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Virginia Harshman Contact Email: virginia.harshman@ringling.org Contact Phone Number: 941-359-5700 ext 2803 New and Continuing Exhibitions Sun Xun: Time Spy Aug. 11, 2019-Feb. 16, 2020 Time Spy (2016) is a mesmerizing 3D animated film by Chinese artist Sun Xun (b.1980). A superb painter and draughtsman, Sun Xun incorporates traditional techniques including ink painting, charcoal drawing, and woodblock printing into his films. His masterful use of analog and digital technologies to explore pressing concerns of our time makes him one of the most compelling artists working in new media. Tour du Monde Oct. 18, 2019- Jan. 13, 2020 Circuses, expositions, and other forms of popular entertainment enchanted Western audiences with exotic peoples from faraway places in the 19th century. These entertainments had a profound impact on the way Westerners perceived the peoples of other parts of the world. This exhibition features a selection of the posters produced to advertise these living attractions. The posters reveal the different lenses through which their subjects were viewed by the public in Europe and America. Some are suggestive of an ethnological approach, while others clearly emphasize spectacle. Remaking the World: Abstraction from the Permanent Collection Nov. 10, 2019 – Aug. 1, 2021 Drawing from the Museum’s permanent collection of modern and contemporary art, the exhibition Remaking the World: Abstraction from the Permanent Collection assembles more than 20 paintings and sculptures by European and American artists associated with Abstract Expressionism. The exhibition features an immensely significant bequest of paintings by Joan Mitchell and Robert Motherwell from the collection of Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman; the first additions to the collection by these prominent artists. It also offers the opportunity to extend on view a monumental painting by Yayoi Kusama, a promised gift from Keith D. and Linda L. Monda. This exhibition will include significant artworks by artists who made important contributions to the development of abstraction in New York in the 1940s and onwards, including artists instrumental in establishing a vital art scene in Sarasota. Ai Weiwei: Zodiac LEGO Nov. 17, 2019 – Feb. 2, 2020 Zodiac LEGO (2018) is a series of individual works that is constructed of Lego bricks to represent the following animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The Ringling is the first museum in the United States to show this traveling exhibition. These colorful works are made entirely of small LEGO pieces and demonstrate the artist’s continued interest in the zodiac animal concept. Manuel Álvarez Bravo: Specters and Parables Dec. 8, 2019- Mar 1, 2020 Born and raised in Mexico City, where he spent most of his career, Manuel Álvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902-2002) was one of the most important figures in 20th century Latin American photography. Although he took art classes at the Academy of San Carlos, his photography was mostly self-taught, but he was savvy to the emerging international artistic avant-garde. Considered to be one of the founders of modern photography, his work extends from the late 1920s to the 1900s. He was a key figure from the period following the Mexican Revolution—often called the Mexican Renaissance—in which arts and literature flourished. This “Renaissance” owed to the happy—though not always tranquil—marriage between a desire for modernization and the search for an authentic national identity with Mexican roots, in which archaeology, history and ethnology played an important role. Support for this exhibition has been provided, in part, by the Ringling Endowment at the Florida State University Foundation. Paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Revenues. Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed Dec. 15, 2019 – Apr 26, 2020 Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed offers a unique selection of paintings by the artist, along with numerous objects from the Solomon Archive on view for the first time. Syd Solomon (American, 1917-2004) described himself as an “Abstract Impressionist” alluding to the fact that his work infused impressionism into the processes, scale and concepts of Abstract Expressionism. Solomon moved to Sarasota in 1946 with his wife Annie. His was the first work of contemporary art to be collected by The Ringling in 1962. His paintings were greatly influenced by climatic factors and reveal a fascination and concern for Florida’s aquatic environment. Solomon incorporated his experience as a camouflage designer during World War II into his painting. It is not well-known that he was also an accomplished graphic artist, who in his early years designed commercial signage for prominent hotels and businesses in Sarasota. Like his work in camouflage, Solomon’s calligraphic skill was essential to the development of his later gestural abstraction. Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed is presented in partnership with the Estate of Syd Solomon and is accompanied by a 96-page publication with essays by former curator at The Ringling Michael Auping, George S. Bolge, Dr. Gail Levin, and Mike Solomon. The exhibition will include artworks from private collections and The Ringling’s permanent collection. Special Events and Tours Ringling by the Bay Jan. 20, 2020 – Big Night Out SOLD OUT! Feb. 3, 2020 - Vertigo SOLD OUT! Feb. 17, 2020 - SoulRCoaster SOLD OUT! 6 p.m. Ringling by the Bay will return for 10 events November through May. We hope that you will join us on the Bolger Campiello for these fun-filled evenings with live music and dancing. Food and beverage are available for purchase on the bayfront. Limited seating is available. Windjammers Circus Music Concert Jan.18, 2020 1 p.m., Bolger Campiello In circus lingo, “windjammers” refers to circus musicians who “jammed their wind” through their instruments usually twice a day for big top performances. Circus music catered to the needs of the different acts. For example, a high-flying trapeze act could be characterized by a graceful waltz. An act containing animals, such as lions, would probably use a march. The Windjammers Unlimited is a 501(c) 3 historical music society that is dedicated to the preservation of traditional music of the circus. They will be performing a free concert Saturday, Jan. 18, from 1:00 -2 p.m. at the Bolger Campiello. No advance registration required. Museum Moves: Zumba! Jan. 23, 2020, 6 p.m. Get sculpted as you join us for a Zumba fitness class in the Museum of Art Courtyard with Zumba Instructor, Lena porter. Please dress for a moderate- to high-intensity one-hour workout class. Your Zumba ticket includes Art After 5 Admission. Newtown Alive Trolley Tour Jan. 30, 2020, 10 a.m. Members are invited to join Ringling staff on a Newtown Alive Trolley Tour. This two-hour historic, interactive guided tour through Newtown and Overtown will highlight historic markers along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Personal stories and accounts will delve into the early history of Sarasota, the role African-American played in the desegregation and development of our community, and the history makers who were instrumental in community transformation. $40 per member, tickets are limited. Please park in the main visitor parking lot and check-in at the John M. McKay Visitors Pavilion. To register, please call 941-360-7330 (no later than Jan. 24) Ringling Underground Feb. 6, 2020, 8 p.m. Enjoy live music, and art in the Museum of Art Courtyard 8 p.m. -11 p.m. This event features an eclectic mix of local and regional live music. Check out up-and-coming artists displaying their work in the Museum of Art Courtyard. Select galleries will be open until 11 p.m. Museum Store Trunk Show The Ringling Museum Store hosts a variety of trunk shows, bringing you the very best from local and international artisans. The Museum Store is located in the Visitors Pavilion and everyone is invited to drop by and shop these unique collections; no Admission is required. Elma_Felix_EbijouEbijou Feb. 12, 10, a.m.-5 p.m. ITALIANISSIMO® Feb. 18 & 19 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sugar, Sand, Silver Feb. 25 & 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Art of Performance Series Oct. 11, 2019- April 25, 2019, Tickets on Sale Now Through public performances and engagement programs with artists in the Historic Asolo Theater and beyond, the Art of Performance integrates and reflects The Ringling’s values of inclusion, inspiration and excellence. We embody these values through diverse and culturally significant programming, community dialogues and arts education opportunities with visiting artists and through the support of creative processes by Florida artists, and national and international performance makers in developmental residencies. On Screen Sermons and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 20, 2020, Historic Asolo Theater The sermons and speeches of Martin Luther King Jr., comprise an extensive catalog of American writing and oratory – some of which are internationally well-known, while others remain unheralded, and some await re-discovery. In honor of Martin Luther King Day, visitors to the museum may enter the Historic Asolo Theater during regular opening hours to hear recordings and to see videos of MLK's speeches, interviews and sermons. Style Wars Jan. 23, 2020, 1 p.m. STYLE WARS is regarded as the indispensable document of New York Street culture of the early ’80s, the filmic record of a golden age of youthful creativity that exploded into the world from a city in crisis. STYLE WARS captured the look and feel of New York’s ramshackle subway system as graffiti writers’ public playground, battleground and spectacular artistic canvas. Opposing them by every means possible were Mayor Edward Koch, the police, and the New York Transit Authority. National Theatre Live: All My Sons Jan. 24, 2020, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. From The Old Vic in London, Academy Award-winner Sally Field (Steel Magnolias, Brothers & Sisters) and Bill Pullman (The Sinner, Independence Day) star in Arthur Miller’s sweltering drama All My Sons. Despite hard choices and even harder knocks, Joe and Kate Keller are a success story. They have built a home, raised two sons and established a thriving business. But nothing lasts forever and their contented lives, already shadowed by the loss of their eldest boy to war, are about to shatter. With the return of a figure from the past, long buried truths are forced to the surface and the price of their American dream is laid bare. Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child Feb. 13, 2020, 1 p.m. A thoughtful portrait of a renowned artist, this documentary shines the spotlight on New York City painter Jean-Michel Basquiat. Featuring extensive interviews conducted by Basquiat's friend, filmmaker Tamra Davis, the production reveals how he dealt with being a black artist in a predominantly white field. The film also explores Basquiat's rise in the art world, which led to a close relationship with Andy Warhol, and looks at how the young painter coped with acclaim, scrutiny and fame A Ballerina's Tale Feb. 14, 2020, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Few dancers reach the elite level of ballet; of that already small number only a fraction are black women. Misty Copeland shattered those barriers in 2015, making history as the first African-American principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre (ABT). A Ballerina’s Tale intimately documents Copeland’s historic rise while shining a light on the absence of women of color at major ballet companies. The film also explores how ballet’s emphasis on waifish bodies impacts the health of ballerinas while sending a negative message to young fans. Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts Feb. 28, 2020, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts is an inventive feature documentary capturing the vivid life of Bill Traylor, who in his late 80s, living homeless on the street in the thriving segregated black neighborhood of Montgomery, produced a body of extraordinary art. Born into slavery in 1853 on a cotton plantation in rural Alabama, Traylor witnessed profound social and political change during his life spanning slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow segregation and the Great Migration. In his later years, Traylor poured out those memories from within, drawing and painting over 1,000 pieces of art from 1939-42. Using historic and cultural context, the film is designed to bring the spirit and mystery of Traylor’s incomparable art to life. Turrell Skyspace: Joseph’s Coat Thursdays & Fridays at sunset, Museum of Art Joseph’s Coat Skyspace is a triumph of technology, engineering and aesthetics. The Skyspace, created by internationally renowned artist James Turrell, is a gathering place for contemplation, and sustained experience. At sunset, a sophisticated system of LED lights is employed to change the color of the space. In doing so, the artist changes the context in which you view the sky and can radically change your perception of the color of the sky and its spatial relation to you. As you gaze up at the sky through the 24-foot square aperture in the ceiling, you are invited to contemplate light, perception and experience. Yoga mats are encouraged. Dress for outdoor conditions. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset. The program will last one hour. Tickets are $10/Free for Members, available at ringling.org. Joseph’s Coat: A Skyspace by James Turrell is currently not offering the sunset experience due to technical issues. Please check back for future announcements. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Guests may still enter the courtyard and enjoy a meditative experience. Programs Ringling Reflections Jan. 12, 2020 – Jun 14, 2020 10:30 a.m. Ringling Reflections programs are designed specifically for people with memory loss and their care partners. They are relaxed, conversation-based gallery tours in the Museum of Art. The tour routes will be wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available for use free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Listening devices, including induction loops for t-coil hearing aids, will be provided. Portable stools will be available for all participants. Tours take place on select Sundays at 10:30–11:30 a.m. Please plan on arriving to the museum’s Visitors Pavilion at 10:00 to check in. The tours are free of charge but advance registration is required and space is limited. Gallery Walk and Talk: Jan. 17, 2020-May 27, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Museum of Art Join us to explore various aspects of the Museum and its collection. Tickets are free with Museum Admission and are available for pickup on the day of the program. Tickets are limited. Upcoming Gallery Walk and Talk Programs: Jan. 17 | 1:30 p.m. | Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed Join Mike Solomon, the artist’s son, for a tour of Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed Jan. 24 | 10:30 a.m. | Ai Weiwei: Zodiac (2018) LEGO Join us for a tour of special exhibition Ai Weiwei: Zodiac (2018) LEGO. Feb. 6 | 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. | The Color Blue (and why it's the best) It's a color showdown as assistant director of Academic Affairs David Berry will attempt to persuade us that blue is best. Come wearing your favorite color! Feb. 12 | 10:30 a.m. | Curator's Choice with Dr. Sarah Cartwright Join Dr. Sarah Cartwright, the Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections, for a tour of the Museum of Art. Bayfront Gardens Tours This walking tour will introduce you to interesting botanical specimens on the estate while providing a historic overview of the development of the estate. The Ringling Arboretum has been accredited at Level II through ArbNet and there are over 2350 trees within the arboretum representing native, exotic, historical and culturally significant trees. Garden Tours are offered on Mondays at 1:00-2:30 p.m. The tour is 90 minutes in length and covers approximately 1 mile. We encourage visitors to bring bottled water, and wear appropriate footwear, preferably closed-toe, sunblock and hats. Tours are subject to weather conditions Bayfront Gardens Workshops Jan. 11, Jan.22, Feb.1, Feb. 5, and Feb. 29, 2020 Environmental Stewardship | Saturday, Jan. 11, | 10:30 a.m. Join the Ringling Arboretum staff for this informative workshop focusing on ways people can become better environmental stewards of Florida. Attendees will learn about the proper use of fertilizers and irrigation, composting basics, landscaping to conserve energy, the nine principles of Florida Friendly landscaping, Integrated Pest Management and the benefits of trees. At the conclusion of the program there will be a tree planting ceremony to help celebrate Florida’s Arbor Day. The workshop will take place in the Chao Lecture Hall Community Workshop: Green Living Jan. 22, 2020, 10 a.m. Join us for a two-hour presentation on Green Living and healthier choices you can make for your life and our environment. Have you ever wondered about the ingredients in the products you use on your body, in your home, and how you can make more sustainable choices for your family, in your home and outside in your own backyard? Experts from UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County will present options for healthier body products, greener home cleaning, sustainable food production and composting. Tickets are FREE but advanced registration is required. Presenters: Dr. Katherine Clements, Dr. Maria Portelos-Rometo, and Sarah Bostick Pollinator Awareness Feb. 1, 2020, 10 a.m. Join us for two back-to-back lectures on butterfly population conservation and what you can do to support these beautiful pollinators. Speakers include Dr. Emily Saarinen from New College of Florida, Sarasota Butterfly Club President Karen Rosenbeck, and the Sarasota Garden Club's Olivia Haynes. Participants will learn about the importance of butterflies and how to create their own South Florida butterfly gardens. Community Workshop: Energy Upgrade Feb. 5, 2020, 10 a.m. Join us for a workshop where you will learn energy-, water-, and cost-saving strategies at home. Attendees will receive a free Do It Yourself Energy Saving Kit (one per household) that includes ENERGY STAR LED light bulbs, WaterSense faucet aerators, a smart power strip, weatherization materials and outlet insulating gaskets, and other items so you can start saving. Attendees will also learn no cost, low-cost and investment tips, which combined with the kits can save energy and water costs at home. This FREE workshop is presented by Sara Kane of the Sarasota County Extension Office. Tickets are limited and advanced registration is required. The Science and Art of South Florida | Saturday, Feb. 29, | 10:30 a.m. Abstract Expressionist Syd Solomon lived and worked in Sarasota, Florida. From his home on Siesta Key, Solomon painted Florida’s coastal ecosystem and was profoundly inspired by the local landscape. Solomon was also an advocate for environmental conservation, a legacy continued by The Ringling today. During this workshop, participants will learn from Rose Garden Horticulturist Kai Sacco as he leads a walking tour of the Bayfront Gardens exploring topics such as coastal ecosystems, red tide, pollinators and the importance of native plants. We will also learn how to create a Florida Friendly landscape using native plants. The program will begin in the Chao Lecture Hall followed by a walking tour tailored to the topic. Please wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes and allow additional time to make your way from the Visitors Pavilion to the Lecture Hall. Conversation: The Peony Pavilion and Yin Mei's Dance Jan. 15. 2020 10:30 p.m. Join us for a special Conversation with artist Yin Mei as she discusses how and why she incorporated The Peony Pavilion, a romantic tragicomedy play written by dramatist Tang Xianzu in 1598 in her latest performance. Viewpoint Lecture: Jewels from a Brush, Manuscript Paintings from India Jan. 25, 2020, 10:30 a.m. Beginning in the twelfth century, Indian kings and religious institutions hired painters to add illustrations to religious and secular manuscripts. The art form flourished from the 16th century to the 19th. These hand-painted illustrations are often called miniatures because they are full of delicately rendered details, but their bright colors and lively subjects ensure that these book-sized paintings deliver an outsized visual impact. This talk offers a brief introduction to the art of Indian manuscript painting and the vibrant cultural contexts in which the art form thrived. It offers glimpses into the courts of emperors and maharajas, and into the myths and legends that instructed and entertained them. FrEnemies of Contemporary Performance Jan. 30- April 30, 2020, Each program will focus on a particular performance medium and will be moderated by a local performance practitioner, curator, or scholar within each field of focus. These discussions will allow visitors to freely share their opinions on contemporary performance and will create the opportunity for unbiased dialogue and conversation. We recommend visitors experience the differing performance mediums in the Historic Asolo Theater's season of performance before attending these discussions. Please note: These programs are free but do require a ticket reservation as space is limited. FrEnemies of Contemporary Performance: Dance Jan. 30 6 p.m. Join Leah Verier-Dunn from Sarasota Dance Company, Moving Ethos, as she leads an open round table talk on Contemporary Dance in the Perret Family Studio Space. It is recommended that visitors attend the performance, Peony Dreams: On the Other Side of Sleep by Yin Mei Jan. 17 or 18th in the Historic Asolo Theater in preparation for the discussion. Conversation: Conserving "Emperor Justinian" Feb. 4, 2020, 10:30 a.m. In this Conversation, Barbara Ramsay, the museum’s Chief Conservator, and Sarah Cartwright, the Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections, will explore the history and significance of the painting and provide an overview of the conservation project funded by the Getty Foundation. Conversation with Aline Kuppenheim Feb. 8, 2020, 10:30 a.m. Join us for a conversation with Chilean director and puppet artist Aline Kuppenheim as she discusses puppetry and her collaboration with renowned playwright Guillermo Calderon. Syd Solomon: Concealed and Revealed Symposium Feb. 14, 2020, 10 a.m. The Ringling will convene a symposium to celebrate the legacy of Syd Solomon. Attendees will be able to learn more about Syd’s life, early influences, long relationship with the Ringling Museum, the importance of ecology in his work, and his famed home/studio at Midnight Pass. Viewpoint Lecture: Abstract Expressionism: The Genesis of a Movement Feb. 15, 2020, 10:30 a.m. The American Abstract Expressionists came of age during the Great Depression of the 1930s and developed during World War II, when many European modern artists – from Joan Miró to Max Ernst took refuge in New York City, where the Abstract Expressionists first showed their work. Art and a Movie Feb. 24, 2020 – Apr 27, 2020 1 p.m. Feb. 24: Grace Hartigan: Shattering Boundaries | $5 / Free for Members Shattering Boundaries is a portrait of artist Grace Hartigan, a courageous and key figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement in American Art. Attendees are invited to see Hartigan’s work on display in Remaking the World: Abstraction from the Permanent Collection after the film. Gallery Walk & Sign Feb. 27, 2020, 5 p.m. This program is designed specifically for Deaf visitors. Join us for a tour of the museum and its collection accompanied by an ASL interpreter. Each program will feature a theme highlighting works from the collection. The tours are free of charge but advance ticketing is required and space is limited. Tickets for will be available 30 days before each program. Fabulous Frescos Feb. 27. 2020 5 p.m. Artist Walter O'Neill will lead a participatory workshop on the art of buon fresco. Attendees will learn the Renaissance technique of fresco, using the same materials and methods Renaissance artists used. Family Programs Family Saturdays Jan. 18, 2020 – Apr 25, 2020 10 a.m. Join us for a creative project relating to our collections: we will rotate themes weekly to cover the Circus, Ca d’Zan, Museum of Art, and Grounds and Gardens! Each week, we will have a making component in our Education Building classrooms as well as a special handout to help you locate and learn more about the objects and places that inspired each project. Free for children; Up to two Adults are included with each child ticket. Ticket includes Museum Admission (Art and Tibbals Education Center) for the day. Home School Thursdays Jan. 16, 2020 – Apr 16, 2020 10:30 a.m. Join us on the third Thursday of each month for a special day designed just for homeschool families. Facilitated stations designed to engage different age levels will be set up throughout the Museum of Art. Families are free to move through these stations at their own pace to enjoy and learn together as a family. ROAR! Jan. 16- April 24. 2020 10:30 a.m. Education Center ROAR is The Ringling’s family story time designed to engage toddlers and preschoolers in activities that connect art and early literacy. Join us for a story and accompanying art activity. Stroller Tours Jan. 21, 2020 – Apr 21, 2020 10 a.m., Museum of Art Join a museum educator to stroll the museum in a one-hour, interactive tour for infants and their caregivers Tuesday mornings. This tour is designed for the caregivers of children under two who can visit the museum using a stroller or front baby carrier. This is a free program but tickets are required, available in the Visitors Pavilion on the day of the program. Tickets include up to two caregivers and provides admission to the Museum of Art and Circus Museum for the day. About The Ringling The Ringling is a center for art, history and learning situated on 66 acres on Sarasota Bay. It is built on the legacy of circus entrepreneur, collector of art and financier John Ringling and his wife Mable. The Ringling inspires visitors with an acclaimed collection of Old Master paintings, explores with them the diverse cultures and art of Asia, delights them with the story of the American circus, and transports them to the Roaring Twenties during a tour of the magnificent Ca’ d’Zan mansion. The Ringling is also committed to exhibiting the work of an emerging community of living artists that moves beyond traditional practice and features dynamic and engaging contemporary visual and performing arts, including a diverse roster of theater, music and dance. The Ringling is the State Art Museum of Florida. Affiliated with Florida State University, it is one of the largest university art centers in the nation. Media Contacts The Ringling: Virginia Harshman Public relations specialist 941-359-5700 x2803 Virginia.Harshman@ringling.org