Florida Culture for Your Calendar for the Week of January 5 by Josh Garrick

Jan 7 – Free Reading with Ringling Clowns at the Library

Ringling’s Ambassadors of Laughter will help kids understand the importance of reading during Reading with Ringling Day on January 7 at 10 am at the Library Downtown. After a lively rendition of a circus-themed book, the clowns will entertain with juggling, plate spinning and other silly demonstrations to preview The Greatest Show On Earth. They’ll even give away stickers and clown noses (while supplies last). The library event is free and everyone is invited to the Library at 101 East Central Blvd in Orlando. Call 407-835-7481 or visit ocls.info

Jan 8 to 11 -- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Brings XTREME to Orlando

The Greatest Show On Earth continues to amaze as CIRCUS XTREME turns audiences into adventure-seekers from January 8 to 11 at the Amway Center. An all-female troupe of Mongolian riders, freestyle BMX riders and tumblers, and Circus elephants are the ‘headliners’ at the Circus this season. The ‘party’ begins an hour before the show at the Pre-Show (free with ticket purchase) as your family gets to meet the performers, get up close to the animals, and even try on circus costumes. Tickets at ringling.com or ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000 or 407-440-7900.

Jan 8 – A Unique Landmark Dedication in Maitland

A&H’s Maitland Art Center was recently named a National Historic Landmark – making it the first in Central Florida and the 44th in the state of Florida. To celebrate the designation, the Center will hold a dedication ceremony on January 8 at 11:30 am. The event is Free and open to the public. Featured guests include Peter Banca, former resident of the Maitland Art Center and Brent Glass, Director Emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The Center is at 231 W. Packwood Avenue in Maitland.  Call 407.539.2181 or visit artandhistory.org/landmark

Jan 10 to March 31 – Leu Gardens Presents Ribbit the Exhibit

Leu Gardens will begin 2015 with a whimsical display called Ribbit the Exhibit featuring twenty human-sized sculptures located throughout the Gardens in a family-friendly event. Giant frogs created by Artist J.A. Cobb will be presented at the Gardens from January 10 to March 31 along with classes, programs and a family-friendly scavenger hunt to encourage green gardening and an appreciation of our favorite amphibians. Visit leugardens.org

Jan 10 to 18 – Art Exhibit Inspired by Winter Park’s Historic Architecture

The Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum will host an art exhibit in ‘all mediums’ to celebrate Winter Park's historic architecture and to recognize the importance of historic preservation. “Evoking a sense of Winter Park’s historic architecture,” the artworks will be displayed from January 10 to 18 with a Free, Public-Invited Opening Reception held from 1 to 3 pm on January 10. Call 407.628.8196 or visit casafeliz.us

Casa Feliz painting by Stewart Jones

Jan 10 – Richard Colvin Exhibit at Leesburg Center for the Arts  

An Art exhibit -- Local Colors: Richard Colvin -- will open with a reception on Saturday, January 10 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Leesburg Center for the Arts. We know and respect Richard from his role as Executive Director at the Lake Eustis Museum of Art, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND this series of paintings reflecting the local color of Lake County. The exhibit is on display at the Gallery at 429 West Magnolia Street in Leesburg through February 21. Call 352.365.0232 or visit leesburgcenter4arts.com

Jan 10 – The Orlando Philharmonic presents Scheherazade

In a season in which the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s search for a new Music Director has chosen five finalists, the Orchestra offers its audience each of the  finalists conducting a program during the current season. The most ‘exotic’ program of the season will be conducted by interpretive dynamo Eric Jacobsen. Beginning at 8 pm on January 10 at the Bob Carr PAC, the program includes Debussy’s Afternoon of a Faun, Chinese composer Zhao Jiping’s Concerto for Pipa, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. This program is highly recommended. Call 407.770.0071 or visit orlandophil.org

Jan 13 – The Orlando Ballet is ‘Uncorked at the Abbey’

A popular evening of ‘insider ballet’ offers wine and “a little dance” at The Abbey as Uncorked! presents The Art of the Swan on January 13 beginning at 7 pm. It’s the black swan versus the white swan as the Orlando Ballet dancers’ work and motivations are demonstrated and explained. Followed by a Q&A session, there is limited seating; advance reservations are recommended. Visit orlandoballet.org or call 407-426-1739.

Jan 15 to Mar 22 – The Art of the Highwaymen at the History Center

In the 1950’s and 60’s, a group of self-taught African American Artists known as the Highwaymen began selling their Florida landscape paintings from town to town, offering artwork from the trunks of their cars or sitting beside the Highway and selling to tourists. By the 1990’s, articles in magazines brought the Highwaymen new acclaim – and new collectors – making their works highly collectible. On January 15, the Orange County Regional History Center will open an exhibit of 14 paintings by 12 of the original Highwaymen Artists. Call 407.836.8500 or visit thehistorycenter.org

Jan 15 & Jan 29 – Art For All Spaces Presents Reviving the Ancients

In a celebration of the enduring relevance of past cultures and ideas, Art for All Spaces invites the Public to the Opening of Reviving the Ancients on January 15 beginning at 6 pm at the CityArts Factory in Orlando. Featuring the work of 24 Artists, the works explore ways in which the human race has addressed questions of existence through image-making. An additional event is planned for January 29, when Artist/Scholars will conduct tours of the exhibit, offering insights from the perspectives of History and Psychology. Call 407.450.2255 or e-mail artforallspaces[at]gmail.com

Jan 15 to Feb 14 – The Rat Pack Lounge at Winter Park Playhouse

Frank, Dean, and Sammy may be in heaven, but in the Florida Premiere of a new musical at the Winter Park Playhouse it would seem they have some unfinished business back on earth and they’ve got one night to make it right. With over 30 hit songs including My Way and Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime, this melodic new musical – The Rat Pack Lounge – will transport you back to the days of highballs and high rollers.
Call 407.645.0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org   

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators