Arts Advocates Announces February 2026 Events

Arts Advocates is pleased to announce its schedule of February events, kicking off with “Eugene White, Painter of Vintage Florida,” a special free presentation on February 6. Other events include a Talkback Tuesday with trailblazing artist Dasha Reich on February 10; a luncheon featuring guest speaker Ed Linehan of Jazz Club of Sarasota on February 19; a behind-the-scenes tour of the Van Wezel; and an exhibit by Arts Advocates member artist Lynn Coppinger. Unless otherwise indicated, registration is required at ArtsAdvocates.org.

February events begin with Eugene White, Painter of Vintage Florida, a special free presentation co-sponsored by Arts Advocates and Art Center Sarasota on February 6, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Arts Advocates Gallery. Sarasota Art Colony artist Eugene White’s daughter Annie Bixler will be joined by Alecia Harper, centennial archivist and guest curator for Art Center Sarasota, for this talk about White’s life and art. Bixler’s connection to Sarasota began in 1948, when she spent her winters here while her father studied at the Ringling School of Art on the GI Bill. White (1913–1966) devoted his life to painting the world around him—from Florida’s working waterfronts to rural Midwestern farms. His art reflects both the landscape and the spirit of Sarasota’s mid-century moment. Admission is free but registration is required.

The Arts Advocates Gallery, located in the Crossings at Siesta Key mall, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, hosts monthly exhibits by member artists. Living Creatively: The Art of Lynn Coppinger will be on exhibit February 7-28, Saturdays only from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Coppinger’s passion for multiple mediums is on full display in this exhibit, which features colored pencil creations, and captivating pieces in oils, acrylics, pastels, ink, and mixed media. Admission is free; registration is not required.

The Arts Advocates’ collection of Sarasota Art Colony and Florida Highwaymen works is on permanent display in the Arts Advocates Gallery, which is open every Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. Free docent-guided tours are available for gallery visitors who wish to learn more about the art and written information is available for self-guided tours.

The Behind the Curtain: Exploring the Van Wezel from the Art to the Stage tour takes place on February 9 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. The art in the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, was created by noted Florida artists and is part of the Arts Advocates collection. A docent leads a tour of the paintings and sculptures including those by Robert Chase, William Hartman, Eugene White, Ben Stahl, Thornton Utz, Frank Colson, and others. Participants then step onto the stage where a Van Wezel guide shares stories and anecdotes about the colorful world of show business. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at the Van Wezel box office or by calling (941) 263-6799. Presented in partnership with the Van Wezel, proceeds benefit the education/outreach programs of Arts Advocates and the Van Wezel.

Step into a vibrant dialogue about identity, symbolism, and creative expression during the February 10 Talkback Tuesday, The Flag: Nine Artists, Nine Flags featuring Dasha Reich, a trailblazing Sarasota-based artist. In her latest exhibition, The Flag, Reich revisits a theme she first explored in 1976—now bringing together eight fellow Sarasota artists to reimagine the American flag through their own lenses. The exhibition features pieces by Reich, Duncan Chamberlain, Marianne Chapel, Steph Gimson, Mara Torres Gonzales, Jonathan Herbert, Jana Millstone, Anja Palombo, and Ajira U. Reich will delve into the diverse interpretations of this powerful symbol, from personal histories to collective memory. In the Arts Advocates Gallery from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., this program is free for Arts Advocates members and $5 for non-members.

Arts Advocates presents monthly luncheon programs, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota. The February 19 luncheon topic is the Jazz Club of Sarasota with guest speaker Ed Linehan, the club’s president. The Jazz Club of Sarasota is dedicated to preserving and promoting jazz, America’s original musical art form. Linehan will describe its many programs including the 46th Annual Sarasota Jazz Festival. Jazz pianist Chris Neville will accompany the talk. Neville has led his own groups as well as accompanying Dizzy Gillespie, Al Cohn, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Heath and Richie Cole. $45 for Arts Advocates members; $50 for non-members. Lunch is included.

To learn more about or become a member of Arts Advocates, or to register for events, visit ArtsAdvocates.org.