Behind the Masterpiece on Florida’s Cultural Coast

Sarasota Art Museum’s Something Borrowed, Something New

Jeffery Kin talks with Virginia Shearer, executive director of Sarasota Art Museum, about Something Borrowed, Something New, an exhibition featuring works from private Sarasota collections. Virginia shares how the show came together, why some collectors were hesitant to part with pieces from their homes, and what makes it special to see these works in a museum setting before they return to private spaces. The conversation also touches on the history of Sarasota Art Museum, its role in the community, and the way contemporary art invites curiosity, conversation, and lifelong learning. Along the way, Virginia offers a look at what else is happening at the museum this summer, from new exhibitions to summer camp and educational programs for all ages. Timestamps: (00:00) Introducing Virginia Shearer, Executive Director, Sarasota Art Museum (01:30) Virginia’s background in art education (02:30) How Sarasota Art Museum started (06:45) Was this your dream job? (09:40) New exhibition: Something Borrowed, Something New (14:30) Curveball for the exhibition (15:40) Current events and upcoming exhibitions (18:50) The exhibition creation process (21:00) Virginia’s take on contemporary art (23:30) Summer camps For more information and to listen to all the episodes, go to sarasotapodcast.com

White Plume Productions Brings Naga-Mandala to Life

In this episode of Behind the Masterpiece, Brian Hersh sits down with director Salil Singh to explore Naga Mandala, the visually striking and deeply layered production from White Plume Productions. Rooted in the work of acclaimed Indian playwright Girish Karnad, this story weaves mythology, music, movement, and live storytelling into an immersive theatrical experience inside the Circus Arts Conservatory. Salil shares what it means to launch a new nonprofit in Sarasota with a bold cross-cultural vision, why this particular play continues to call him back, and how artists from different backgrounds are coming together to build something meaningful.  Timestamps: (00:00) Introducing Salil Singh, White Plume Productions, Director of Naga-Mandala (00:55) What is White Plume Productions? (02:15) How did you select Naga-Mandala? (06:00) About Naga-Mandala (08:50) Performing in the Sailor Circus Arena (11:50) What are you learning in rehearsal? (15:00) How does a production like this add to the cultural landscape of Sarasota? (17:30) What’s next for White Plume? For more information and to listen to all the episodes, go to sarasotapodcast.com

Building Community Through Art with Venice Art Center CEO Mary Moscatelli

In this episode of Sarasota’s Behind the Masterpiece, host Jeffery Kin sits down with Mary Moscatelli, CEO of the Venice Art Center, to explore what it really takes to build a thriving community arts hub. Mary shares how her background in mental health shaped her leadership style, why community energy matters as much as the art itself, and how the Venice Art Center has grown into a cultural destination with hundreds of classes, exhibitions, and artists each year. From supporting local creatives to hosting beloved events like the Martini Art Party, this conversation offers an inside look at how art can connect, heal, and inspire an entire region. https://veniceartcenter.com/ Timestamps: (00:00) Introducing Mary Moscatelli, Chief Executive Director of Venice Art Center (01:05) What is the Venice Art Center? (02:00) When did Mary join the Art Center? (03:00) Art Center Store (04:30) Organizational culture (05:20) How did art come into Mary’s life? (07:30) Artini Event and restaurant support (09:40) Come take a class at Venice Art Center (12:25) What does Mary do for fun? (14:04) What is coming up for Venice Art Center? For more information and to listen to all the episodes, go to sarasotapodcast.com

Why This Sarasota Artist Makes His Own Paints and Teaches Like It’s 1800

In this episode of Behind the Masterpiece, host Jeffery Kin sits down with classical realist painter Charles Miano, founder of the Miano Academy, to explore what it truly means to preserve craftsmanship in a modern world. From grinding his own pigments and studying the Old Masters to teaching a rare apprenticeship-style model practiced in only about 100 studios worldwide, Charles shares how light, storytelling, and humility before nature shape his work. This conversation dives into why classical realism still matters, how art can capture what cameras cannot, and why Sarasota has become an unexpected hub for preserving centuries-old artistic traditions. mianoacademy.org [http://mianoacademy.org] charlesmiano.com [http://charlesmiano.com] Timestamps: (00:00) Introducing Charles Miano, Classical Realist Painter, Miano Art Academy (03:45) Starting Miano Art Academy (06:30) Charles’ inspiration (09:15) Getting into art as a career (13:50) Residency at Art Ovation For more information and to listen to all the episodes, go to sarasotapodcast.com

Melissa Rummel on Dancing Joan of Arc at Sarasota Contemporary Dance

In this episode of Behind the Masterpiece, host Brian Hirsch sits down with Melissa Rummel of Sarasota Contemporary Dance as she returns to the lead role in Jehenne. Melissa shares what it means to revisit this emotionally intense work at a very different stage of life, how the piece was originally created in silence before live music was added, and why faith, sisterhood, and resilience sit at the heart of the choreography. The conversation explores the physical and emotional demands of a long dance career, the impact of motherhood on performance, and the collaborative culture that defines Sarasota Contemporary Dance. This episode offers a thoughtful look at how movement, music, and life experience come together to create powerful storytelling on stage.   Visit SCD's website at the link below: https://sarasotacontemporarydance.org/   Timestamps: (00:00) Introducing Melissa Rummel, Dancer/Studio Coordinator/SCDE director (01:00) How do you prepare to be Joan of Arc? (02:50) When you were creating this, how did you prepare the story without music? (04:55) How does music help movement tell the story? (06:30) How does dance tell stories? (07:45) Melissa’s role as Studio Coordinator (09:30) How do you prepare your body? (14:30) What is the Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble? For more information and to listen to all the episodes, go to sarasotapodcast.com