Creators and Collectors Tour this weekend
A rousing luncheon was held by the Fine Arts Society of Sarasota (FASS) at the Bird Key Yacht Club. The occasion was to introduce the five artists who open their studios for the Creators and Collectors Tour taking place March 12 and 13 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. In this two-day, self-guided tour, the public has a rare opportunity to see works in progress, talk with individual artists, and experience how these artists create.
In the words of Dr. Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design: "Fine Arts is about personal expression … We want to destroy the myth of the starving artist. We want to prove the extraordinary economic value that artists can bring to our life, to our work, and to our world."
Dr. Thompson’s vision is that Ringling College will become the preeminent institution for art and design in the world. Indeed, four of the five artists on the 2010 Creators and Collectors Tour are Ringling graduates, an indication that his vision is coming into being.
Nat McCulloch and Robert Gelinas at the Fine Arts Society luncheon for the Creators and Collectors Tour March 12 and 13. Photos by Kenney DeCamp.
The studio artists who attended Ringling College are: painters Joseph Patrick Arnegger, Tim Jaeger, David Piurek; and sculptor Scott Moore. Mixed media artist Susan Klein took a different educational path, earning a Master of Arts degree from Kent State University. As with the others, Susan has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors.
Another stop on the Creators and Collectors Tour is Ringling College campus, where FASS presents a major art exhibit at the dramatic and new Ulla Searing Student Center. Here you will meet 12 more artists, all from south Sarasota Country, displaying a variety of work from pottery to painting.
Four of the five artists on the tour are Ringling College graduates: (l. to r.) Joseph PatrickArnegger, Dave Piurek, Tim Jaeger and Scott Moore, with Ringling College of Art and Design President Dr. Larry Thompson.
For the first time, the tour also includes an "Artists Day" at State of the Arts Gallery on Saturday, March 13. Entitled Locally Grown and Certified Organic, this special exhibit represents several former tour artists: Beth Arthur, Frank Colson, Larry Forgard, Jill Hoffman-Kowal and Joseph Melancon.
Twenty dollar tickets for the Creators and Collectors Tour may be purchased at www.fineartssarasota.com or at the Van Wezel Box Office, State of the Arts Gallery, Davidson Drugs, Ringling College Store, and most art centers.
The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota has been in existence for 39 years. The group promotes events to support its community outreach grants, scholarship and acquisition programs. The society’s art collection is on public display at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center. FASS is a 501c3 nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, and Alice Allen is current president. For more information call 330-0680 or visit www.fineartssarasota.com.