Sarasota Review

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College has announced the schedule for its 2025-2026 Quotable Series, an annual event featuring authors and creatives discussing art, culture, and creative practices. The series, which began in 2021, aims to bring influential voices to Sarasota.

This year’s program begins on December 6 with Jennifer Jones, a Tony Award-winning dancer and activist. Jones is recognized as the first African American Rockette and will discuss her memoir, "Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette." According to the museum’s announcement: “Jones’ 2025 memoir sheds light on a significant yet hidden chapter of American dance history, revealing the gritty reality behind the iconic, synchronized high kicks and megawatt smiles of the Radio City Rockettes. Becoming Spectacular is an intimate portrait of the dancer’s resilience and tenacity as she navigated racism, prejudice and fierce resistance to join the Rockette line-up.”

On January 17, Jared Goss will present insights from his book "The Birth of Art Deco: Ruhlmann and the Hôtel du Collectionneur, 1925." Goss will discuss E.J. Ruhlmann’s influence on twentieth-century design through his celebrated pavilion at the 1925 Paris Exposition. The press release states: “Goss will discuss Ruhlmann’s lasting legacy and pavilion, which embodied both the opulence and innovative spirit of the era.” Goss is a former associate curator at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ellen Lupton is scheduled for February 21. She will talk about her book "Design is Storytelling," which explores how people interact with design elements such as graphic illustrations or architectural spaces. As noted by SAM: “Her newest book... shows how people actively experience a graphic illustration, digital app or an architectural space. The book also explores how concepts such as the narrative arc, the hero’s journey and the rules of threes encourage emotional and sensory responses.” Lupton teaches at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.

The series concludes March 7 with Laurence Leamer discussing "Warhol’s Muses: The Artists, Misfits, and Superstars Destroyed by the Factory Fame Machine." According to SAM: “Leamer pulls back the curtain on the iconic pop artist’s infamous Factory, revealing the real life experiences of the women Warhol dubbed his ‘Superstars’ and the personal price they paid for their association with the renowned artist.”

Each event runs from 1-3 pm at Sarasota Art Museum. Tickets are $40 per talk ($35 for museum members) and include museum admission. Attendees can purchase books in advance or at each event for author signings.

Founded in 2019, Sarasota Art Museum is dedicated to modern and contemporary art exhibitions (https://www.sarasotaartmuseum.org/about/). Located in a renovated historic building that was once Sarasota High School, it features rotating exhibitions by established and emerging artists within its gallery spaces.