Arts scene serves up ample opportunities to dive into our collective experience

Spring is the season of renewal, rebirth and reinvention. The area art scene is no exception.


  • Arts + Culture
  • Share
Bold moves
Sarasota Contemporary Dance member Jordan Leonard.
Photo by Sorcha Augustine

Sarasota Contemporary Dance’s “Dance Makers” brings together a striking mix of works by some of the most compelling choreographers on the scene. This season features pieces by Kristin O’Neal, Gregory Catellier, Bliss Kohlmyer, Rosanna Tavarez and Sarasota’s own Tania Vergara Perez. Whether you’re deep into the dance world or just curious, this showcase offers a bold exploration of movement, creativity, and storytelling — each piece a unique perspective that’s sure to leave an impression. March 13-16 at FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Info: SarasotaContemporaryDance.org. 


Redefining classical

The Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet redefines classical music with dynamic performances and a mission to uplift young Black and Latinx musicians. The ensemble is celebrated for its innovative programming, blending familiar works with diverse influences. Artist Series Concerts brings them here in March, with a program featuring works by Gershwin, Piazzolla and Ravel. The quartet comprises Abi Fayette and Karla Donehew Perez on violin, Paul Laraia on viola and Karlos Rodriguez on cello. March 30, 4 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 2050 Oak St., Sarasota. Visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org.


Bridging perspectives
“What’s Wrong with My Eyes” by Thi Huong Lien Pham, is part of Embracing Our Differences’ 2025 outdoor exhibition at Sarasota’s Bayfront Park.
Courtesy image

For 21 years, Embracing Our Differences has transformed Sarasota’s Bayfront Park into a colorful outdoor gallery. The 2025 Sarasota exhibition runs through April 13 and features 50 billboard-sized works and inspiring quotes. Highlights include Amanda Marie’s “Through Your Story,” celebrating literature’s power, and Junho Chung’s “Nevertheless,” a testament to resilience. “Best-in-Show” quotes include Kim Howard’s “Choosing to speak when others are silent is an act of bravery this world needs,” and Aashna Parsa’s “We can choose to build bridges or spend a lifetime lost on our own islands.” Explore all the works and words online at EmbracingOurDifferences.org.


Considering Matthew Shepard 

Choral Artists of Sarasota brings Craig Hella Johnson’s “Considering Matthew Shepard” to life — a poignant cantata recounting the story of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man brutally attacked in Wyoming in 1998. Through its haunting melodies and hopeful message, the work envisions a world rooted in love and acceptance. April 5, 4 p.m., at The Venue @ LEC, 3650 17th St., Sarasota. Join Artistic Director Joseph Holt for a preview discussion with guest performances on March 27, 6 p.m., at 16 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Visit ChoralArtistsSarasota.org.


Transformative journeys
Mara Torres González’s “Silent Illumination” will be on exhibit at her gallery Feb. 27-March 31.
Courtesy image

Mara Torres González’s exhibition “Fragmenting Layers of the Soul” is a poignant exploration of healing after trauma. Through richly layered paintings, the artist delves into how emotions can feel fragmented or concealed until a safe space allows for expression. Vibrant colors symbolize specific emotions, culminating in a final white layer that signifies healing and resolution. This transformative journey celebrates resilience, courage and empathy. Inviting personal reflection, the exhibition offers viewers a chance to connect deeply with universal emotions and the art of self-reclamation. February 27 to March 31 at MARA Art Studio + Gallery, 76 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Visit MaraStudioGallery.com.


Six-string history lesson

Once upon a time in America, Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil so he could play a damn good guitar. Or so the story goes. Nobody knows if it’s true, but it’s a damn good story. “America at the Crossroads: The Guitar and a Changing Nation,” tells that story and many more at Bishop Museum. This exhibition showcases 40 instruments — from the vihuela of the 1500s, to the axes of B.B. King and other Mississippi bluesmen, to a 21st-century steampunk guitar. Each guitar (or proto-guitar) tells its own story — and the story of our nation as well. Through May 18 at Bishop Museum, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. Visit BishopScience.org.

 

author

Su Byron

Su Byron has worked in the regional arts and cultural world for the past 25 years as a writer, an editor, and a public relations and marketing specialist. For 12 of those years, she was the co-publisher of the Sarasota Arts Review, a monthly arts and entertainment newspaper. Su is a freelance writer whose regular columns and articles appear in a host of regional and national publications.

Latest News

Sponsored Content