Art Center Sarasota Announces 2017-18 Season

Art Center Sarasota's 2017-2018 exhibition season, entitled "New and Now," showcases the works of professional and emerging artists living and working in Florida and around the nation. The season, which runs October 12, 2017, through October 5, 2018, comprises seven exhibition cycles, most encompassing up to four exhibits.

According to Art Center Sarasota curators Nathan Skiles and Dustin Juengel, the upcoming season will feature two significant site-specific installations.

"Multidisciplinary installation artist Abhidnya 'abhi' Ghuge will create thousands of large-scale woodblock prints on paper plates," notes Skiles, "Her process will transform a normally disposable, mass-produced object into permanent art and create an interactive experience for the viewer." Originally from India and a dermatologist by pervious profession, Ghuge says she draws inspiration from Indian henna designs, the microscopic and macro world, and the cultural landscape of America.

Juengel adds that Akiko Kotani's "Floating Cubes" installation will mesmerize viewers with the surprising power and attraction of simplicity. "Her minimalist piece is simplicity itself-two 48" cubes draped in plastic resembling a soft blanket." The artist will crochet the plastic. According to Juengel, "It's a tribute to her mother's handiwork."

John Pirman's illustrations of Sarasota's modernist architecture are a Sarasota Magazine staple. The artist also designed holiday cards for the Museum of Modern Art. This exhibition of his work, curated by Juengel, will put his cleanly geometric architectural illustrations in a new context and allow viewers to take it on its own terms.

Viewers will also get a rare chance of seeing the world according to Jeff Schwartz in a survey of the artist's large-scale, black-and-white interior drawings and paintings, entitled "Interior. Skiles notes that this exhibition is curated by Ann-Marie Russell, director of the Sarasota Museum of Art.

Peter Gaztambide, a native of Puerto Rico who grew up in Miami, will delight the viewer with the kinetic energy of his jazzy, colorful abstractions. "His art is technically static," says Juengel, "But it dances in your eye."

2017-2018 Season: A Quick Glance

Cycle 1 (October 19-December 1) features "Last Stop Before Utopia," a curated exhibit of landscape paintings; "Tempus Projects," with guest curators; and a site-specific installation called "Slow Turbulence" by Abhidnya Ghuge. "First Impressions," an open, juried exhibit is October 12- December 1. Opening reception for all four exhibits is October 19, 5-7 p.m.

Cycle 2 (December 14-January 19) features works by "Works by Jeff Schwartz," curated by Anne-Marie Russell; "Floating Cubes," a site-specific exhibition by Akiko Kotani; and the ASC Instructors Show. "New and Now," an open, juried exhibition is December 7-January 12. The opening reception for all four exhibits is December 14, 5-7 p.m.

Cycle 3 (February 1-March 9) features "My Sarasota," a solo exhibit of work by John Pirman; a solo exhibit of work by George Pratt. "ASALH: Black Muse 2018," is a curated exhibit of works by member artists of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. "Art from the Heart," an open, juried exhibit, is January 25-March 2. The opening reception for all four exhibits is February 1, 5-7 p.m.

Cycle 4 (March 15-April 20) features "Spectrum III," a group show that embodies the work of three artists; "iconcept: A 10-Year Retrospective"; "New Reality," a group show; and "Real - Not Real," an open, peer-juried exhibit. The opening reception for all four exhibits is March 15, 5-7 p.m.

(April 23-May 7) features an exhibit by students from north Sarasota County schools and an exhibit of works by students from Booker High School's VPA program. The Spring Art Show is May 10-17. The opening reception day and time will be announced.

Cycle 5 (May 24-June 29) features "Painting as Object," a group exhibit and another exhibit TBA. An exhibit of works by Peter Gaztambide and "Possibilities," a members-only, juried exhibit are May 17-June 29. The opening reception for all four exhibits is May 24, 5-7 p.m.

Cycle 6: (July 5-August 10) "Florida's Finest," an all-media, all-subject juried exhibition highlighting the talented artists of the Sunshine State, is in all galleries. The opening reception is July 5, 5-7 p.m.

Cycle 7 (August 30-October 5) features "Looking Forward Towards the Past," a group exhibit; works by Stephen McMennamy; and a student project. "Elsewhere," an open, juried exhibit, is August 23-September 28. The opening reception for all four exhibits is August 30, 5-7 p.m.

Art Center Sarasota will present iconcept jr. the second annual runway show of unconventional fashions made by youth ages 8-16 on September 24, noon-2 p.m., at Art Center Sarasota. Tickets are $25 for youth under 18; $50 for adults over 18. There are also VIP tickets for $75.

The 10th annual Beaux Arts Ball / iconcept unconventional fashion event will be on May 11, 2018, at the Van Wezel Grand Foyer. Details TBA.

For more information about Art Center Sarasota, call 941-365-2032 or visit www.artsarasota.org.

About Art Center Sarasota

Art Center Sarasota was the first arts and cultural institution in Sarasota. It was founded in 1926 as the "Sarasota Art Association" by Marcia Rader, the art supervisor for the Sarasota County schools district. In the early years, the group met monthly and sponsored exhibits in rented facilities. The Association was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1943 and has been in its current location in the Sarasota Bayfront Cultural District since 1949. Art Center Sarasota is now a membership-based organization that offers curated and juried exhibitions, adult and youth education programs, outreach initiatives for underserved youth, and culturally related public programming. Art Center Sarasota's mission is to inspire individual creative expression, nurture artistic talent and provide the community with accessible and diverse visual art opportunities.

To post a comment, you must register and login.