Former Asolo set designer will host his first art show at All Angels Gallery

Though playing Jamie in his high school production of "My Fair Lady" was his introduction to theater, set designer Richard Cannon has always had a niche for his sketchbook and a hammer. 

After over 30 years of crafting award-winning production sets for the Florida State University Asolo Conservatory, Cannon has decided to put down his hammer and pick up his pencil in his retirement. 

Cannon will be hosting his first art show at All Angels By Sea Episcopal Church Gallery starting Oct. 1 through the end of November. 

Drilling down the details

Photo by Petra Rivera

Even with his teenage passion for theater, Cannon originally attended DePaul University, intending to become a doctor. After enrolling in a speech class to fulfill one of his degree requirements, he was reminded of his love for performance and bringing stories on the stage to life. This inspired him to get a master’s degree in design and production at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. 

“That's where I actually fell in love with drawing because of a drawing teacher there,” said Cannon. “He put us through the wringer like a drill sergeant. His big thing was no ambiguous lines. Every line had to have a full life.”

The emphasis on detail in his studies created Cannon’s execution of realistic sets at every theater he worked. For each new show, he would study the script for days to define the necessary parts for the model. After speaking with the director, he used his creativity to add extra aspects that would bring the set to life. 

Bringing sets to life

Cannon’s career brought him around the U.S., building sets for a span of performances such as dinner theaters, circuses, colleges, operas and professional theaters. Cannon moved to Sarasota to work for the Players Centre for Performing Arts in 1982. Before starting at the Asolo Student Conservatory in 1987, he also designed sets for the Ringling Bros. Circus. 

The Asolo Student Conservatory was home to Cannon’s sets for the next 30 years until his last show, "Northside Hollow," at the Urbanite Theatre in 2018. He loved crafting the students’ vision into real life and seeing their reactions when they saw the sets.

"Northside Hallow" was one of Cannon’s favorite sets he built. He turned the theater into a coal mine where guests walked through a tunnel with helmets, ducking underwires to get to their seats. This set design won a “Handy” award by theater critic Jay Handelman.

Cannon's Curtain Call

Although he doesn’t design sets any more, he still works at the scene shop at the Asolo Repertory Theater. Cannon has lived at Plymouth Harbor with his wife for two years. He now pours his time in the art and carpentry committees at the retirement community. 

His habit of details stuck with him as he started experimenting with drawing in his free time. Cannon gets inspiration for his realistic drawings from nature and his surroundings, drawing his cat, friends’ pets and the greenery and outdoor spaces at Plymouth Harbor.

Courtesy image

“I’ve always loved pen and ink,” said Cannon. “I like the black and white against each other and the contrast where you can make an image vibrate and shimmer by just putting a lot of air into it.”

All Angels Gallery Coordinator Carol Doenecke is one of his colleagues on the hanging committee which coordinates what art is hung at Plymouth Harbor. After getting to know Cannon, she encouraged him to create art for the bimonthly gallery on Bay Isles Road. 

Besides doing a small show at Plymouth Harbor, this will be the first time Cannon will be selling his art.

He is excited to see how people will react and connect with his art. Cannon hopes that its careful detail will draw emotion and bring joy to each person who views his gallery.