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Unconventional Evening hosts 10 eras of the high school prom experience


  • By Janet Combs
  • | 5:08 p.m. February 20, 2026
Carl Mario Nudi, Sarafina Murphy-Gibson, Ivy Sunflower, Marina Elaine and Sarah Jefferies on the promenade deck.
Carl Mario Nudi, Sarafina Murphy-Gibson, Ivy Sunflower, Marina Elaine and Sarah Jefferies on the promenade deck.
Janet Combs
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CAMERA READY

What: Unconventional Evening

Benefiting: Sarasota Art Museum

When: Feb. 18

Where: Sarasota Art Museum

Sarasota High School seniors Mackenzie Hirstein and Luci Crisp flank SAM's Unconventional Evening hostess Virginia Shearer and her husband, Arkady Medovoy.
Sarasota High School seniors Mackenzie Hirstein and Luci Crisp flank SAM's Unconventional Evening hostess Virginia Shearer and her husband, Arkady Medovoy.
Janet Combs
Bonnie McCormick is ready for the multi-era prom night held at Sarasota Art Museum for 70 guests on Feb. 18.
Bonnie McCormick is ready for the multi-era prom night held at Sarasota Art Museum for 70 guests on Feb. 18.
Janet Combs
Sarasota Art Museum SAM held its annual Unconventional Evening celebrating proms through the eras and candy cigarettes lit up the swag.
Sarasota Art Museum SAM held its annual Unconventional Evening celebrating proms through the eras and candy cigarettes lit up the swag.
Janet Combs
What came first — his name or his post journalist second career? Meet one of Ringling College of Art's figure models, Carl Mario Nudi.
What came first — his name or his post journalist second career? Meet one of Ringling College of Art's figure models, Carl Mario Nudi.
Janet Combs
Faith Adesanya, Tricia Mire, Laura Stuart Wood, Dave Gaul, Bonnie McCormick, Ella McIver and Anna Seguin
Faith Adesanya, Tricia Mire, Laura Stuart Wood, Dave Gaul, Bonnie McCormick, Ella McIver and Anna Seguin
Janet Combs
Mackenzie Hirstein, Deborah Hill, Dave Flach and Luci Crisp
Mackenzie Hirstein, Deborah Hill, Dave Flach and Luci Crisp
Janet Combs
Elilsabeth Waters and Denys Laptiev on the promenade at Sarasota Art Musuem.
Elilsabeth Waters and Denys Laptiev on the promenade at Sarasota Art Musuem.
Janet Combs
Cheers to Mackenzie Hirstein, Leslee and Mike Davis and Luci Crisp.
Cheers to Mackenzie Hirstein, Leslee and Mike Davis and Luci Crisp.
Janet Combs
Kimberley Pelyk
Kimberley Pelyk
Janet Combs
Matthew Sheets and Jordyn Irelan are ready to prom with Scott Swan.
Matthew Sheets and Jordyn Irelan are ready to prom with Scott Swan.
Janet Combs
Peter and Debbie Maltese
Peter and Debbie Maltese
Janet Combs
Arkady Medovoy and Wendy Surkin catch up before they go to art class at SAM's Unconventional Evening.
Arkady Medovoy and Wendy Surkin catch up before they go to art class at SAM's Unconventional Evening.
Janet Combs
Virginia Shearer and Lauren Hersh
Virginia Shearer and Lauren Hersh
Janet Combs
Mike and Leslee Davis
Mike and Leslee Davis
Janet Combs
Prom goals are unlocked with style and smiles from Kimberley Pelyk and Elisabeth Waters.
Prom goals are unlocked with style and smiles from Kimberley Pelyk and Elisabeth Waters.
Janet Combs
The art and the tux: Carl Mario Nudi and Roxanne Permesly
The art and the tux: Carl Mario Nudi and Roxanne Permesly
Janet Combs
Veronica Brady and Keith Monda
Veronica Brady and Keith Monda
Janet Combs
Scott Swan with Autumn Steiner
Scott Swan with Autumn Steiner
Janet Combs
Brad Goddard and Lisa Clucas
Brad Goddard and Lisa Clucas
Janet Combs
Faith Adesanya and Margo Tibbe await their guests who will be immersed in a prom-themed event at Sarasota Art Museum's annual Unconventional Evening.
Faith Adesanya and Margo Tibbe await their guests who will be immersed in a prom-themed event at Sarasota Art Museum's annual Unconventional Evening.
Janet Combs
Who remembers the clackety-clack of the Smith-Corona and
Who remembers the clackety-clack of the Smith-Corona and "FDSA space JKLsemi" from typing classes in the '60s-'70s?
Janet Combs
Fun fact: Rubik's Cube was invented in 1974 in Budapest by a Hungarian professor named Erno Rubik. More than 500 million official pieces have been sold since the international launch in 1980.
Fun fact: Rubik's Cube was invented in 1974 in Budapest by a Hungarian professor named Erno Rubik. More than 500 million official pieces have been sold since the international launch in 1980.
Janet Combs

 

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