Sarasota Art Museum champions nature with 2022 Art Bash

The Sarasota Art Museum regaled its supporters with a dazzling Art Bash fundraiser on Dec. 10.

The museum's signature fundraiser — this year adopting an "Immersive Nature" theme — brought 350 of the museum's top donors and supporters to the building's front lawn for light bites and mingling. 

Guests then filled a tented event space outside the museum for an evening celebrating the relationship between art and nature. Much of the interior's decor celebrated nature, with cedarwood and flower petal designs adorning much of the space. 

Artists Steven and William Ladd as well as Janet Biggs, who all have exhibitions currently on display at the museum, were present and recognized at the gala as well. 

Ringling College of Art and Design president Larry Thompson welcomed the audience and spoke to his enthusiasm for the continued growth of the art museum.

"If you haven't (been to the museum before), I hope tonight demonstrates what you've been missing," Thompson said. "The Sarasota Art Museum is for everyone."

Chairwoman and conservation activist Elizabeth Moore then took to the podium to address the crowd as well.

"Art can inspire solutions and give us hope," Moore said. "It can connect us to our roots in nature."

The program continued with words from Executive Director Virginia Shearer and a subsequent live auction. The night ended with desert being served and music from the night's band.