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2008-2009 CALENDAR
Third Thursday of each month
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HISTORYThe Fine Arts Society of Sarasota (FASS) was organized and chartered in l969 to promote and stimulate appreciation of the arts in Sarasota County. The Society provides cultural and educational opportunities for our members and organizes projects, which benefit the entire community and its many visitors. The society is led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. The society meets once a month from October through May. Committees work throughout the year on activities, events, and programs under the leadership of the Board. The Fine Arts Society has acquired a wonderful and historical collection of artwork by Florida artists, several of national importance. This collection is on permanent display at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and contains works dating from the 1930’s to present day. The Society continues to acquire new works by acknowledged artists with a Florida connection. Included is the sculpture “Chase of the Sea Urchin” by Frank Eliscu, which we presented to the Van Wezel. The Fine Arts Society, in conjunction with the Van Wezel, introduced “Art and Backstage Tours.” These tours give residents and visitors an opportunity to view and learn about our art collection. A “Behind the Scenes” look of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall provides a rare opportunity to go backstage to see behind-the-scenes workings. Our scholarship, grants and awards program for Sarasota County resident students has grown into a major commitment. Since 1969, over $600,000 has been awarded to individuals whose studies include visual and related arts, dance, writing, music, theater and architecture. Scholarships are based on need, academic achievement, and artistic talent. A celebration of the awards is held at a luncheon each spring. Each year the Society hosts a major fundraiser to support our award, scholarship, educational, cultural and acquisition programs. In past years, the Creators & Collectors Tour has been our major fund-raiser while also serving our purpose of promoting and stimulating appreciation of the arts. The tour of artists' studios and art collectors' homes, affords the public an opportunity to visit studios, see works in progress, talk with the artists, and experience how artists and collectors live with art on a daily basis. This event is organized and staffed by members and more than 1500 visitors attend this tour. In the summer of 2000, the Sarasota County Arts Council and the Friends of Selby Library invited the Fine Arts Society to exhibit selected works from our collection in the Selby Library. This exhibition was well received and extensively covered by the local media. By special request it was extended for an extra month. In November 2001, the Fine Arts Society presented the “American Legacy: Sarasota School of Architecture Tour and Symposium.” The five day event included accredited lectures, bus and boat tours of mid-Century Modern buildings. In addition a documentary video was made on the history of the Sarasota School of Architecture. The Society purchased a painting “Gown-Aura” by Robert Gelinas in January 2004. The membership also accepted works by Glenna Finch and William Hartman as gifts. “Art Books Recycled,” a FASS project in 2005, collected over 300 new and used art books for the public schools in Sarasota County. In 2006 an additional painting by Robert Chase, “Bird Feeder,” was donated to the Society, it is a large work and currently hangs in the Grand Foyer. A sculpture by Stanley Marcus, “Jazz At The Bar,” was also acquired and is currently located on a pedestal at the right side of the Van Wezel door, nearest the water. Also in 2006 the Society funded the “Slice of Art” program at the Art Center Sarasota, providing fun along with creative and educational experiences for students of all ages. Slice of Art provides Sarasota students with transportation, guided educational tours of the galleries, open and lively discussions of artworks, hands-on art workshops, and a SLICE of pizza. In October of 2006 members accepted a painting, “Turgid Prominence” by Steve McCallum, to be added to our collection at the Van Wezel. This magnificent work, which measures 144” X 96”, was a gift from the Artist and Judy and Fred Fiala. In 2007, the Society Board approved a grant to the Senior Friendship Centers for the “Beauty and the Bench” program. The program places much needed benches at SCAT bus stops throughout the community; the benches are thematically painted by art students, local artists and, hopefully, a Society member. Our grant funded two benches which will bear a plaque with the Society name, one bench with a piano motif sits in front of the Van Wezel. The 2007-2008 season started out with the spirit of giving for a Booker High School student. A FASS grant helped her realize her dream of attending a pre-college, intensive theater program at Barnard College in New York City. In keeping with our mission statement of promoting the arts in Sarasota, the Board voted to co-produce the last program of our Sarasota Ballet in April, 2008 (Allegro Brillante, The Infernal Galop, and Wolfgang for Webb, a world premiere by Dominic Walsh). Only half of the Sarasota Ballet’s budget is supported by ticket sales. The success of this year’s “Celebrate The Arts” Luncheon and “Creators & Collectors Tour” enabled FASS to award 28 scholarships to Sarasota County High School and College students continuing their education in the fine arts. Once again we were very pleased to sponsor the “Slice of Art” program at the Art Center Sarasota. FASS and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall have enjoyed a long and mutually rewarding partnership, and this year we will co-produce the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago which will be performed on February 18, 2009. A Sarasota High School Student was awarded the National American Visionary Award from the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. He was invited to New York City to receive his award at Carnegie Hall, to exhibit his work at a SOHO art gallery, and to participate in art workshops. Financially, he was not able to attend until FASS stepped in and awarded him a grant. Additionally, a Society member donated her frequent flyer miles enabling him and his father to attend the ceremony and activities. In 1992 Florida Studio Theatre offered a two week summer program for blind and visually impaired youth. Since that time this program has been expanded to include children with many different special needs. Now called the FST VIP Program, VIP students have joined with the Young Performers Company which is made up of students from the FST year round education program. We decided this was a great time for FASS to help support the VIP Program and awarded them a grant. As last year’s Co-Presidents Joan Endrizzi and Nancy Stukenberg noted in our April, 2008 newsletter, “We have achieved a level of giving of which we can be proud.” The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota continues its tradition of supporting and enriching the cultural experiences of our community. Alice Allen, President 2008 - 2009
2008 - 2009 OFFICERS President Alice Allen 1st Vice President Jean Owen 2nd Vice President Kenney DeCamp Corresponding Secretary Ann Karter Recording Secretary Kristine Bundrant Treasurer Helene Myers
2008 - 2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Acquisition Susan Schober Art & Back Stage Tour Anne Hayes Collection Carol Kopeck Education Nancy Kaari-Bowman Finance Jann Nohe Hospitality Reva Miller and Barbara Blackburn Membership Joan Endrizzi Newsletter Hally Abbot Parliamentarian Judy Fiala Programs Jane Baisley Publicity Deborah Martin Scholarship Susan Bradford Yearbook Mo Aubrey Celebrating the Arts Luncheon Kenney DeCamp Creators & Collectors Tour Creators & Collectors Tour - Artistic Carolyn Byers Creators & Collectors Tour - Business Jean Owen
PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE FINE ARTS SOCIETY OF SARASOTA
1969-1972 Marion Storm 1972-1974 Annamae Sandegren 1974-1976 Virginia Dunn 1976-1977 Alice Hammond 1977-1979 Betty Larsen 1979-1980 Jane J. Johnson 1980-1982 Elsie Woodruff 1982-1984 Fran Roach 1986-1987 Ellen Nantz 1987-1988 Ann Davidson 1988-1989 Ellen Nantz 1989-1991 Carol Kopeck 1991-1992 Helen Learned 1992-1994 Judy Fiala 1994-1996 Barbara Diehlman 1996-1997 Rhea Andrews 1997-1999 Mary Baetzel 1999-2000 Connie Moore 2002-2004 Barbara Sanandres and Dorothy Thomas 2004-2006 Marcia Sandground and Nancy Zeman 2006-2008 Joan Endrizzi and Nancy Stukenberg 2008-2009 Alice Allen
The Fine Arts Society of Sarasota FOUNDERS M. Winnifred Clarke Emily Holmes Adrienne Robbins Annamae Sandegren Marion Storm
CHARTER MEMBERS Althea Blake M. Winnifred Clarke Emily Holmes Paula Schmidt Marion Storm Rusty Truog
HONORARY MEMBERS Dr. Curtis Haug, Director Emeritus Van Wezel Foundation Founder | ||||
