Ringling School of Art's "Strength of Community" series unfolds a number of events this month. Celebrated African-American artist, illustrator and author Faith Ringgold (best known for her painted story quilts) is the focus of a retrospective show at the school's Selby Gallery (opening Jan. 10 to run through Feb. 15); she'll present a slide talk about her work and career at 5 p.m. Jan. 24 at Sudakoff Hall on the New College campus. (Reception and book signing will follow.) Also planned for the festival: performances and workshops featuring cellist Karen Patterson, Keter Betts (longtime Ella Fitzgerald bassist), Delta blues singer Guy Davis (son of Ossie), blues player Narek Patterson and singer Gary Pritchard, going on all day Jan. 25 on the Ringling campus and culminating with a blues and jazz concert that evening. For tickets to the Saturday events and other info, call 359-7563.

Film

Film lovers rally around the Hollywood 20 this month in extra (and extra well-dressed) numbers for the Sarasota Film Festival, expanded to 10 days (Jan. 24-Feb. 2) to include lots of screenings, parties and schmoozing among directors, stars and locals. No details at press time about new movie titles or luncheon and dinner honorees, but the first-time CineSymphony event featuring Oscar-winning composer Elmer Bernstein (Jan. 25 at the Van Wezel, a co-presentation with the Florida West Coast Symphony) promises lots of grand movie music. All sorts of tickets package and special events, so call 364-9514 (make that 953-3434 for CineSymphony) or visit the festival Web site at www.sarasotafilmfestival.com for complete details.

Art

Ringling Museum of Art. Closing Jan. 5: Rodin: A Magnificent Obsession. Coming up Jan. 25: Chinese Ceramic Masterpieces: The Koger Collection from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Information: 359-5700.

South Florida Museum. Continuing through Jan. 12: Natural Florida: Paintings from the George Percy and Debbie Geiger Collection. Information: 746-4131.

Art Studio of Colleen Cassidy-Berns. On view through Feb. 28 at this studio on South Tamiami Trail: Animal Kingdom art featuring wildlife and landscapes native to Africa. Information: 924-1200.

Sarasota Season of Sculpture. Continuing through May 2003 along the Sarasota bayfront: 22 large-scale public works of art. Information: 331-2008.

Salvador Dali Museum. Dali Objects/Dali Fetishes continues through Jan. 19. Coming up Feb. 1: The Shape of Color: Joan Miró's Painted Sculpture. Information: (727) 823-3767.

Missing Link Gallery. Large-scale sculpture from West Africa, contemporary photography and more. Information: 366-6600.

Santa Fe Trails Gallery. Serigraphs by John Nieto are on view all month. Information: 954-1972.

Palm Avenue Gallery. On view this month: oils by Bette Caffrey, as well as sculpture, hand-blown glass bowls and ceramic pieces. Information: 953-5757.

Apple & Carpenter Galleries. Age of Elegance, American and European Paintings from 1850 to 1950, on view Jan. 2-31. Information: 951-2314.

Miramar Gallery. Work by sculptor Leslie Fry and photographer Burk Uzzle on view this month, from Jan. 2 on. Information: 366-2093.

Galleria Silecchia. On view Jan. 2-31 are mixed media abstract paintings by Ron strong, ceramic sculpture by Yasuko Nakamura and Alanna Roth, and new works in bronze from The Irish Memorial, by Glenna Goodacre. Also, Jan. 2-Feb. 28, glass artist Hiroshi Yamano will be featured. Information: 365-7414.

Burns Square First Friday Walk. A chance to stroll the charming Burns Court area, from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3. Information: 954-0533.

L'Attitude Gallery. The First Street gallery offers Out of This World Abstraction, recent work by Marilyn Gross Jan. 3-30 (reception 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3). Information: 373-0767.

Sonnet Gallery. Abundance offers paintings by Margarita Deleuze, Jan. 3-Feb. 6. Information: 955-6443.

Palm Avenue First Friday Walk. "Pops on Palm" is the theme for this month's art walk, 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3. Information: 951-2314.

Robert Wilson Gallery. This new Main Street gallery offers contemporary traditional realism and impressionism, including figurative, still life, landscape and marine scene works. Information: 955-7709.

Venice Art Center. An invitational exhibition of Oriental art runs Jan. 6-24, with a reception Jan. 10. Also on display: watercolors by Sandi Olsen. Opening Jan. 27 (reception Jan. 31): Face & Figure, along with a Solo Salon exhibit of works by Jeanne Norman Chase. Information: 485-7136

ArtCenter Sarasota. La Selva (The Jungle) features abstract paintings by Nancy Hall, Jan. 8-Feb. 8. (Opening reception 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 10.) Also on view: photography by J.D. Dragan and an "open to all" show. Information: 365-2032.

Selby Gallery. Faith Ringgold, in Retrospect presents a look at African-American artist Ringgold, through her paintings, sculpture, children's books and story quilts. Ringgold will present a lecture, followed by a tribute from cellist Karen Patterson, Jan. 24. The exhibit runs Jan. 10 (reception 5 to 7 p.m.) through Feb. 15. Information: 359-7563.