedom, and striving towards wholeness. The gallery will be dark, with only Fry’s wall lighted, and there will also be a video projection with a soundtrack playing 12 consecutive versions of the song by artists from Wilson Pickett to Etta James. This multimedia presentation will fulfill Fry’s idea of sculpture at its best, when it has the “simultaneous presence of intangibility and physical reality.”--Mark Ormond

Art

Greene Contemporary. The Pineapple Avenue gallery spotlights the work of Joseph Arnegger through Jan. 5. Opening with a reception at 6 p.m. Jan. 9 is a show featuring works by the late Syd Solomon, continuing through Feb. 2. 365-9406.

Ringling Museum of Art. Ending its run here on Jan. 6 is the exhibition Francisco Goya: Los Caprichos. Continuing through Jan. 10 is Clyde Butcher’s Cuba, 12 large-scale Butcher photographs of that island country. Opening Jan. 19 to run through May 4: Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints, featuring 44 works based on themes related to Hiroshima, Genesis and Toussaint L’ouverture. And opening Jan. 26 to run through April 20 is Grandma Moses: Grandmother to the Nation, showcasing paintings by the beloved primitive painter. 359-5700.

Museum of Fine Arts. Poetry of the Commonplace: A Selection of Latin-American Photographs, closes at this St. Petersburg museum Jan. 6. Continuing through Feb. 24 is Sacred India, Sacred Tibet: The Power and Beauty of Sacred Art. (727) 896-2667.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. The center’s Annual Members Exhibit ends Jan. 6; it’s followed by the Town of Longboat Key sponsored art exhibit, opening with a reception at 5 p.m. Jan. 11 and running through Jan. 27. Force of Nature, featuring new paintings by Kay Curtis, is on view in the Glen Gallery here through Jan. 28. And there’s Jazz in the Gallery with the Booker High Jazz Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15. 383-2345.

Galleria Silecchia. Remaining on view through Jan. 15: From East to West: Hiroshi Yamano, works by the Japanese glass artist. Opening Jan. 4 and running through Jan. 31, original oils on canvas of classical and whimsical saints by Joe McFadden. 365-7414.

Dabbert Gallery. Dreams from Down Under opens Jan. 4 and continues through the month. 955-1315.

Salvador Dali Museum. Continuing on view this month at the St. Petersburg venue are Dali in Focus, a selection of paintings from the permanent collection that focuses on hidden details; and The Fine Art of Collecting Dali, which traces how A. Reynolds and Eleanor Morse began their Dali acquisitions. (727) 823-3767.

Sarasota Season of Sculpture. The large-scale exhibition continues along our downtown bayfront through May 26. 331-2008.

Selby Gallery. Ruinations, featuring works by Tom Nakashima (Berryville Tree Piles and Structures) and Leslie Fry (99 ½ Won’t Do) opens with an artists’ reception at 5 p.m. Jan. 4; continues through Feb. 7. 359-7563.

Sonnet Gallery. A show of paintings by New York artist Monica Mary, titled Variety, opens Jan. 5 here and runs throughout the month. 928-6490.

Venice Art Center. The center presents a Portrait and Figure show, running Jan. 8-27 (reception Jan. 11). 485-7136.

R+R Bond Galleries/Rodin International. The St. Armands gallery brings to town Robert Descharnes, a friend and secretary of Salvador Dali, who will speak about the late artist and his work and sign copies of his book Le Dur et le Mou, the catalogue raisonne of Dali sculpture. Jan. 10 and 11; call 388-2221 for more details.

State of the Arts Gallery. Technicolor, featuring color field paintings and digital art, opens here Jan. 11 to continue through the month. 955-2787.

Arts Day. The annual celebration of all things artistic in Sarasota, part of the Sarasota County Arts Council’s Artfull Weekend, offers performances, visual arts, kids’ creative opportunities and more in downtown Sarasota, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 13. 365-5118.

Art Center Sarasota. On view Jan. 15 through Feb. 23 at the North Tamiami Trail gallery are Objects of Touch, a juried exhibition of two- and three-dimensional art; New Sculpture 6, featuring six regional sculptors; Julia Hyman: Touch #2, featuring works by sculptor Hyman; and ASALAH (Association for the Study of African-American Life and History) Master Artists. 365-2032.

St. Armands Winter Art Festival. Artists and craftsmen display their original artwork for sale on the circle, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 26 and 27. 388-1554.

Children

Circus Sarasota. The Anastasini Family demonstrates their circus skills for kids of all ages, at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19 at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Comedy

McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. Scheduled to perform here this month: Last Comic Standing participant and reality show host ANT, Jan. 18-20. 925-3869.

Dance

St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre: Giselle. The company, under the direction of Yuri Petukhov, performs this tragic story of doomed love at 8 p.m. Jan. 3 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Joffrey Ballet: Cool Vibrations. The Joffrey offers three works set to contemporary music: Deuce Coupe, Motown Suite and Sometimes It Snows in April, at 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Sarasota Ballet of Florida. This month’s ballet performances feature Façade by Sir Frederick Ashton, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Las Hermanas and David Bintley’s Scottish Dances, Jan. 25-27 at the FSU Center for Performing Arts. 351-8000.

Film

Monday Night Movies at Ringling. The Sarasota Film Festival teams with the Historic Asolo Theater to present this foreign film lineup: Bergman’s Smiles of a Summer Night, 3 and 7 p.m. Jan.14; Carl Theodore Dreyer’s Gertrud, 7 p.m. Jan. 21; and The Cranes Are Flying, 7 p.m. Jan. 28, all at the Historic Asolo. 360-7399.

Fame Forever Documentary. A showing of the film that follows the production of the musical presented right here in Sarasota, at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

Miscellaneous

Sarasota Orchid Society Show. Lots of exotic blooms on are view, and on sale, from noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 4, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 5 and 6 at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. 918-4414.

Willy Bietak’s Broadway on Ice. Ice star Dorothy Hamill and Broadway lead Franc D’Ambrosia head the cast of this ice extravaganza, at 8 p.m. Jan. 5, 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 6 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Southwest Florida Heritage Festival. A look back in time at the Crowley Museum and Nature Center, where pioneer craft demonstrations, hayrides and more are planned, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 12. 322-1000.

The Flying Karamazov Brothers. The “brothers” offer Life: A Guide for the Perplexed, replete with music, comedy and juggling. At 8 p.m. Jan. 18 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

ASID Showhouse. The 2008 showhouse is open for viewing from Jan. 20 through Feb. 17 at 819 Whitfield Ave.; cost is $20 per person. For more information call 926-7794.

AEROS. Soar with the gymnastic and theatrical talents of this Romanian-based troupe, at 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Circus Ring of Fame. Sylvia Zerbini, Jenny Wallenda, Gee Gee Engesser and the Italo Fornasari Family will be inducted into the Ring, on St. Armands Circle, at 2 p.m. Jan. 20, with the Sarasota Circus Concert Band performing circus music starting at 1:30 p.m. 388-1554.

60 Years of Circus Celebration. Speaking of the circus…the Ringling Circus Museum notes its 60th year with a day full of events Jan. 26, ranging from a circus model builders exhibition to a chance to learn how to walk on stilts to an evening of Circus Celebrity Awards in the Historic Asolo Theater. For complete details, call 359-5700.

Music

Perlman Music Program Celebration Concert. The winter residency of the PMP culminates with this concert featuring its talented young musicians under Itzhak Perlman’s direction, at 7 p.m. Jan. 2 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

New Music New Year. Florida West Coast Symphony’s Dirk Meyer leads the orchestra in new music inspired by composers from Beethoven to the Beatles, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at Holley Hall. 953-4252.

Florida West Coast Symphony Masterworks. Pianist Gleb Ivanov joins the orchestra in concert at 8 p.m. Jan. 11 and 12, 2:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at Van Wezel. On the program: Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, K. 595, Strauss’ Don Juan and Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, The Inextinguishable. 953-4252.

Antonio Pompa-Baldi. The Artist Series of Sarasota presents pianist Pompa-Baldi, a silver medalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 and 15 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 388-1188 or 360-7399.

Sarasota Concert Association. The subscription concert association presents the Emerson String Quartet, at 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Van Wezel. To see if tickets are available, call 955-0040

Backstage Onstage. Commentator June LeBell hosts this series, which welcomes special guest artists, with the Harlem Renaissance the focus Jan. 15 and 29, and Women Composers: Romantic to Ragtime, Jan. 22. All at 11 a.m. at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

Venice Symphony. This month the symphony offers pops concerts at 8 p.m. Jan. 17 and 18, 4 and 8 p.m. Jan. 19, all at Church of the Nazarene in Venice. 488-1010.

State Symphony of Mexico. The Van Wezel commences its orchestra season with this company, led by Enrique Batiz. Guest pianist Leonel Morales joins the orchestra, which performs works by Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Schumann. At 8 p.m. Jan. 17. 953-3368.

Thomas Muller-Pering. German guitar virtuoso Muller-Pering performs at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 in Guitar Sarasota’s winter lineup of concerts, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. 351-8000.

New Music New College. The series presents pianist Kathleen Supove, at 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at the campus’ Sainer Pavilion. 487-4154.

Linda Eder. Songstress Eder, oft compared to Streisand and Garland, returns to the Van Wezel at 8 p.m. Jan. 19. 953-3368.

Shout. Beautiful “birds” and smashing sounds from swinging ‘60s England in this all-girl musical, 8 p.m. Jan. 20, 4 and 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at Venice Little Theatre. 488-1115.

The Cleveland Orchestra. Music director Franz Welser-Most conducts as the acclaimed orchestra plays Mozart’s Symphony No. 28, Debussy’s Iberia and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9. At 8 p.m. Jan. 22 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Florida West Coast Symphony Chamber Soiree. Mixed ensembles perform at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Holley Hall. 953-4252.

Smooth Jazz on St. Armands: Fourth Friday with Style. The jazz artists for this month’s event, from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 25 on the circle, are TBA. 388-1554.

Cahal Dunne. St. Thomas More Church presents Ireland’s “Happy Man” on a musical journey including Irish ballads, folk songs and Broadway tunes. At 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at the church. 923-1691.

Dance the Night Away. The Florida West Coast Symphony pays tribute to Fred Astaire and his dance partners at 8 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Van Wezel, with Andrew Lane conducting; vocal and dance by Jeffry Denman. 953-4252.

My Sinatra: The Songs and the Stories. Cary Hoffman takes a turn being Ol’ Blue Eyes in this re-creation of the onstage Sinatra persona, at 8 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Van Wezel. 953-3368.

The Diamonds. Musical memories from the ‘50s and ‘60s-oriented quartet, at 8 p.m. Jan. 27, 4 and 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Venice Little Theatre. 488-1115.

An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan. Soprano Alicia Berneche, baritone John Muriello and tenor Gary Briggle team to celebrate the operetta legends, Jan. 27 and 29 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 388-1188 or 360-7399.

Sofia Festival Orchestra. The orchestra, led by Martin Panteleev, performs works by Shostakovich, Grieg and Brahms. Guest artist is pianist Terrence Wilson. At 8 p.m. Jan. 29 at Van Wezel. 953-3368.

Talks

Forum 2007-08. This month’s speaker in the Forum series is Rajiv Chandrasekaran, author of the prize-winning Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone and national editor of the Washington Post. At 2 p.m. Jan. 6 at Holley Hall; for tickets call 365-6332 or 349-8350 or go online at forumtruth.org.

Ringling College Library Association Town Hall. This month: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, 7 p.m. Jan. 7 and 10:30 a.m. Jan. 8; director Spike Lee, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 28; all at Van Wezel. 925-1343.

Longboat Key Education Center Lecture Series. On tap this month: Broken Justice—the Truth about Partial-Birth Abortion by Kenneth C. Edelin, Jan. 8; Michelangelo: A Troubled Artist in a Troubled Age, by Dr. Warren Roberts, Jan. 15; Israeli-Palestinian Peace: Between the Impossible and the Inevitable, by Mark Rosenblum, Jan. 22; and Inside the World of Ballet Around the World, by Robert de Warren, Jan. 29. All talks are at 3 p.m. 383-8811.

Palm Literary Society. The society’s book luncheon season kicks off Jan. 14 with an appearance by Pulitzer winner Geraldine Brooks (March), whose latest work, People of the Book, follows the journey of a rare illuminated book through centuries of war and loss. At 11:30 a.m. at Michael’s On East: tickets $75. 329-2604.

Theater

Harry Who? The Lullaby of Broadway. The tribute to the late, great songwriter Harry Warren ends its run Jan. 5 on Florida Studio Theatre’s cabaret stage. 366-9000.

Can-Can. Cole Porter’s musical set in gay Paree continues through Jan. 6 on the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre stage. 366-5454.

Pure Confidence. The Carlyle Brown play about a black Civil War-era jockey who’s owned by a Southern colonel continues through Jan. 26 on FST’s mainstage. 366-9000.

The Constant Wife. W. Somerset Maugham’s sophisticated romp through the minefield of adultery continues through March 12 at the Asolo Repertory Theatre. 351-8000.

Doubt. The Pulitzer winner by John Patrick Shanley, about a nun who suspects a priest of inappropriate behavior with a student, runs through May 1 at Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

The Play’s The Thing. Two Broadway playwrights, one young composer, and a leading lady with a secret combine for laughter in this Molnar play adapted by P.G. Wodehouse. Onstage through March 13 at Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

Speed-the-Plow. David Mamet’s incisive examination into greed, morality and art centers on two Hollywood film producers and the innocent secretary who enters their lives. Onstage Jan. 2-20 in an FSU/Asolo Conservatory play in the Cook Theatre. 351-8000.

Evita. The Lloyd Webber-Rice show about the former First Lady of Argentina runs Jan. 8 through March 16 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. 366-5454.

European Cabaret. The 1930s-era cabarets of Europe are remembered in this musical revue featuring songs like La Vie En Rose and Mack the Knife, Jan. 8 through March 22 in FST’s cabaret. 366-9000.

Bowfire. A reprise performance of the international fiddling sensation at the Van Wezel, with some new staging and a few surprises. At 8 p.m. Jan. 9. 953-3368.

Grand Hotel. The musical version of the 1930s film about lives that intersect with intriguing consequences, onstage Jan. 10-20 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

Apartment 3A. This adult comedy by Jeff Daniels, about a female public TV exec with both personal and professional problems, replaces the previously announced offering of Jacques Brel, Jan. 10 through Feb. 3 at Venice Little Theatre’s Stage II. 488-1115.

The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead. A one-woman show that looks at love, adultery and truth, in an Asolo Rep production in the Historic Asolo Theater. Opens Jan. 11 to run through Feb. 2. 351-8000.

Run for Your Wife. A London cabbie tries to cope when it looks as if his double life will be exposed in this Ray Cooney farce, onstage Jan. 15 through Feb. 3 at Venice Little Theatre. 488-1115.

Cats. They’re prowling and purring over at the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre as the Andrew Lloyd Webber megahit runs Jan. 17 through Feb. 10. 748-5875.

Over My Dead Body. A comedy about two mystery writers who plan an unusual murder, Jan. 17 through Feb. 3 at the Island Players. 778-5755.

Lipschtick. David “Scarbie” Mitchell stars in this evening of gender-bending character impersonations, drag-style lip synch, singing and storytelling. At 8 p.m. Jan. 20 and 21 in Venice Little Theatre’s Pinkerton Theatre, with possible additional performances Jan. 27 and 28. 488-1115.

Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. The Aquila Theatre Company returns to the Van Wezel with this production of the famous World War II satire, in Heller’s own adaptation. At 8 p.m. Jan. 23. 953-3368.

Jewtopia. A comedy by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson, billed as a “goy meets girl” love story, as two young men try to find the Jewish woman of their dreams. Onstage Jan. 30 through March 28 on FST’s mainstage. 366-9000.