Marianne is as passionate about forming inspiring creative spaces for artists as she is about creating her own works of art. As a resident in Sarasota County, Marianne has been aware of the distinct absence of affordable creative spaces for working artists. She tapped into her experiences traveling and teaching artists around the world to formulate the idea for SPAACES, and then to mold that idea into an operating visual arts gallery and studio space in Sarasota.
Marianne earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Buffalo State College and a Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University. She was the recipient of Indiana University’s Graduate Studies Research Grant for Florence, Italy, the Charles Lanham Fellowship for Travel Abroad, and was award a research grant at the Vermont Studio Center.
She has instructed for Buffalo State College, The University of Tampa, Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and currently instructs at The Ringling School of Art and Design where she was awarded a faculty grant. Marianne’s teaching, creating, and traveling experiences make her uniquely qualified to make SPAACES the community for working artists in Sarasota.
Prior to retiring, Sara led an executive search firm in Chicago, filling senior level positions for well-known companies like Kodak and Miller Knoll. She has her undergrad from University of Michigan and an MBA from University of Chicago.Sara and her husband, Jim, are avid contemporary art collectors and architecture enthusiasts. Sara is currently on the board of SPAACES, Third Coast Percussion, and ensembleNEWSRQ and active in Impact100 SRQ.
Katherine Bzurra is an Assistant Professor of Art, Design, and Humanities at State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), with over a decade of experience in teaching and online education. A Certified Grief Educator and co-host of the Suncoast Culture Club Podcast, she explores the intersection of art, culture, and communication. She co-leads an Academic Coaching initiative at SCF, launching in Fall 2024 to support first-year students. With a passion for storytelling and facilitation, she fosters connection, creativity, and transformation in education and beyond.
Marika Lindholm taught courses on inequality, diversity, and gender at Northwestern University. In 2015, she built her social platform, Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere, out of academic and personal experience. Marika co-edited We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor and Between Us: Healing Ourselves and Changing the World Through Sociology. A proud mother to 5 children, she and her husband Ray, are thrilled to spend their winters in Sarasota and summers in the Hudson Valley where they raised their children.
Since retiring as president of the Cola-Cola Company’s Philippines and South Africa divisions in 2009 and moving to Sarasota, David Lyons has been a champion of giving back to help others within our community. David is a board member at Second Heart Homes and Lightshare as well as a strong supporter of the Salvation Army and Resilient Retreat, all of which help individuals with addiction, trauma and mental health issues. David and his wife, Toni have always believed in the power of art to reach the heart of our true Self and Spirit. They have been ongoing supporters of Ringling College and founding supporters of the Sarasota Modern Museum of Art at Ringling College. David has been a board member of SPAACES since 2020 and is thrilled to see the impact the organization has had within the Sarasota art community.
An accomplished nonprofit leader, Karen has more than 30 years of fundraising and program management experience. She began her career developing programs and raising funds for advocacy organizations in Washington, DC. After a move to Baltimore, she became involved in the arts, serving for a combined decade at a visual art museum and an independent college of art and design. She also served as a trustee of several arts organizations. In her current role as Director of Foundation Relations at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, she is building lasting philanthropic support for conservation research. Karen has a deep love of craft and has had the opportunity to participate in workshops and residencies at Penland School of Craft, La Meridiana Ceramic School, Morean Center for Clay, and other studio arts organizations. She joins the SPAACES board with a commitment to creating a place where art and artists thrive.
Morgan Woolverton is a Professor of Game Art at Ringling College of Art and Design, specializing in 3D, visual development, and design. Committed to preparing students for creative leadership and strategic teamwork, he fosters an environment that nurtures individual strengths and diverse ideas while emphasizing quality, relevance, and style. As an artist, Morgan is drawn to the discarded remnants of society, piecing together fragments of the past to construct new narratives – much like an archaeologist uncovering lost histories. Through VR and immersive technology, he creates thought-provoking experiences that bring audiences closer to his art, transforming overlooked materials into meaningful storytelling.
SPAACES values inclusivity, equity, and the freedom to express identity.
2051 Princeton St Sarasota, FL 34237
marianne@spaaces.art tel: 941-374-3492