Avant-Garde Archives - �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design

Dancing Through the Decades at Avant-Garde 2026

awalters — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:43:17 +0000

Now in its 30th year, �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design’s annual fundraising gala Avant-Garde returned this year for an unforgettable evening—one that broke records with over $1.5M raised for scholarship support and that honored the couple who have been at the heart of the Ringling community for nearly three decades.

The theme, Dancing Through the Decades, was a fitting tribute to Dr. Larry R. Thompson and his wife Pat, celebrating movement, momentum, and the timeless power of the arts to inspire, unite, and uplift. With Dr. Thompson set to retire at the end of the school year, this year’s gala carried an extra layer of meaning, as guests, donors, faculty, staff, students, and members of Sarasota’s arts community gathered to honor the couple’s indelible mark on �Ļ�Ӱ�� and student scholarships.

Since the gala’s founding in 1995 under then-President Dr. Arland Christ-Janer, Avant-Garde has grown from an intimate 200-person event at Michael’s On East into one of Sarasota’s most anticipated celebrations of creativity and community. For 25 of those years, the Thompsons have opened each gala with an iconic grand entrance, embodying elaborate personas ranging from Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard of Oz.

The funds raised each year go directly toward student scholarships, helping to bridge the gap between the cost of a �Ļ�Ӱ�� education and the resources students need to pursue their creative futures. This year’s record-breaking total will make a meaningful difference for students across the college’s many programs.

Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008

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Students, faculty, and alumni make their mark for student scholarships

Office of Marketing and Communications — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni from �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design collaborated with Maker’s Mark Distillery to produce a series of uniquely designed bottles of bourbon called, Make Your Mark. The project is part of the College’s Industry Experience (INDEX) program, which creates opportunities for students to gain real work experience while still in college. Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and self-proclaimed bourbon aficionado, Jeff Schwartz was integral to the project. Schwartz and a group from the College visited the distillery in June 2023, where they tasted and selected the barrel, which was bottled that September. The barrel was donated to the College by Maker’s Mark.

After culling their network and putting out an open call to students, faculty, and staff, they distributed bottles to the artists for design. The project was launched at the College’s annual fundraising event, Avant-Garde, with the auctioning off of eleven of the art object bottles. There are 24 bottles currently on view in the Special Collections at the Alfred R. Goldstein Library through the end of the month. Between 50 and 70 bottles will be transformed into works of art in the coming weeks and available to be auctioned at events. Proceeds from the auctions will support student scholarships.

Schwartz shared, “We’ve raised $2,100 on 11 bottles so far, which is great. Our goal is to create and auction 200 bottles total, and the rest will be offered to actually consume, either at events or to go along with the art objects for purchase—offering one to collect and one to drink.”

The artworks made for, on, or around each bottle vary drastically, from hand-painted works to sewn cloth embellishments, to sculptures, and even a wooden birdhouse. Schwartz also created 60 custom red oak boxes to cradle the bottles. The graphics for the boxes were designed by Graphic Design Department Head Jeff Bleitz and laser cut by photographer and digital services coordinator Nancy Nassiff. Several of the boxes were incorporated into the artwork created for the bottles.

Make Your Mark, �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design collaboration with Maker’s Mark Distillery

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Avant-Garde: a colorful history of philanthropy and fun

Office of Marketing and Communications — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Now in its 28th year, �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design’s annual fundraising gala ��Գ�-�Ҳ��invites guests—donors, faculty, staff, students, and members of Sarasota’s arts community—to conjure up all of their creativity and create unique, elaborate, topical, and infamous looks for the much-anticipated event. Each year offers a new theme, and the College’s Design Center creates the look and feel of the event. The gala raises money for student scholarships, to bridge the gap between the cost of a college education and the resources needed by college students.

This annual celebration began in 1995 as a fundraiser for the College under the guidance of then-�Ļ�Ӱ�� President Dr. Arland Christ Janer. The inaugural theme for that event was the Red Dragon and it was held at Michael’s On East with about 200 guests.

The gala has since evolved into a beloved and anticipated major event for the Ringling community. For 25 years it has kicked off with an epic and performative grand entrance by the President of �Ļ�Ӱ�� Dr. Larry Thompson with his supportive wife Pat Thompson. The two have donned the pseudo identities of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson; John and Mable Ringling; Jackie Kennedy Onassis and John F. Kennedy; and intergalactic space travelers, among other elaborate and often hilarious looks.

Even during a global pandemic—when everyone lived their lives remotely—the Avant-Garde team put together an incredible event, live-streamed from the College’s Studio Labs. The theme of Avant-Garde 2020 was Game On!, and entailed two game shows: opening with an episode of Wheel of Fortune hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, as portrayed by the Thompsons, and was followed by a round of �Ļ�Ӱ�� Jeopardy hosted by Dr. Thompson as Alex Trebek. As contestants, the event co-chairs were quizzed on their knowledge of Ringling trivia.

In 2021, and still operating remotely, Avant-Garde: Let Us Entertain You! was also streamed from the Studio Labs, hosted by Dr. Thompson portraying Sonny and Pat Thompson as Cher in a rendition of I Got You Babe. The event opened with a performance on a set inspired by The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour��.

In the years since, visitors have been transported from the sidewalk cafes and art world of the turn of the 20th century Paris, and then the rocking 1970s. This year, they celebrated cinema classics and backstage movie magic with Lights Camera Action!, with more than 430 guests in attendance. Co-chaired by Carol and Richard Kalikow and Katherine and Frank Martucci, it was one of the highest-grossing fundraising events to date.

Attendees celebrated classics from Breakfast at Tiffany’s��ٴ��Jurassic Park, with a T-rex in tow. During their 25th performance, the Thompsons christened the evening as Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard of Oz. More than 40 students from almost every major were involved in the planning and execution of the grand entrance which was organized as a backstage movie set. It was also the official debut of the INDEX��𳦳��Make Your Mark, a collection of designed Maker’s Mark bottles from a special barrel that was donated to the College. The bottles were designed by a mix of students and faculty and auctioned off during the paddle raise.

Avant-Garde takes place every year in March. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities will soon be available for 2025.

Avant-Garde Over the Years:

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Faculty designer Matt Myers rocks the 70s with costume hits for Avant-Garde

Office of Marketing and Communications — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:00:57 +0000

Avant-Garde 2023: �Ļ�Ӱ�� Rocks the 70s was a record-breaking success. More than 400 guests attended the 70s-themed event on March 18, and hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised for student scholarships.

Student Government Association President Celi Mitidieri ’24, Film, was the recipient of the Avant-Garde Endowed Scholarship. Sandra Lee ’24, Graphic Design, Wilderley “Will” Mauricette ’24, Film, and Rose Nachman ’24, Fine Arts, were scholarship finalists. These scholarships are awarded based on the students’ commitment to �Ļ�Ӱ�� and to the campus community service.

The stars of the event were �Ļ�Ӱ�� President Dr. Larry R. Thompson and his wife, Pat Thompson ’16, Fine Arts, who performed a number of Elton John songs dressed as a feathery Elton John and sparkly Elton Jane.

Their costumes were designed by faculty member Matt Myers ’82, Illustration, who conceptualized and created Elton Jane’s look, and collaborated with Entertainment Design students Capri Easterday ’25 and Olivia Dumas ’25 to transform Larry Thompson into Elton John.

Costumes designed by Matt Myers. From left to right: Drowsy Chaperone, costume design for Next Generation Performing Arts; Carmen, costume design for Heartland Opera Theatre; and La Boheme, costume design for Loveland Opera Theatre. Costumed models are included in the Figure Reference Library.

Myers has been an instructor at �Ļ�Ӱ�� since 2019, teaching Figure and Costume Visual Development. After graduating from �Ļ�Ӱ�� in 1982, he went on to work all over the country. He freelanced as an artist for 35 years, starting his career in New York City, where he created murals and paintings for hotels, nightclubs, and international cruise ships. That work led to a career in the theatre as a scenic artist, and eventually led to his work as a costume designer and fabricator for small theatres and opera companies.

Working with smaller organizations, Myers was able to combine all of his skills, creating cohesive designs that coordinated graphic design and illustration with costume and set design. In 2007, he began working as costumer in the Theatre Department at Missouri Southern State University, teaching costume construction while continuing to freelance as a costume designer.

Matt Myers ’82 and Eddie Ryan ’82 at Avant-Garde: A Magical Evening (2019), left, and Ali and Gloria Bahaj at Avant-Garde: Game On (2020), right.

Since his return to �Ļ�Ӱ�� as a faculty member, Myers has also helped develop the Figure Reference Library, a project started during the pandemic that has since become a valuable resource for the school. With the onset of remote learning, faculty discovered a great need for remote figure model references that fit the unique needs of the students. Myers collaborated with other faculty and staff to create a 3,000 plus image and video library, complete with 360-degree rotating imagery.

Myers has been involved with Avant-Garde in myriad ways since his return, costuming guests, and contributing to stage direction. This year, in addition to costuming the Thompsons, he helped stage their much-anticipated grand entrance, and contributed to directing their much-anticipated grand entrance. He feels particularly invested in Avant-Garde as a former beneficiary. In his senior year at �Ļ�Ӱ��, Myers was a recipient of a scholarship that helped him complete his degree, similar to the Crossing the Finish Line Scholarship, a one-time scholarship established in 2014 to help students who experience an unexpected financial hardship finish their Ringling education, and primarily funded by the Avant-Garde paddle raise.

Myers continues his mural work, and recently painted a site-specific two-story mural for the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, celebrating the centennial anniversary for the county. He is currently dreaming up plans for multimedia wearable art projects.

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