Greenfield Prize Weekend: It's all about collaboration

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Next weekend's Greenfield Prize celebration will bring together past winners of the $30,000 commission for three days of conversations, exhibits, performances and a gala dinner to present the 2015 prize.

It's being billed as a weekend of firsts: The first public viewing of Trenton Doyle Hancock's new work at The Ringling, the first rehearsed reading of a new play by Nilo Cruz, and the first video presentation of this year's prize to jazz composer Bobby Previte.

Bobby Previte is the recipient of the 2015 Greenfield Prize

Bobby Previte is the recipient of the 2015 Greenfield Prize

The prize is administered by the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood. The prize weekend "reflects a lot of what happens here every day," said Bruce Rodgers, executive director of the Hermitage. "You have people of all different disciplines, talking about their work, talking about their process from different points of view."

The Greenfield Prize rotates among artists in the disciplines of visual art, theater and music. The recipient has two years to turn the commission into a finished (or mostly finished) work, which then has its first presentation in collaboration with an area arts organization. Past winners include playwrights Craig Lucas, John Guare and Nilo Cruz; composers Eve Beglarian and Vijay Iyer; and visual artists Sanford Biggers and Trenton Doyle Hancock.

This year's winner, composer and musician Bobby Previte, won't be physically present at Saturday's awards dinner, but will participate via Skype in the weekend's "Creative Conversations" with pianist Tony Kieraldo, who will perform some of Previte's work at the dinner in lieu of a keynote speaker.

And while recipients have two years to produce their work, Nilo Cruz, the 2014 recipient, has jumped the gun and has his new play, "Bathing in Moonlight," ready for a rehearsed reading.

"So, for the first time, we will be unveiling two commissions during the Greenfield Prize weekend," said Rodgers. "There's a lot of interest, a huge amount of interest in this play."

The play will be read as part of Asolo Rep's Unplugged New Play Festival at 7 p.m. April 19 in the Cook Theatre at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Saturday's Creative Conversations on the New College of Florida campus are built around the theme of collaboration, said Rodgers. They will include Hancock and Margaret Miller of Graphicstudio in Tampa discussing their work together on "What the Bringback Brought," which opens Friday at The Ringling; Anne Patterson, a visual artist and scenic designer, discussing "Synesthesia: Collaboration Across Disciplines"; and Previte and Kieraldo discussing "Bobby Previte: More Than Rhythm," with Previte participating via Skype.

The conversations are free, but reservations are recommended.

"Every year we wonder how we can possibly top the last but somehow it happens," said Rodgers.

GREENFIELD PRIZE WEEKEND SCHEDULE

April 17

9:30 a.m. Trenton Doyle Hancock (winner 2013) speaks about his work, Ringling College Academic Auditorium. $15. 925-1343

10 a.m. Opening day Greenfield Prize commissioned exhibit, "EMIT: What the Bringback Brought," Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota

April 18

Creative Conversations, College Hall Music Room, 351 College Dr., Sarasota. Free. RSVP at 475-2098 or email www.HermitageArtistRetreat.org

12:30 p.m.Graphicstudio Collaboration: Trenton Doyle Hancock and Margaret Miller

1:30 p.m.Synesthesia: Collaboration Across Disciplines: Anne Patterson

2:30 p.m. Bobby Previte - More Than Rhythm: Bobby Previte and Tony Kieraldo

6:30 p.m. 2015 Greenfield Prize Award Dinner, Michael's On East, 1212 East Ave., Sarasota. Tickets $195-$300. RSVP at GreenfieldPrize.org or 475-2098

April 19

7 p.m. First rehearsed reading Greenfield Prize commissioned play, "Bathing in Moonlight" by Nilo Cruz (winner 2014); Cook Theatre, FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $7. RSVP 351-8000.

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Susan Rife

Susan Rife is the arts and books editor for the Herald-Tribune Media Group. She holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4930. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: April 10, 2015
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