Pulse Temporary Memorial Dedication

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The interim memorial design was created by the team of by Kody Smith, Christina Hite, and Greg Bryla, of the landscape architecture firm of Dix.Hite + Partners, and David Stone of Phil Kean Design, all of who worked closely with onePULSE Foundation’s memorial task force. Pam Schwartz of the Orange County Regional History Center worked on supplying the hundreds of photos from the history museum’s collection used on a winding wall that surrounds the club. Many of local photographer J.D. Casto‘s photos cover the wall. He was at the GLBT Center on the morning following the shooting and his photos document the outpouring of love and support that followed this horrible tragedy.

The scene was already crowded when I arrived at the club. Families of victims and survivors were seated. Since I had my own artist stool, I set up in front of one of the new trees on site and started to sketch. I focused on Christina Hite while she spoke at the podium. Greg Bryla is a dedicated Urban Sketcher, so I was pleased to know he had a hand in helping design this temporary memorial. An unexpected aspect of the temporary memorial is that there is a window in the surrounding wall allowing visitors to see the spot where the club was breached by the swat team so that the hostages held in the bathrooms could escape. Bullet holes litter the brickwork around the blast hole. This is where the terrorist was finally killed.

The architect firm of Coldefy and Associés has recently won the deign competition to create a permanent memorial at this site. Their design surrounds the Pulse Nightclub building with a pool and fountain that has 49 colors in concentric circles radiating from the pool’s center. The typical rainbow, (ROYGBIV) only has 7 colors. If you multiply that by 7 you get 49 colors. Another aspect of their design that I like is a circular canopy that supplies shade for anyone visiting the site. They also had elegantly incorporated a wall separating the quiet space from the sound of traffic on Orange Avenue. The most striking feature is that the club is cleaved in half, creating a canyon like space that people can walk through. 49 trees will cover the site creating a garden to celebrate life.

The Pulse Museum design looks a bit like a futuristic reactor. It has a slatted white exterior that is squeezed in the middle with an undulating
roof profile. Glimpses inside show a twisting staircase and plants,
echoing features of the memorial, and a large circular opening that
floods natural light into the space. There are large public areas where the community can gather to learn and have events. It is an exciting design that would immediately become a defining landmark of the SODO area. Green spaces radiate from the club beautifying the district. Only time will tell how much of this amazing design will become reality. The Museum and Memorial are both intended to open in 2022.

Corsets and Cuties Kick off the Holiday Season

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Corsets and Cuties a Burlesque Cabaret will kickoff the season Sunday November 24, 2019 from 8pm to 10pm with a little teasing plus guest stars and treats from Premier Couples Superstore at Theater West End
(115 West 1st St., Sanford, Florida 32771.) Final touches are being added to costumes. The cuties always deliver their burlesque with a strong dose of humor and I consider thus the best way to kick off the season.

This sketch is from a rehearsal at the Venue. If you have not experienced the Cuties yet you are missing a treat. Lovely ladies and some not-so-gentle men sing, dance, and tastefully strip down for your entertainment pleasure! Whether you’re celebrating with the one you love or out on the prowl, the Cuties are ready for ya! You can be sure of a fantastic night out!

NOTE: The show is intended for adult audiences, as it contains adult content and nudity. So leave the little ones at home and get ready for a night of laugh out loud fun. I’ll be sketching in the back row, documenting this lively side of the Orlando Arts scene.

Tickets are $18 General Admission.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for November 23 and 24, 2019

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Saturday November 23, 2019

2pm to 5pm Free. Sketch Crawl at Ivanhoe. Washburn Imports, 1800 N. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804. Come sketch with us along the historic stretch
of Orange Ave near Lake Ivanhoe once known as Antique Row. This area
offers glimpses of Orlando’s past with it’s 1900-era shop buildings
built along a railroad and also offers glimpses of the future with
construction of new high-rise apartments across from beautiful Lake
Ivanhoe. Unique shops, restaurants and bars line the stretch of this
easily walkable area.

Schedule:

Sketch crawl along Orange Ave from Washburn Imports towards Virginia
Dr. If you miss the meet up at 2pm, you will find us sketching along
this 3 block stretch.
Sketchbook Throwdown: 4:30pm at The Lucky Lure, 1427 N. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL.

Parking -lot on corner of Orange and New Hampshire across from Washburn
Imports, street parking along Orange Ave, NE Ivanhoe, Alden Rd, and a
small lot at Gaston Edwards Park at Lake Ivanhoe. Be aware, parking may
be time limited.

Tip: You may find yourself wanting to stay a bit
longer as Virginia Drive Jingle Eve begins at 5pm. Along Virginia Drive
there will be shopping, Christmas events, music, fireworks, and food.
After the meetup, a few of us may walk to this area to get food/drink
and sketch some more.

All drawing levels and skills are welcome.

Bring your sketchbook and sketching supplies of your choice. As this
event is OUTDOORS be prepared with drinking water, a hat, portable
chair/stool, and appropriate clothes for the weather.

5pm to ? Free. 2019 Jingle Eve.  Ivanhoe Village North Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32804.
12 Wines of Christmas, Santa’s Village, live music, food trucks,
vendors and more! Last year we had over 3,000 visitors on this night to
remember.

5pm too 7pm Free. McRae Studios Open House to Feature Guest Artists Victor Bokas and Matthew Cornell. McRae Art Studios 1000 Arlington Street in Orlando. On-site parking is available. McRae Art Studios’ 2019 Holiday Open Housewill serve up art works by its 22 members and former McRae members Victor Bokasand Matthew Cornell. The annual event at McRae (mcraeartstudios.com)
gives artcollectors and gift-givers a unique opportunity to browse
artist studios, visitwith the artists and purchase original art.
Hundreds of original art works willbe available including paintings,
pastels, drawings, photographs, mixed media,sculpture, jewelry and
ceramics. The open house is free and open to the public.

Sunday November 24, 2019

10am to Noon. Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources. 

11am to Noon $5 Yoga. Lake Eola near red gazebo.

Noon to 3pm Donation based. Music at the Casa. Brian Hayes. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Members
of the public are invited to visit our historic home museum on a Sunday
afternoon to listen to live music and take a tour of our historic home
museum and the James Gamble Rogers II Studio by trained docents.

Roller Derby Match 2

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Since I was sketching a double header, I decided to do a second sketch during the roller derby. Game 2 at Orange County Barnett Park (4801 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32808) was between the Orlando Sun Blockers and Rockin City. In the second match the Orlando Sun Blockers lost with a score of 87 to Rockin City from Texas’s 175.

Besides the action on the truck I was also fascinated by the half time action which consisted of kids making paper airplanes. The plane that flew the furthest would win. It was a fun as a minor league baseball game mid inning stretch. Planes spiraled and did loop de loops. Over in front of the bleachers a woman dressed in a sun costume danced in front of the crowd.

The huddle in my sketch occurs often in a match as one team tries to roadblock the other team from lapping them. If there is no opening then the roller derby athlete wearing the star on her helmet would have to try and press her way through he crowd. Living in a big city like New York would be the best place to develop these tight squeeze tactics. 

Legislative Town Hall Featuring Representative Smith and Representative Mercado

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I went to Acacia Banquet Hall (1865 Econlockhatchee Trail Orlando, FL 32817) to learn what I could about the 2018 Legislative Session. I had seen the invitation from Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith  Representative Amy Mercado for a Legislative Town Hall. They provided an update on priorities, issues impacting our community and they took questions directly from constituents. Special guest Monivette Cordeiro of the Orlando Weekly will be moderating this important event. Montivette has since moved on to become a court reporter for the Orlando Sentinel.

Carlos Guillermo Smith is a community activist, lobbyist, and politician from Orlando, Florida. He is a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives . Upon his election in 2016, Smith became the first openly gay Latino to serve in the Florida Legislature. I was very pleased to see he recently got married.

The Florida Legislature meets in session every year for sixty consecutive days. Legislative proposals may be in the form of bills, resolutions,
concurrent resolutions, joint resolutions, or memorials. A bill is a
proposed law, and it may be either a general bill or a local bill.   A
general bill would have a general impact within the state; a local bill
would affect only a particular county, city, or town named in the bill. A
majority vote is required to pass a bill, unless otherwise provided in
the Constitution. The Florida Legislature is largely Republican so proposals for progressive democratic bills have an uphill battle.

The bill, cited as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, sought on its surface,to comprehensively address the crisis of gun violence, particularly gun violence on school campuses. Components of the bill included, among others, provisions to enhance school safety policies, procedures, and personnel on the state and local level, to improve and expand mental health services, and to revise laws and empower law enforcement and the courts to limit access to firearms by young adults or by individuals exhibiting a risk of harming themselves or others. The bill also created and or revised operating and  capital funding policies and provides appropriations to implement the provisions of the bill.

Endangers positive school climates by: 

•Allowing school employees, including some teachers, to carry guns; 

•Requiring the placement of armed personnel in every school; 

•Requiring educators to “consult with” law enforcement whenever a student commits more than one misdemeanor or “exhibits a pattern of behavior . . . that would pose a threat to school safety;” •Creating an anonymous reporting mechanism without proper due process protections.

The one take away for me was that the Florida Legislature feels bad that students were killed in Parkland, and therefor it is important to get guns in the hands of volunteer school employees and or teachers. It would seem $400,000,000 was appropriated to get more guns into more hands. Carlos voted against this bill which fights gun violence by providing more guns on school campuses. The bill was approved by the governor on March 9, 2018. Welcome to the Gunshine State.

Newsweek reported that “More children have been killed by guns since Sandy Hook than U.S. soldiers in combat Since 9/11.”

Talk Radio

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Theater on the Edge (5542 Hansel Avenue Orlando, FL 32809) is presenting Talk Radio by Eric Bogosian and Tad Savinar. The set by Samantha DiGeorge is amazing in all it’s nostalgic splendor and detail. The space is divided into two rooms with a glass divider so that the soundboard guy can see the talent. The date is May 8, 1987 at WTLK in Cleveland Ohio. Spike (Christopher Ivers) who was in charge of running the ads was leaning back in his chair reading his Playboy. One radio show was winding to a close with a financial expert giving lofty and hard to follow financial advice to a confused listener. I started my sketch by getting him in place with his glasses and mustache. I wasn’t aware that he was about to be replaced by the star of the next hour of talk radio Barry Champlain (Marco DiGeorge). Champlain’s sound man was Stu Noonan (Alex Jackson). The two had worked together for years as Barry’s career skyrocketed. On this night the manager Dan Woodreuff (Christian Wienker) informed Barry that his show was about to go national and that the new sponsors would be listening in.

I grew up listening to talk radio in high school, So I was familiar with the insipid callers who would say, “Long time listener, first time caller.” It seems many would call in just to hear their own voice. Marco DiGeorge gives an amazing performance as the hardened talk show host who puts some callers down just to stay sane. Each character in turn had a blue illuminated cameo in which they relate their experiences with the radio talk show host. We learn about him from those who have to deal with him daily.

The soundboard used on stage must have been live because the calls came in quick succession. One caller claimed to have been partying for two days and his girlfriend was unconscious. There was some panic in the studio by Barry saw it as a prank call. On a second call in the high strung caller admitted he was making it all up. He then insisted on stopping by the studio to meet his talk show idol. Kent (Adam Minossora) had spiked up hair and his panicked manic performance caused me to stop sketching and just enjoy the performance. Kent was hilarious with his high wire antics and I thought for sure the executives would want him to have his own talk show. He rushed at the talk show host as if intent on murder but quickly shot a photo. Barry was actually a bit of a scholar before becoming a talk show host and Kent represented the lowest common denominator that Barry now had to accommodate.

Linda McArthur (Elaitheia Quinn) with a clipboard in hand produced the show. She wore a vibrant colorful jacket with neon colors. A raw and intimate moment came as she related how she felt about the talk show host. She decided to call in and she asked the host advice about how she should deal with her boyfriend. As they looked at each other through the glass window he told her she should move on and she stormed out of the studio visibly upset.

The entire show was an amazing roller coaster of emotions as the talk show host handled racists, bigots, and quiet fans who worshiped him yet really had no idea who he was. It all pushed him to the brink of giving up on humanity. Before social media and 140 character tweets, talk radio was where you got to experience trolls and desperate lonely people looking for attention.

I stood quickly for a standing ovation. Many of the cast were the callers who nettled the talk show host all night. The show was an existential rush felling claustrophobic with so many people calling with so many needs. This was a stellar show and should not be missed. The small theater had you right on top of the action. It felt like the host might fall into the abyss at any time and yet it was just one night that looked at a thin slice of crazy disturbing humanity.

Tickets for Talk radio usually run from $22 to $26. Every seat in the house is amazing. The show runs through December 8, 2019.

Roller Derby

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I went to Orange County Barnett Park (4801 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32808) to sketch an amazing Double Header. Game 1 was between the Orlando Ozone Slayers and the Molly
Rogers Roller girls. Game 2 was between the Orlando Sun Blockers and Rockin City.

There was  a 50/50 raffle, along with shirts, tanks and koozies at the merch table.

There was a pie eating contest followed by a paper airplane contest during halftime.There were bleachers for the crowd but I decided to sit with my back to the auditorium wall for a view down the length of the roller derby oval. The oval was put in place using white tape to outline the track. Volunteers had to periodically fix the tape with fresh tape since the athletes would often scuff and fall onto the lines.

Roller Derby is a fast paces exciting sport to watch. Points are gained then one woman with a star on her helmet manages to lap the bulk of the pack who jockey for position. The action would build to the final moments of each match. Derby  athletes would knock each other over as they bumped an gyrated for position.

The Molly Rogers from Melbourne Florida won the first match 138 to the Orlando Ozone Slayers 135. It was a crazy exciting finish to the match. It was an exciting afternoon of sketching. I need to get to these matches more often.

Las Vegas Rememberance Wall and Healing Garden

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October 2, 2017 the day after the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Brad Jerbic a city attorney, one of his friends and an employee of the city, Cameron Robinson was attending the concert where the shooting happened. His friend did not show up to work. At 7:15 that morning they got the call that confirmed that Cameron was one of the 58 who were killed that night. One of the attorneys advised that they should go and take a walk to stop and reflect. But where? At that moment he got a call from Stonerose Landscapes principal, Jay Pleggenkuhl, who advised that the city find a piece of land not to sell or donate but just loan so that a memorial garden would be created immediately. By 10 am they had agreed on a piece of property which is away from the strip at 1015 S. Casino Center Blvd. By 4 pm Jay and Daniel Perez had drawn up a plan for the garden on a napkin. The city decided to step aside and let Jay and his volunteers create the garden.

By Tuesday morning all 58 trees were donated by Boon Valley Nursery and all the shrubs were donated by Star Nursery. Along with the 58 trees there is one more tree called the tree of life. When searching for the spot to plant the tree of life, the soil was kicked and and a medallion just happened to be buried ch was medallion of the tree of life buried in that spot for who knows how many years. Siegfried and Roy donated the Tree of Life tot he garden. In just 4 days the volunteers managed to open the garden. The original Wall of Remembrance which I sketched was made from pallets covered in photos and memorial items. One year later it was removed and stored in the Clark County Museum to be replaced with a more permanent wall of remembrance. The names of the 58 souls lost that night are on the wall.

The community came together in an amazing way to make the garden a reality. The number of volunteers swelled over the days. One man came with coffee for the volunteers and a pizza shop next door donated pizzas. The garden became a path back to life and creation.

Eiffel Tower on the Strip

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The Eiffel Tower on the Las Vegas strip is part of the Caesars Casino in Paris Las Vegas (3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas , NV 89109). At the top of the tower is a viewing deck located 46 stories up in the half scale replica of the world-famous Paris, France landmark.

As an artist, all the magnificent architectural detail was fun to draw. As I worked on this sketch, a guy was going though his bag in front of me. He seemed really upset that he had picked up the wrong sun glasses. The impression I got was that he lifted the glasses, threw then in his bag and walked out of the store. He had stolen the wrong brand. I should have done a quick sketch of his face  in case the police were interested but I was in the midst of all the detail on this sketch and didn’t want to side track.

This was done several blocks closer to the Mandalay Bay Hotel where the mass shooting happened. My sketching experience was getting me used to huge throngs of people pressed together on the side walks that were separated from traffic with cement stanchions. On this day I made it as far as the New York, NY facades one block from Mandalay Bay where shots were fired on a crowd on October 1, 2017 killing 58 and wounding 413 others. About one month after the shooting, all of the preservable memorial items were gathered, boxed and taken to the Clark County Museum, (1830 S. Boulder Highway, Las Vegas Nevada) to become part of the museum’s permanent collection. The county has cataloged more than 12,000 items that were used to create
makeshift memorials following the Oct. 1 shooting. On October 1, 2018 one year after the shooting the strip went dark at 10:01PM in remembrance of the 58 victims and hundreds injured in the senseless shooting.

The moments during and just after the shooting rampage were recorded on multiple cell phones. For some the effects of that night will last a lifetime. Memorial sites sprang up but most concert goers were from out of town. And the hotels on the strip wanted to get back to business right away. On September of 2019, In the spirit of helping the community heal, MGM Resorts announced that the 15-acre plot where 22,000 people gathered for a country music
festival that ended in the largest mass shooting in U.S. history is
being converted to a community center and parking lot. In coming weeks and months, Las Vegas visitors will notice construction
activity near the shooting site, which has remained unused since the
tragedy. The company said it will also support any effort to install a permanent 1 October Memorial.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for November 16 and 17, 2019

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Saturday November 16, 2019

9am to 1pm.  $10 to enter your chili $5 to eat. Coffee With Pat and Matt Chili Cook-off. The Nook on Robinson (2432 E. Robinson St., Orlando). Fundraising chili cook-off. Our friend Patrick Greene is heading off on another adventure. This time to do Vienna’s prestigious Monochrome Q21 residency! The chili cook off event is a fundraiser for his art venture and a farewell-for-now party. First prize is a $25 bar tab, 2nd and 3rd prize winners get a Pat Greene for Mayor t-shirt.

10am to Noonish. Children under 3 are
free. Admission is included with your $10 ticket. To enjoy free admission present your Annual Pass Member card at
the gate.  Owl Be Home for Christmas. 

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey


(1101 Audubon Way, Maitland Fl). Holiday kick-off event with holiday crafts, meet-and-greets with bird ambassadors, tasty treats and Santa.


(407) 644-019.

5pm to 7pmish. Free. Star Wars Masquerade. 

Gods and Monsters


(5421 International Drive, Orlando Fl). celebrating the Disney release of The Mandalorian, with a Star Wars Masquerade in VAULT 5421. The Empire Strikes Back at 5pm, followed by Return of the Jedi and other Star Wars films and shows on our big screens throughout the night, with spacey tunes playing, themed cocktails, and Cosplay Cage-Dancing by Jacqueline Obsidian from 8pm-12am! If you go in Star Wars cosplay or SW themed masquerade attire to receive 1 FREE SHOT or soda at the bar and 15% off store wide inside Gods and Monsters! (Just mention your attire, at the bar, for your FREE shot or soda and at the register for store discount.)

Sunday November 17, 2019 

Noon to 2pmish Free for kids 12 and under. Regular Ticket Pricing $12.00.  Peanut Butter Matinee: My Neighbor Totoro.

Enzian Theater


(1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland Fl). One of my favorite of Miyazaki’s films. Backgrounds are gorgeous. Two girls move to the countryside and befriend playful spirits and a cuddly giant in this animated film from Hayao Miyazaki.


407-629-0054.

 2pmto 4pmish $62 to $37Macbeth.  Orlando Shakes


812 E. Rollins St., Orlando. Shakespeare’s cursed play about a Scottish thane who, under the urging of his wife, murders his way up the ladder of success.


407-447-1700. 

3pm to 5pmish $42 Boesman and Lena. Mad Cow Theatre 

(54 W. Church St., Orlando Fl.) Tale of the struggle of two refugees who encounter a stranger while wandering the South African wastelands.


407-297-8788.