January 14 & January 15 (12:00pm – 4:00pm)
Ringling College of Art and Design
The Education Foundation of Sarasota County launches the 17th annual Evening of Excellence with its Juried Art Show this month. A robust student art competition and perennial favorite on the social calendar, Evening of Excellence showcases outstanding works of fine art created by students representing public high schools throughout Sarasota County.
More than 330 exceptional student works – paintings, photographs, sculpture and more – will be on display at the Ringling College of Art and Design at its Roskamp Exhibition Hall. Select works in the exhibit will be available for purchase by sealed bid. The exhibit is free and open to the public on Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 15 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. Free campus parking is available on either side of the Selby Gallery, one-half block east of 2700 N. Tamiami Trail on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in Sarasota.
Each year, high school art instructors submit their students’ finest original art for consideration at the Juried Art Show. A distinguished panel of art professionals reviews the entries and selects twenty-five original pieces as the Best of the Best. The top twenty-five will be announced at a special reception sponsored by U.S. Trust on Wednesday, January 18, at Ringling College’s Roskamp Exhibition Hall.
The winning student artists donate their artwork to the Education Foundation. The art is lavishly framed by local galleries and framers, who donate their materials and services. Then each piece is put up for auction at a gala dinner next month. In return, students receive recognition for their talent and generosity and well as monetary awards. Private donors are invited to present Student Art Awards of $500 or more named for themselves or to honor loved ones.
Evening of Excellence is an innovative art program as well as an established fundraiser, grossing over $250,000 per year. Proceeds benefit the 41,000 students in Sarasota County’s public schools through the work of the Education Foundation. The event combines an elegant dinner with a spirited auction showcasing the talents of the Best of the Best high school artists. This year’s theme is See the Ordinary. Create the Extraordinary., taking inspiration from the student whose award-winning work was adapted for the gala invitation.
Meg Mahoney and Chris Cremer co-chair this year’s event committee. The annual dinner and student art auction will be held on February 24, 2012 at Michael’s on East. Festivities begin at with a cocktail hour at 6:00 p.m. Sponsor tables are available at $2,500 and up. Premium patron pairs, including two seats and a named art award, start at $1,000. Individual tickets are $200, $250 for patrons. To request an invitation or for more information, call 941-927-0965 or see the Education Foundation’s web site at EdFoundation.net.
