The 4th Annual Sarasota Chalk Festival will begin Nov. 1 and continue through Nov. 7 in historic Burns Square. The theme this year is ‘Pavement Art Through the Ages’ and the world-famous guest artist Kurt Wenner, the ‘father’ of 3-D street art, will be on hand to create art as well as offer seven public lectures. Wenner is credited with being the innovator of 3-D pavement art, also known as chalk art, street painting, and 3-D sidewalk art. In 1982, while studying classical architecture and perspective, Wenner combined geometry with drawing and classical design principles and started creating …

Call it innovative, entrepreneurial, creative, or any number of out-of-the-box descriptive words that come to mind. It's a new idea in town, one geared to keeping young talent here instead of having them leave. Local artists/students/entrepreneurs Brett Lindstrom and Van Jazmin have started a business called Established Now that offers a broad range of visual media, social media and branding. Collaborating with entrepreneur, Austin Kowal, owner of Clothesline, the two businesses came together Saturday night to feature the paintings of local artist and Ringling student, Walter Matthews, in a …

The theme of this year's Sarasota Chalk Festival is “Pavement Art Through the Ages” and beginning November 1 local and international artists will once again transform South Pineapple Avenue into a canvas of show-stopping art, square by square, block by block. "The quality of this chalk festival is not just the talk of the town, it's the talk of the world right now," said chalk festival administrator Ed Pandos. "Newspapers in Europe are writing about our festival and we are being contacted by artists from all over the world asking to participate. We are going to be the super bowl of chalk." …

The Artful Giraffe, located at 313 John Ringling Boulevard on St. Armand’s Circle, has opened a paint- your-own-pottery studio within the store. “I took the back portion of the store and have made it in to a pottery painting area and classroom space," said owner Michele Myers. "People can come in and paint pottery on their own or design fused glass projects."  In addition, the store will host local artisans who will teach a wide array of art classes. “We have had a wonderful welcome from local residents and visitors. So many of our customers are creative, or want to be, and have asked for …

Wednesday morning at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the Kennedy Center announced that it is committed to working together with Sarasota to develop a long-range plan for arts education for every child in grades K-8.  Thundering applause filled the room as the program was explained. The plan, Any Given Child, will incorporate existing resources from the Sarasota County School District with those of local arts organizations and the Kennedy Center. The goal is to create a comprehensive arts education plan for the district. Any Given Child seeks to bring access, balance and equity to each …

You may have noticed that Tube Dudes are appearing around Sarasota. You see some of them in front of homes gently cradling mailboxes, some at businesses dressed in trendy garb, and some just flash you a peace sign as you drive by. In addition to the Tube Dude there are female dudettes, dogs, cats, flamingos and now there is a request for a parrot. All of them have great big smiles on their faces and 99 percent of the time, so will you when you see them. The brainchild of local artist/entrepreneur Scott Gerber, Tube Dude began with a flash of unexplainable whimsy. As Gerber was driving in …

The Art Center Sarasota kicks off its 2011 summer camp on June 13 with ten weeks of art-infused classes designed to captivate and engage your children and teens during the upcoming summer days. Classes are designed to run for a full week each, from 9:30am - 3pm, Monday through Friday. They are separated into children's classes, ages 6-11, and teen classes, ages 12-17.  The cost is $195 a week for ACS members and $245 a week for non-members. The Children's Camps are as follows: Week 1: June 13-17 -- It's All Greek Week 2: June 20-24 -- Sea Creatures Week 3: June 27-July 1 -- Amusement Park …

Embracing Our Differences, the international outdoor art exhibit in Sarasota's downtown Bayfront Park, features 39 billboard size artistic images interpreting the message to "enrich lives through celebrating diversity."  More than 2,600 artistic submissions were submitted this year from 48 countries, 29 states and 86 schools. The resulting exhibit includes thought-provoking artwork as well as memorable quotes.  Kathleen Hagan-Rogerson, a 7th grader at Booker Middle School won the Best Quotation prize for her sentiment:  "I never knew how much words hurt until they were aimed at me." Embracing…

You are cordially invited to come see the new mural and waterfall that graces the entrance to Haile Middle School. Once there, Take a few minutes to read the inspirational words inscribed by the students on leaves crafted from clay and relax on the benches next to the soothing waterfall.  The Learning Takes Flight Project , which was a mural project that special needs students helped create, is now complete. The students who participated in each phase of the project are thrilled with their work.  Without spreading the word on Facebook and Twitter, this project may not have happened. We are …

Barbara Gerdeman, a local faux finishing and mural artist, will lay out the mural design on the media center wall at Haile Middle School this week and then we begin painting our highly-anticipated project.  Months of fundraising have enabled us to secure enough funding to purchase most of the supplies and materials. Earlier this week Yea Arts became the co-sponsor of the project with a $400 donation that matched that of Haile's PTA.  That contribution, combined with $1,200 in funds raised through Facebook and Patch.com has enabled us to begin working with the 90 special needs students to …

Each year Southside Elementary School (K-5) in Sarasota holds a "Celebrate Learning Day" to introduce their 700 students to artistic opportunities and venues here in Sarasota. Thursday's celebration included ballerinas, circus performers, artists, actors and film makers who shared their expertise and craft through hands-on activities. Denise Kowal from the Sarasota Chalk Festival passed out colored chalk to eager young artists who then created individual works of art on the blacktop. Ballerina's from the Sarasota Ballet performed on stage and then taught the students a modern dance sequence…

The iconcept fashion show, Art Center Sarasota's annual fundraiser, was packed with fans and supporters Friday night.  For one and one-half hours, local artists dazzled the audience with unique one-of-a-kind fashions. With models wearing everything from recycled rubber tire skirts and halters to newspaper and paint chip dresses, Sarasota was once again treated to an evening of fun, creativity and inspiration.  Local artisans created wildly inspiring clothing for the event and alternately amused and shocked the audience by their clothing creations. Held annually, iconcept, is the Art Center …

With his foot on the mend and a few dollars in his pocket, from commissioned sales made while he was laid up in the hospital, David hit the streets with a renewed zest.  He went back to fixing cars and continued to bend wire into beautiful creatures. Christmas was coming and a friend of mine, Becki Forsell of Yes! America, called me to check on David.  When I mentioned that I planned to buy him something for Christmas she asked for his clothing sizes.  Not thinking any more about it, weeks went by and Forsell called asking me to come to Sun City to pick up some Christmas presents for David.  …

There was standing room only last night at madeby gallery where Roy Nichols’ paintings are featured this month.  Ringling College’s president, deans and the mayor of Sarasota were just some of the dignitaries in attendance to view Nichols' paintings. Born in 1928 into two generations of U.S. Army officers, Nichols originally planned to have a career in the military.  He attended West Point Military Academy and served two years in the Army Airborne before taking advantage of the GI Bill and enrolling in the Ringling School of Art. Finding his true calling while attending Ringling School of Art…

This is the second part of a series about David. To read part one, please click here.  Life on the streets constantly presents new challenges.  David went from being a happily married homeowner who worked on airplane engines and enjoyed racing motorcycles in Miami, to a life of instability, uncertainty and loneliness. In a few quick snorts, David had become a serious drug addict, unable to control his urges, spiraling down into an abyss that lasted 22 years.  His wife became addicted too, but was eventually able to clean herself up by entering a drug treatment program.  When she pleaded with …

I met David a year ago at Tommy Bahama’s  on St. Armands circle when the store hosted its bi-annual art sale to showcase the art of Sarasota’s homeless. With steel drum music wafting out to the street, the store quickly filled with people eager to see the newest paintings created by a small group of homeless artists.  In the center of the store was David surrounded by his intricate wire sculptures.  A giraffe stood five feet tall, a horse reared back on its hind legs and an eagle archly fought off a coiled viper.  The eagle’s wing span was wider than my arms could spread and I stood in awe …

 A project at Haile Middle School aims to have 90 special needs students actively participate in creating an outdoor mural that holds their dreams and aspirations within hand-crafted clay leaves imbedded in painted banyan trees.  Those same students would also help construct a stream and waterfall and plant native plants in the process. To make this mural a reality local artists are seeking $10 donations to kick off this amazing visual arts project. This  project was conceived by local artist Brenda Smoak in conjunction with Holly Clouse, a learning strategies teacher at Haile Middle School. …

A bright, colorful new gallery, The Artful Giraffe, has opened on St. Armand’s Circle.  With a focus on local art and artists, owner Michele Myers is brightening the Circle with uplifting art created by a wide array of artists.  Myers intent is to represent artists whose desire is to enhance others’ lives and whose artwork lifts one’s spirits.  It looks like she’s succeeding nicely. Customers are already commenting about how happy and uplifted they feel while in the gallery.  Asked why she named the gallery The Artful Giraffe, Myers smiles and said that she had two incredible grandmothers …

Exquisitely executed and bursting with color and scent, Ringling in Bloom opens beautifully with twenty-nine floral designers participating from garden clubs along Florida’s Suncoast.  Each floral arrangement is inspired by a masterpiece from the museum’s collection.   The three Fs – flowers, food, and fashion merge to create a spectacular showing of the best of the best.  From February 4th through 6th a variety of events take place at the Museum, including: February 4th at 10:30am and 2pm, at the Asolo Theater:  Take the grand tour and attend a lecture and demonstration with Dutch Master …

This Friday, January 7th,  Selby Library rocks in 2011 by hosting 30 diverse performers who will donate their time, talent and services to benefit the construction of a new teen center within the library.  Twelve local restaurants will provide a variety of tasty treats for you to sample during the evening performances. In the mood for a little jazz, cabaret and mandolin? Have you had your fortune read for 2011?  Do you love improve dance and performing artists?  If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then make your way to the Library at 1331 First Street, Sarasota (across from the …