Muralist Meet-Up

2/21/2024

The Public Art Program invites local muralists, visual artists, and all who are interested to learn more about the City's mural initiatives to our third information and networking session. 

To RSVP or for more information, email publicart@sarasotafl.gov.

Earth Mother Restoration

2/21/2024

Earth Mother by Jack Cartlidge has undergone restoration by Jack Cartlidge's son, Randy Cartlidge. Earth Mother, along with all of Jack Cartlidge’s pieces in the collection are scheduled to be restored by Randy and his team.

Click here to view Earth Mother restoration photos.

Muralist Meet-Up 

1/10/2024

The Public Art Program invites local muralists, visual artists, and all who are interested to learn more about the City's mural initiatives to our second information and networking session. 

To RSVP or for more information, email publicart@sarasotafl.gov.

Sarasota Colony Artists and the Florida Highwaymen

10/12/2023

Sarasota is known as the “Art Mecca” of the Gulf Coast. But how did Sarasota, a quiet beach village, become a renowned art center, home of the “Colony Artists”? In this session, learn about these famous resident artists and what brought them to Sarasota. Discover how the Florida Highwaymen parallel this exciting time. Follow the timeline of both groups, working at the same time, on opposite coasts. OLLI membership ($25) required.

October 13, 2023 from 11:00am-12:20pm

Presented by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

Sarasota Art Museum, Ringling College Museum Campus, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236

Cost: $15

Contact: (941) 309-5111 olliringlingcollege.org

Rescheduled and New Location: Muralist Meet-Up

The City of Sarasota Public Art Program invites local muralists, visual artists, and all who are interested to learn more about the City's mural initiatives, to a special information and networking session. 

Thank you to the Lois + David Stulberg Gallery for offering the beautiful gallery space for this meeting.

To RSVP or for more information, email publicart@sarasotafl.gov.

Public Art for Public Health with Mary Davis Wallace

7/18/2023

Click on the link below to listen to Dot Dot Dot's podcast featuring Public Art Program Lead and Senior Planner Mary Davis Wallace as she discusses the City of Sarasota's proposed Public Art Plan and the many benefits of public art.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Circus Ring of Fame Annual TV Awards

4/25/2023

The Circus Ring of Fame annual TV awards show is available for online viewing and sharing. 

Bill Powell, Chair/CEO of the Circus Ring Fame Foundation, has provided an explanation of the program below:

It's the most unique awards show ever and takes place right here is Sarasota every year. The Circus Ring of Fame annual TV awards show is part Hollywood Walk of Fame and Oscars combined. Celebrating the highest of achievement in Circus Arts and Culture, the 2023 show honors the careers of clown/educator Peggy Williams, circus priest Father Jerry Hogan, equestrienne Jeanette Williams, and hand balancing duo Alexis Brothers. The Show also features Generation NeXt award winners Daniella Arata and Annaliese Nock. Hosted by Joseph Domenick Bauer and comedy sidekick Chris Allison with special guest presenters that read like a who’s who of global circus arts.

Public Art Committee Selected 3 Finalists

11/14/2022

Roundabouts vs. Traffic Signals

11/10/2022

View the video below discussing the benefits of roundabouts as well as having artwork in roundabouts by American Journalist John Stossel. 

Mr. Red Update

10/4/2022

Mr. Red took a tumble during hurricane Ian and received superficial damage due to a fallen tree. We took this opportunity to consider future wear and tear to the sculpture and are performing some much-needed improvements to Mr. Red’s infrastructure and base to withstand future impacts.

Keep checking this page for more updates on public art maintenance and repairs.

Recently Restored Public Art

8/9/2022

"The Butterfly Lady" by artist August Moreau was  recently restored as part of the City's Public Art Maintenance program. Artist and restorative experts Jon Dowd and Wayne Dyer from Bronzart took great care to remove and 

replace the artwork in order to clean, patina, and wax the beloved piece. In collaboration with the City's Sculpture on Loan program, "The Butterfly Lady" currently resides at the Florida Studio Theatre. they are delighted to have the artwork and were happy to contribute to the cleaning and upkeep of the work as part of the program. 

Celebrating Local Artists with Three New Murals

5/30/2022

We All Create by Annie Crouch

1379 DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WAY SARASOTA, FL, 34234

Building Owner: Mr. Carlos Jones

Artist statement: 

“My work is my way of discussing and dissecting human behavior and the invisible shared connections we have amongst us all. Whether it’s through painting, drawing, sculpture, or a combination of mediums, my work is at its core about exploration. My experimentation across different mediums and materials in my studio practice reflects the exploration I take to learn about, decipher, and express societal behavior in my work. To me, public art is the best and most genuine avenue to have conversations with others about these concepts. I have been doing public murals for both homes and businesses since 2017. Although I am a young artist, I strive to have my work make a powerful impact on the communities that I share it with.” 

Statement for the piece:

The piece is located in Newtown, nestled directly in between the local neighborhood and the Ringling College campus. Owned by Newtown local Mr. Carlos Jones, the building has gone unused for several years; this piece was meant to bring life and color to the building and the area. The concept for the piece is that all humans, no matter their background, are capable of creation. The design celebrates two different avenues of creation expressed by the Newtown community; the African style comedy/tragedy masks and music represent the local Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and other performers and musicians of Newtown, while the fruit on the opposite side highlights the Newtown Farmers Market held weekly directly across the street from the wall. I chose to represent one more traditionally accepted form of creative expression (theater, music, performance) and one avenue that is less likely to be considered as “creative”, but is still to me an inherent form of creating (growing produce and feeding your community). This mural, especially encapsulated by the text in the center, works as a message to the community of Newtown and anyone else who sees it that they too, can create.  

Acknowledgments: 

I give so many thanks to the City of Sarasota CRA and Office of Public Art, as well as Mr. Jones and the Newtown citizens for allowing me the opportunity to create this piece. 

For more information about Annie Crouch click here.

Reveille by Danielle Glaysher

124 S TUTTLE AVE SARASOTA, FL, 34237

Building Owner: Veterans of Foreign Wars Sunshine Post 3233

Artist Statement:

"This artwork was a collaboration between my vision and that of the Veterans of this VFW; their stance, patriotism and point of view were considered in the creation of this mural, and it was my honor to serve and honor them with my gifts and talents."

Statement for the piece:

Background: I had the privilege of being raised in Madrid, Spain because my parents were hired by the Department of Defense Dependents Schools abroad. The US Air Force Base at Torrejon, became our community, our school and our education throughout being raised (19 years) until I left for Sarasota, where I attended and graduated from the Ringling College of Art and Design.  In a Military Base experience, I learned the power of the American culture, the beauty and the realities of a foreign country, the systems that operate within the Base and many things that make the experience so valuable: military/world news, ranks and officers, bicultural perspectives and the richness of being a part of a powerful nation of the USA as seen from outside the United States.

Initially I had presented the project to the veterans at their monthly VFW meeting, and they gave input as to what they wanted to see painted on their building (as well as what they did not want). The group expressed seeing characters from the Civil and Revolutionary wars as well as the representation of the differing branches of the military, including that of the MASH unit. In representing soldiers, I then came up with silhouettes of the different uniforms and chose this way to honor the attributes that are unique to each military branch, and also recognize that no race or gender differs while in the respective uniform. 

As Americans, we are united by the history of our flag and of our Constitutions promises, thus these were unifying elements and a backdrop for this mural. I have titled it "Reveille"; a call made by the Bugler (Starting character on Left) who calls to the military in his Civil War uniform.  Through the pages of history and time, the Spirit of '76 Revolutionary soldier/musicians merge, echoing the famous painting by Archibald Willard, yet taking artistic license to depict a more varied racial diversity, led by a Black soldier from Left to Right, followed by immigrant faces who play their drums and flutes through timeless battles and whose faces show emotions of sadness, anger and horror at the realities of war. A smoky look around them makes it feels as if they are peeking out from the pages of history. Sprays of paint reflect not only random explosions, sacrifice in blood and the lost innocence and yet also celebration of how far we have come as a nation; also the fact that they are also musicians, shows how the arts serve as an instrument of humanities march through towards freedom! In our American Flag, the stripes represent the original 13 Colonies and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. The aircraft carrier in the blue of the flag is also a backdrop metaphorically representing sky and Sea. Also within the red and white stripes, a sunset behind the standing soldiers on the right side has a background that is desolate, signifying the destruction caused by war; also the fact that they are not facing the viewer, shows their duty and commitment to watch and respond to what is happening, thus giving the viewer a sense of being protected by those that defend. In the upper right is the "missing man formation", a tribute by fighter jets to a fallen soldier. The jet on the right side shows the pilot climbing as if, into the sky, while Rosie the Riveter looks on as a jet decal and as a symbol to those that stayed and supported the war efforts from home. The POW flag is also painted on a Huey helicopter (upper left), so we remember that we still have prisoners of war and those missing in action.

Acknowledgments:

Bee Yourself by Brandon Thrift

2110 ADAMS LN SARASOTA, FL, 34237

Building Owner: City of Sarasota/Café in the Park  (Vendor)

Artist Statement:

"Working with Big Brothers Big Sisters was nothing short of an absolute pleasure. The overall concept for the Bee Yourself mural was to artistically approach the principles of community involvement, all while creatively exploring self expression through individuality.  A main accomplishment of creating this mural is the hope of instilling these types of developmental experiences, while giving the youth a chance to freely express themselves in a supportive and loving artistic environment."

Statement for the piece:

Bee Yourself is a collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Sarasota program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, local artist Brandon Thrift, and the City of Sarasota Office of Public Art.

Brandon, with the help of the artistic team, produced the Bee Yourself theme to invite ‘Bigs and Littles’ to pick up a brush and paint a bee as part of this interactive mural celebrating a collaborative event which took place on April 23, 2022.

Brandon, a Sarasota native, has produced thousands of works celebrating his “Spread Love” mural campaign all over Sarasota and beyond. For more information about Brandon Thrift and his work, click here.

For more information about the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce programs click here.

Sarasota Leading the State in Public Art

5/12/2022

Click here to view an article from WGCU discussing Sarasota's innovative public artworks, the City's approach to public art, and the City of Sarasota's Public Art Program.