May Calendar

Art

Galleria Silecchia. Opening May 7 to run through May 30: an exhibition featuring ceramicist Yasuka Nakamura, photographer Michael Kahn, and glass artists Nick Mount and Duncan McClellan. 365-7414.

Selby Gallery. The Ringling College Senior Thesis Exhibitions continue through May 7. Opening with a reception at 5 p.m. May 14, shows featuring the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society and the work of late Sarasota artist Robert Hodgell. 359-7563.

ArtCenter Manatee. Shows presenting Fabulous Funky Furniture and The Figure and the Abstraction (the latter by Darwin Leon) continue through May 22. Coming up May 25 through June 18 (reception at 5 p.m. May 28): Flashback: A ’60s Revolution, an open, juried, all-media exhibition. 746-2862.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. Continuing through May 26: Celebrating The Great Themes of Photography, a juried photo exhibition. 383-2345.

Museum of Fine Arts. Both A Test of Faith: William Blake’s Illustrations for the Book of Job, and The Art of American Life: Winslow Homer’s Graphics, remain on view at the St. Petersburg museum through May 30. (727) 896-2667.

Ringling Museum of Art. Currently on view: Splendid Treasures of the Turkomen Tribes from Central Asia, presenting jewelry designed by artists of these largely nomadic tribes, through July 18; also, The World Ransacked for All Its Wonders: P.T. Barnum and American Popular Culture, through Aug. 16. Coming up next: Heyday: Photographs of Frederick W. Glasier, displaying more than 60 photographs and lithographic posters focused on the circus, May 15 to Sept. 5. 359-5700.

State of the Arts Gallery. Juxtapose, a show featuring related bodies of work by the gallery’s artists, runs May 1 through July 1. 955-2787.

Dabbert Gallery. Sculpture, Metal, Marble & More opens with a reception at 6 p.m. May 7 and continues through May 31. Featured are pieces by Eric Boyer, Richard Hager, Candace Knapp, Gert Olsen and Thyra Davidson-Wexler. 955-1315.

Venice Art Center. Only works having no recognizable objects appear in this exhibition, titled Absolute Abstract and on view May 7-27. 485-7136.

Art Center Sarasota. Home Bodies, a show celebrating where and how we live, opens May 20 to run through July 3. The general is invited to submit pictures, taken with cell phones, digital cameras, etc., that relate to what we call “home.” 365-2032.

Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival. Hundreds of crafters crowd Main Street May 22 and 23 for this fest; there’s also a Green Market with exotic plants. (954) 472-3755.

Benefits

Element Au. The Sarasota YMCA Foundation presents “The Essence of Light” in this fund raiser, starting at 6:30 p.m. May 1 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Dinner, dancing, auctions and surprises are promised. $250; call 951-1336.

Handbags and Happy Hour. An evening to benefit our local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, starting at 6 p.m. May 6 at Michael’s On East. $45 in advance; $55 at the door. 952-9474.

Children First Celebration Dinner and Auction. May 8 at the Sarasota Yacht Club; for complete info call 953-3877 ext. 124.

Dick Vitale Gala. Special guests Tony Dungy and Tom Izzo are honored at this fifth annual gala to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research, May 21 at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. For tickets, call Joyce Aschenbrenner, (919) 380-9505.

Children

Honk! A musical about Ugly, a duckling separated from his mother and pursued by a hungry cat. Running May 11-23 in a Venice Theatre Generations Theatre production. 488-1115.

Jack and the Giant. The Players Kids present their version of this classic tale, at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Players Theatre. 365-2494.

Comedy

McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. Comics on tap include Thomas Brown (May 1 and 2), The Midnight Swinger (May 5-9), Brian Bradley (May 19-23) and Carl Faulkenberry (May 26-30). There’s also a Comedy Golf Classic for charity on May 23; for more details call 925-3869.

Dance

Moving Ethos: A Contemporary Dance Company. The troupe presents The Center Ring, creations inspired by the Ringling Museum exhibition of Frederick W. Glasier’s historic circus photographs, May 14 and 15 at the Historic Asolo Theater. 360-7399.

The Players Dance Co. The company, comprised of dancers from the Players Theatre studios, presents a revue of ballet, jazz and other dance styles at 7 p.m. May 25 at the theater. 365-2494.

Film