Echoes of Sarasota exhibit opens at City Hall
An opening reception for the exhibit is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17.
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5:00 a.m. September 12, 2026
A portrait of Bertha Palmer is among the pieces included in the Echoes of Sarasota exhibit in Sarasota City Hall. Image Courtesy of city of Sarasota
A new installation of art at Sarasota City Hall will make its debut to the public during a free opening reception 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.
Echoes of Sarasota, a cultural heritage exhibit now on display in the lobby, features mural‑scale artworks that illuminate more than 1,000 years of regional history. Sixteen of the works are displayed at City Hall with additional pieces at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The exhibit is presented in partnership with Thomsen Fine Art, steward of the Regan Dunnick and Frank Hopper collection.
Guests can have light refreshments with welcoming remarks beginning at 4:30.
A visitor views a painting in the Echoes of Sarasota exhibit at Sarasota City Hall. Image courtesy of City of Sarasota
Dunnick’s large pastel compositions trace the history of Sarasota and Bradenton through detailed scenes that highlight early Indigenous communities, familiar landscapes, environmental features and civic life. He is a nationally recognized illustrator and longtime arts educator.
Hopper’s painted works offer a distinct historical lens focusing on early settler life, Florida Cracker heritage and stories tied to labor, commerce and community identity. His paintings emphasize human presence and symbolic moments that help define Sarasota’s early foundations.
The rotating art displays at Sarasota City Hall are collectively called the City Hall Cultural Heritage Exhibit. City Hall is at 1565 First St. The exhibit is open during operating hours.
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