Marla E. Artist Opening.

Posted on by Thor

The Maitland Civic Center on Lake Lilly is trying to change it’s image. It has been renamed “Venue on the Lake” (641 South Maitland Avenue Maitland FL 32751). People perceived the Civic Center as being run by the city. The venue is however privately owned. It has undergone a major face lift recently, including, Linda’s Corner which was the east wing’s catering area. They considered calling it Linda’s Bar, but that was vetoed as being too low class. The outside landscaping was redone along with the patio and decorative outdoor lights.

George Williston gave everyone a quick lesson in chairs. The Center used to be full of simple folding chairs. It turns out folding chairs have a butt life of at most half an hour. New black banquet  chairs have a butt life of about an hour, and the new green banquet chairs have a butt life of several hours. I was pleased that I was sitting in s green banquet chair. Danial Jordan performed on flute and saxaphone as patrons sampled the banquet food and free drinks. The evening was mostly a fundraiser to continue the restorations at the Venue. There is a theater in the Ivanhoe district called The Venue, so perhaps a better name is needed.

The gallery area between the east and west wings was also re-modeled. Artwork by Mark E. Artist was on display. Her large abstract painting incorporate en-caustics to create three dimensional patterns on the surface followed by bold colorful brushwork. Marla has a face designed for smiling. Her wide eyes were magnified in her 1950s styled eye glasses. My favorite painting had a blue and green field on the upper two thirds of a vertical panel.  An simple brown arching line seemed to define a ground plane with encaustic squares filling a grid pattern. Circular “planets” floated above. I believe the show is up for several months, so stop out.

A day at Manasota Beach.

Posted on by Thor

I visited my older sister Pat Boehme, in Port Charlotte Florida for a weekend to getaway from the stress of my pending divorce. Pat has a home on a traffic circle and that circle was enlarged over the past year. She lost some of her property to the expansion project and had to live with her front yard being a construction zone. Now my life is a construction zone.

We decided to get away to Manesota Beach which is north of Port Charlotte. The beach is accessed by a small coastal road that has water visible on both sides One side had mansions on the inter-coastal waterway, and the other side had mansions on the ocean. We joked about which mansion would suit our lifestyles the best. Pat had a cooler, beach umbrella and beach chairs, so we were set for the afternoon. Getting all that from the parking lot to the beach was it’s own adventure. The cooler had wheels, but that doesn’t help much in tall grass or sand. I ended up hugging it to my chest to get it to our beach oasis.

The water was warm and comfortable. We swam and floated for hours. The water must have been super saline, because I was able to float on my back for the first time ever. Usually my 12 inch big feet sink like lead weights. The two women next to us were debating about exercise and diet. The woman in the pink bikini top outlined her extensive daily exercise routine, while the other woman felt it was more important to simply watch her calorie intake.

Foreigners waded face down with snorkel masks just off shore looking for sharks teeth. Apparently fossilized sharks teeth are a common find at Manasota Beach. One Australian was face down in the water the entire time that Pat and I were there. When he final sloshed out of the water, we could see that his back was a bright fire engine red. He was going to be hurting that night. A little boy lost hold of his inflatable mini canoe. The wind caught it, sending it out into the ocean. He chased it until the water got too deep, and then watched it until it became a speck on the horizon.

Satellite brings advanced imagery to forcasts.

Posted on by Thor

This is a snow bird who works out of a condo she bought in Florida. She comes to Central Florida to get away from the North East snow storms. Her work station is a white table from IKEA set in front of her sliding glass doors. Three different computers sit in the work space. She works 9am to 5pm for Atmospheric and Environmental Research writing code that interprets data from a new high resolution weather satellite. This coding represented seven years of work on her part so far. Part of each day is spent on phone conference calls so she can stay in touch with the team of coders in the northeast.

The satellite successfully launched on Saturday, November 19 at 6:42pm from Cape Canaveral. After a series of maneuvers, conducted using the satellite’s thrusters. It has placed itself in its
designated 89.5 degree West longitude checkout location where it will
undergo an extended checkout and validation phase for approximately one
year. This month the first high resolution images from the satellite have returned to earth. This next-generation geostationary satellite offers a glimpse of the
future of weather forecasting. These incredibly sharp images from the Advanced Baseline Imager will enable scientists to explore the
Earth’s atmosphere and weather like never before, and usher in an era
of new weather forecasting possibilities.

The satellite will provide continuous imagery and
atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere, total lightning
data, and space weather monitoring to provide critical atmospheric,
hydrologic, oceanic, climatic, solar and space data.

This is a game changer. Here is why!

  • Improved hurricane track and intensity forecasts
  • Increased thunderstorm and tornado warning lead time
  • Improved aviation flight route planning
  • Improved air quality warnings
  • Improved solar flare warnings for communications and navigation disruptions
  • More accurate monitoring of energetic particles responsible for radiation hazards to humans and spacecraft
  • Better monitoring of space weather to improve geomagnetic storm forecasting

The environmental data products
will support short-term 1-2 day forecasts and severe storm
watches and warnings, maritime forecasts, seasonal predictions, drought
outlooks and space weather predictions.

Although years have gone into writing the code for this satellite, the real work has just begun now that the data is flowing. Usually code doesn’t work as expected when first written. There is usually a need for many tests and tweaks. Once this snowbird wrote code for 6 months while another coder wrote the second half of the code over the same six month period. When the two codes were run together, they miraculous ran perfectly. That almost never happens.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for November 19th and 20th.

Posted on by Thor

Saturday November 19, 2016 

5pm to 10pm Free. Magic Beyond The Mouse. Art of Fitness 5154 Dr Phillips Blvd, Orlando, Florida 32819. Join us as we celebrate the Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida Family. The studio may have closed, but the family we have lives on.Less than 2 weeks until this very special event.

7pm to 11pm Free. Jingle Eve Boat Parade. Lake Ivanhoe. Boats with elaborate Christmas light decorations.

7pm to Midnight. Free. Crazy Harvest Blue. The Imperial at Washburn Imports-Sanford, 116 E 1st St, Sanford, Florida 32771. this little pop up pops up again! Right above our amazing host bar The Imperial,and hosted by The current-sanford magazine.

Featured fine artist, Don Moon in the round room..

Featured fantastic sounds by DJ Spank! (out of this world talent)

A world of originality and inspiration created in the Installation Gallery by local “People in Light Creations” and a crew of 10!

Erotica Art, Bodies in color motion, images of the physical law of body attraction! -Light installation from Frankie.

Installations in question by co-directors and resident artists Rawko, Brian Barnett, and Kimme Prindle…! (always intriguing)

The current galleries permanent tenants will be open for business,and having an open house, there is surprise entertainment around every corner all night!, Live acoustic performance (TBA) in the intimate main gallery,9pm.

We support the Sanford art Walk at all the other galleries in town,and there are incredible local restaurants, food trucks, and excellent craft bars to create an enchanting evening in the beautiful Historic Downtown Sanford.We always end the night at one of the local live band stages, vibing on the local music scene… Support local music,art, and culture,and it will support you…

Any other questions, comments? Please ask on this site, or contact Frankie Messina at apartmentefrankie@mail.com Check back here often as we will be adding more entertainment details..please help spread the word for us.. thank you.

*** This is a mature art party with mature erotic art involved and we do not censor our submissions.. Please no children allowed,

Sunday November 20, 2016 

Noon to 3pm Donation. Music at the Casa. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Vocalist Holly Sahmel.

2pm to 4pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola Park, 195 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL. Near the red gazebo.

10pm to Midnight. Free but get a coffee.  Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out & laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Beemo Performed at Space Bar.

Posted on by Thor

I was sketching at Pints for Pulse, a fundraiser held at Festiva1 Park (2911 Robinson Street, Orlando FL). in the Milk District. The fundraiser had every micro brewery offering samples for a set admission price. Local bands performed on the main stage. I sketched The City Song Players as they performed “Finger on the Pulse” for the first tin in public. After hearing that song, I decided I had to use it as the soundtrack for a three minute short film I assembled using all the sketches I did of all the vigils and fundraisers after the Pulse tragedy. I’ve been documenting Orlando’s attempts to heal. The arts community has bee instrumental in helping the community heal.

Wendy Wallenberg whisked in behind me as I finished up my sketch. She insisted that I needed to sketch a note event in the more urban and hip area of the Milk District. Her Porsche was parked nearby and she offered to drive me. The drive was only three or four blocks, but it was the scariest drive of my life. Wendy is a frantic speed freak of a driver. It felt like we made the whole trip on two wheels after we careened through the first curve. When skidded to a stop in front of the Space Bar. She told me that I needed to sketch an artist that does paintings with his teeth. I wandered among the tents in the parking lot but didn’t notice anyone painting with their teeth. So I went into the Space Bar and watched Beemo performing. The lead guitarist’s parents were there and the watched as I did the sketch. It was a fun, upbeat performance. Then I walked the few blocks back to Festival Park.

Election Nightmare.

Posted on by Thor

I had amazing luck finding a short term apartment in Thornton Park after a Boston snowbird terminated me lease two months early. The place is vacant because a divorcee got back together with her husband, so she left early. The god of irony keeps poking me in the ribs. My new place is gorgeous and just a short walk to The Abbey (100 S Eola Dr #100, Orlando, FL 32801), where a Democratic Election Party was being held. Red and blue lights illuminated the crowd. I’ve never seen the Abbey so full. A line of TV news cameras at the back of the room caught my eye for the sketch. News anchors would stand in front of the cameras periodically as election result were announced for different states. When Hillary won Vermont , the room erupted. Hillary also won Orange County in Florida, so I felt that perhaps, my vote counted. 

I had spent all day moving heavy boxes to my new place and then, sweaty and tired, I went to stand in the Winter Park voting line. I pulled my artist stool out of my car, figuring I might sit in line, and do a sketch as I waited to vote at around 5:30pm. The poles closed at 7pm so I figured there might be a rush hour after work crowd. The two volunteers laughed at the entrance. ” You don’t need the chair, you can walk right in.” Inside I showed my drivers license, picked up my ballot, and found an empty screened table to do my civic duty. 

Wendy Wallenberg, has been campaigning for Emily Bonilla as the new Orange County Commissioner beating the Incumbent Ted Edwards. Emily launched her campaign after Edwards backed two
mega-developments in her rural east Orange neighborhood. Sometimes democracy it exciting to witness. Maria Bolton-Joubert, a local artist also won for the soil and water of District 1. It felt so good to vote for someone who I know who is a hurricane when it comes to issues she believes in.

The rest of the night didn’t go so good. After speeches from various democratic elected officials, the room became quieter and quieter as each new result came in. I felt dread. I didn’t want to stay to the bitter end. The worst was about to happen, an I could feel it. The next day there were tears as we read the presidential election results over a cup of Starbucks Coffee.

The Last Neanderthal Ball.

Posted on by Thor

I went to the last Neanderthal Ball at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). In preparation for the ball I painted a black bow tie using some of Linda Sarasino‘s acrylic paint with a tiger pattern. I also put on a pair of tiger socks, but I don’t think anyone ever saw those. I entered , I entered the venue early and found a stand up table with a decent view across the room. My table was right next to a hoop suspended from the ceiling. That means I would have a front row seat for the female performer who was suspended and poured drinks. It was difficult to ignore her as I sketched the overall scene.  As cavemen and women entered the venue, I added them to the sketch. 

Running with Scissors performed cover songs on the main stage. Dancing to Eagles songs isn’t easy. But I tried. The MC remembered me from last year and he asked me information about what I do. I gave him my card and gave him my rundown about doing a sketch a day to cover arts and culture in Central Florida. I was amazed when he gave me a major plug from the main stage microphone, inviting everyone to take a look at my sketch in progress. When I was done, I left the sketchbook open on the table. Linda chatted with Wendy Wallenberg, who was wearing giant pink earmuffs as a head dress, and a pink fur vest. For the fashion show, she acted shocked and horrified be all 1 modern lights. It was a nice touch. She won a bottle of champagne for being one of the best dressed cave women. 

One caveman went all out on his fashion accessories. He had a uni-brow and wild woolly hair. He carried a big club, and the clincher was his performance during the fashion show. He kept his knees bent and moved as if on the prowl. He walked right up to the female judges and looked at them quizzically, bending his head to the side like a dog. Then he sniffed the air trying to catch a whiff of their perfume. He got a standing oration. Actually, everyone was already standing, but they did clap for him the loudest. 

Michael McLeod entered the fashion show, but, besides his Armani suit, the only accessory was a zebra bow tie. It did put my blunt hand painted tie to shame. He strutted the dance floor, opening his suit to show off the Armani label. Wendi had a zebra hat for Michael to wear, but it was vetoed. So many tables were reserved, probably for corporate sponsors, but I don’t think those signs had much meaning. After the awards, the evening quickly wound down. Leaving the parking lot, I forgot to turn on my headlights. A caveman blinked his headlights at me from behind as I waited at a red light. I made nothing of it. Then he drove up beside me going north on Orlando Avenue. He honked and pointed at my front bumper. It finally dawned on me what he was trying to communicate. I waved and gave him a thumbs up as I flipped on the lights. He gave me a thumbs up in return and drove off. Cavemen look out for each other.

Loose Lips at lil indies.

Posted on by Thor

I hosted a Drink and Draw at lil indies (1036 N. Mills Ave,, Orlando, Florida 32803). As an added bonus, Tod Caviness was hosting a literary reading event called Loose Lips which began later in the evening. Three landscape architects showed up, along with Colin Boyer. We sat at corner table to get a good view of the room which felt like a grand parent’s basement. The room slowly filled with authors. I sketched Tod at the microphone as he introduced the first author. Karen Price read a fiction pie set in Paris France. It was a story about an artist who had to deal with a flooding of the Seine River. Today, no artist could afford to live right on the Seine. When visiting Paris, I sketched the art studio of one of my favorite artists, Daumier. His studio had a gorgeous view over the Seine.

Just yesterday, I moved into a two bedroom apartment in Thornton Park. My lease had been terminated by a snow bird that returned to Winter Park two months early. With my lease terminated, I had to find an apartment fast. I posted my predicament on Facebook and amazingly a friend offered an apartment that is right downtown and the first evening after the move, I walked to the venue I was going to sketch. I think this is the first time in 22 years where I didn’t have to drive to where I wanted. to sketch. I walked through the beautiful downtown neighborhood full of quaint 1940’s restored bungalows with a friend. It was an ideal evening.

Art Under the Stars.

Posted on by Thor

Art Under the Stars in Maitland surrounds Lake Lily where Maitland Boulevard forks off from Orlando Avenue. Run by the Maitland Rotary Club, the art show runs today from 10am to 4pm. I met a friend and quickly tried to decide where I should sketch. My first thought was the foot bridge that straddles the lake. From there all the tents and stages were visible with the lights reflecting in cascading patterns. An illuminated fountain glowed yellow in the center of the lake. I decided against in view, though, since I felt it was too far from the action.

After crossing the bridge, I simply planted myself on a grassy knoll and started sketching a few tents. A painting of sunflowers byFiona Collins caught my eye. Fiona and her husband moved from Canada to Florida, and this is her first Maitland show. Her work is painted with thick bold brushwork. Besides the large paintings she also had coasters and trivets with her art printed on it. Her husband runs a printing business that specializes in printing art on useful household items.

We ran into Dawn Schreiner and her husband, Eric. Dawn didn’t have a tent in the show, but just came from the VIP party. She does magnificent loosely painted portraits, usually on recycled cereal boxes. We shared our thoughts on the work of Toulouse Lautrec, and the healing process Orlando is still going through since the Pulse shooting.

It was a cold night and I decided to get a hot pretzel. I hugged it to my chest to warm me up before trying the first bite. It had a garlic-parmigiana flavor and was softer than expected but it tasted great.

Linda Saracino introduced me to the sculptural ceramic work of Cheryl Mackey Smith, a former McRae artist now living in Ashville, NC, who really impressed me. She creates small shards that look like fossilized shells or exoskeletons, and mounts them on a white board in shadowbox frames. Other forms fold over on themselves like ocean waves with tiny peas interspersed. Every piece felt like it belonged in a museum.

Ed Myers did the poster for the show this year. All of his paintings have a narrative, often touching on how communication is changing in the future. He works digitally and prints the paintings on large canvas panels, often assembling several panels to form a whole. For example, Thomas Edison had a light bulb where his brain would be; and a painting of a beautiful young woman had typewriter keys arching across her forehead. Some pieces incorporated video, like a portrait with one eye blinking. People are naturally attracted to motion.

Head on over to the festival today, and see all the art in the light of day. It is a show well worth seeing. Live music, art and a festive atmosphere will make for a very pleasant afternoon.

Grimmly Ever After at the Shakespeare Theater.

Posted on by Thor

I went to the final dress rehearsal for Grimmly Ever After at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32803).  Theresa Leigh Smith-Levin, had invited me to sketch. She greeted me warmly when she arrived. There was a hectic energy as the actors got changed on costumes in the green room. On stage, a large swath of fabric was cut in half and then used to cover two music stands at stage left and right. It is from these stands that the brothers Grimm would introduce the various tales. 

The actors rehearseda dance number, before a full run through of the show. The female dancers had to do a move that involved reaching behind their dance partner’s neck and lifting the is right foot elegantly back. The male dancer would the n lift her and spin clockwise making her seem to float and slowly spin. It took quite a few takes to get the more down. Music came for a piano, played live. The piano player would have to be stopped periodically to redo the dancing sequence. This was the first to the choreographer got a good feel for the live music’s timing.

Rumpelstiltskin was a miller who was poor, but who had a
beautiful daughter. Now it happened that he had to go and speak to the
king, and in order to make himself appear important he said to him, “I
have a daughter who can spin straw into gold.” His daughter sang a long song about the impossible task of spinning straw in to gold.  With each tale, the brothers would turn to the audience and offer two possible scenarios that the tale could follow. The voting among the production staff in the audience was done to hilarious effect. 

At one point, a prosthetic amputated arm was thrown on stage, and a princes tried to hide it in her apron pocket. The fingers kept getting caught in the pocket which caused her to struggle which was hilarious, weather it was planned or not. Theresa was laughing in front of me and her laughter was contagious. I had a blast watching the first half of the show. Unfortunately I had to sprint off during the intermission 1 see a McRae Art Studios group show at Maxine’s on Shine (337 Shine Ave, Orlando, FL 32803). I’m glad I went, there were friends, a bit of wine tasting, and plenty of good art. 

Grimmly Ever After runs

November 11 – November 20

Nov 11 at 7:30 PM to Nov 20 at 5 PM

at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center

812 E Rollins St, Orlando, Florida 32803

Tickets are available online.