A Sarasota Treasure: Art Center Sarasota on the North Trail
Recently, we explored a remarkable gem in Sarasota: Art Center Sarasota, located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail. We had the opportunity to meet with events manager Amanda Powers to discuss hosting a private event at this mid-century modern building. During our visit, we also enjoyed the current exhibitions and learned about the Art Center's various visual arts programs and its nearly 100-year history in Sarasota.
Art Center Sarasota, one of the oldest visual art organizations in the region, has a rich history that dates back to 1926. Originally known as the Sarasota Art Association, it was the first arts organization in Sarasota. Its founder, Marcia Rader, a driving force behind the initial meetings of local art supporters, established the Association. In its early years, the group met monthly and sponsored exhibitions in rented facilities throughout the city, laying the foundation for Sarasota's rich artistic heritage and establishing a focal point for the region's visual arts.
In 1941, the Association was incorporated as a non-profit organization. Its mission was to promote Sarasota's educational and cultural advantages in contemporary art. The City of Sarasota granted the Art Association a lease on land near the downtown area. In 1948, the Association broke ground for its current building, designed in the then-popular Sarasota School of Architecture style. The building opened in 1949, initially featuring just one gallery, now known as Gallery 3.
In the 1960s, an atrium, also referred to as Gallery 4 or the "Patio Gallery," was added with donations from members and was enclosed in 1961. Additional expansions followed, including constructing two front galleries, a classroom, and a kitchen/class area at the back of the building.
During its formative years, the Association emphasized the center's social aspect. It was not merely a gallery to display the works of local artists but a vibrant meeting place for anyone interested in the various phases of art—an environment for making friends and providing an engaging experience for art enthusiasts. This focus on community and social engagement remains a hallmark of Art Center Sarasota.
Significant community involvement in the visual arts occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. The Art Association hosts the famous Beaux Arts Ball each year, which attracted a thousand guests to a grand-themed costume party.
Art Center Sarasota is a cornerstone of the local art scene, dedicated to supporting the visual arts community by providing accessible opportunities for everyone. It serves as an exhibition space for emerging local and regional artists, offers educational programs for adults and youth, acts as a gallery for art enthusiasts, and functions as an event venue for those who appreciate the center's contributions to the arts and opportunities to give back to the community through contributions (volunteer and financial gifts)
We are excited about the upcoming exhibitions:
December 5 - January 18, 2025:
- E.A. Kahane's "Come to the Parade!!" featuring twenty-five years of photographs of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, taken from her third-floor apartment in NYC.
- Juried Show: Highlighting the works of Trompe L'oeil artists centered around illusion, perception, and reality themes.
- Sigma Series—Space, Paradox, & Beauty: Featuring Ermin Tabakovic, whose work is steeped in geometric form, structural sensibility, dimension, reality, and the metaphysical.
- Push: is Keenan Perren's new body of work. It utilizes broken skateboards to create layered compositions that highlight the human connection and reflect on past experiences.
Sources: Amanda Powers, Art Center Sarasota
