Mosquito Alcatraz

Posted on by Thor

By Thomas Thorspecken

My friend, Stella P. Arbelaéz Tascón had to pick up art from from the Morean Gallery in Saint Petersburg and she also had to go to the Colombian consulate in MIami to pick up her national ID, a document which she had to renew. She had the brilliant idea of also going to the Everglades to see the protests happening against Alligator Alcatraz.

Alligator Alcatraz is a 3000 bed concentration camp being build with tents on Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport which was abandoned due to its being an environmental travesty. The point of this facility is the cruelty.

Since this was such a far drive we decided to camp overnight near the protest in the Big Cypress National Preserve. When we got to the entrance of the detention center there were unfortunately no protestors. Stella decided to talk to the State Trooper. She parked her Prius at the entry way and the trooper said over a loud speaker that she would have to move her vehicle, which she did. I stayed in the car with her dog, Boo Boo, who always is nervous when he looses sight of her. She explained that we were illustrative journalists and wanted to know when the protestors were usually out. She was told that there had been maybe ten protestors in the morning. A man standing near a federal vehicle  joked condescendingly that the “they all leave the moment the first mosquito come out.”

Disappointed, we decided to go to the campground she reserved, to set up our tents. We planned to experience what it was like to camp in the Everglades like the inmates. The site had a covered picnic table and a small fire pit. It overlooked a lake which would be nice when the sun rose in the morning. I threw my art bag on the picnic table and we threw the first tent on the ground to set it up. As I was unfolding a tent, Stella shouted, “Thomas, look at your legs, you are covered!”. Sure enough there were what seemed like hundreds of mosquitoes on the backs of my legs. Stella scrambled to get the bug spray out of the hatchback. I sprayed my legs frantically, but they kept buzzing around my face and ears. it was a full on frontal assault. Stella has walked through the Everglades on her 2020 through hike of the Florida National Scenic Trail, but this was too much. She shouted, “To hell with this!” and we threw the half unfolded tent into the Prius and drove off in haste. It took us another 45 minutes to kill all the mosquitoes that had followed us into the car. It was pure madness, absolute hell.

We drove past the entrance to Alligator Alcatraz one more time, and saw a single woman holding a sign that said, “They kill Latinos here.” I admired her tenaciousness.

We pulled into an Indian Reservation parking lot and decided to find rooms in a La Quinta Inn near the Miami airport. Airplanes flew over the hotel all night long, but it was preferable to having a swarm of mosquitoes buzzing in my ears. I slept like a baby that night, so thankful I wasn’t in a tent being eaten alive. I decided that a much better name for the horrific detention center was Mosquito Alcatraz.

Alligator Alcatraz: Reporter run down

Posted on by Thor

By Thomas Thorpecken

I did three  sketches of the protest at Alligator Alcatraz. I am posting the third sketch first because it portrays the most horrific incident of the protest. A news cameraman is sitting up shortly after having been hit by a blue Jeep and having his left leg run over.

After completing a sketch,  Stella P. Arbelaéz Tascón and I were walking along the main road on the shoulder. The many parked cars on the grass and dirt, forced people into the shoulder of the road to walk. There were probably more reporters at than protestors. Most protestors were against the fence in front of the entrance to the detention facility. The detention center was thrown up in the dead of night on an abandoned airstrip. A few protestors were pro-Trump. One little girl wrapped herself in a Trump, MAGA election flag. 

I was walking behind Stella on the shoulder of the road when I noticed a blue jeep drifting towards  us. It was coasting at maybe 5 miles per hour. It moved straight for Stella, who slapped the front wheel of the jeep and stepped aside. There was a parked car to Stella’s left limiting her movement. I also stepped aside into the grass between two parked vehicles. A reporter, who worked for EFE, was looking through a camera. He had his back to the oncoming traffic. The front bumper of the blue jeep hit his hips causing his back to arch and then he fell forward. He must have turned as he he fell, trying t look back at what had hit him. I then saw the thick knobby front tire of the jeep run over his leg. The jeep kept rolling forward until it had his entire lower leg pinned down up to his knee. I was right next to him as he fell and had his leg crushed. I just shouted out, “Jesus Christ!” The woman behind the wheel, stopped, then slowly backed up. She was horrified and clueless. a young woman was seated beside her in the passenger seat. Part of me thought back to a comment Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had said “If you hit one of these people, that is their fault” I don’t think the woman ran the reporter over intentionally. She was rubbernecking, and not looking at where she was going. She drove off the road into the shoulder.

Stella was interviewed by police as an eye witness. The image of his leg being pinned under the tire will forever live in my mind. Had Stella and I not stepped aside fast enough, we too would have been hit. After talking to the police officer, Stella then went to the passenger window of the jeep and told the woman behind the wheel, that “We are all human and we all make mistakes”. Stella knew it was not intentional, and she reassured the woman that it would all be OK.

I had been less forgiving. I heard the driver say to the passenger that the man had been in the road. I shouted to her that she had run off the road into the shoulder. He was clearly in the shoulder of the road. The fact is, the woman never saw him. Se was probably reading protestor sign on the opposite side of the road rather than looking at where she was going. Once the cameraman fell, she could not see over the hood of her jeep. When the woman hit him, her wheel was on the shoulder of the road and when she backed up the tire went back on the road but still on the white line.

The reporter could not get up. An ambulance eventually came from inside Alligator Alcatraz. Paramedics helped lift him up on a gurney and roll him into the ambulance. He was then driven into Mosquito Alcatraz.

Rock of Ages

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Theater West End (115 W 1st St, Sanford, Fl), tends to offer very ambitious productions. Rock of Ages, with the book by Chris D’Arienzo and arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popphas to be the most ambitious musical I have seen at this venue. The huge cast, spreads out into the audience making this a true interactive experience.

I had never seen the musical Rock of Ages before. It is a  a jukebox musical featuring classic rock songs, primarily from the 1980s. It features the hits of bands including Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister and more. The production is  sexy, vibrant, and irreverent while being at heart love story.

A small town girl, Sherri (Ariana Ortiz), arrived in Hollywood and immediately had her purse stolen. A boy, Drew (Zackary Racine), helps console her although she didn’t have any valuables in the bag. She was just thrilled to be in the big city. These two seemed destined to be together but he insisted that they just be friends, although over time he regretted that comment. He wanted to be a rock and roll star but instead was recruited into a trendy boy band with a cheesy multi color jump suit and cap. She fell for a rock star who treated her like dirt and then turned to a life of stripping after he dumped her. I was particularly amazed by Ariana’ solo number. They both denied their feelings for one another until they met again later by chance and the spark reignited.

The musical followed so many life stories from the big city. A German son who was sacrificing his dream to keep his father’s destructive ambition to tear down and develop the strip into a soulless shopping mall, a narrator, who was hilarious and often flirted with the audience. A protestor intent on being seen. A madame who had a heart of gold under her hard exterior shell. All these lives swirled around one another with epic egos fighting for attention in the rocking age of the 1980s. I was blown away by the choreography of Ashlyn Bigley since there were so many cast members in constant motion. And I was amazed that director, Desiree Montes kept such a bold intimate production on track.

The finale featured the whole cast singing Dont’ Stop Believing by Journey. I sang along and clapped loudly, being completely swept away with this anthem of love and hope. On the drive back to the studio, I was still singing Don’t Stop Believing. I felt emboldened, convinced I am ready to take on whatever life throws my way.

Rock of Ages runs through August 17, 2025. Tickets run from $40 to $46. You don’t want to miss this show.

 

 

 

Webster Westside Flea Market

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By Thomas Thorspecken

My friend Stella P. Alberaéz Tascón and I went to sketch and shop at the Webster Westside Flea Market. This produce sales area is just a fraction of what can be found at the market. We set up on and near a wooden bench.

Stella’s little grey dog, Boo Boo was a star attracting the attention of so many patrons who were entering the market. He would stretch out the leash to get all the attention and pets. Stella remarked that she heard the faint barking of dogs, but I couldn’t hear a thing.

The stand we were sketching has been at the market for three generations. There were green peppers, cucumbers, green beans and other assorted fresh produce. Some of the sellers had thick southern accents which they played up.

With our sketches complete we began to shop. Stella had a little granny cart which saved us the trouble of carrying so many bags of vegetables. I got some bananas, apples and Stella introduced me to three Colombian fruits, Tamarind, Passion Fruit and Mamey, also known as Zapote. I now have a jar of Tamarind which comes in brown pea shaped pods. The fruit is delicious, being a deep red and having a sharp and sweet taste. Mamey is an amazing sweet snack, being bright yellow inside with soft edible seeds and the passion fruit is bright orange inside and easily scooped up with a spoon. Stella, who was born in Colombia, and came to America when she was 15, explained that you could have a different fruit every day of the year in Colombia and never run short of varieties.

Next to these market stalls there were many young puppies for sale in cages. Some pups looked playful while other looked like they were desperate to escape. Behind all these stalls is a vast array of stalls called the Swaporama, for flea market items. I haven’t explored this area yet. I am imagining it is like Renninger’s in Mount Dora but multiplied by 10. I enjoy shopping at this market where you can get fruit at a fraction of what you would pay at Publix. There is also an area of a cattle auction which I hope to return to and sketch.

Food Distribution Faith Christian Fellowship Church

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Faith Fellowship Church (1951 Dora Ave, Tavares, FL) offers a monthly food distribution program. Cars line up very early at like 6am and the line does not start moving until 8am.

The cars park on a large grass field beside the church. One lady asked me if I was drawing a picture and I showed her my sketch and gave her a card.

When cars get closer to the church, there are volunteers with clipboards who check on names to be sure folks are registered. The woman with the clipboard offered a prayer for the indigenous people of south Florida and for the people being incarcerated at Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades. She had lived in El Paso and the indigenous people were near and dear to her.

Volunteers are at the front of the church assembled near skits of food items under the entry overhang. They give out large amounts of meats and then some canned goods and some sweets. There were ears of corn and some vegetables as well. The church has a vegetable garden with raised beds so the vegetables are fresh off the vine. For Lake County residents on a tight budget these items fill out the pantry and freezer for the month.

Lake Cares provides the food distributed. Their mission plan is to Feed the Body, Educate the Mind and Lift the Spirit of all individuals.

Crealde X Casa Feliz Exhibit: In Good Company

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By Thomas Thorspecken

From August 5th to August 28, Casa Feliz will have an exhibit of work from the Crealdé faculty. One of my painting demos done for my students was used for the poster.

I have sketched so many times at Casa Feliz. I also sketched a wedding held on this front door porch. There are often concerts held indoors and those are perfect sketch opportunities.

This should be a pretty amazing show, it will be awesome to meet the many talented professors who teach here.

Casa Feliz, or “Happy House,” is the signature residential work of noted architect James Gamble Rogers II. It was built during the Great Depression at a cost of $28,000.

In the year 2000 the building faced demolition and the community rallied to protect the historic home. The entire 50 ton  structure was literally lifted and moved to its present location, balanced on 20 pneumatically leveled dollies, and then gently moved the 300 yards across Interlacken Avenue to its new home near the golf course.

Today, Casa Feliz serves the community as a historic home museum and rental location for private parties, weddings, and business events. I have sketched so many events here that it feels a bit like my Moulan Rouge.

I will have to reschedule at virtual class I am supposed to teach during those hours, and I hope to get to the opening to sketch. So much creative life flows through the homes halls. So mark your calendar for August 2, 2025 from 2pm to 4pm for the show’s opening. Stop by and say hi.

Modiste Market Mount Dora

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By Thomas Thorspecken

The Modiste Market returned to Downtown Mount Dora at the Lakeside Inn (100 Alexander St, Mt Dora, FL). Pop up tents lined several streets and this street side courtyard.

I found a shady spot under a Live Oak tree and sketched. A young family was seated on a park bench next to me resting from the Florida heat between shopping spurts.

In front of me was a farmer who offered bath products made from goat milks. I didn’t pick any up, but people stopped to chat about the products for the longest time. the proprietor had his portrait on a display banner along with pictures of his goats. He approached me, curious about the sketch. He pointed to the live oak  tree whose shade I was enjoying and said, “Don’t trust that tree, it is shady.”

The vendor across from him was offering hand thrown ceramic jars. To one couple he told a story of Picasso, who was asked to draw on a napkin by a young woman. Picasso dashed off a quick 30 second sketch and requested $10,000. She was astonished and said, “isn’t that an awful lot of money for less than a minute of work?” Picasso replied, “You’re wrong, it took me 40 years”. What she ultimately bought was the accumulated knowledge, skill, and experience that enabled that specific creation. I don’t think the ceramic jugs were selling for $10,000 but the artisan let people know they were taking home a part of his soul.

After the sketch was done, I was parched and I walked among the tents looking for a vendor that sold ice cold drinks. I couldn’t find anyone who had drinks for sale. I now realize, by looking at my sketch that I was sitting right across from a fruit juice vendor the whole time. Well, I survived the walk back to my car and gulped down a cup of water when I got back to the Lake County studio.

Soap Box Derby Kart Race

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By Thomas Thorspecken

I drove to Fruitland Park in Lake County Florida for the Soap Box Derby Kart Race. I found a small shady spot behind a sign for the Connection Point Church.

Fathers and sons were instructed to gather spare parts from around the yard to assemble their karts. No kit karts were allowed. The derby karts had to be designed based on a Little Rascals division design.

About a dozen karts were arranged in an assembly area for spectators to view before the racing began. Each kart had to pass an official inspection. Each karts closed floor had to have a minimum clearance of three inches from the ground. There could be no motors and the drivers head could not be enclosed in the kart design. Karts had to have working brakes. Fox Trot Hill empties out onto 48

The young jockey wore the most advanced protective equipment, including, but not limited to, Eye goggles, knee pads, elbow pads and motorcycle helmets.

A DJ played music under the Fruitland Park tent. Then everyone was instructed to rise for the Star Spangled Banner. I took my hat off and place it over my heart.

Dads, pushed the karts up to the starting line with the drivers at the steering wheel. Karts took turns being gently pushed down Fox Trot Hill. They roared down the hill at the pace of an average quick walk. A yellow ATV was used to tow the karts back up the hill. They probably moved faster being towed than they did at full speed down the hill. Each driver had three attempts to improve their time going down the hill. There were three trophies at the final assembly area.

Clayton Watts won 1st place and $250 at the Fruitland Park Soap Box Derby Race!  Weston Johnson finished 2nd and earned $175 and Tyler Watts finished 3rd earning $125.

Mystic Ice Cream Karaoke Night

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By Thomas Thorspecken

Mystic Ice Cream (1217 Miller Road, Fruitland Park FL) has a Karaoke night every Tuesday and Friday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. I went to this event with Stella P. Arbelaeéz Tascón, who I first met about 30 years ago at Disney Feature Animation. She was an effects artist at Disney, having graduated from the internship the year before me, and she is just as devoted to sketching from life as I am. Stella went to the Fashion Institute of Technology, an art school in NYC about the same time as I was attending the School of Visual Arts, also in NYC.

This karaoke event is very well attended, so much so, that I thought we might have to use ours art stools. However, we were invited to sit at a big round table with a lovely group of new friends. I suspect many of the folks at this Karaoke night were from The Villages which is a huge retirement, active lifestyle, community north of where my studio is now in Lake County. I also suspect many of the singers were plants, because there was some amazing talent in the crowd, from classic era romantic crooners to country singers.

One song I absolutely had to sing along with was Frank Sinatra’s New York New York. Stella joined in as well. she claims to be tome deaf, but she actually carried this tune magnificently. I just recently came back from looking at homes in New York State and I am committing to making that move north although I am not sure exactly where I will land.

There was a third artist in the crowd who seemed to do close up portraits of singers. So this particular evening had three different artists documenting the stellar evening of songs. People must have signed up to sing before hand because the music maestro would call people up in quick succession. I have sung. karaoke before, but I remained as a back up singer for this evening. One of the proprietors was delighted to find two urban sketchers sketching away. She took a photo of Stella and I  holding up our sketches. Amazingly, the singer that I sketched much earlier in the evening was up on the stage again when she took the photo, making it look like the sketch had happened in an instant.

Of course Stella and I also had some delicious ice cream. I ordered a peanut flavored chocolate ice cream mix that was to die for. When I sketch, I tend to hyper focus, and I forgot about the ice cream, so it became a tasty soup before the sketch was complete. This was a perfect event for me to humm and sing along with each song. I tend to hum along during musicals and I have to try and stifle that urge so as not to distract the professional actors on stage.

Mystic Ice Cream has four locations with one about to open in Mount Dora Florida. If they offer Karaoke in Mount Dora, I know the place will be packed. The other locations are… 6770 US Highway 44 Summerland FL, 38 East Magnolia Avenue Eustice FL, and 314 West Main Street Leesburg Fl,.

Weather Delay

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by Thomas Thorspecken

Albany Airport in New York State, had some very serious security measures. When I went through the full body scan, my crotch showed up as a bright red block on the security screen. I had to be patted down. The security officer explained that he was using the back of his hand when he patted my groin and the inside of my calves. I turned back and front to have my aching leg muscles patted down. It was exciting, but he missed the weapon in my pants. What they really missed was a can of bug spray that I had mistakenly left in my art bag. That stuff is probably a flame thrower. I didn’t discover the bug spray until I got back to my home studio.

The flight out of Albany New York was delayed by an hour because of thunderstorms in Orlando, Florida. While we waited on the tarmac, I sketched. Rather than having TV screens on the back of seats, this plane had adjustable holders for people’s cell phones. People could attach to the internet and play movies on their cell phones. They had to have ear phones however which were not supplied. The two Germans next to me didn’t understand the flight attendant warnings about not playing video audio out loud. They eventually understood and stopped watching the Disney Feature Animation movie, Encanto.