If you joined us last November for the incredible projection mapping display on the Palm Avenue Parking Garage, you already know the kind of magic that Ed Cheetham and Kelly Warner of LightMural can create. Their immersive digital installation transformed the structure into a living canvas, and it left audiences absolutely captivated.

This time, they’re returning for America’s 250th anniversary celebration with a brand new experience, and now you get to influence the artwork. Step up, take hold of a virtual sparkler, and watch as your movement sends bursts of color into a vibrant Sarasota skyline in this one night only interactive installation.

This patriotic downtown gathering is hosted and produced by NextMark with support from the Downtown Improvement District and the City of Sarasota, and it promises to be an evening full of community, creativity, and festive fun. Special thanks to Selby Library for supporting this innovative public art experience.

Join us as we celebrate 250 years of American spirit and help light up the sky in a way Sarasota has never seen before.

Echoes of Sarasota, now on view at City Hall and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, presents a sweeping look at more than a thousand years of local history through the mural‑scale works of Regan Dunnick and Frank Hopper. Originally commissioned for the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, these historically significant pieces have been returned to public view through a partnership with Thomsen Fine Art.

Together, Dunnick’s large‑format pastels and Hopper’s detailed realist paintings illuminate the people, places, and pivotal moments that shaped Sarasota’s development from its Indigenous roots to its emergence as a cultural destination.

Expanding the story further, the exhibition incorporates supporting artworks curated by Arts Advocates, whose collection represents a diverse range of established Sarasota and Florida artists. Pieces by William Hartman, Martha Hartman, Wilfred Berg, Eugene White, and many others contribute additional layers of texture and perspective. Their inclusion broadens the visual narrative, offering visitors a richer sense of the artists whose work continues to influence Sarasota’s creative landscape.

While you are in City Hall, make sure to stop by the America 250 Collage Flag Quilt, a vibrant digital artwork created by students and educators from the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences. Presented to the Sarasota City Commission on May 18, 2026, the quilt brings together dozens of student designed squares that explore themes of American identity, history, technology, the arts, and community, all photographed and assembled into a unified image of the American flag in coordinated shades of red, white, and blue.

The installation celebrates the nation’s 250th anniversary and highlights the creativity and civic spirit of Sarasota’s youth. To learn more about how the project came together and to view the digital version of the quilt, visit the project page.

Later this Summer, the City’s One Stop Shop building (1575 2nd Street) will welcome “Now You See Us,” a new composite artwork created by members of the Petticoat Painters. The installation celebrates the conclusion of their year‑long Cultural Heritage Exhibit at City Hall and highlights the artists who took part.

The piece brings together twenty‑four original 10x10 canvases, each reflecting the individual style of a participating artist while honoring the collective’s long-standing presence in Sarasota’s arts community. Arranged in a unified grid on the third‑floor wall facing the elevator, the work will offer a bright and engaging moment for everyone passing through this busy civic space.

The installation is expected to debut in early August, adding a fresh expression of Sarasota’s artistic heritage to this active public building.

The City of Sarasota Public Art Program is seeking a privately owned wall for “Flow,” a mural concept by Federico Massa (Iena Cruz). The work celebrates Florida’s native birdlife through movement, color, and ecological storytelling. Once a wall is selected, the property owner will collaborate directly with the artist to refine the design for the specific site.