Sarasota Urban Sketchers host first fundraiser

Maria Alberta Borri's friendship with the Sarasota Urban Sketchers has come full circle. 

While out on one of their typical Friday morning outings, the Sketchers decided to stop and paint the mermaid fountain at Pineapple Park. But after finding it crowded, the group of amateur painters settled on a new location — Malbi Decor located across the street at 127 S. Pineapple Ave. 

Owner Maria Alberta Borri welcomed the Sketchers to her patio. The products of that outing and several that followed can be found scattered around her store's interior in the form of small paintings of Malbi's facade. 

As their relationship grew, Borri had a thought. What if the Sketchers had a fundraiser to sell their art? And she knew just the spot to host such an event — the Malbi Decor Patio.

On the same patio where they had met, the Borri and the Sketchers gathered with friends, family and fellow art enthusiasts on March 2. All proceeds of the event benefited a teacher at Horizons Academy in Manatee County and one at Booker Middle School. 

As many of the artists celebrated their first sale, the group couldn't help but be grateful to Borri and the friendship that was born on that very patio.