Fresh Fridays combine block party energy and the arts

By Ian Swaby
| 5:10 p.m. November 2, 2024

Sarasota
Neighbors

This month's Fresh Friday's event, Arts on Palm, was about bringing the public together post-hurricane, said Joseph Grano, Jr., founder of Next-Mark, which organizes the series of block parties.

However, this time, the arts were the key to engaging the community.

Amid live music by Bay Kings Band, the event featured live demonstrations by local artists, musical numbers sung by cast members of The Sarasota Players, including "Astonishing" from its production of "Little Women the Musical" opening in December, and artists offering live demonstrations of their work.

Attendees also had the chance to look inside the many art galleries that line Palm Avenue, including 530 Burns Gallery, MARA Art Studio + Gallery and Milan Art Gallery.

Meanwhile, Gulf Coast Community Foundation was present to raise funds for hurricane relief.

"I think art is part of the DNA of Sarasota, and we need to celebrate the arts every chance we can," Grano said. "We need to fund the arts, and we need to give every chance we get to promote the arts, because this is who we are. We don't have a professional sports team; we don't have a lot of other amenities that cities have, and arts is our foundation, so it's really critical to our success as a city."

Mayor Liz Alpert said she was glad to see the activity returning to downtown.

"I'm very, very happy to see people out enjoying themselves," she said. "I think Fresh Fridays have been a really good addition to our downtown, and I'm hoping that we'll have a wonderful season with them again this year."

"This is fun. It's always fun," said attendee Natasha Majerczyk.

Joe Abel of Stand Still Entertainment poses with Luna and Glenn Hayhurst.

Benjamin Eisenhour of The Sarasota Players performs the titular song from the play "American Idiot."

Lexi Lowther of The Sarasota Players performs "Astonishing" from "Little Women the Musical."

Doug Doolittle, artist Meg Krakowiak and Elizabeth Rand talk inside Meg Krakowiak Art Gallery & Studio.

Artist Adrienne Watts attaches a canvas to a frame. Her work involves individual pieces that are cut into strips and interwoven, producing a checkerboard efect.

Tania Navarro and Brandon Williams sing with Bay Kings Band

Bart and Natasha Majerczyk dance to the music.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.