Weekend Top 6 Picks for December 30th and 31.

Posted on by Thor

Saturday December 30, 2017

7 AM to 3 PM – Free. Citrus Bowl Parade. Staging area is on Orange Avenue  North of Robinson Street. The Florida Citrus Parade has grown to become one of the
largest sports affiliated parades in the nation, an annual tradition
that occurs each year between the Camping World Bowl and the Citrus Bowl
games. In addition to its signature floats made of citrus fruit, the parade
features spirited high school marching bands from throughout the nation,
participating bowl game college marching bands, specialty units and
other exciting performances. Upwards of 3,000 participants take part in
this spectacular event.

The parade begins on Orange Avenue and Robinson Street and continues
south on Orange Avenue, east on Anderson Street, then north on Rosalind
Avenue. The parade concludes at Rosalind Avenue and Robinson Street. The
route is 1.4 miles in length and takes 90-120 minutes to complete.

7 PM to 9 PM – Free. Ybor City Art Walk. 7th Ave Ybor Tampa, Florida 33605. Featuring a number of arts
organizations and artsy businesses, be sure to R.S.V.P. here to get the
official map for the walk!

This event will begin at 7 pm and end at 11 pm (or maybe there will be an
after party!)

Here are the participating locations:

The Bricks of Ybor,
Bloodline Tattoo,
Ybor Arts Colony,
Hot Wax,
Wandering Eye Art Gallery,
Dysfunctional Grace,
Moon Over Havana Arts Gallery,
Live Arts Labs.

There will be other businesses joining the lineup so stay tuned!

10:30 PM to 12:30AM – Free but get a drink or bite. Son Flamenco. (Ceviche Tapas, 125 W Church St, Orlando.) Hot-blooded Flamenco dancing to acoustic guitar.

Sunday December 31, 2017

10 AM to Noon – Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. (University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando.) The Method of Heartfulness, a simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources. http://heartfulness.org 

Noon to 1 PM – Free. Yoga. Lake Eola Park near the red gazebo.

Noon to 3 PM – Free. Music at the Casa. (Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park.) Members of the public are invited to visit our historic home museum on a Sunday afternoon from 12 to 3 pm, listen to live music and take a tour of our historic home museum and the James Gamble Rogers II Studio by trained docents.

Civil War Monument, the Capitol Mall Washington DC.

Posted on by Thor

It is one of the most magnificent memorials in Washington
D.C. It is a monument to Grant and all the soldiers who fought in the Civil War.
The section I decided to sketch features soldiers moving a cannon into
position.

This monument was first proposed by the Society of the Army
of Tennessee who wanted to honor the general who led the Union Army to victory.
It was created by sculptor Henry Mervin Shardy who spent 20 years of his life
working on it. When
Shardy and architect Edward Pearce Casey won the commission to design the memorial
in 1902, they had no idea the scope of what they were getting involved in. The
budget for the memorial was $250,000.

The artist researched the project with ambition. He joined
the National Guard and spent four years learning military practice. He found
and researched Union equipment and gear and he read countless books and  studied paintings
about the Civil War to familiarize himself with Grant and his military tactics.
He was criticized several times for the slow pace of his work. The amazing
amount of detail however proves that it was time well spent. He used his own
likeness in one of the soldiers in the charge, forever memorializing his own
likeness.

He worked at a frantic pace at the end of the project
suffering through many sleepless nights, and illness. Sadly, the artist died
two weeks before the sculpture was publicly unveiled on April 27, 1922 one
hundred years after Grant’s birth.

It was freezing cold the day I did this sketch and I ended
up sitting in a puddle of ice cold water on the granite bench I sat on, literally freezing my butt. It was a minor inconvenience
compared to Shardy’s long suffering commitment to this work of art.

Trenton New Jersey Capitol.

Posted on by Thor

I spent a day in Trenton, New Jersey exploring with my digital sketchbook. The capitol building is undergoing extensive renovations so that many of the windows are covered with plywood panels. It makes it look like the building is recovering from a natural disaster. For the first time I decided to treat a digital sketch the same way I would treat a watercolor sketch. I left the lightest areas pure white as if I were leaving the white of the paper to shine through. Working this way is much faster but the result seems more poster like and a bit cartoonish. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I just need to keep experimenting.

After the sketch was done, I went to the New Jersey State Library (185 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608) next door to find a bathroom and write an article. In the afternoon, I explored the New Jersey State Museum (205 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608) which has a decent collection of modern art. Some of the painters are from New Jersey, but many were international. The museum also had a collection of mammal skeletons and some New Jersey historical collections like some Civil War era battle flags. My favorite exhibit was a series of WWII war posters which were created to raise funds for the war.

Alexander Hall in Princeton New Jersey

Posted on by Thor

I spent a day exploringPrinceton
University. I settled on sketching
Alexander Hall which is a 900 seat assembly hall. It is home to the Princeton University Orchestra and the Princeton Symphony
Orchestra. The building was completed in 1894.  The name honors the Alexander family who were trustees
and donated money for the building’s construction. The architect William Appleton
Pother landed his first commission on the campus as a teenager. At the time, most architects
learned their trade as apprentices, but Potter learned his trade in college.

The entire campus is gorgeous.
I was schooled on the gritty streets of New
York City. Seeing such a beautiful campus made me
wish I had experiences such a privileged form of education. Most students who walked
through this public square had wet hair. They had just risen, had a shower, and
were now strolling off to class.

White Christmas.

Posted on by Thor

Pam Schwartz and I are in Iowa for Christmas. On Christmas Eve
it started to snow and it snowed all day long. I set some time aside to paint
the view out of some bay windows that overlooked the property. The house is on
top of a hill that overlooks all the land around it. There is a pond down at
the bottom of the ravine in the direction that I was painting. There was a fine
dusting of snow all day. I was pleased to find out that there was a brush on
the tablet that easily paints snow. 

The Christmas tree had been set up with care and the next morning
the presents under and next to the tree would be unwrapped. All the open fields
became white encrusted in the snow as we rode to grocery stores for holiday
supplies. On Christmas Eve evening we had a 15 pound NY strip loin roast that was amazingly
tender along with cheesy potatoes and green beans with bacon. I gave Pam’s brother
credit for a pan full of roasted water chestnuts wrapped in bacon that were delicious, that had really been made by Pam. 

Relatives come and go in waves and the family chats in the
living room, warm from the snow outside. We often gather at the table to play
board games. The sun has just set and online sites track Santa’s progress
around the world. His sleigh seems to always be in flight. He never seems to
and drop off presents. There is only an electric fireplace here in Maquoketa, so he must
have to be good at breaking into homes to drop off his presents.

The Grandma Party Bazzar at Stardust Video and Coffee.

Posted on by Thor

The 15th annual Grandma Party Bazaar is an Orlando holiday tradition held at Stardust Video and Coffee

(1842 E. Winter Park Road, Orlando, FL.) There you could find handmade gifts, food, raffles, live music and more.  It is a great opportunity to grab something
unique for that hard to buy for person on your holiday gift list.

Music on the main stage included DJ Nigel, DJ Oled, Dad, Von Nacht, Tiger Fawn, TV Dinner and more.  I spotted Tiger Fawn with her Vulcan ears among the booths but I didn’t see her perform.  Pam and I brought Sprout to the event and there were plenty of butts to be sniffed.

Tents were crowed into the Stardust Video and Coffee parking lot.  Across the street more tents were set up outside Park Avenue CDs and Redlight Redlight.  One vendor had vintage board games but they were priced at $40 and $50 a pop.  It was a gorgeous sunny day and several friends stopped to say hello. Perhaps someday I should rent a space and offer quirky crafts at affordable prices.  Market value art would not sell.  Of course, I shouldn’t be selling any art right now since it is considered a joint asset.  My art is only half mine, it would seem. 

Christmas Light Display.

Posted on by Thor

I pass this place just about every day on my drive downtown. Every time I go by it seems like there is something new in the yard.  The house is located on Peel Street, just north of East Michigan Street.  I started this sketch before the sun set, and then started painting when the home owner drove into the driveway and turned on the lights.  She wandered the yard setting things up that had fallen over during the day.  A snowman’s head was put back on his shoulders and a small Christmas tree was righted.

A gentleman on a bike asked about the sketch and explained that he was an artist himself.  He said that the home had recently been featured on TV News as one of Orlando’s best Christmas light displays.  This neighborhood is ripe with outlandish Christmas displays.  With the advent of inflatables, many lawns are covered with giant Santas and snowmen. This lawn had an inflatable Yoda and Santa.  The igloo was made of sheer fabric stretched over a dome-shaped frame.  There were other items just out of frame like a fireplace with stockings hung with care.

After the sun set, the temperature dropped and I painted faster so I could drive home for some warmth.  A hot cocoa and soup thawed me out. The next night I drove by, the lighting display was off, the yard dark.  Perhaps they saw the power bill and decided to ration the Christmas joy. 

Weekend Top 6 Picks for December 23rd and 24th.

Posted on by Thor

Saturday December 23, 2017

7:30 AM to 8:30 AM – $32 to run. Run Run Santa One-Mile. 

Calvary Chapel Viera
(map)

(2852 Fellowship Place, Orlando, Fl.) A fast, festive one-mile course that’s perfect for everyone from elite
runners to families looking to celebrate the holidays together. All
participants receive a full Santa Claus suit to wear during the race
with registration. http://runrunsanta.com

2PM and 7:30 PM – $18-$22. Phantasmagoria’s A Christmas Carol. Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center (201 S. Magnolia Ave., Sanford, Fl.) This critically acclaimed Victorian Performance Troupe weaves movement,
dance, puppetry, projections, music and storytelling in this classic
ghost tale. 


8 PM to Midnight – Free. A Wasteland Christmas Party. Gods and Monsters
(5421 International Drive, Orlando, FL.) Christmas party with classic Christmas movies playing on the big
screens, cosplay mutant cage dancers, and special holiday drinks and
treats for everyone.

Sunday December 24, 2017.

4 PM to 10 PM – Free. Pagan Pajama Party. VAULT 5421 (5421 International Dr, Orlando, Florida 32819.) Show up in your pajamas, and get 20% off
your bar tab and purchases in the store! Enjoy Holiday drinks and
cookies with the Krampus! We’ll be playing Krampus movies on the big
screens and have a naughty elf dancing in the cage too!
We realize that most Pagans’ idea of pajamas is going skyclad, but
please do wear SOME sort of legal apparel to this party.

 6 PM to 8 PM – $7. Bad Santa and His Ten Pints of Truth (Eugene Snowden). Will’s Pub (1042 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL.) Christmas Eve show with free gumbo.

5 PM –  Free. Blues Jam hosted by Doc Williamson. 

The Alley (114 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, FL.) Bring an instrument and join in the fun.

An Evening with Anna Deavere Smith.

Posted on by Thor

Anna Deavere Smith is a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize nominated American actress best known to television audiences as Nancy McNally on The West Wing and Gloria Akalitus on Nurse Jackie. Anna Deavere Smith’s theater work has become an inspirational source for civil discourse. She began the evening by playing the part of the man who video taped the police brutality which resulted in death of Eric Garner by compression of neck, due to a choke hold, compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police.  Anna interviews people and then recreates that interview through a theatrical performance.  The result was an infuriated outburst by someone who is shocked and horrified by the continued police brutality that is rampant today.  Sometimes witnessing improper use of force is all that can be done. 

Through a short performance and interview, audiences heard about the process of combining a passion for social causes with documentary style theatre making. Ms. Smith seeks to “discern the American character and to capture its politics.” The discussion focused on how she finds the authentic voice of the people she interviews and then creates on stage.

Her brief performance was followed by a question and answer session with the audience. Not having a TV, I haven’t seen any of the shows that Anna starred in. I admire the premise of her one woman shows which are a combination of documentary and theater.  Her discussion on how she conducts her interviews was insightful.  I clearly see the need of hearing peoples’ stories, because every voice has its place in history. 

The Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia.

Posted on by Thor

Pam Schwartz and I have been binge watching American Horror Story: Freak Show.  Side show freaks were murdered in that show and then their deformed bodies were put on display in formaldehyde glass cases.  The museum curator was depicted as a woman of questionable morals who only wanted to find the most unique deformities to put on display.  Both the side show and museum were desperate for patrons as the public turned to TV instead of live entertainment.  The museum in that series must be based on the very real Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians in Philadelphia (19 S 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19103.)

On display in the Mutter Museum is every conceivable deformity know to man.  On a recent trip to the Ringling Museum, I saw circus posters depicting Chang and Eng Bunker who are arguably the most famous conjoined Siamese twins. They were born in what is now Thailand in 1811. They
came to the United States in 1829 to tour and speak. Eventually tiring
of life as touring performers, they married sisters and bought adjacent
farms in North Carolina in the early 1840s. Between them, they raised 21 children and managed two farms. 

When the brothers died in 1874, Fellows of The College of Physicians
conducted the autopsy and arranged for the specimens to be transferred
to the museum. On display in the main gallery are their conjoined
livers and the plaster death cast of their torsos. Fetus’ with various abnormalities were on display in glass jars on the shelves around the twins. No photography is allowed, but sketching is encouraged.  I could get lost in this place for weeks sketching all the unique forms.  

On the ground floor of the museum was an amazing art display by Lisa Nilsson.  In her Tissue Series, she created ornate quilled paper constructions that explore
the complex geography of the human anatomy.  She used
images of transverse, coronal and sagittal cross sections from medical
sources as reference. Her work finds a delicate balance between art and anatomic accuracy,
beauty and the grotesque.

The forms, made from Japanese mulberry paper
and the gilt edges of antique books, are rendered in a technique of rolled
and shaped paper called quilling or paper filigree. The technique, first
practiced by Renaissance nuns and monks and later by aristocratic women
in the 16th-18th centuries, finds a contemporary relevance in Nilsson’s
work.