• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

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
  • Black Tie
  • Share
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

 

Latest News

Terri Driver is a long-time volunteer with Longboat Key Turtle Watch, seen here caring for a nest in 2016.
  • April 22, 2026
Turtle patrol walks begin on Longboat Key
An aerial view of Coquina Beach.
  • April 22, 2026
Coquina Beach parking egress reintroduced as idea to fix congestion
Lieutenant Jack Gamble loads a set of bunker gear into the Speed Queen Extractor at Station 1 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • April 22, 2026
Laundry is priority, not chore, at East Manatee Fire Rescue
Sharon Godlewski stands by the pool at Springlake in The Meadows. Only the owl and CDs remain, but it's enough to keep the ducks away.
  • April 22, 2026
Snowbirds and mallards fight over pool in The Meadows

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Black Tie

Event co-chairs Charlie Ann Syprett and Dona Scott with WBTT founder and Artistic Director Nate Jacobs.
  • April 19, 2026
WBBT's April FĂȘte takes guests down colorful rabbit hole
Stephanie Perry, Margie Genter, Community Partner of the Year Awardee Florida Department of Corrections Stephanie Ditroia and Beth Poffel
  • April 19, 2026
Goodwill Manasota honors community ambassadors at signature luncheon
Matt Malone, Danette Simons, Aydar Rakhmatullin and Alyssa and Michael Simons
  • April 17, 2026
Children First's Fairytale Ball creates opportunity for kids
Sarasota Art Museum Executive Director Virginia Shearer, Arkady Medovy and Maryann Meyer
  • April 17, 2026
Patrons wine and dine at SAM's En Plein Air dinner
Girls celebrate Girls Inc. outside feeling victorious after their welcome song.
  • April 17, 2026
Girls Inc. Celebration Luncheon spotlights achievement
The Centennial Celebration of 100 years of the Sarasota Opera co-chairs are Sue Neumann and Lynn Blackledge.
  • April 12, 2026
Sarasota Opera House centennial celebration ends an era

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free