Art News: Venice Theatre Benefit, Sara Berman’s Closet, Players’ Hire

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Check out the latest art news in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas.

Holiday Cabaret to Benefit Venice Theatre

A Holiday Cabaret hosted Saturday evening by the Manatee Performing Arts Center will benefit the Venice Theatre, which lost the roof of its main auditorium during Hurricane Ian. Saturday’s show takes place at 2 p.m.

“This special event will unite many of the stars from our stage and theirs to bring some joy, entertainment, laughter and tender moments to celebrate this season of giving,” MPAC wrote in a news release. “The Holiday Cabaret is dedicated to the recovery and rebuild of the Venice Theatre after Hurricane Ian.”

The Venice Theatre Board will match all gifts to the theater up to $500,000 through Dec. 31, the performing arts center said. All proceeds from Saturday’s show goes directly to the theater.

Tickets to the show can be purchased online here. The show can also be streamed Monday for a donation here. Anyone interested in donating directly to the theater can do so here.

Sara Berman’s Closet Opens Feb. 5 at Sarasota Art Museum

The Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College will present Sara Berman’s Closet from Feb. 5 through May 7. Sara Berman’s Closet is “a one-of-a-kind art installation” by artist-author Maira Kalman and designer-artist Alex Kalman inspired by the life of Maira’s mother and Alex’s grandmother, Sara Berman (1920–2004), the museum said in a news release.

The installation is “an exploration of independence, feminism, identity, family and memory,” according to the museum. It recreates “Berman’s modest, meticulously organized closet,” where she kept her all-white apparel and accessories after reinventing herself after leaving her husband in her sixties.

“In addition to providing insight into Berman’s life, the exhibition reflects an important American story of immigration and acculturation,” the museum said.

The exhibition also includes 10 original paintings by Maira Kalman, each one depicting a different scene from her mother’s life. These scenes range from Berman’s childhood to her married to her life in New York City after immigrating. It also includes objects from her life.

Berman was a Jewish émigré from Belarus who spent her life between Israel and New York City. She left her husband after 38 years of marriage at age 60, packing a single suitcase and returned alone to New York from Tel Aviv. She moved into a small studio apartment in Greenwich Village to be near her family.

Father-And-Daughter Artists Parody Famous Works in Book

A father-and-daughter artist duo from Bradenton have parodied famous art works — from Van Gogh to Picasso — in their new book, “There’s A Goose In My Bed.”

Ken and Kim Snyder collaborated on the book after Ken was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2018 as a way to bond, according to ABC Action News.

“The name of the book is, 'There’s A Goose In My Bed,' and it’s about a time-traveling goose who visits very famous artists, painters throughout history, and he finagles a way to get into the paintings somehow,” said Ken.

They’ll be at The Salvador Dali Museum Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. for a signing. One of the scenes is inspired by Dali’s “Persistence of Memory.”

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Announces January Programs

The Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota will present three concerts in January: Grammy Award-nominated Dover Quartet on Jan. 10 at the Historic Asolo Theater; husband/wife duo Kerry Wilkerson, bass-baritone, and Danielle Talamantes, soprano, on Jan. 18 at Plantation Golf and Country Club; and violinist Steven Moeckel with pianist Joanna Goldstein on Jan. 29 and 30 at the Fischer/Weisenborne residence, according to a news release. For more information and tickets, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call (941) 306-1202.

The Players Hires New Artistic Director

The nonprofit community theater The Players has hired a new artistic director, Steven H. Butler, who will take on the position starting Feb. 27.

Butler has roots in the area, growing up in Sarasota and graduating from Sarasota High School, according to a news release from the theater. He joins The Players from Gainesville, where he most served as executive director of Florida Theatre Conference, Inc., and as executive/artistic director and co-founder of The Actor’s Warehouse, Inc.

“His work with FTC saw him refine and develop the organization’s mission and objectives while interfacing with state, regional and national organizations to ensure FTC adopted best practices in community engagement, access and inclusion,” according to The Players’ news release. “At AW, Butler guided the nonprofit’s creation and relocation from an unassuming storefront to a historic church built in 1928 and then through the pandemic.”

The theater’s CEO, William Skaggs, said, “Steven’s experience and skills checked off every important box for The Players. His experience goes beyond the artistic and operational competencies and into our community engagement mission, a key reason he is such a great fit for us.”

Circus Arts Conservatory Presents ‘Sailor Circus Holiday Special’

The renowned youth circus arts program Circus Arts Conservatory’s Sailor Circus Academy shares the joy of the holidays during seven shows Dec. 28-31.

The “Sailor Circus Holiday Special” presents students ages 8 to 18 as they “flip, fly and soar to new heights,” according to a news release from the organization. “Patrons of all ages will enjoy the spirit of the holiday season while being wowed by acts showcasing stunning aerial artistry, heart-stopping acrobatics, light-hearted comedy and more.”

This year’s show finds inspiration for its circus acts from classic holiday television shows and movies — including “A Christmas Story,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Home Alone,” “The Nutcracker,” “Polar Express” and “Elf.”

Acts include trampoline, acrobatics, hammock, unicycle, lyra, dance trapeze, skating, juggling, high wire and flying trapeze, plus two brand new acts: solo aerial pole and Cyr wheel.

Tickets can be purchased online here.