Scene & Heard

+ Perales places first at RCAD exhibit
If Mona Lisa taught us anything about art, it’s that there’s an allure to not smiling, so kudos to Stephanie Peters for channeling the famous muse in this photograph by Daniel Perales.

And the same to Perales for capturing it in such a way that viewers at this month’s juried photography exhibit at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, couldn’t tell if the image were a photo or an oil painting. 

Perales, who won Best in Show at the Ringling-sponsored exhibition, mimicked the painterly touch of the old masters. (Chiaroscuro lighting, anyone?)

The photo, which was chosen out of 150 entries, is one of several works by Perales currently on display in Sarasota.

The photographer, who is also a member of the local arts co-op s/ART/q, has portraits hanging at Westfield Sarasota Square Mall and Eckerd College.

Up next at the Arts Center: work by artists Fiore Custode and Nathan Skiles. The “RCAD Creatives” kicks off with an opening-night reception from 5 to 7 p.m. May 19, in the Durante Gallery.

For more information, call 383-2345.

+ ‘Joint Collective’ comes to State Street
Following in the footsteps of s/ART/q, “Joint Collective,” a group of Ringling College students and alumni, has been setting up art exhibitions in vacant real estate.

The group, which has been working with European Focus Village and The Isaac Group to create temporary art galleries in empty warehouses and storefronts, will open its next show, “1408 Art Space,” in a downtown vacancy at … you guessed it — 1408 State St.

The exhibit will include the work of 10 artists in the fields of painting, sculpture and digital media.

Join the collective for its opening-night reception from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 20. The show will be up through May 25.

+ CEO receives Broadway award
Good news for the meat-packing industry: Boar’s Head president and Van Wezel Foundation Chairman Mike Martella was recognized this month by The Broadway League — the national trade association for the Broadway industry and co-presenters of the Tony Awards — for his support of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Nominated by Van Wezel Executive Director Mary Bensel, Martella received the league’s Star of Touring Broadway Award, which is given to people in public or government service who show significant support for theater.

Bensel was in New York City this week accepting the award on Martella’s behalf at the annual Broadway League Conference.

This marks the CEO’s second do-gooder award this season. Martella was named Philanthropist of the Year by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.

Finally, a cultured meathead!

+ Ringling Museum flashes      
The John and Mable Ringling Museum continues to make curvy babes feel good about their bodies with the addition of a new hip-hop-influenced exhibition —  “Beyond Bling: Voice of Hip-Hop in Art” (May 21 through Aug. 14).

We all know Peter Paul Rubens loved his women with a little padding. Well, so do the artists featured in “Beyond Bling.”

The street-chic exhibition includes a mix of work by Gajin Fujita, Luis Gispert, Sofia Maldonado, Nadine Robinson, Mickalene Thomas, Hank Willis Thomas, Kehinde Wiley and Vince Fraser.

Developed by Matthew McLendon, the museum’s associate curator of modern and contemporary art, the exhibit will open with a hip-hop lounge party Friday, May 20, in the museum courtyard.

The evening will include music by DJ Imminent, custom cars by Mad Marks, a hip-hop dance routine by Urban Spiral and green screen photo booth opportunities. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
We strongly suggest popping in for a look-see. When’s the last time you heard the word “bling,” “hip-hop” and “Ringling Museum” in the same sentence?

Yeah. That’s what we thought.

HOT TICKETS
Black Diamond Burlesque at McCurdy’s: Celebrate Friday the 13th with Sarasota’s favorite teases: Miss Petite Coquette, Lotta Love, Mademoiselle Rowdy Pants and Madame Morphus. Join the disrobing damsels for a tantalizing performance at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre at 9:45 p.m. Friday, May 13. For tickets, call 925-3869 or visit www.mccurdyscomedy.com.