Gracing many horizons

A rarely shown triptych by renowned artist Syd Solomon is part of "Far Horizons," the exhibit through Aug. 1 at Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art gallery.

The exhibit also features other paintings by Solomon, sculpture by John Henry and watercolors by Melissa Meyer.

The Solomon triptych was painted in 1959. It is 6 feet by 18 feet, oil on canvas laid on masonite. According to gallery founder and president Allyn Gallup, Solomon was commissioned to paint this work by the owners of the former Longboat Key hotel, Far Horizons Resort.

"This is truly a masterpiece," says Gallup. "It's never been seen before by the public and we're honored to display it. Many collectors and critics feel it's one of the best examples of Solomon's large-scale work from his early years."

Solomon, whose vivid abstract paintings hang in New York City's Guggenheim and Whitney museums, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., and Israel's Tel Aviv Museum, among other international institutions, helped turn Sarasota into a nationally known artists' colony in the 1950s. He and his wife, Annie, held open house for a bevy of artists, writers, architects and activists, including John D. MacDonald, Elia Kazan, Budd Schulberg, Betty Friedan and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Solomon often drew inspiration for his work from the seascapes at his homes in Sarasota and the Hamptons.

In 1962, his painting "Silent World" became the first purchase from a living artist by The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Solomon died in Sarasota in 2004 when he was 86.

Henry's 70-foot-tall work "Starpointer" was featured in the 2010 Season of Sculpture show on the bayfront. Based in Chattanooga, Tenn., Henry is known worldwide for his large-scale public works of art, which grace numerous museums, corporate, public and private collections.

Meyer, according to Gallup, is "an outstanding colorist, abstract painter and printmaker." Her work is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum, and many other public and private collections across United States.


The gallery is at 1288 N. Palm Ave. For more information about the exhibit, call 366-2454 or visit www.allyngallup.com.


 

CALENDAR OF THE ARTS - JULY 7, 2011

ART

RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART - Through Aug. 14, "Voices of Hip-Hop in Art." Ongoing: "Crosscurrents of Design: Asian Export Ceramics," "20th Century Abstract Art from the Ringling Collection" and "The Art of Jade." Every Thursday, 5-8 p.m., Art After 5, in the art museum and Circus Museum. Tickets: $10, adults; children, 6-17, $5; children under 6, admitted free. Tickets for the museum are $25, or $20 for seniors 65 and up; children ages 6-17, $10; children 5 and under, admitted free. Art museum free to all on Mondays. Located at 5401 Bay Shore Rd., 351-1660. Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, Cà d'Zan mansion, Circus Museum, Mable's Rose Garden and grounds.

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN - Through Aug. 3, "Two from the Past: Richard Floethe, Teacher/Ralph Ray Jr./Student." Galleries located one-half block east of 2700 N. Tamiami Trail on Dr. MLK Jr. Way. Call 359-7563; www.ringling.edu/selbygallery.

ALLYN GALLUP CONTEMPORARY ART - Through Aug. 1, "Far Horizons," featuring works by Syd Solomon, John Henry and Melissa Meyer. Located at 1288 N. Palm Ave.; 366-2454; www.allyngallup.com.

ART CENTER SARASOTA - Through July 30, "Garden: A Collaboration with Nature," featuring deliquescence-photographs by Richard Creamer and a juried all-media exhibition featuring Florida artists. Located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail; 365-2032; www.artsarasota.org.

BOLIVAR ART GALLERY - Through Aug. 31, small works show featuring 20 local artists. Located at 506 S. Pineapple; 366-1649.

DABBERT GALLERY - Through Sept. 30, "Summer Showcase," featuring the works of six sculptors, one printmaker, 23 painters, one pastel artist and one photographer. Located at 76 S. Palm Ave.; 955-1315; www.dabbertgallery.com.

WYLAND GALLERY - July 6-10, Steven Quartly to showcase his latest Impressionistic paintings. July 8-9, Jim Warren to unveil his most recent "surrealistic daydream" artwork. July 13-16, Steve Barton to showcase his latest tropical canvases. Located at 314 John Ringling Blvd. on St. Armands Circle; 388-5331; www.wylandkw.com.

ELIZABETH STEVENS GALLERY - Through Aug. 31, "Easy Living," featuring gallery artists. Located at 1945 Morrill St.; 365-4222; elizabethstevensgallery.net.

G.WIZ - July 28, "Archaeology in Action!" with guest speakers talking about Odyssey Marine Exploration's deep-ocean work, plus a display of shipwreck artifacts. Admission: $20. Through July 31, Odyssey's "Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure," an interactive exhibit bringing deep-ocean shipwrecks and pirate history alive. Located at 1001 Blvd. of the Arts; www.gwiz.org; 309-4949.

SELBY GARDENS - Through Oct. 2, 6th Annual Selby Instructors' Summer Showcase, in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. Located at 811 S. Palm Ave.; 366-5731 or www.selby.org.

SIMON'S COFFEE HOUSE - Through July 25, "Images in Good Taste," giclèes and small collages by Lakewood Ranch artist Janet Mishner. Restaurant located at 5900 S. Tamiami Trail; 926-7151.

spinella exhibit - Through July 31, Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail. Local author and artist, Joseph Spinella, exhibits his artistic representation of different musical instruments and a few of his signature frames. For details call 365-2032.

ARTWALKS

FIRST FRIDAY WALKS - Downtown galleries of Burns Square, Pineapple Avenue, Palm Avenue and Main Street, from 6-9 p.m. featuring live music, refreshments and general merriment. Next: Aug. 5.

TOWLES COURT GALLERY WALK - Art walks every third Friday of the month, from 6 p.m. Many galleries and restaurants are open for evening strolls and dining. Live music; 365-8683 for details. Parking on Adams Lane. Next: July 15.

MUSIC

FRIDAYFEST - July 15, YesterDaze, playing oldies. At the Van Wezel, 777 N. Tamiami Trail. Guests invited to bring blankets or lawn chairs; vendors to offer food and beverages. Coolers, weapons prohibited. In the event of rain, the concert moves indoors to the Grand Foyer. Visit www.vanwezel.org; 953-3368.

GLENRIDGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER - July 17, 2 p.m., "Summertime Songfest," featuring Chorus of the Keys. Tickets: $15 for non-members; $10/GPAC Family. Visit www.theglenridge.com or call 552-5325. Located at 7333 Scotland Way.

SARASOTA FOLK CLUB - Last Monday of the month. Open mic, 7:15 p.m.; concert, 8:30 p.m. Located at Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Suggested donation: $6. Call Jean Hewitt, 377-9256 or 320-4774; e-mail jvhewitt2@verizon.net

VENICE THEATRE - July 16, 8 p.m., Jimmy Jay and the Jay-Men performing hits from the 1960s. Tickets: $23. Located at 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice; www.venicestage.com; 488-1115.

THEATRE

ASOLO REP - Through July 10, "Marilyn: Forever Blonde," the Marilyn Monroe story in her own words and music. Located at 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. Call 351-8000; www.asolo.org.

BANYAN THEATER COMPANY - Through July 17, "Becky's New Car" by Steven Dietz. July 21-Aug. 7, "Animals out of Paper." Tickets: $28.50. Located in the Jane B. Cook Theater, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail; 552-1032; www.banyantheatercompany.com.

FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE - Through July 10, "Cowgirls." July 6-31, "Our Son's Wedding." Located at 1241 N. Palm Ave. Call 366-9000; www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

GOLDEN APPLE DINNER THEATRE - July 26, 8 p.m., special fundraising event, "An Evening of Lindbergh," with Jenny Aldrich as Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Steve Carroll as Charles Lindbergh. Summer buffet, 6:30 p.m. Donation: $45; dinner, separate. July 6-Aug. 7, "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off." Summer tickets: $25; summer dinner extra. Located at 25 N. Pineapple Ave.; 366-5454; www.thegoldenapple.com.

LAZY FAIRY IMPROV TROUPE - Aug. 3 performance. Tickets: $12. Located at The Players, 838 N. Tamiami Trail; For tickets, call 365-2494 or visit www.theplayers.org or www.lazyfairyimprov.com

PLAYERS THEATRE - July 21-24, "Undaunted." July 14-17, "The Foreigner." July 28-31, "Over The Tavern." Tickets: $18/adults; $45/all three Summer Sizzler Series shows. Located at 838 N. Tamiami Trail; 365-2494.

VENICE THEATRE - July 15-16, "A Night at the Oscars," an original production by Ronald Myroup. Tickets: $8. July 28-Aug. 6, "Jesus Christ Superstar." Tickets: $24, adults; $12, students. Located at 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice; www.venicestage.com; 488-1115.

WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE - July 12-24, "The Soul Crooners." Located at 1012 N. Orange Ave. Tickets: $25. Visit www.WBTTroupe.org; 366-1505.

FILM

CINE SELBY 2011 - Last Tuesday of every month, 5 p.m. For July: "Chung King Express" (China). Located in Geldbart Auditorium, Selby Library, 1331 1st St. Free.