- March 16, 2025
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Barbara Romig admires her sister Carol Kluding's acrylic painting, titled "Olympiad."
Photo by Lesley DwyerLinda Finnerty takes second place for her abstract landscape in acrylic, "Lush with Color."
Photo by Lesley DwyerLori Salzman and Deborah Van Brunt organize the art show. Salzman lives in Asheville now, but still comes back to help out each year.
Photo by Lesley DwyerSusan Shubert is the artist behind these fun ceramic sculptures.
Photo by Lesley DwyerMarci Weisgold's sculpture "Bliss" took first place at Art in the Park.
Photo by Lesley DwyerEllen Kaiden is nicknamed the "founding mother" of Art in the Park for starting the event 25 years ago.
Photo by Lesley DwyerKeith Nelson earns an honorable mention for a painting that uses sumi-e ink, a Japanese black ink.
Photo by Lesley DwyerMarci Weisgold accepts the first place prize from Deborah Van Brunt for her cold cast bronze sculpture, "Bliss."
Photo by Lesley DwyerDowntown Sarasota residents Jim and Linda Finnerty are newer members to the University Park Country Club. They joined about a year ago.
Photo by Lesley DwyerFriends and families of the artists get a sneak peak March 14.
Photo by Lesley DwyerArt in the Park features art from University Park's residents, members and employees.
Photo by Lesley DwyerFormer teacher James Schoedler has taken up photography in retirement. His photo, "Nassau Lighthouse," was taken in the Bahamas and earned him an honorable mention.
Photo by Lesley DwyerArt in the Park organizer Deborah Van Brunt is also one of the show's artists. This acrylic painting is titled, "Kinda Koi."
Photo by Lesley DwyerAll types of mediums are accepted into the show. This collage, titled "Salon de Jardin," was created by Kathryn Adele Schumacher.
Photo by Lesley DwyerArtist Michael Parkinson presents Deborah Van Brunt with a thank you bouquet for all her hard work.
Photo by Lesley DwyerIn addition to the jury awards, there's a people's choice award, too.
Photo by Lesley DwyerCarol Kluding wasn’t feeling up to the University Park Country Club’s Art in the Park pre-show party March 14, but her sister Barbara Romig wouldn’t have missed it.
“I’m so proud of her,” Romig said. “This was her therapy in recovering from cancer treatment.”
Kluding entered three acrylic paintings into the show, one titled “Olympiad.”
As Romig pointed out the flames of the Olympic torch and the colors of the flags, she marveled at her sister’s imagination and called her “the most creative person she’s ever known.”
“What we really like about this annual event is that it brings the community together,” Romig said.
Newcomer to the club, Linda Finnerty, has enjoyed the collaboration and feedback she’s received as an artist. She said it’s touching to watch people resonate with her work.
Finnerty has been painting for about 10 years, but said she’s gone “all in” on art in retirement. She'll be teaching workshops at Art Center Sarasota over the summer.
“I’m almost 70,” she said. “It’s like a rebirth.”
Finnerty paints abstract landscapes and took second place for her acrylic painting, “Lush with Color.”
Art in the Park ends its run Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
