Beach Parade
Englewood painter Robert Baxter is a keen observer of human nature. In this image, created from pigment mixed with water and brushed on paper, he has captured some of the bodies we might encounter on the pristine sands of Sarasota County and provided us with a stop-action view of the type of pile-up that can occur on a wide open beach. Even the seagulls overhead have converged to vie for a morsel of food, likely tossed in the air by a barrier island interloper.

Baxter has frozen a group in motion and still kept the action viable with certain compositional elements, such as the blurred gulls or the cropped leg of a man walking off to the left. His choice of individual body types captures our humanity and imperfection. Where else but at the beach do people who wouldn’t normally be caught dead without their Brooks Brothers suit or St. John knit parade around in baggy shorts or with less than a yard of fabric covering their torsos?

By focusing our attention on details like bangle bracelets or fanny packs, Baxter’s people become anonymous; he gives us no details of faces. He outlines his forms with pencil before he fills them in with color, and there are no shadows. The two figures headed off to the right are balanced by the man already mostly off the page to the left. In this way, Baxter stretches the horizontality of the picture plane and suggests there’s more to be seen, making us curious what else of interest may soon be strolling by.

Robert Baxter’s new work is on view all this month at Dabbert Gallery on Palm Avenue. –Mark Ormond

Film

THE REEL THING

You may have read all about the Sundance Film Festival starting on page 108, but if you want more about our very own Sarasota Film Festival, slated for April 13-22, here it is.

While there are always lots of last-minute surprises with the fest, at press time we knew this much: Among the top films headed our way are Fay Grim with Jeff Goldblum and Parker Posey; Broken English, also starring the busy Posey (along with previous SFF honoree Gena Rowlands); Rocket Science, featuring teen idol Reece Thompson (most recently seen on TV’s Smallville); Away From Her with the incomparable Julie Christie; After The Wedding, starring Casino Royale villain Madds Mikkelsen; and The Hip Hop Project, the tale of a group of New York City teens who transform their life stories into art via hip hop.

That’s just a start, of course; programmer Tom Hall will be booking away up until the doors at the Hollywood 20 open. But here’s some more to plan for: the party at the Ringling Museum following the opening night film at the Van Wezel; a Family Fair bazaar focusing on cultural diversity; a new party venue at the Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch; a Youth Awards Reception for local young filmmakers; the World Cinema Celebration, a multicultural melange of food, drink, dancing and more; Independent Visions, a combination of film and music events; the jampacked Night of a Thousand Stars; and of course the Filmmakers Tribute dinner and Late Night Wrap Party after the closing night film. Also: an "In Conversation With…" at the Historic Asolo Theater, where you can get up close and personal with famous visitors; the SFF Forum at Metro, featuring panel discussions with filmmakers; and a whole raft of youth-oriented programs and outreach activities.

Best way to purchase ticket packages is probably online, www.sarasotafilmfestival.com; or call 366-6200. Let the movies begin!—Kay Kipling

Art

Art Center Sarasota. A Selby Gardens juried members’ show continues in the Main Gallery through April 14. Opening April 24 to run through May 5, a show of artworks by students in the county’s northern section. 365-2032.

Tampa Museum of Art. The Art Guys: Seeing Double continues through April 15, presenting collaborative works by Michael Galbreth and Jack Massing. (813) 274-8130.

Selby Gallery. Mark English & The Faculty of the Illustration Academy continues through April 18. Opening with a reception at 5 p.m. April 27 to continue through May 11: 2007 Best of Ringling Annual Student Exhibition. 359-7563.

State of the Arts Gallery. Rock/paper/scissors features organic sculpture, collage and assemblage, throughout the month. 955-2787.

Venice Art Center. On view through April 19, an exhibition from the Suncoast Watercolor Society. Opening April 26 to run through May 10, exhibitions featuring art from students in the Sarasota County public schools. 485-7136.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. The Annual Student Exhibit continues in the Durante Gallery here through April 22. In the Glen Gallery, Artistic Expressions features the work of Amy Webber and Collette Alexander, through April 30. Jazz in the Gallery presents the Greg Nielsen Dixie Jazz Group, at 7:30 p.m. April 10. And opening April 27 in the Durante Gallery is The Colors of Summer exhibit, which runs all summer long. 383-2345.