Sarasota's natural beauty and seasonal visitors attract artists
to live here and patrons to view and purchase the art they create.
It's an artsy town, and here are some of the places you can look
and buy.
Art Walks:
1st Friday Palm Avenue Art Walk, 6-9PM
The galleries are open late, there's music, dancing, refreshments,
and lots of strutting, chatting, and people-watching. Palm Avenue
in Downtown Sarasota.
3rd Friday Towles Court Art Walk, 6-10PM
This is Sarasota's unique artists colony. Studios are open for
you to look at the latest work and chat with the artists. Live
music and light refreshments. Between Osprey Avenue and Hwy 301,
just south of Ringling Blvd. Relaxing, leafy old neighborhood
close to downtown Sarasota.
Arts and Craft Shows:
Check the "Ticket", the Herald Tribune's weekly magazine,
published on Thursdays, for arts and craft shows scheduled for
the upcoming weekend. Also, pick up the free events newspaper
Creative Loafing.
During Season, there's at least one outdoor show every week. Locations
include downtown Sarasota, Siesta Beach, Lido Beach, St Armands
Circle, Phillippi Estate, and Payne Park. One of the biggest promoters
of outdoor shows in the area is Howard Alan Events, and you can
check out their calendar at www.artfestival.com.
Museums & Galleries:
You'll find galleries to browse on Main Street and Palm Avenue
in downtown Sarasota. There's a nice, changing collection of art
on display at Pastry Arts on Main Street near the corner of Lemon
Avenue. More galleries on Pineapple Avenue, in the Burns Square
neighborhood a couple of blocks south of downtown. St Armands
Circle on Lido Key has a mix of art and crafts. Also, Towles Court
artists colony immediately southeast of downtown.
John & Mable Ringling Museum - Tamiami Trail and University
Pkwy
World class museum and exhibits.
Sarasota Classic Car Museum - Tamiami Trail, just north
of University Parkway
Well, afficionados would call classic cars art!
Selby Gallery - Tamiami Trail
The gallery of Ringling School of Design
SMOA - Sarasota Museum of Art
Currently in progress. Will be located in the historic Sarasota
High School building on Tamiami Trail, just north of Bahia Vista
St.
