DISCOVER DAVINCI AND MICHELANGELO: SIDE BY SIDE Set for the Van Wezel, 4/19

The "Discover DaVinci & Michelangelo: Side by Side" multi-media event will continue its North American Tour at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, located in Sarasota, Saturday, April 19, 2014.

Mark Rodgers, the creator and host of the multi-media event, is also the curator of the DaVinci Machines Exhibition currently on display at the Bradenton Auditorium. Rodgers originally developed the idea to compare and contrast the two geniuses while curating the DaVinci and Michelangelo Exhibition in Denver, CO.

"I realized you can't talk about DaVinci without Michelangelo," explained Rodgers. "They were contemporaries and many people don't know that."

The multi-media event has evolved over the last couple years starting as a tour of only DaVinci then over time Rodgers incorporated Michelangelo into his tours. According to Rodgers, the more tours and presentations he gave, the more information people wanted to know about DaVinci and Michelangelo.

"There has never been an exhibit or museum, that I am aware, that has ever compared or contrasted DaVinci and Michelangelo in the same presentation," explained Rodgers.

The multi-media event is a combination of host Rodgers and a PowerPoint presentation that includes movies, 3D-animations of machines and inventions, images of codices, animations of artwork, paintings and sculptures. The speaker series made its debut at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. However, the response has called for a bigger venue.

"This proves DaVinci and Michelangelo have an outreach and following that everyone can relate to," explained Rodgers.

The presentation begins at 8pm at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and lasts approximately two hours and includes a 15-minute intermission. The multi-media event is sponsored by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Tickets are for reserved seats and cost between $10-$30 and can be purchased at the Van Wezel Box Office Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm and Saturday 10am - 4pm, located at 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34246. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone at 941-953-3368 or online at www.vanwezel.org.

In addition, before the presentation local artist Charles Miano, from Southern Atelier, will perform a live art demonstration as well as during the intermission. Parking is included in the final ticket price and is located adjacent to the venue. For more information, visit www.discovermichelangelo.com or www.vanwezel.org.

About "Discover DaVinci and Michelangelo: Side by Side": Mark Rodgers, curator of the DaVinci Machines and Michelangelo Exhibitions, is the creator and host of "Discover DaVinci and Michelangelo: Side by Side." He takes audiences on a journey through the Italian Renaissance as seen through the eyes of DaVinci and Michelangelo. This inspirational multi-media presentation compares and contrasts the two greatest geniuses of the Italian Renaissance. This historically accurate voyage is accompanied with video, animations of machines, artwork, inventions, paintings and sculptures. This event relates DaVinci and Michelangelo to our modern times by understanding and appreciating these timeless geniuses.