On Exhibit

Lodovico David is the 17th-century Swiss painter behind this masterpiece at the Ringling Museum of Art. The patron who commissioned it (probably Italian, since David worked in Rome and Venice) would have known Greek mythology and the story of the “Judgment of Paris” depicted. Here, David presented himself with a compositional challenge in crowding six figures into a narrow sliver of space, and their compactness keeps them all in full view for us, while his brilliant colors of purple, green, crimson and blue heighten the charge of the various sensuous flesh tones. The artist has lined up a frieze of figures beginning with the shepherd boy, Paris, who was to choose the fairest goddess of the three and reward her with the golden apple in his hand. Aphrodite is next, with her back to us. Her son, Eros, smiles at the viewer as he tries to cover his mother’s bare behind. We see Athena, who could offer Paris success on the field of battle, reaching down for her shield; to her right in white and blue is Hera, who promised property and wealth. Aphrodite won the contest by promising Paris the most beautiful woman in the world—Helen of Troy. The story does not end there, of course; the couple’s elopement ignited the Trojan War. —Mark Ormond

ART

Galleria Silecchia. Continuing through April 3 is a show highlighting works by oil painter Glenn Harrington and glass master William Morris. Opening April 4 to run through May 1: an exhibition featuring new works in glass and metal by Alessandro Casson and original surreal oils and prints by Homero Aguilar. 365-7414.

Venice Art Center. The center’s Members Spring Exhibition remains on view through April 3. Up next: the National League of American Pen Women exhibition, April 7-24, and the South Sarasota County schools student exhibition, April 29 through May 15. 485-7136.

State of the Arts Gallery. On view here through April 3: Urban Archeology, featuring sculpture, collage and assemblages of found objects. It’s followed by White Hot, interpretations in white, April 4 through May 15. 955-2787.

Selby Gallery. Continuing through April 12: works by first-year students in the 2008 Annual Ringling College Juried Student Exhibition. On view April 18 through May 2: art by upper-class students in painting, sculpture, film, photography and other media. 359-7563.

Serrano Contemporary/Sonnet Gallery. Continuing on view at the Towles Court gallery through April 16 is Sweet-Strong, featuring works by Venezuelan artist Margarita Deleuze. Opening April 18 to run through May 10 is a show featuring the work of Texan Tod Bailey and New Yorker Monica Mary. 928-6490.

Ringling Museum of Art. Remaining on view through April 13: Grandma Moses: Grandmother to the Nation. Continuing through May 4: Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints. Also to be seen this month: Old Master Drawings from the Ringling Museum of Art, through May 25; and Asian Art in Focus: Guanyin Personified, through June 15. 359-5700.

Art Center Sarasota. Continuing through April 26: Hidden Cultures, a multimedia exhibition. Also on view: Tattoo and Graffiti, and Kim Litch’s I Know Nothing. Opening April 29 to run through May 10: the North Sarasota County student art exhibition. 365-2032.

Selby Gardens. Continuing here through April 24 is an exhibition of rainforest masks created by the Borucan Indians of Costa Rica. 366-5731.

Embracing Our Differences. Continuing on view along Sarasota’s downtown bayfront through May 4 is this outdoor art festival of billboard-size images and quotations related to “enriching lives through diversity.” For more information, call 928-0567.

Salvador Dali Museum. Continuing on view at the St. Petersburg museum through June 1: the exhibition Dali & Film, examining how the artist combined his painting skills with the moving image. (727) 823-3767.

Museum of Fine Arts. The St. Petersburg museum, with its new Hazel Hough Wing now open, continues to present the exhibitions Unveiled: Rarely Seen Art from the Collection and Mrs. Stuart’s Legacy, through Aug. 26. (727) 896-2667.

Dabbert Gallery. The Palm Avenue gallery presents new works by painter Daniel Bilodeau, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. April 3 and continuing through April 30. 955-1315.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts. The center presents its Spring into Summer Exhibition, opening April 4 and running all summer long. Also on view here: Serendipity, featuring works by Judy Kramer and Melody Oxarart, through April 15. 383-2345.

CHILDREN

The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites. Some classic stories for young people, told at 10:30 a.m. April 12 in the Van Wezel’s Saturday Morning for Kids series. 953-3368.

COMEDY

McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. Providing the laughs at the comedy club this month: Alonzo Bodden, April 4 and 5; Leo DuFour, April 9-13; Sean Morey, April 18-20; and Michael Mack, April 23-27. 925-3869.