5 Weekend Things: Circus In Town

1. You might have noticed a big top across from Ed Smith Stadium, and sure, it's not unordinary in this town. This show is the Cirque Des Voix — a combined effort of Key Chorale and Circus Sarasota under the big tent at 12 Street and Tuttle Avenue. Circus Sarasota's legendary perfomer Dolly Jacobs will star with the 150-voice and 20-piece orchestra from Key Chorale. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday,  4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $18-48. Call 921-4845 or visit keychorale.org for more information.

2. Gain some insight into the work of the late Ringling College of Art and Design Professor Leslie Lerner. The opening reception to the exhibit "Places, People, Recollections," will be at 7 p.m., Friday and will include an introduction to Lerner's work by critic and arts writer, Dominique Nahas. The Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art galler  is at 1288 N. Palm Ave., in Sarasota. For more information about this exhibit, call 941-366-2454or visit www.allyngallup.com.

3. Artist group s/art/q will exhibit interpretive pieces of the  plants starting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Museum of Botany and the Arts. The exhibit Avant Garden features 13 artists who have been granted access to the gardens to study the collections to inspire their own work. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.Cost: adults $17; children (6 – 11) $6; members and children younger than 6 years are free. Call 366-5731 or visit selby.org for more information.

4. The Education Foundation of Sarasota County launches the with its Juried Art Show Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The exhibit features more than 330 student works from every public high school in Sarasota County at Roskamp Exhibition Hall. Select works in the exhibit will be available for purchase by sealed bid.

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.  Winning students will donate the Top 25 pieces to the Education Foundation. Each piece will be put up for auction at a gala dinner on Feb. 24 at .  For more information, call 941-927-0965 or email laura_breeze@edfoundation.net.

5. The Granda Arena Closing Show is Friday at 5 p.m. at Ringling College's Crossley Gallery featuring works by Darcy Little.

This is the last chance to see her latest large-scale watercolor works featuring political themes, mischievous characters, and vibrant colors.

The gallery is located at 2698 Old Bradenton Road on the Ringling College campus. Free admission.