Studio 41: The world in pictures

Arnold Berns is many things — a builder, a history buff, a preservationist and a photographer. But more than any one thing, he’s a melding of them all. And his North Trail studio, Studio 41, is an embodiment of his unique fusion of interests.

Fittingly housed in Sarasota’s first historically designated motel, the Twin Motel, Studio 41 is an extension of the man himself. Inside is a collection of prints and displays that are enough to keep a visitor occupied for hours: One-act photographic stories, depicting wrongful convictions and train heists; a sprawling collection of antique cameras; photos and collectibles from around the world — even local memorabilia, including a seat from Sarasota’s original baseball stadium.

After buying the motel in 2002, Berns renovated the 1950 building, replacing its historic concrete-barrel roof and removing the walls between rooms. Now, visitors are free to walk from room to room — each one a photographic tribute to a region of the world, as seen through his lens throughout his 20-something years of travels.

Walking through the studio is akin to seeing the world through Berns’ eyes. And the experience is as multifaceted as the man behind it.

"I MOVED to Sarasota in 1989.Just driving through town, seeing the variety of architecture, I was intrigued. There’s so much variety here: Mediterranean revival, art deco, Sarasota School of Architecture. I must have taken 300 pictures of buildings the first week I was here.”

"I STUDIED photography in New York. My biggest skill is my eye for perspective and composition. It’s one of those things you can’t teach. You can learn all the technical aspects of photography, but your eye is yours.”

"I SHOOT in black and white a lot. I really want the focus to be on the composition. Color can be a distraction, and when you remove it, you’re forced to really focus on the composition of a photograph.”

“I’VE ALWAYS been interested in history, even as a kid. It was my favorite subject in school. And when I moved here, I fell in love with the local history. I love the stories of John and Mable Ringling, Owen Burns and Bertha Palmer.”

"I HAVE A TERRIBLE sense of direction. I find myself lost a lot, but I see it as an opportunity to see something new; to explore. When I first moved here, that’s how I discovered a lot of the places I loved to photograph.”

"WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT this building in 2002, I was trying to figure out what I should do with it. I like the history of the North Trail, and I’m interested in rejuvenating it. There’s so much potential here. I thought it would be interesting to take this historic hotel and repurpose it for the arts. I hope to see that kind of thing continue here.”

"EACH ROOM is devoted to a different region of the world. I love to travel and take photographs to document what I see. I travel with guides to visit all the historic sites and regions in each country. I like showing people how I see the world. Photography is my way of telling a story.”

"THIS STUDIO is an extension of me and the things I love — photography, architecture, history and preservation. I’ve seen Sarasota change a lot throughout the years. If you want to see Sarasota — and the world —through my eyes, and have some fun while doing it, this is the place to come.”