On Exhibit

Tale of a Boar

A boar creating havoc in the kingdom of Calydon is the focus of the mythological tale that unfolds on this enormous canvas in Gallery 13 of the Ringling Museum. Seventeenth-century Flemish artist Jan Fyt placed a wounded dog almost directly in the center. Tossed on his back, the dog snarls fiercely as he tries to gain his footing. An imaginary line can be drawn from his eye to the eye of the giant pig, and we realize that Fyt used the dog as a compositional foil to the boar, directing us to the crucial moment in the narrative. Looking right and left, we see that the goddess Atalanta has injured the boar with her arrow; and Meleager, the king’s son, who is on horseback, will soon ensure the boar’s death with his spear.

The boar is not unlike the feral hogs one might encounter in Myakka; I saw a large trap set for one when I visited Crowley Museum and Nature Center a few years ago. Fortunately, I made my way through the park without encountering the beast—or, unfortunately, any goddesses.—Mark Ormond

Jan Fyt and others

Flemish (1611-1661)

Atalanta and Meleager Hunt the Calydonian Boar, 1648

Art

Selby Gallery. Remaining on view through May 2, Part II of the Ringling College Juried Student Exhibition. Opening May 9 to run through May 30, Teachers, too presents works by the school’s Continuing Studies and Special Programs instructors; and Past Present: The Art of Frank Colson, features longtime Sarasota sculptor Colson’s ceramic work. 359-7563.

Ringling Museum of Art. Continuing on view through May 4: Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints: Genesis, Hiroshima and Toussaint L’Ouverture. Also on view, through May 25, is Old Masters Drawings from the Ringling Museum of Art, including works by Boucher, Fragonard and Giulio Romano. And Asian Art in Focus: Guanyin Personified continues through June 15. Opening May 24 to run through Aug. 10 is Phantasmagoria: Specters of Absence, which explores the work of artists using fog and smoke, light and shadow, such as Regina Silveira and Jim Campbell. 359-5700.

Serrano Contemporary/Sonnet Gallery. Showing here through May 10, works by Tod Bailey and Monica Mary. Opening May 16 to run through May 30: Gone with the Circus, a group exhibition that may be the last at the Towles Court space, which is opening a branch in NYC. 928-6490.

Art Center Sarasota. The north Sarasota County student art exhibition continues here through May 10. Up next: Humanity in Black and White, a Florida photography juried exhibition; A Newtown, photography by Steven Katzman in the Front Gallery; and etchings and aquatints by Elizabeth Stevens in the Center Gallery, all May 20 through July 26. 365-2032.

State of the Arts Gallery. Continuing here through May 15 is White Hot, artistic interpretations in white. Opening May 16 to run through July 1: Flower Power, featuring modern botanica and abstracted landscapes. 955-2787.

Venice Art Center. The south Sarasota County Public Schools exhibition remains on view through May 15, followed by an exhibition of Florals, May 23 through June 19. 485-7136.

Salvador Dali Museum. Dali & Film, a look at the relationship between the artist’s paintings and his films, continues at the St. Petersburg museum through June 1. (727) 823-3767.

Museum of Fine Arts. On view at the St. Petersburg museum are Revelations: Works by Self-Taught African-American Artists, through July 27; and Unveiled: Rarely Seen Art from the Collection and Mrs. Stuart’s Legacy, through Aug. 26. (727) 896-2667.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. Continuing here are the Spring into Summer exhibition and Members Exhibit and Gift Gallery, through September. 383-2345.

Dabbert Gallery. Opening May 2 to run throughout the month: The Music of Art, featuring works by Kathleen Carrillo, Candace Knapp, Barbara Krupp and Francois Faucher. 955-1315.

Children

The Jungle Book. Enjoy the tales of Rudyard Kipling, at 7 p.m. May 2 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

Doo-Wop Wed Widing Hood. A 1950s-style musical version of that old children’s story, at 7 p.m. May 9 and 10 at the Players Theatre, in a Players Performing Arts Studio production. 365-2494.

Comedy

McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. Onstage at the North Trail comedy club this month: Gerry Dee, May 1-4; Valarie Storm, May 7-11; The Bermuda Mavericks, May 14-18; Tim Wilkins, May 19; John DiCrosta, May 21-25; and Diane Ford, May 28-31. 925-3869.

Dance

Shifting Phantoms: An Evening of Illusory Dance. The Moving Ethos Dance Company, with choreographer Courtney Smith, pushes the boundaries of perception in an investigation of loss, illusions and the fleeting nature of earthly existence. At 8 p.m. May 30 and 31 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

Film

Monday Night Movies at the Ringling. On this month’s schedule are Florida-set films The Yearling, May 5; The Palm Beach Story, May 12; and Night Moves, May 19. All at 7 p.m. in the Historic Asolo Theater and presented with the Sarasota Film Festival. 360-7399.

Miscellaneous

Classic Corvettes on the Circle. Fulfill your ‘Vettes fantasy, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3 on St. Armands. 388-1554.

Festival Latino. The annual celebration of Latino culture, music and dances takes place May 4 and 5 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

Israel@60 Celebration. The Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation’s celebration of Israel’s statehood continues with a Family Celebration spotlighting Israeli culture May 4 at the federation campus (foods, music, children’s events) and a talk by Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby, “Why the Media Get the Middle East Wrong,” at 7 p.m. May 8 at Temple Beth Sholom. For more information call 371-4546.

Music

Courtyard Concert. The Jerry White Big Band offers swing music and dancing, from 6 to 9 p.m. May 1 in the Ringling Museum courtyard. 360-7375.

Key Chorale. The choral ensemble performs works by Campra, Elgar and others, with a “mysterious and divine” theme, at 4 p.m. May 4 at Church of the Palms. 921-4845.

The Hobbit. The Sarasota Youth Opera presents the U.S. premiere of Canadian composer Dean Burry’s musical adaptation of the Tolkien tale, with performances May 9 and 10 at the Opera House. 366-8450.

New Music New College. The JACK Quartet offers Inventions of Memory, contemporary music by John Zorn, Wolfgang Rihm and others, at 8 p.m. May 10 at Sainer Pavilion. There will be a pre-concert discussion at 6:45 p.m. For ticket info call 487-4154.

Florida String Quartet. Works by Barber, Piazzolla and Dvorak are on the program for this concert at 4 p.m. May 11 at Holley Hall. 953-3434.

Artist Series of Sarasota. Two events this month: First pianist Martin Kasik performs Rachmaninoff and Chopin, May 11 and 13; then soprano Melanie Sarakatsannis offers music by Mozart and Kern, May 25 and 27, all at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

Cocktails at the Cà d’Zan. Shaman provides the live music for this month’s event, from 6 to 9 p.m. May 15. 359-5700.

Florida West Coast Symphony Pops. Clarinet prodigy Dave Bennett and his sextet join the orchestra for an evening of swing, Benny Goodman style, at 8 p.m. May 17 at the Van Wezel. 953-3434.

Smooth Jazz on St. Armands: Fourth Friday with Style. A surprise artist, TBA, will perform starting at 6 p.m. May 23 at St. Armands Circle Park. 388-1554.

Sports

Golf Challenge. Swing your club May 3 at The Meadows Country Club, to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. 366-3911 ext. 121.

Tommy Bahama Golf Classic. The golfers tee off May 13 at Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch, to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Suncoast. 488-4009.

Physicians Golf Tournament. To be held May 16 at The Meadows Country Club to benefit the Physicians Endowment, an education fund for Sarasota Memorial staff. Call 917-1286 for reservations and info.

Talks

Palm Literary Society. The society closes out its season with a luncheon welcoming writer (and Sarasota resident) Jeff Shaara, whose latest book, The Steel Wave, is the second in Shaara’s acclaimed World War II trilogy about D-Day. At 11:30 a.m. May 20 at Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Tickets $75 (includes a copy of the book); call 329-2604.

Theater

Doubt. The John Patrick Shanley award winner about the confrontation between a nun and a priest in the 1960s ends its run May 1 at the Asolo Repertory Theatre. 351-8000.

Smash. This Jeffrey Hatcher adaptation of a Shaw novel about a socialist millionaire whose plans to overthrow the government go awry is mostly entertaining, in a production running through May 3 at the Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

The Underpants. Steve Martin’s adaptation of Carl Sternheim’s farce, where the action begins with an underwear accident, continues through May 4 in an FSU/Asolo Conservatory production in the Cook Theatre. 351-8000.

Equus. The Peter Shaffer drama about a very troubled young man and his psychiatrist continues through May 4 at Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

Toxic Audio. This Grammy-nominated a cappella production continues through May 4 at Florida Studio Theatre’s Stage III. 366-9000.

Funny Girl. Fanny Brice (Catherine Randazzo in this production) strives for show biz success and true love in this Jule Styne-Bob Merrill musical, onstage through May 11 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. 366-5454.

The Miamians. Michael McKeever’s play about three families of different ethnic backgrounds living in the city across Alligator Alley from us continues through May 24 at Florida Studio Theatre. 366-9000.

Outlaws and Angels. This revue features music by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and other country legends, through June 7 on FST’s cabaret stage. 366-9000.

Love…Sung in the Key of Aretha. Westcoast Black Theatre artistic director Nate Jacobs’ world premiere, featuring the music made famous by the Queen of Soul. May 9-17 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

The Long Weekend. A comedy of manners by Norm Foster, set during a weekend visit between two couples. Onstage May 8-18 at the Island Players. 778-5755.

Ragtime. The sweeping musical adapted from the quintessentially American stories of E.L. Doctorow’s book takes to the stage May 8-25 at the Manatee Players Riverfront Theatre. 748-5875.

Disney’s the Lion King. Julie Taymor’s magical stage interpretation of the Disney musical film comes to life May 8 through June 22 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. (800) 955-1045.

The Hobbit. Tolkien’s classic tale of elves, wizards, dragons, a ring and one small hobbit named Bilbo Baggins turns up on the Venice Little Theatre stage, May 8-18. 488-1115.

Lady. A new play by Craig Wright, producer of Lost and a writer for Six Feet Under, which places three old buddies on a hunting trip that may change their relationships forever. Onstage May 9 through June 1 in an Asolo Rep production at the Cook Theatre. 351-8000.

Chicago. The Bob Fosse hit is razzle-dazzlin’ ’em May 13 through July 6 over at the Golden Apple. 366-5454.

Come Blow Your Horn. Neil Simon’s early comedy, about a pair of brothers, one swinging, one not, trying to escape their parents’ demands. Onstage May 13-26 at Venice Little Theatre. 488-1115.

Working: A Musical. Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso adapted the true stories in Studs Terkel’s book about workers in all walks of life; it runs May 16 through June 8 at Asolo Rep. 351-8000.

The Rocky Horror Show. Brad and Janet, Frank-n-Furter, Riff Raff and the whole crazy gang are back in this ever popular musical, onstage May 24 through June 14 at VLT’s Stage II. 488-1115.

The Players Performing Arts Studio Spectacular Showcase. Songs, dance and a tribute to TV Land, May 30 and 31 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.