The four-day celebration also encompasses tours, lectures, demonstrations, workshops, flowery food, performances, and a fashion show, making it ideal for gardening clubs, foodies, music fans, fashionistas, and anyone fascinated with flowers.  

            “From food to fashion to how they are depicted in paintings and re-interpreted, flowers touch all our senses and every aspect of our lives,” said T. Marshall Rousseau, Interim Director for the Ringling Museum.  “‘Ringling in Bloom’ is a great way to discover, or expand, your passion for flowers through our unique presentation of floral arts.”  

            Maureen Zaremba, associate curator of education, added, “There are so many opportunities to take part and connect with the Ringling Museum’s collection, as well as hear from René van Rems and see great fashions from Lilly Pulitzer. It broadens horizons and empowers individuals with the knowledge to create their own floral masterpieces. There is something for everyone’s tastes.”     

            The schedule is as follows:

·         Ringling in Bloom, February 3 to 6; Unveiling on Feb. 3 at 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. 
The galleries of the Museum of Art spring to life with Ringling in Bloom. This event pairs more than two dozen floral arrangements, created by talented floral designers, with masterpieces from the Museum’s collection that served as their inspiration. For information/reservations, call 941.360.7399.   

·         A Floral Grand Tour, February 4, 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 
René van Rems, international floral designer and member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) presents the latest floral arranging trends, as well as provides a floral grand tour, lecture and demonstration in the Historic Asolo Theater. Design styles and techniques from the German hand-tied Biedermeier bouquets to French country will be covered. $50/$30 for Museum Members, includes admission to the special exhibition, Gardens in Perpetual Bloom.

·         February 4, 6:30 p.m. -- Art of Food: A Blooming Banquet
The Art of Food: A Blooming Banquet is a multi-course meal created by Executive Chef Jeffrey Trefry that includes a silent auction, with the winner taking home a floral arrangement created by renowned floral designer René van Rems. $75 / $65 for Museum Members. All proceeds from the auction support Museum programs.  

·         February 5, 11:30 – 1:30 p.m. -- Fashion, Flowers and Food
The Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Show turns the Museum of Art loggia, which overlooks the courtyard garden, into a catwalk. The event, which is followed by a luncheon, showcases wearable art, fine food and flowers. $75 / $65 for Museum Members.

·         February 6 
Internationally acclaimed master floral designer René van Rems is giving workshops in the Johnson-Blalock Education Center designed to help create fantastic florals at home using fresh-cut flowers. His techniques of European High-Style Design (9:30-11:30 a.m.) and Flemish Floral Art (1-3pm) are covered. $130 per person, includes supplies.  

·         February 6 
Key Chorale Chamber Chorus performs to early madrigals to contemporary compositions presented with poetry of Shakespeare, Burns, and Frost. $25 / $15 for Museum Members, includes admission to the special exhibition Gardens in Perpetual Bloom.

             Tickets can be purchased for these individual events. Packages are also available.   Many of the events include Museum admission, for more information contact the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office at 941.360.7399 or visit www.ringling.org. “Ringling in Bloom” coincides with Gardens in Perpetual Bloom. This special exhibition explores the flourishing art of botanical illustration in Europe and America from 1600 to 1850. More than 100 prints are on view from January 29 through April 24, 2011. Featured artists include, Georg Dionysus Ehret -- the 18-th century’s most accomplished botanical artist -- and Pierre-Joseph Redouté Redouté, the premier draftsman of flowers for Marie-Antoinette and Josephine Bonaparte.

For more information / photography, please contact Scott Gardiner, Public Relations Manager at 941-359-5700 ext. 2803.

General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $10.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit www.ringling.org for more information.
 
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

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            The Ringing Museum’s newest initiative Art of our Time showcases new art -- modern and contemporary art, visual and performance art. The first season launched with this year’s Ringling International Arts Festival. It will continue through 2011 with visual art explorations including Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art, a new exhibition that opens in May 2011 that explores the continuing influence of hip-hop on 21st century art and culture.

            “The Historic Asolo Theater's contemporary dance/theater exhibition is a great chance to experience new and wonderful expressions of this art form that speaks to our individual, as well as collective need to enjoy and connect with the world around us,” said Dwight Currie, Interim Deputy Director for Collections, Exhibitions and Programs for the Ringling Museum. “With their own unique language and stories, each artist stretches the boundaries of performance while endearing themselves to us in a way that captures our hearts and minds.”

January 27-29: Monica Bill Barnes & Company
            Celebrating individuality, humor and the innate theatricality of everyday life, Monica Bill Barnes & Company perform Another Parade and mostly fanfare, January 27-29.  Harkening back to the care-free and blissful days of adolescence Another Parade celebrates the singular, exhilarating experience of being on stage. The high energy piece features four ungainly performers who flirt with subtlety while wearing their hearts on their sleeves. A go-for-broke, all-out-dance event, it packs a punch while straddling the awkward and debonair.

            Through the support of creative residences provided by the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography at Florida State University and the Joyce Theater Foundation among others, Barnes work has been produced at The International Fabbrica for Choreographers in Florence, and the Fourth International Dance and Movement Festival on the Volga.   Last year, the company also performed at the Bates Dance Festival, American Dance Festival, The Joyce Theater and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.    

February 17-19: OtherShore

            As a follow-up to their powerful performance Snow Falls in Winter at the 2009 Ringling International Arts Festival, OtherShore delivers an encore presentation with two world premieres: The Social Band and The Goats, February 17-19. The Social Band, choreographed by Stephen Petronio features original music by Son Lux. Choreographed by Annie B-Parson and Paul Lazar, The Goats is a re-telling of the story of Heidi.  The troupe is co-directed by Sonja Kostich, a former member of American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Zurich Ballet and the White Oak Dance Project -- and -- Brandi Norton, a former dancer with the Trisha Brown Company. OtherShore debuted in 2008 at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York.  

February 24-26: Eiko & Koma
            Eiko & Koma present elements from their Retrospective Project (2009-2012), February 24-26.   For the past 40 years, Eiko & Koma have explored the vulnerabilities of their own bodies as it relates to navigating the earth’s surfaces and landscapes by infusing a stillness that subverts and transcends the notions of time and space. Derived from collaborative works with visual art and performing art curators around the country, performances include Night Tide (performed with full nudity), an excerpt from White Dance, and Raven.  Two-time Grammy winner Robert Mirabal accompanies Eiko & Koma on Raven. Performing a musical score that features cedar and clay flutes, percussions, rattles and vocals inspired by Mirabal's Native Land, located at the foot of the Taos Mountain in northern New Mexico, his sound underscores the mystical and suspenseful nature of Raven.  

March 10-12: Bill Bowers

            Bill Bowers takes audiences on an unforgettable journey as he performs It Goes Without Saying directed by Martha Banta, March 10-12. This one-man show is a masterpiece of mime and storytelling featuring Bowers hilarious, heart-breaking, and unbelievably true stories. Bowers self-proclaimed “75-minute joy ride” incorporates movement and physical expressions as he reminisces about his childhood in the wilds of Montana, his outrageous jobs as a performer, the whirlwind of working on Broadway, and studying with legendary mime Marcel Marceau.  Bowers heartfelt style of acting and pantomime have led him on an incredible path from regional stage to tours, television, film, and even Broadway, where he has appeared in The Lion King and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

March 24-26: Kate Weare Company         

            Drawing on people’s basic urge to move and decode movement, Kate Weare Company explores a contemporary view of intimacy with her humorously sly and sexy style in Bright Land and Bridge of Sighs. Both productions evoke our communal need for safety, a longing to connect, and desire to be seen.  Set to old-time music, Bright Land is inspired by the struggles of her ancestors, presenting a new twist as it relate to today’s economic troubles, social isolation and essential desire to feel connected.  Bridge of Sighs features an ardent and unusual quartet for two women and two men, looking at the instincts - both reckless and wise - that drive them upstream toward love. Involved in intense interludes, each dancer's individuality shines through to fuel a deeply vibrant, wry and tender investigation of partnership and loneliness. The piece was co-commissioned by Jacob’s Pillow dance through its Creative Development Residency Program, a Choreographic Fellowship at The Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography at Florida State University, and an Artist-in Residency at Dance New Amsterdam.

            Serving as the Ringling Museum’s performance gallery, the Historic Asolo Theater presents museum quality performances that explore and exemplify the rich diversity of ideas and forms at play in the world today.   Tickets are available at the Historic Asolo Theater box office: 941.360.7399 or online at www.ringling.org Contemporary dance/theater performances take place Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., as well as Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $35, $30, $20 / $30, $25, $15 for Museum Members. Subscriptions to all five programs: $150/$125 for Museum Members.  For information/reservations, contact the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office at 941.360.7399 or visit www.ringling.org

General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $10.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit www.ringling.org for more information.
 
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

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            The internationally acclaimed scholar and classically trained musician kicks off a new lecture series by The Florida State University, which runs from January through March, 2011.  Based on sound science, Dr. Standley discusses the psychological and physiological responses that result from artistic participation, whether it is listening, performing, composing, moving, or discussing. Videotaped demonstrations of music therapy in action will be shown, including how it reduces pain, enhances the development of premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and distracts children from painful or frightening procedures.

            Acoustically different from all other auditory stimuli, the brain responds to preferred music with positive physiological, emotional, and cognitive changes.  Music therapy is a research-based behavioral science that combines empirical evidence with predictable, universal, human reactions to music.

            “Interest in the field of music therapy continues to grow and we’re delighted to have one of the foremost authorities on the subject,  Dr. Jayne Standley share her research and insights on its benefits with residents here on the Gulf Coast,” said T. Marshall Rousseau, Interim Director for the Ringling Museum. “In addition to addressing healthcare, our new lecture series broaches topics near and dear to Floridians, such as the economy, environment, ecology, arts and culture.”     

            The practice of music therapy has been around for more than six decades. Practitioners are trained healthcare professionals with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and National Certification (MT-BC) work in a variety of settings: medical, rehabilitation, geriatric, special education, counseling, hospice, or mental health.  There are more than 70 college and university degree programs in music therapy in the U.S.

            Classically trained and talented musicians, such as Dr. Standley, are adept in a variety of musical genres and styles, as well as trained in psychology and health sciences.  Jayne M. Standley, Ph.D., MT-BC, is a Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor at Florida State University (FSU) and the Ella Scoble Opperman Professor of Music.  Her work has been published in nursing, early childhood, and music therapy journals.  Most recently, she investigated music therapy for early intervention with premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  She directs the Music Therapy program at FSU, the Medical MT and Arts in Medicine Programs in partnership with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the National Institute for Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy. Dr. Standley is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Publication, Merit, and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Music Therapy Association, she is also the editor of the Journal of Music Therapy.

            Other topics covered during the lecture series, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Asolo Theater:

·         January 19: Oceanographer Dr. Ian MacDonald examines the long-term effects of BP’s oil spill.

·         February 2: Author, NPR commentator, and political columnist for The St. Petersburg Times Dr. Diane Roberts opines on her home state of Florida: the “perfect,” “strange,” and “splendid.”

·         February 16: The founder and artistic director of Urban Bush Women, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar shares her State Department-sponsored cultural-exchange tour of South America.

·         March 2: Paleobiologist Dr. Gregory Erickson shares his fascinating research on bite forces and tooth pressures of alligators and crocodiles.

·         March 16: The 14th president of The Florida State University Dr. Eric Barron shares his vision and advocacy of excellence in arts and humanities, sciences, law, business, and medicine. 

            Tickets are $10 or $5 for Museum Members. For more information contact the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office at 941.360.7399 or visit www.ringling.org.

General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $10.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit www.ringling.org for more information.
 
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

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“It is a special time of year at the Ringling Museum and we have a number of events planned that we anticipate will bring joy to children of all ages, as well as benefit the community and the Museum,” said T. Marshall Rousseau, interim director.  “We encourage the Sarasota/Manatee community, snowbirds and our out-of-town guests to come out and enjoy the Museum grounds decked in festive holiday lights and decorations, as well as our live entertainment performed by local organizations.”

Holiday Splendor at the Ringling Estate: Thurs., Dec. 2, 6-9 p.m.

On Thursday, December 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. the Ringling Museum will feature Holiday Splendor.  This event celebrates the sounds of the holidays and benefits the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots of Sarasota and Manatee Counties. School groups from Sarasota and Manatee County will perform holiday classics in the festively decorated Museum of Art Courtyard, as well as The Bolger Campiello by the Ca’ d’Zan all a glow with luminaries.  Last year, the Museum collected more than 1,300 toys, which were donated to grateful children in both counties. Admission is free with the donation, per person, of an unwrapped toy and to children under 5. Without a toy, it’s $10 for adults and $5 for children 6-17. All Museum venues will be open to tour, including the Ca’ d’Zan, Museum of Art, the Tibbals Learning Center and the Circus Museum. For more information, call 941-359-5700 ext. 5705.

Deck the Halls at the Ca’ d’Zan: Friday, Dec. 3, 6-9 p.m.

On Friday, December 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. the Ringling Museum has an intimate gathering planned at the Ca’ d’Zan with Deck the Halls. Designed to benefit the Ca’ d’Zan preservation fund and the Aeolian DuoArt Pipe Organ, it will feature holiday music, including carolers and a quartet. Guests will also be treated to a holiday-themed dinner, desserts like mini mousse cups flavored with cinnamon and specialty cocktails, such as a “Peppermint Martini” prepared by Treviso. One of only 30 built in the state of Florida, the Aeolian DuoArt Pipe Organ is located in the mansion’s main room referred to by the Ringlings as “The Court”.  It features Gothic detailing and a two-story chamber that houses 2,289 pipes. It has a special place in Sarasota history as during the late 1920s, orchestral music filled the Ca’ d’Zan as Mable Ringling entertained her guest with her legendary concerts and musicales. Tickets are $75.00. For reservation/donation information, call 941-358-3180.

ART after 5 Courtyard Concert – Holiday Swing:  Thurs., Dec. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

On Thursday, December 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Ringling Museum will stage Holiday Swing featuring The DeLeon Orchestra in the Museum of Art Courtyard.  The orchestra will be performing a repertoire featuring of holiday tunes like "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow”, as well as sing-a-long songs like "Jingle Bells", classic orchestral big band arrangements of the "Nutcracker Suite", "Sleigh Ride" and other perennial favorites.  The event is designed to help with fundraising efforts to benefit the Museum’s educational programming and exhibitions.  Admission is free with the purchase of an Art after 5 ticket. $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 6-17. It’s free to members. No advance or reserved ticketing is required. Food and beverages are available for purchase, no coolers are permitted.  For more information, visit www.ringling.org.

General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $10.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit www.ringling.org for more information.
 
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

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            Dance Magazine said of FSU faculty member Gerri Houlihan, “Gerri Houlihan is renowned for her fluid fusion of modern and ballet techniques that serves today’s contemporary dancer.”  The New York Times called special guest and University of South Florida faculty member Michael Foley’s work, “Hypnotic.”  The Village Voice said of New York based guest choreographer Monica Bill Barnes, “Barnes is one of the wittiest young choreographers around. She can stir your heart as well as make you laugh.” 

            The Florida State University School of Dance, part of the College of Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance, offers four professional dance degree programs. FSU dance has been a pioneer and leader among college dance programs for over 40 years, known for its renowned faculty, the caliber of its students and as a center for the creation, reconstruction and production of outstanding dance repertory.  The Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography is an internationally recognized choreographic research center in the School, hosting over 50 artists over the past five years.

            The FSU Dance performance is presented free of charge, but reservations are recommended and can be secured by contacting the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office in the Visitors Pavilion of the Ringing Museum of Art: 941.360.7399.

Threads of Gold: Renaissance Tapestries from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, is an exhibition consisting of eight recently restored, wall-sized tapestries, which are part of a series.

 “It is a rare opportunity to experience one of the world’s most important tapestry collections ever made,” said T. Marshall Rousseau, interim director for The Ringling Museum.

The exhibit is organized by the Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna, Austria and the International Arts & Artists, Washington, D.C.  It showcases tapestries comparable in artistic importance and richness to the tapestries in The Royal Palace in Madrid, the Mobilier National in Paris and the former possessions of the Medici Family in Florence, Italy.

 “This tapestry series immortalizes the lives of Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers who became identifiable figures for Renaissance rulers,” explained Dr. Virginia Brilliant, Associate Curator of European Art for The Ringling Museum. “These wall coverings are an interpretation of their struggles and ambitions. They are particularly compelling for their enormous scale and fantastic detail. They are also emblematic of the influence of the Italian Renaissance on Flemish tapestry production during the mid to late 16th-century.” 

In the late Renaissance, and Baroque periods, tapestries were among the most prestigious objects owned by the European elite, surpassing the cost of sculptures and paintings. Prior to the Kunsthistoriches Museum, this collection resided in The House of Hapsburg, Austria’s royal family.  Six of the eight tapestries presented in this exhibition were once owned by the Emperor Matthias. The other two are from another 16th-century set that belonged to the Emperor Franz Joseph I (1830-1916), husband of Empress Maria Theresia (1717-1780).

On display in the Searing Wing, the tapestry exhibition will be one of the main attractions during the visual arts showcase at the Ringling International Arts Festival, held October 13-17, 2010 at The Ringling Museum of Art. It will also the focal point for Ringling’s Saturday Family Days, October 23 to December 18, 2010, when children of all ages can learn to weave tapestries taking inspiration from these magnificent creations.

General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $10.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit www.ringling.org for more information.
 
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

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FEATURING ELABORATE PERIOD COSTUMES WITH AFRICAN VISUAL MOTIFS  

Sarasota, FL — July 30, 2010 — In a new exhibition entitled Yinka Shonibare MBE: Mother and Father Worked Hard So I Can Play visitors to the Astor Galleries, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s period rooms, are drawn to seven headless, child sized mannequins clad in traditional Victorian dress. Strikingly each are wearing brightly colored and richly-patterned “African” prints made of Dutch wax fabric. 

The children are meant to be beneficiaries of their families’ hard work, representing the aristocratic and overindulged youth of the 19^th century. Spread throughout the Astor Galleries the mannequins appear to interact with each other in the opulent interiors of the Museum’s Gilded Age period rooms, symbolic of the material wealth associated with the residences of the privileged class. A little girl with a doll plays beneath the Concert Grand Piano[1] while appearing to keep an eye on a boy with a marionette. Close by, a girl is skipping rope. A boy playing marbles is seemingly unaware of a girl on a scooter who appears headed right for him. 

“Yinka Shonibare’s work blends historical styles with ‘African’ visual motifs,” said Dr. Matthew McLendon, Associate Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art for The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. “This installation of Yinka’s elaborate period costumes within The Ringling Museum’s period rooms creates a contrast between the historic and post-modern. This exhibition explores African identity and European colonialism in an, at times, playful manner.  It is indicative of the culturally-diverse works of art being presented by The Ringling Museum’s Art of Our Time program, which is an on-going effort to introduce Ringling patrons to pioneers and leading artists from the modern and contemporary world of visual and performing arts.”

A self-described ‘post-colonial’ hybrid, Shonibare is a British-based artist, of Nigerian descent, whose work spans the media of painting, sculpture, photography and filmmaking. His art explores themes of history and its legacy for future generations, how we live in the present and the cycles or patterns that repeat across time. 

Shonibare is best known for employing Dutch wax fabric in his work, which he favors because it is a post-colonial export produced in Europe for African audiences.  Dutch wax prints were developed in Holland in the 1800s and sold by merchants traveling the trade routes between Java and Holland. West African people along the trade route were so drawn to the bright bold Javanese fabric that it gradually became a national cultural dress style. These eye-catching prints are worn in parts of Africa, namely Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and several other countries. Shonibare uses the fabric to decorate canvases, three-dimensional landscapes and to construct period costumes.

Yinka Shonibare studied at Goldsmiths College, University of London, as well as the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.  His work can be seen in both public and private collections throughout the world.  In 2005, Shonibare was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE. He uses this distinction despite, and because of, its ironic nature when viewed with his work.  In 2004, he was a finalist for the Turner Prize awarded by Tate Britain to the top contemporary artist under the age of 50.

Organized by The Brooklyn Museum, the Yinka Shonibare MBE: Mother and Father Worked Hard So I Can Play exhibition runs at The Ringling Museum of Art from July 30 to October 24, 2010.  It will also anchor the visual arts showcase during the 2010 Ringling International Arts Festival, next on the Ringling Museum’s Art of Our Time initiative. Held in Sarasota and Bradenton, Fla. October 13-17, the five-day festival highlights both visual and performing arts. A partnership between Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art and New York’s Baryshnikov Arts Center, the Festival includes world and U.S. premieres of music, dance and theater presented by artists from around the world in area theaters, including The Historic Asolo Theater, The Cook Theatre and The Mertz Theatre.

General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $10.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit www.ringling.org for more information.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

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Sarasota, FL—June 21, 2010 – Kevin Greene, Landscape Superintendent for The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, won Florida State University’s 2010 Unsung Hero Award.  He received the honor for his superior work performance, cooperation and positive attitude.  John Carnaghi, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration for FSU, presented the award during a recent ceremony at the Tallahassee campus. 

            “We’re delighted that Florida State University chose to recognize Kevin for his contributions to the Ringling Museum of Art,” said T. Marshall Rousseau, Interim Director for the Ringling Museum. “Kevin and his team take meticulous care of the landscaping for our historic 66-acre estate, which is home to the Museum of Art, Ca d’Zan mansion, Circus Museum, Historic Asolo Theater and our nationally-accredited rose garden.  The grounds and gardens are a distinguishing feature of The Ringling Museum of Art, making us unique among the world’s top attractions. They contribute greatly to the overall appeal and rich experience for our visitors.” 

            The Museum’s landscaping crew tends daily to a variety of grasses and shrubs, several ponds, as well as 1,200 roses and more than 1,000 trees such as our towering Banyan Trees. The team includes Loretta Bestpitch, Frank Cantrell, Dave DeBold, Rick Esterly, Buck Goggans, Scot Hughes, Martin Martinez and Paul Ohnstad. 

            The Rose Garden is accredited by the All-American Rose Selections, a non-profit association dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses. It was also named the 2006 most outstanding All-America Rose Selections Public Rose Garden in the nation.

The Ringling Museum of Art
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, The Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

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Ringling's Museum's Chip Willis Elected to Board of Florida Attractions Association        

Sarasota, FL — June 14, 2010 — Chip Willis, Chief Operating Officer for The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, has been elected to the board of the Florida Attractions Association (FAA) – a tourism industry trade association based in Tallahassee, Fla.  President and CEO Bill Lupfer made the announcement during the FAA’s 2010 Annual Conference held in St. Augustine, Florida.  

“The Florida Attractions Association is a leading voice and promotional force for the Florida tourism industry,” said Willis. “I am honored to be on the board and help carry out the Association’s mission to support our members with achieving our shared goal of showcasing Florida as one of the world’s top destinations and the wide variety of attractions that U.S. and international travelers can enjoy.”    

Established in 1949, membership to the Florida Attractions Association continues to grow. The Association now represents 90 attractions, 38 Florida state parks, and 79 Associate members.  It works closely with other tourism-related groups in the state, including convention visitors’ bureaus, as well as lodging, restaurants, RV parks and campgrounds. 

The organization also participates in the Florida Commission on Tourism/Visit Florida, Inc.; Tourism Industry Association of America and its National Council of Attractions and the International Association for Amusement Parks and Attractions. 

Joining Willis as new Florida Attractions Association directors are Kurt Allen, General Manager of Marineland; Brian Britton, Vice President, Global Park Operations and Initiatives at Walt Disney World; Tim Carrier, Director of Operations, SeaWorld Orlando; and Carol Kruse, Assistant Director of Miami MetroZoo.

In a statement issued by the Florida Attractions Association, Chairman Andrew Hertz, General Manager said, “Each bring a fresh new perspective and as the tourism industry in Florida continues to evolve, this new diverse group of directors will help us to ensure we are meeting the needs of all of our members.”

Willis is part of the leadership team at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.  He is also a veteran of the hospitality industry with 26 years of management experience. Prior to joining The Ringling Museum, Chip worked at ClubCorp, Inc., a $1.5 billion company known as the leader in the private club and resort business.  While working with Club Corp, Inc., he served as general manager and a regional manager with responsibilities for clubs in eight states. Chip also served as General Manager of the University Center Club at The Florida State University.  He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of Tennessee. He is also active in the community serving on civic and arts organizations, as well as charitable boards.  

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About The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling’s historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Tibbals Learning Center, the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

Sarasota, FL—June 8, 2010 – To meet ever-increasing box office demand for the 2010 Ringling International Arts Festival, organizers have announced yet another increase in ticket inventory as single-ticket sales are launched following a highly successful Festival Pass campaign.  

            “The response to the second annual Ringling International Arts Festival has been phenomenal,” said Festival Director Dwight Currie. “Since we announced programming in March, we’ve sold well over 1,000 Festival passes, which represents about 50 percent of our total capacity for the stage performances.  Early in that campaign, demand for the world premiere of a Philip Glass composition to be performed by solo violinist Tim Fain prompted the scheduling of an additional performance.” 

            “Now we have a number of performances that have sold out,” Currie added, “so we’re making what changes we can to accommodate the demand.”  Specifically, seating capacity for Opera Baroque, a theatrical offering from the Forman Brothers Theater of the Czech Republic that mixes traditional marionettes with live actors, has been increased by 30 percent by moving the performances into the Ringling Circus Museum to meet demand.” 

            The five-day showcase of music, theater and dance presents 45 performances of 11 stage productions, which run from October 13-17 at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Fla.  In addition to the premieres by Philip Glass and the Forman Brothers, the Festival boasts the debut of Hurricane, a new play written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatist Nilo Cruz and Solos with Mikhail Baryshnikov & David Neumann featuring a world premiere by choreographer Susan Marshall.  Those productions all debut at the Festival’s Night of Premieres on Wednesday, October 13.  They then join the roster of seven additional productions of dance, theater, and music all presented in repertoire on three stages through Sunday, October 14. 

            With 50 percent of the tickets already sold and many performances at or near capacity sales, Festival organizers are anticipating a 100 percent sell-out to occur sometime during the remaining four months leading up to the opening events.  “We’re continuing to get the word out that the Ringling International Arts Festival is the place to be in October,” Currie stated.  “This week we introduced the Festival website at www.ringlingartsfestival.org. It gives visitors the opportunity to explore the exciting roster of international acts, world premieres, events, family activities and dining opportunities offered.  Whatever your tastes, the 2010 Ringling International Arts Festival has something for everyone.”

            The Ringling International Arts Festival is presented by the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in collaboration with the Baryshnikov Arts Center of New York. The stage productions, along with special art exhibitions and museum events are all presented in the theaters, galleries, and gardens of the 66-acre, multi-venue Ringling Center for the Arts on Sarasota Bay in Florida.  To purchase tickets, call The Historic Asolo Theater box office at 941.360.7399 Monday through Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET or, visit The Ringling International Arts Festival website at www.ringlingartsfestival.org.  Member tickets are $30, $25, $20 and $10. Tickets for the general public are $40, $35, $30 and $20.

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The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university campuses in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling by educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Historic Asolo Theater; as well as the historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay on Florida’s gulf coast. For more information about the Ringling Museum of Art, please visit: www.ringling.org. 

The Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) opened its doors in New York City¹s Hell¹s Kitchen in November 2005. BAC serves as a creative laboratory, meeting place, and performance space for a vibrant community of artists from around the world.  BAC is also dedicated to building audiences for the arts by presenting contemporary, innovative work at low or no cost to ticket buyers.  The organization recently purchased a 299-seat theater in the performing arts complex, which will undergo renovation in 2009 to be transformed into the state of the art Jerome Robbins Theater. Scheduled to open in 2010, the theater will serve as an organic extension of the existing center, featuring multi-disciplinary work, emerging talent, and international artists, and including artist-centered activity that fosters creative exploration.  For more information about the Baryshnikov Arts Center, please visit: www.bacnyc.org.

Sarasota, FL—April 23, 2010 – Modern dance creations inspired by historic circus photographs take center stage as Moving Ethos Dance Company presents The Center Ring for three performances at the Historic Asolo Theater May 14 – 15.  Commissioned by The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the program is presented in conjunction with the exhibition HEYDAY: The Photographs of Frederick W. Glasier.

“This is the third season that we have commissioned the talented choreographic team of Courtney Smith and Leah Verier-Dunn to create new works that speak to and enhance our appreciation and understanding of a museum exhibition,” reports Dwight Currie, Associate Director for Ringling Museum Programs.  “Each time they bring a fresh and thought-provoking interpretation that can only be articulated through dance.  We are very happy that this year their focus will turn to the circus and the photography of Frederick Glasier.”

As the official photographer for the Barnum & Bailey Circus, Frederick W. Glasier (1866-1950) had unrestricted access to both the grand performances and the backstage life of the circus.  His work offers insight into the public and private personalities of some of the greatest entertainers of the most dynamic period of the American circus.  For The Center Ring, Smith and Verier-Dunn have created five new works inspired by Glasier’s photography. 

The span and scope of the five works range from Sideshow, exploring the balance between the skill and emotional lives of female contortionists and high-wire artists, to Herd Instinct, an investigation into the community dynamics of an ancient species trained to dance for the modern world.  The brightly lit, colorful illusions of the circus come alive in Luminescence, while the risks of flying on the trapeze serve as a metaphor for life in Trust Me.  The program concludes with Dare to Wear the Foolish Clown Face, a choreographic question surrounding the implications of exaggerated makeup and costumes.

Moving Ethos was founded by Courtney Smith in 2006 as an effort to further the art form of dance on the West coast of Florida.  In 2007, Leah Verier-Dunn joined Smith as co-Director, and together, these two Sarasota natives use the art form of dance to reflect the spirit of our culture and enrich our community through performance and education.   For The Center Ring they are collaborating with production designer, Aaron Muhl who has designed for the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Sarasota Ballet, and Syracuse Stage.

The Center Ring performs at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 14 and at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 15.  Tickets for the performance are $25 ($20 for Ringling Museum Members) – on Saturday, patrons may purchase a $35 “combo” ticket that includes both the dance performance and admission to the Museum for viewing the exhibitions.  All tickets are available at the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office: 941.360.7399 or online: www.ringling.org 

Sarasota, FL—April 14, 2010 –  The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art has appointed Dr. Matthew McLendon as the new Associate Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art. Prior to his appointment, Dr. McLendon, a native Floridian, was appointed the first Curator of Academic Initiatives at The George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Rollins College.

“Matthew brings a great wealth of knowledge coupled with a fresh and exciting perspective to the Ringling Museum during a significant expansion in exhibition and programming offerings,” said T. Marshal Rousseau, Interim Director for the Ringling Museum, “His recent experience at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum as well as  his national and international connections will serve as a very valuable foundation for the modern and contemporary art initiatives here at the Ringling.”

Dr. McLendon is currently curating an installation of 20^th century abstract art from the Ringling Museum’s permanent collection which will be on view in the Museum of Art’s Searing Wing beginning May 29, 2010. The exhibition will feature paintings, sculpture and works on paper from Franz Kline, Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Vasilly Kandinsky, among others.

Dr. McLendon is also managing the 2010 permanent installation of the James Turrell Skyspace in the Art Museum’s Searing Wing, working closely with the artist and his representatives. He is overseeing all modern and contemporary special exhibitions for the Museum of Art.

Dr. Matthew McLendon is an alumnus of Florida State University where he received Bachelor of Art degrees in both Art History and Music. While at FSU, he was the first intern in the department of Interpretation and Education at Tate Britain, London.  After graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. McLendon returned to London to study at the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London where he received his MA and PhD.  While studying in London, Dr. McLendon was asked back to Tate Britain to act as Interim Curator of Adult Learning and was responsible for the public programming surrounding the 2002 Turner Prize.

While at the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Dr. McLendon curated a number of exhibitions including Andy Warhol Personalities, a survey of Warhol’s Polaroid portrait studies and Michael Phillips & The Imfernal Method of William Blake, an investigation of Blake’s revolutionary printing techniques. While at Rollins, Dr. McLendon taught courses on European avant-gardism and visual culture theory in the Department of Art and Art History. He was responsible for facilitating the use of the museum by the faculty and students of Rollins College as well as the other institutes of higher education in Central Florida bringing in over 2,000 college students a year to the museum. As Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art for the Ringling Museum, he will teach graduate seminars for Florida State University through the Museum Studies Program.

 Sarasota, FL – April 8, 2010 –   For film lovers yearning for “the good old days,” the Ringling Museum of Art presents a new line-up for their popular Monday Night Movies.  Starting April 12 and continuing through May 17, They Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To: Six Great Films – all Fifty Years Old will be presented at the Museum’s Historic Asolo Theater. 

April 12: Some Like It Hot – Billy Wilder’s classic comedy starring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as two musicians on the run from the mob.

April 19: Spartacus – Kirk Douglas stars as the Gladiator who challenged the imperial might of Rome in Stanley Kubrick’s epic film.

April 26: Psycho – Hitchcock’s unrelenting exercise in terror.

May 3: Inherit the Wind – Spencer Tracy as Clarence Darrow and Frederic March as William Jennings Bryan in the masterpiece by Stanley Kramer.

May 10: Elmer Gantry – The novel by Sinclair Lewis comes alive with Burt Lancaster starring as a slick salesman peddling his own kind of religion.

May 17: Butterfield 8 – Elizabeth Taylor won an Oscar for her portrayal of the high-priced model transformed by love.

Screenings begin at 7:00 p.m. and tickets ($7 per film or $36 for the entire series of six films) are available by calling the Box Office at 941.360.7399.

May 15 - September 6, 2010

Sarasota, FL—April 5, 2010 – Explore the most dynamic period of the American circus through rarely seen photographs in HEYDAY: The Photographs of Frederick W. Glasier at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing, May 15-Sept. 6, 2010. Drawn from the collections of the Ringling Museum, the exhibition is co-curated by Peter Kayafas of the Eakins Press Foundation and Deborah Walk, Curator of the Circus Museum of the Ringling Museum. The exhibition features 64 photographs that depict the circus coming to town, performances of spectacular feats, and the behind-the-scenes life of circus members.

“Glasier masters the techniques of mood, lighting and composition that truly make him a brilliant photographer,” said T. Marshall Rousseau, Interim Director of the Ringling Museum. “We are excited to have Glacier’s photographs shown in the Museum of Art galleries.”  

HEYDAY highlights the work of Frederick W. Glasier, who photographed the circus and served as the official photographer for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, among others. Glasier’s unrestricted access to both the performances and backstage life allowed him to explore the public and private personalities of some of the greatest entertainers of the era.

HEYDAY is arranged to chronologically illustrate the event of the circus coming to town. Lithographic promotional posters vividly announced upcoming performances, with hyperbolic claims about the spectacular events soon to unfold, will be juxtaposed with Glasier’s photographs that document the arrival of the circus, from the excitement of parades that take over small towns, to the set-up of the massive big top tent, which could hold more than 12,000 people.

Highlights on view include photographs of circus performers captured in the midst of their acts, such as the Deike Sisters, a gymnastic family with the Barnum & Bailey circus, and a trapeze aerial act, captured in a split-second moment, of the Flying Banvards in the photograph Maude Banvard, The Catch, Brockton Fair (1907).  Also on exhibit are intimate portraits of Native American’s who often performed in Wild West shows.

Glasier’s great strength was as portraitist, and his photographs reveal an intimate connection to the circus and sideshow performers. Famous portraits on display include Chief Iron Tail, a star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show – a model for the Buffalo Head nickle; Mademoiselle Octavia, known as the “Yankee Snake Charmer;” Charmion, Strong Woman; and Peter Guckeyson, who ran away from home and joined the circus to become a traditional white-faced clown under the name Pete Mardo.

The exhibition is made possible by UBS and organized by the Eakins Press Foundation. It is paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues. The exhibition was on display at The UBS Art Gallery in New York City on in late 2008 and early 2009.  

April 24, 2010 – January 20, 2011

Sarasota, FL—March 29, 2010 – Exquisite silver and gilt jewelry from the Turkomen tribes of Iran, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan are presented in the exhibition Splendid Treasures of the Turkomen Tribes of Central Asia at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing April 24,1010 – Jan. 30, 2011. The exhibit of more than 40 objects hand crafted by the semi-nomadic Turkomen people features headdress ornaments, bracelets, and clothing clasps with carnelian and lavish decorative elements of silver and gold.

The collection includes jewelry created largely in the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, and worn by women from head to arm. Decorated with gilding, chains and semi-precious stones, each piece is imbued with symmetrical yet organic designs drawn from the tribes’ mythological interpretations of the natural world.

“We are delighted to showcase this exceptional collection of Turkomen treasures,” said Interim Director, T. Marshall Rousseau.“Each piece is stunning in its complexity and represents the talent and craftsmanship of the fascinating people who wore them.”

Now part of the Ringling’s developing Asian art holdings, the collection was recently donated by Stephen Van C. Wilberding, former senior advisor to the Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency. The exhibition highlights the customs and beliefs of the Turkomen tribes’ distinctive lifestyle.

“The most interesting cultures are those that are difficult to fully understand,” said Mr. Wilberding. “This is what first attracted me to the Turkomen tribes. Their mixture of different historical influences, which are particular to Central Asia, are unique.”

The bold and intricate jewelry represents the Turkomen tribes’ form of transportable wealth worn for special festivities or daily adornment. Often large in size, these elaborate pieces were sewn onto clothing or attached to the hair. Unique tall headdresses were decorated with elaborate jewelry, often with bells and pendants hanging down from the temples. Some ornaments were purported to have special properties to keep the wearer safe. Tribe continuity was always precarious, so great importance was attached to weddings, birthdays and the survival of children. Young women of marriageable age wore special jewelry, which was replaced by more elaborate forms for the wedding ceremony, when a woman’s jewelry was enhanced by the dowry given by the groom and his family. Married women wore their extensive collections of jewelry until the birth of their first son, layering multiple pieces from the head to hands. Changes in hairstyles, too, reflected the change in social position, so Turkomen women adorned themselves with special hair ornaments to indicate their marital status.                             

The exhibition is organized and curated by Dr. Chang Qing, Curator of Asian Art with Dr. Benita Stambler, Coordinator of Asian Art at the Ringling Museum.

Sarasota, FL, March 29, 2010 – Box Office demand following the March 10 announcement of the Ringling International Arts Festival has already prompted Festival organizers to schedule an additional performance to the five-day roster of music, theater, and dance presented October 13-17 at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida.

“In less than just two weeks, nearly 30% of the tickets have already been sold,” reports Festival Director, Dwight Currie.  “Within days of our announcement, demand for the Tim Fain performance was outpacing supply.” 

To meet that demand, an additional performance of “Glass and Bach for Solo Violin,” featuring the acclaimed violinist, Tim Fain performing the world premiere of a Phillip Glass composition commissioned expressly for the Festival has been added at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 14.  In total, 44 performances of 11 stage productions will be presented October 13-17 in the three theaters of the Ringling Center for the Arts in Sarasota. 

This is the second year for the Ringling International Arts Festival that debuted in 2009.  The five-day event is presented by the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in collaboration with the Baryshnikov Arts Center of New York.  In addition to the performance by Tim Fain, other Festival highlights include “Solos with Mikhail Baryshnikov and David Neumann,” a world-premiere play by Pulitzer Prize-winner, Nilo Cruz, the Forman Brothers Theatre from the Czech Republic, Rubberbandance from Montreal, the Moscow-based Theater Art Studio, Romanian cabaret artist Sanda Weigl, and more. 

The stage productions, along with special art exhibitions and museum events are all presented in the theaters, galleries, and gardens of the 66-acre, multi-venue Ringling Center for the Arts on Sarasota Bay in Florida.

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^{The Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) opened its doors in New York City¹s Hell¹s Kitchen in November 2005. BAC serves as a creative laboratory, meeting place, and performance space for a vibrant community of artists from around the world.  BAC is also dedicated to building audiences for the arts by presenting contemporary, innovative work at low or no cost to ticket buyers.  The organization recently purchased a 299-seat theater in the performing arts complex, which will undergo renovation in 2009 to be transformed into the state of the art Jerome Robbins Theater. Scheduled to open in 2010, the theater will serve as an organic extension of the existing center, featuring multi-disciplinary work, emerging talent, and international artists, and including artist-centered activity that fosters creative exploration.  For more information about the Baryshnikov Arts Center, please visit: www.bacnyc.org.}

Sarasota, FL—March 25, 2010 – The 200^th Anniversary of the birth of the world’s favorite showman, PT Barnum is showcased in the exhibition, The World Ransacked for All Its Wonders: PT Barnum and American Popular Culture at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center now through – August 16, 2010. The exhibit of historic and rare lithographic posters and accompanying ephemera including souvenir booklets, trade cards and photographs illustrates Barnum’s rise from proprietor of the American Museum to a celebrity brand in his own right.

The collection represents Barnum’s mass press campaigns that created some of America’s first superstars and put private moments on public display. Highlights of the exhibition include six of the seven known lithographic posters printed with images of Jumbo, PT Barnum’s great elephant, as well as additional pieces that use Jumbo’s name to advertise other attractions.

“This exhibition showcases the career of a unique American showman who astounded all with wonders drawn from all corners of the world,” said T. Marshall Rousseau, Interim Director for the Ringling Museum.  “It also highlights the depth and breadth of the Ringling Museum’s circus collections and how the methods of communicating the arrival of the circus in American towns changed advertising practices.”

P.T. Barnum’s career spanned almost six decades, beginning in 1835 with his display of a woman advertised as George Washington’s nursemaid and ending, at his death, with the Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth, the largest circus of its day. The 1863 marriage of Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren, called the Fairy Wedding, caught the attention and imagination of the country, making headlines at the height of the Civil War. From the marketing of pop culture personalities to the bombastic use of image and language in advertising, Barnum’s impact on American popular culture is still alive today.

This exhibition is organized and curated by Jennifer Lemmer Posey of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s Circus Museum.

Sarasota, FL—March 3, 2010— Concert-lovers and young professionals looking for a fun and affordable way to unwind this Spring are invited to Sarasota’s live music concert series, Finally Friday in the Courtyard, at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s Courtyard. 

• The kick-off concert, Friday, March 12, 2010, will feature The Caribbean Chillers, Florida’s premier Jimmy Buffet tribute band. Guests will unwind in tropical style to the sounds and experiences of a Parrot head concert.  Tickets are $15 per in advance, or $20 at the door, if available.
• “Peace, Love and Ringling”, will be Friday, April 23, 2010.  Guests will groove the night away to sounds of the 60s and 70s by local favorite band, Yesterdayze.

Tickets are $10 per in advance, or $15 at the door, if available.

Aptly themed cocktails and food will be available for purchase. Guests may bring their own chair and/or blanket.  Outside food, beverages, coolers and pets will not be permitted into the event.  For advance tickets, please call 941.358.3180. 

Doors and will call lines will open at 6 p.m., music will play 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Free parking for the concerts will be available adjacent to the Museum at the FSU Asolo Performing Arts Center.  For more information, please call 941.359.5700 Ext. 5705.  The event will occur rain or shine.

For more information visit www.ringling.org.

SARASOTA, Fla.  – March 1, 2010 – Philanthropist David F. Bolger, President of the Bolger Foundation of Ridgewood, NJ and Longboat Key, FL has donated $1.105 million to fund Phase I of a waterfront landscaping plan at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.  The gift will be used to make improvements to the Estate’s 66-acre property along the waterfront area by connecting the Ca’d’Zan mansion to the south property line with path ways, seating, lighting and landscaping.

“The waterfront is an important component of the Museum experience,” Mr. Bolger said.  “My gift will create a place of tranquility where Museum visitors will be able to sit, enjoy the beauty of the landscaping and the bay, and contemplate life and their place in it.”

The gift will be used to complete the first phase of a larger landscaping improvement plan that will create a usable space providing facilities for outdoor experiences for Museum visitors.  Upon completion of the first phase of the plan, visitors will stroll along the bay on a palm lined promenade leading toward Ca’d’Zan. Seating will line the pathway facing west toward Longboat Key. A paved square adjacent to the south end of Ca’d’Zan will be available for rental to the public for social events, dancing, etc. The first phase of the landscape improvement plan is scheduled for completion in late June, 2010.

“The Ringling Museum is deeply grateful to Mr. Bolger for his commitment to the visitor experience of the Ringling grounds,” said Interim Director T. Marshall Rousseau. “Thanks to his ongoing generosity, our visitors will have a place to reflect on the beauty of this unique property and the important role that John and Mable Ringling played in creating a thriving Sarasota cultural community.”

 David F. Bolger is the Founder and Chairman of Bolger & Co., Inc. a real estate and investment firm in Ridgewood, NJ.  He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA. He is the President of The Bolger Foundation which has made more than $70 million dollars of philanthropic donations since 2000, including $535,000 to InStride Equine Assisted Therapy, a therapeutic-riding facility in Nokomis, FL, Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Historic Spanish Point in Sarasota, FL.  His generosity is widespread with numerous leadership gifts to organizations in New Jersey including The Valley Hospital of Ridgewood, The Village of Ridgewood, West Bergen Mental Health Care,  Ridgewood, Glen Rock and Midland Park Libraries, Christian Health Care Center, Ramapo Ridge Psychiatric Center, Holland Christian Home, The Children’s Therapy Center of Fair Lawn, William Paterson University (School of Nursing), Bethany Christian Services, The Bergen County Chapter of Community Blood Center Services, The YMCA of Ridgewood,  Northfield Mount Hermon School in Mount Hermon, Massachusetts, The Rainbow Land Preschool/Day Care of Fayette, IA where a bridge is also dedicated to Mr. Bolger known as The Bolger Bridge, Bartels Lutheran Retirement Home, Self-Help International and his most recent donation, “The Lois Coonradt/Bolger Helipad” to Waverly Health Center, in Waverly, IA.

Bolger’s philanthropic interests began at the young age of 15 when he chose to donate money he earned delivering newspapers, shoveling coal, doing landscape work and snow removal, etc. He worked his way through college in the steel mills of Pittsburgh, PA, helping others less fortunate in a variety of ways and supporting organizations working on behalf of the handicapped, disadvantaged youths, churches, senior citizens, mental health programs, conservation activities and education; without regard to race, creed or financial status.

Bolger’s gift to the Museum ensures a continued effort for completion of the Estate Master Plan which includes a historical study presented in 2002 that verifies a 1940’s plan to connect the esplanade to the waterfront.

Sarasota, FL – (February 19, 2010) The Baryshnikov Arts Center and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art have set March 10 to announce programming plans for the 2010 Ringling International Arts Festival.  The roster of performances in theater, dance, and music will be announced at 7:30 p.m. from the stage of the Historic Asolo Theater to an invited audience consisting of sponsors and supporters of the Festival’s inaugural launch in 2009.

Hailed as a critical and box office success in its first year, the Ringling International Arts Festival – first conceived as a biennial event – is being brought back “by popular demand” according to Ringling Festival Director, Dwight Currie.  “Our audience, the press, and even governmental officials from the municipal and state levels urged us to move forward with plans to bring the Festival back in 2010,” Currie explained.  In response, Festival organizers set October 13-17 as the dates for the encore presentation to be held once again in the theaters, galleries, and gardens of the Ringling Center for the Arts on Sarasota Bay in Sarasota, Florida.

The March 10 announcement will include core festival productions, including world premieres in theater, dance, and music commissioned expressly for the 2010 Festival.  The 2009 line-up included performers and companies from Canada, Britain, France, Spain, Israel, Australia, and the US, a range the 2010 roster is promised to match. In addition, plans for the Festivals’ opening night and a wide range of ancillary programs scheduled for both the Festival site and in the Sarasota and Bradenton communities will be shared.

For further information on the March 10 event, please contact: Pam Fendt, Chief, Marketing and Communications, 941.359.5700 x 2801, pam.fendt@ringling.org.

January 23, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

Sarasota, FL — Jan. 19, 2010 — The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art honors members of the circus world at the annual Circus Celebrity Awards Ceremony  in The Historic Asolo Theater. The event honors those that brought extraordinary dedication and remarkable skills to the rings and sidelines of the American circus. This year's honorees at Circus Celebrity Night are Jackie LeClaire, Circus Celebrity; William Powell, Power Behind the Scenes; and Clyde Beatty, Great of the Past.

Jackie LeClaire was born into the circus and has spent his life making people laugh. Although his single trapeze act was performed on the Ringling show, it was clowning that ran in Jackie’s blood.  He learned his art from his father Jack LeClair and began clowning under the big top at the age of sixteen. Jackie has been a producing clown with the Ringling and other shows and has traveled the globe. Most recently, Jackie has served as the Ambassador of Mirth and Senior Advisor for Circus Sarasota’s Laughter Unlimited outreach program.

Bill Powell, who hails from a traditional circus family background, has spent over three decades working with Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey.  Currently a Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Powell manages over 130 annual engagements of global Feld Entertainment products, ranging from the circuses and ice shows to live theater and motorsports events.

Clyde Beatty, one of the best known American animal trainers, made his debut in 1923 on the Robinson Show working with lions, tigers and leopards. Presenting as many as forty lions and tigers in one performance cage, he went on to headline many of the most important circuses traveling the country, including his own. Along with performances under the big top, Beatty was recognized for his role in films such as The Big Cage.

This year’s Circus Celebrity Night will be held on January 23, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the Historic Asolo Theater at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota.  Members of the Museum and the circus community have been invited to attend this prestigious evening event.

Feb. 13-April 25, 2010

Sarasota, FL—January 12, 2010 – Revisit America through the nostalgic paintings of Norman Rockwell and the poignant, photographs of Kevin Rivoli at In Search of Norman Rockwell's America, a pioneering exhibition that pairs the work of both artists.  The exhibition will be on view at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Feb. 13-April 25, 2010 and features thirty-five of Rivoli’s black an white photographs alongside original paintings, drawings, and limited artist’s prints by Rockwell. 

Often criticized for creating moments that did not exist, Rockwell never waivered from his passion for, as he put it: “showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed.” Rockwell’s works have become icons of America.

Nearly twenty years ago Rivoli began taking “slice of life” photographs documenting candid and intimate moments in the lives of ordinary Americans. Much like Rockwell, Rivoli gravitated towards scenes of everyday, commonplace life in America which capture the spirit of family, community, patriotism, historic events and people enjoying pastimes. Rivoli’s photographs are in many ways modern-day versions of Rockwell’s approachable, nostalgic and comforting paintings similar to Rockwell’s work, not only in mood and subject, but often in composition as well. Rivoli’s work helps demonstrate that the America Rockwell painted is still alive and well.

In Search of Norman Rockwell's America introduces Norman Rockwell’s work to a new generation while providing an opportunity for his existing fans to reconnect with this American icon. By pairing Rockwell’s celebrated, familiar images to Rivoli’s contemporary photographs, the exhibition encourages us to look for those moments of happiness, pride, mischief, courage, and patriotism that exist every day, not just in Rockwell paintings.

A book, published by Howard Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, features a significantly larger selection of Rivoli’s photographs juxtaposed with Rockwell images. The book is available for purchase in the Ringling Museum Store.