Every other year, the non-profit Sarasota Season of Sculpture organizes an International Invitational Exhibition of large-scale outdoor sculptures along the beautiful Bayfront promenade. During off-years, in order to keep the effort in forefront of the arts community, the group mounts “Interlude” exhibits like the one currently on display in downtown Sarasota.

"Last Call" photo courtesy of artist Jack Dowd

This year’s Interlude exhibit, Last Call, is described as a “cultural tribute to the vibrancy and social vitality of metropolitan American nightlife.” It depicts a traditional New York bar scene with thirteen customers posed around a 22-foot mahogany bar. Artist Jack Dowd crafted the life-sized figures from resin and painted them in full color in astonishing detail. The panorama portrays characters from a cross-section of society and incorporates music, bar sounds, video games, peanut shells, and sawdust into the exhibit, making it seem as if you’ve stepped into a bar at closing time!

"Southern Exposure" photo courtesy of Jack Dowd

"Fountain Of Youth" photo courtesy of artist Jack Dowd

Several additional sculptures by Dowd take an irreverent (if fairly accurate) poke at stereotypical Florida residents: the Florida cracker in front of his beater pickup, a retired couple in front of their pull-behind trailer, and a trio of “on the move” senior citizens (in a wheelchair, behind a walker, and in a lawn chair). And in a nod to the bizarre, Dowd has included a collection of multi-color life-size sculptures of the great American pop artist Andy Warhol, which look upon visitors with arms folded and eerie inscrutable expressions.

Army of life-size Andy Warhols. Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/crobj.

Interlude will be on display at 20 N. Lemon Avenue in downtown Sarasota, Florida through September 30, 2009. 20 N Lemon Ave, Sarasota, Florida Hours are Thursday and Friday from 7-10 p.m., Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 7-10 p.m., and Sunday from 2-5:30 p.m. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors, and free for children under 12.

Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels