Sarasota Orchestra, Bradenton Riverwalk, Sarasota Opera: Art News

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Here’s the latest art news in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas.

Sarasota Orchestra, Musicians Ratify Labor Agreement

The Sarasota Orchestra and the American Federation of Musicians Florida Gulf Coast, Local 427-721, finalized a three-year collective bargaining agreement ratified by the Symphonic Musicians Sarasota.

Effective for the 2023-2024 season through the 2025-2026 season, the successor agreement includes a 5 percent annual wage increase for each year of the agreement, according to a news release.

Other highlights of the agreement include:

• Transition of second wind positions to assistant principal positions upon audition.
• Increased compensation for musicians’ travel expenses.
• Instrument insurance for contracted “full orchestra musicians” who work on a per-service basis.
• An increase in the employer contribution to the 403(b)-retirement plan.

“Songs for a New World” Opening at Manatee Performing Arts Center

Producing Artistic Director Rick Kerby and the Manatee Players proudly present Jason Robert Brown's first musical, “Songs for a New World,” September 14-24 in Bradenton Kiwanis Theater at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.

Neal Addison makes his directorial debut with musical direction by Alexander Zickafoose and costume design by Caren Brady, according to a news release.

This abstract musical will be produced at MPAC for the first time.

This show features a series of songs all connected by a theme: "the moment of decision" examining life, love, and the choices made. This is the first musical from Tony Award winner, Jason Robert Brown (whose musical “Parade” will be on stage at MPAC in March 2024).

Brown transports his audience from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge, 57 stories above Fifth Avenue, to meet a startling array of characters that range from a young man who has determined that basketball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams... and a soulless marriage, according to the news release.

Tickets for performances can be arranged by calling Dan Yonko at (941) 749-1111 x104.

Art Uptown Gallery Closing After 43 Years in Downtown Sarasota

After 43 years in downtown Sarasota, Art Uptown Gallery will close its doors for good this month because the building it’s called home for decades has been sold.

“The gallery was unable to negotiate a lease price that would allow us to continue,” Melanie Carlstein, board president, said in a statement.

“We are grateful for the community-mindedness of our previous landlords, the Heritage family, who kept the rent affordable for working artists all these years,” the arts co-op wrote in a Facebook post. “Now a new landlord has increased the rent to a level we cannot afford. We have no choice but to close the gallery at the end of this month.”

Art Uptown, “like many other local galleries and arts organizations … has fallen prey to the changing priorities of real estate investors and the challenging atmosphere of support for the visual arts,” a news release said.

The artist-owned gallery, located at 1367 Main Street, announced its closure earlier this month, but has “loaded the gallery for a farewell” to local art lovers on Saturday, according to a recent Facebook post.

Sarasota Opera Signs Lease for 19,000-Square-Foot Space

The Sarasota Opera has signed the first new lease at the recently redeveloped industrial park SRQ Distribution Campus.

Leasing entire Building 3 in the park – located at 7201 15th St E in Sarasota – the Sarasota Opera’s space includes 1,500 square feet of office space and 17,500 square feet of warehouse space, which it will use for storage, according to a news release.

Melissa Harris, CCIM, SIOR, and Steve Horn, CCIM, of Ian Black Real Estate represented the landlord, 7201 15th St LLC — a partnership entity that includes Cary Hicks, Ken Pierce and Mark Levey — in the lease transaction. John Harshman of Harshman & Company represented the tenant.

“This property is a great fit for the Sarasota Opera and their needs,” said Harris, partner at Ian Black Real Estate. “It’s fully air-conditioned, close to downtown Sarasota, has loading docks — which is hard to find close to downtown — and a 26-foot clear-height, allowing for extra upward space for stacking items even though the footprint is relatively small.”

In April 2022, 7201 15th St LLC broke ground to develop three additional buildings totaling almost 60,000 square feet in the industrial park previously known as Biotech Campus. Construction of the three roughly 20,000-square-foot warehouses is expected to be completed on Sept. 15.

The development significantly expanded the industrial park, which also includes an existing vacant 18,800-square-foot office building that recently underwent extensive renovation, and a 12,500-square-foot warehouse leased to a long-term tenant.

Sculpture Chosen For Mineral Springs Park At Bradenton Riverwalk: City

The public art for Mineral Springs Park at Riverwalk East has been chosen by Bradenton’s Community Redevelopment Agency’s Public Art Advisory Board, according to a news release from the city.

“The Singing River” by artist Reinaldo Correa will be installed in the park by next spring.
Correa calls the project a “testament to the rich cultural heritage of Bradenton,” the news release said.

The artwork will light up between day and night and by capturing the wind, will create a soothing sound.

At a community input meeting in June, 65 percent of participants chose a color combination depicting sunset, the city said.

Kiosks explaining the historic significance the park has played in Bradenton will also be installed near the artwork.

Choral Artists of Sarasota Announce Upcoming Season

The Choral Artists of Sarasota’s 45th season features six concerts in November, December, February, March, April and May.

A season highlight includes the Florida premiere of “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight” by Florence Price, an African-American composer whose works were lost during the middle of the 20th century and later discovered in an attic trunk in 2009, according to a news release.

Another season highlight is a performance of Craig Hella Johnson’s “Considering Matthew Shepard,” a modern-day “Passion” (modeled after the great “Passions” of J.S. Bach) that tells the story of Matthew Shepard, a gay American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured and left to die near Laramie on the night of Oct. 6, 1998.

This season also marks the launch of the group’s United We Stand Memorial Day concert, a moving tribute to those in the armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This concert serves as the kick-off for the Choral Artists’ tour to France to participate in the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.

“In the kaleidoscope of choral performances offered this season, each concert features a unique tribute, commemoration, celebration or recognition of people and events that have made a difference in our lives. From the movies to the military to Matthew Shepard, we have all been touched and inspired by their impact, each telling a story resonating deep within us,” Artistic Director Joseph Holt said.

He added, “The medium of choral music, a magical marriage of words and music, takes us on this musical journey like no other. Our season concludes with a musical salute to the brave men and women who fought in World War II, and we are honored to be representing the people of Florida and the United States by participating in the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, in 2024.”

Holt will also illuminate the creative process, presenting “Meet the Music” prior to each concert throughout the season. Each will focus on the upcoming concert with a special guest joining the conversation and performance. “Meet the Music” programs are held at Art to Walk On at 16 South Palm Ave. in downtown Sarasota, 5:30 to 7 p.m., with a wine and hors d’oeuvre reception. Planned dates are Nov. 2 and 30, February 1 and 29, April 4, and May 16.