wcw JANUARY 2023

lifelong learning
Here’s a sample of the many learning experiences
available in person and online
Assorted Creative Arts
◆ The Players Sarasota has classes for
adults starting in January. Join them for
Scene Study, , an acting class focused on
analyzing characters and deep dives into
scenes on Monday nights at 5:30pm. Adult
Musical Theatre Dance takes place on
Wednesdays at 4pm and is a great class
for anyone who wants to stay in shape and
learn Broadway-style dance routines.
Do you want to be the next Fred Astaire?
You'll be tapping just like him after taking
Tap with Mike on Tuesdays at 4pm. Learn
more at theplayers.org/studio or call 941-
552-8879.
Classes are held at The Players Studio,
1400 Blvd .of the Arts, Suite 200, Sarasota, in
the Rosemary District on the second floor.
◆ ArtCenter Manatee is the premier visual
arts center in Manatee County. Their goal
is to make art accessible to all, regardless of
age, experience level or background. They
do this through over 300 visual arts classes
for adults, over 40 classes for children ages
4-15, exhibits that change monthly, and a
gift shop of artist-made work.
The ArtCenter has five classrooms, including
complete jewelry and pottery studios,
as well as painting and mixed media
studios. A library contains over 3,000 art
books and other publications.
Classes are offered in painting, watercolor,
pastels, drawing, pottery, clay sculpture,
jewelry, children’s camps and afterschool
programs, Paper Mache, photography
and other special interest subjects.
Day, evening and weekend classes are
available in beginner to advanced levels.
ArtCenter Manatee offers a series of
classes called Nights Out where adults can
come for a few hours on a Friday night and
go home with a piece of art they’ve created.
Class prices begin at $45 and include all
supplies, beer or wine and snacks. A great
way to try a class or just have a creative
night out with friends.
Special workshops coming soon, include:
• February: Color Sense Workshop with
Linda Richichi Feb 17, 28, Mar 1
• March: Creative Combination Watercolor
& Acrylic Workshop with Dan
18 WEST COAST WOMAN JANUARY 2023
by Linda Richichi
Wierner, Mar 10, 11, 12
Check out their schedule of classes at
ArtCenter manatee.org or call 941-746-
2862. Hours are MFS 9-5 and TWTh 9-6.
Closed Sundays. They are open 12 hours
a day for classes during the week and 8
hours on Saturday.
◆ The Winter Term at The Education
Center at Temple Beth Israel is underway.
Most programs, except for the concerts, are
“hybrid,” which means they’re presented in
person as well as on Zoom.
Almost every subject is available—history,
world politics, and Supreme Court;
music and dance appreciation; jazz nights,
Happy Hour bands, and concerts; yoga, qigong,
painting, bridge, canasta, mah jongg,
and movie discussion classes; Broadway
biographies; Shakespeare; theology; film
festivals including Hollywood Icons, a foreign
film festival and Jewish/Israeli film
festival; a special women’s group; morning
forums and a financial roundtable; nature
walks and birding; writing workshops; literature
and poetry courses; a book club;
meditation; iPad & iPhone and iCamera;
Saturday workshops that include presentations
on Apple Watch, a fun and instructional
drumming circle, and a climate
change discussion.
The Lecture Series, which runs every
Tuesday afternoon from January through
March, covers diverse subjects with distinguished
speakers. The Arts Alliance
Playreaders will present a reading titled
Watercolor class at the Education Center
at Temple Beth Israel taught by awardwinning
artist Renee DiNapoli
“Squabbles” a funny play about family
problems in their Sunday Showcases that
also include two concerts presented by
performers of Artist Series Concerts of
Sarasota, Michelle Giglio, soprano and
Rick Aaron, flutist accompanied, by Lee
Dougherty Ross, co-founder of the series.
Exclusive Engagements include “HAL-
LELUJAH! Leonard Cohen and Friends” a
performance and presentation with Susan
Benjamin, musical biographer and performer,
Jay O’Brien, cantor, and Robert Hanson,
musical director. Included in Exclusive
Engagements is the Westcoast Black Theatre
Troupe which will present a selection of
musical highlights from current and prior
seasons directed by founder Nate Jacobs.
Special Thursdays series in January includes:
“How Not To Be Scammed” with
cybersecurity and computer expert Jimi
Goethe; “The Art of Criticism” with Sarasota’s
arts critics Jay Handelman, Carrie Seidman,
Marty Fugate, and Gayle William; and
“Is America At Risk Form the Left Or the
Right?”—A Bi-Partisan Discussion” presented
by Bob Gary, JD, and Herb Soroca, JD, both
members of “Miracle on the Key,” a Longboat
Key bi-partisan group with Republicans and
Democrats taking action together.
For costs, dates, and descriptions of programs
visit www.tbieducationcenter.org
or call 941-383-8222. The Education Center
at Temple Beth Israel is located at 567 Bay
Isles Road, Longboat Key.
Creative Arts
◆ Sarasota Art Museum has A Conversa-
tion & Book Signing with Jerry Saltz on Jan-
uary 14. Join them for an afternoon with the
Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic who lectures
about the contemporary art world, in-
cluding the Museum of Modern Art and the
Jerry Saltz
Whitney, and now at Sarasota Art Museum.
Join artists and authors Maira and Alex
Kalman for a conversation and an insider
look at their exhibition and visual memoir
Sara Berman’s Closet on February 4.
Maira has written and illustrated over 30
adult and children’s books, and is a frequent
contributor to The New York Times
and The New Yorker. She has created textiles
for Isaac Mizrahi and Kate Spade and
sets for Mark Morris along with collaborations
with Nico Muhly, Michael Pollan, Alex
Kalman, David Byrne and Lemony Snicket.
Alex Kalman is a creative director, curator,
and inventor who owns What Studio?,
a New York based gallery devoted to “curiosity,
humanism, humor, optimism, and
originality.” His work has been exhibited at
The Museum of Modern Art, and the Victoria
and Albert Museum, among others. He’s
the founder of Mmuseumm, a traveling installation
that displays illuminating objects
from around the world in very small spaces.
They’re having an Open Studios at The
Studios at SAM on January 17, 10 am – 1 pm.
Free. Interested in art classes? Studios @
SAM classes are open to adults at all levels,
from beginner to advanced. Short-term
workshops, and courses, are also available.
Enjoy complimentary refreshments.
Sample a class offering and talk with Studios
@ SAM students and faculty about the
spring program.
Sarasota Art Museum is located at 1001
South Tamiami Tr., Sarasota. Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
◆ Art Center Sarasota: They have workshops
from nationally and internationally
acclaimed artists who are masters in their
medium.
• Richard Stephens: Watercolor Fresh &
Loose. Jan. 16-18, 10 am-4 pm. Internationally
renowned artist Richard Stephens'
workshops are know for being
informative, challenging and fun.
• Robert Burridge Times Two: Contemporary
Abstract Figure Painting & Collage.
Feb 6-8
The Circus is Back in Town by Robert
Burridge
• Abstract Painting & Collage. Feb 9-11
Popular around the world for his art and
workshops, he will also present a Zoom
Demo on Jan 18.
• Ron Stocke: Creating Magic in Watercolors.
March 20-22. Stocke teaches
internationally and is an award-winning
watercolor artist and published
author. He will present a Zoom Demo on
March 1.
• Jane Slivka: Freedom of Acrylics. April
3-5. Slivka is known for her inspiring
work, layered color technique, and gifted
instruction.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami
Trail, Sarasota. 941-365-2032 or https://
www.artsarasota.org/
◆ Creative Liberties has classes at their
second location, 927 Lime Avenue, Sarasota.
On Monday, January 9: Painting with Jenny
Berry. Also offered on Wednesday, January
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