- February 19, 2025
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Susan J. Klein is famed for her vivid, prismatic acrylic landscapes that capture the heart of wild America. Over the past two decades, she’s painted unspoiled terrains in national parks from Florida to California. This Arts Advocate exhibition, “Places,” features approximately 35 of these stunning works, many created during commissioned residencies at the parks. The artist shares, “Nothing makes me feel so alive, so safe, and so at peace with myself as to be surrounded by and immersed in nature.” Klein will also offer two of her books, “National Park Artist” and “Myakka Chronicles,” for purchase at the exhibition. Arts Advocate Gallery, The Crossings at Siesta Key Mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Open every Saturday through Feb. 22. Visit ArtsAdvocates.org.
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. Artists 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.
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.
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 killed 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.
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.
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.