Wekiva Paintout

Posted on by Thor

On March 5th, I went to the the 7th Annual Wekiva Paintout at Wekiva Landing (1014 Miami Springs Blvd. Longwood, Fl). The  paintout is a week long Plein Air painting event with artists from across the country participating. I’m not really a Plein Air painter, I was just there to draw. I walked the property searching for artists at work. I was tempted by a woman painting next to some bright green canoes but to stay in the shade, I would have to sketch her from a distance.

As artists finish their paintings, they hang them in a tent next to the docks. Larry Moore, one of my favorite local artists had one painting on display. One woman did small paintings of turtles on logs. She must go out in a canoe to get such intimate scenes.  Now that I think about it, turtles must make good models since they seldom move. I however was hunting for the elusive artist which also stays quit still when painting.

At the corner of the parking area where a stream runs into the Wekiva River, Charles Dickson was painting alongside Cynthia Edmonds. They have been painting in the Wekiva Paintout since its inception. They didn’t mind my sitting down to watch them work. Charles was working on a tiny little canvas observing the tree and river. Cynthia’s canvas was a bit larger with vibrant colors. They both lamented the fact that small paintings take just as much time as large paintings.

As the sun slipped towards the horizon, no-see-ums began coming out in small clouds and nipping at my arms. Darn bugs, this is one reason I’m seldom found painting outdoors in Florida. I lost my shade and was blinded by the white sketchbook page. Cynthia saw my situation and offered me her umbrella. We attached it to a green metal hand cart that Charles had used to move his paint supplies. It worked like a charm. It was fun working besides other artists, joking and telling stories. I should look into attending the paintout next year.

Fringe Fundraiser at Hard Rock

Posted on by Thor

The 22nd Annual International Fringe Festival had a huge fundraiser at Hard Rock Live in Universal Studios. Several days prior, I had difficulty getting into the parking garage using my Florida Drivers license. Predicting a similar hassle, I scanned the parking voucher and changed the date to Monday March 4th. I could use the counterfeit voucher if needed to park. Walking from the parking garage, I saw “Dem Guys“, David Horgan, Ed Anthony, and Myron Blattner. “DEM Guys” sponsor a venue each year at Fringe and they always had a friendly competition to see who could see the most shows. Sadly, Myron died of natural causes last weekend at his home in Altamonte Springs. He was 77.

Seth Kubersky was shooting photos on his iPhone for the Orlando Weekly. The fundraiser was a night of Music, Comedy, Dance, and nonstop entertainment from some of Orlando’s top talents.

The evening was hosted by The Man of 10,000 Noises, Michael Winslow. Michael gained fame from his performances in the “Police Academy” movies and other blockbuster films such as “Spaceballs” and “Gremlins”, and has gone on to entertain audiences across the globe for the last 25 years. A master of vocal gymnastics, Michael can imitate over 1000 sound effects using his voice alone.

Featuring Fringe favorites The Mud Flappers and local all-star band The Downgetters.

With additional performances by Yow Dance, Skill Focus Burlesque, Emotions Dance, Circus Arts, ME Dance, Misa Flemenca, Tod Kimbrow and Dorothy Massey, Piranha the Musical, Laney Jones and Matt Tonner and The Downtowners. The Downtowners are a retirement home singing group and as they sang “I want to be Sedated” the song took on a whole new meaning.

The show went on for over three hours. Had I known I might have done another sketch. Towards the end all the performers were on stage singing the Beatles “Let it Be“. The song went on forever. I shouted along, “Let it Be!” meaning “Let the song end already!” The evening raised about $7000 for the Fringe which will officially start on May 15th in Loch Haven Park and Ivanhoe Village.

20th Annual Hearts of Gold

Posted on by Thor

On Friday March 1st, The Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida proudly sponsored the 20th Annual Hearts of Gold concert which featured Southern Rock classic 38 Special at the Hard Rock Live in Universal Orlando.

All ticket sales and silent auction items benefited the Coalition for the Homeless. The elite All-Access VIP Reception in Hard
Rock Live’s Lennon Room included
an exclusive meet n’ greet with the band members of 38 Special, complimentary
beverages and hors d’oeuvres. When I got to the White Lennon Room, the band members hadn’t arrived yet so I sketched out on the balcony. As I was working, one of the volunteers for the event told me that she had bought a record album for the band members to sign. A security guard had confiscated the album from her saying that there were to be no autographs. She met the band members and one of them said he would have gladly signed her album. When I was waiting for the elevator downstairs, the volunteer was desperately trying to get her album back. I don’t know if she ever retrieved it.

The CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless was on stage before the concert thanking the many corporate sponsors who helped make the event possible.  Top sponsors included, Bright House, Disney, Hilton Grand Vacations, Starwood Vacation Ownership, and Dellecker Wilson King McKenna Ruffier & SOS, now that is a mouth full.

The 38 Special concert was great with plenty of hard hitting rock and roll. I didn’t recognize every song from the group, but obviously many hits had been on the radio. An older couple seated next to me were having a great time. The man was bobbing his head and rocking out. This obviously had been one of his favorite bands as a teen. A woman seated 5 seats away won the raffle. They kept calling her number but since she was in the rafters, they didn’t notice her from the stage. Finally when the house light went up they saw her screaming and shouting with her section shouting as well to help her out.

Universal Parking Nazi

Posted on by Thor

On March 1st, the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida hosted a fundraising concert at Hard Rock Live. Hard Rock is located at Universal Studios City Walk complex. After 6PM, the parking garage becomes free for Florida Residents. I left home later than usual to make sure I got to Universal after 6PM.

There was a long line of cars waiting to get past the parking admission booths. When I got up to the booth, the collections agent asked me for my Florida drivers license which I was happy to show him. Now my license isn’t the prettiest thing in the world. It is dog eared at the corners and the renewal stickers that Department of Motor Vehicles keeps sending tended to slip a bit from being in my hot wallet too long. Anyway, I’m holding my license out the window and he barks at me that he needs a FLORIDA License. “It is a Florida license.” I respond. He frowned and took the card from me, then handed it back. “I can’t use that”. He said. After some arguing, he did admit it was a Florida license, but he said “I can’t scan that.” “What? You didn’t even try!” was my response. “It is valid till May of 2013, read the back.” I got five bucks out of my wallet since there seemed to be no way to reason with this Parking Nazi. I held my bill out the window but he took so long with the car on the opposite side of the booth, that I changed my mind. “I’m leaving.” I told him. He slapped a ticket on my windshield under the wiper and pointed me towards the exit. I turned on my wipers to send the ticket flying as I drove away.

After leaving Universal and cooling down, I decided to return to the parking garage but this time I would look for a female parking attendant. I figured a female attendant would be more reasonable than the Parking Nazi. It was quite a drive on side roads and a very crowded International Drive. When I drove up to the female attendant, she gasped when she saw the card, but she did let me into the garage. I probably wasted an hour of drawing time by arguing and driving in circles, but I was in. I stayed off the moving walkways and used the steps rather than the escalators, for the exercise and to warm up. Besides walking is often faster than the moving walkways.

There was a metal detector to get into Hard Rock Live. The security guard said, “You can’t bring that chair inside.” “Your kidding.” I replied, “What am I supposed to do with it?” “You’ll have to bring it back to your car.” If you’ve been to Universal, then you know that the parking garage is a loooong walk. If I had to walk all the way back, I’d probably leave in a huff. This was the last straw. As I was debating what to do, a second guard said, “Let him in.” I set off the metal detector then emptied all the art supplies in my pockets onto a table. Finally I was in.

Betsy Dye who had recently started working for the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida greeted me in the lobby. Her warmth and cheer melted away my frustrations. I went up to the White Lennon Room where people were able to meet the band members of 38 Special. The band members hadn’t arrived yet, so I went out on the balcony and sketched there. It was a cold night, so I drew fast.

Saint Patrick’s Day

Posted on by Thor

Terry and I went to Ollie’s Public House, on the corner of Edgewater and Par, on Saint Patrick’s day. Terry had two free tickets for some reason. The parking lot was packed when we arrived. There were green shirts everywhere. Terry brought a beach chair and I had my artist’s stool. We sat fairly close to the outdoor stage. We both ordered a Shepard’s pie which was good and quite filling. Neither of us drank any beer, but there was plenty of Guinness all around.

The first band on stage was “Off Kilter“. They performed Irish traditional songs like, Danny Boy and then went into rock and roll cover songs. We bumped into Kathryne Sullivan, Mike Underwood and their friends Joe Busdecker and his wife Leann Siefferman Busdecker. I spoke with Katheryn a bit but it was impossible to hear over the bagpipes. Women started dancing in front of the stage.

After Off Kilter, the Orlando Fire Department Bag Pipes and Drums Band gathered in front of the stage. There were maybe a dozen bag pipe players and just as many drum players. The crowd gathered around them. The loud shrill sound was quintessentially Irish. The crowd clapped to the beat as the firemen picked up the pace. They played “Amazing Grace” and then doubled the beat. The book light I was using to see my sketch died, so I decided the sketch was done.

It was a fun night. Some people staggered and fell while dancing. One woman had to be helped into the passenger seat of her car by a security guard. T-Shirts read, Kiss Me, Pinch me and I’ll punch you. There was a long break after the Firemen so Terry and I headed home. Just as we drove off, the bag pipes started up again.

Soft Exposure

Posted on by Thor

On February 27th, I went to Soft Exposure at Infusion Tea (1600 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, Florida).

Naomi Butterfield and Frankie Messina  hosted this monthly event that features the writing of local and visiting authors. Soft Exposure happens every 4th Wednesday. I ordered a delicious vanilla tea and a humus wrap and found a spot with a decent view of the podium. Terry arrives just before things got started, but she wasn’t feeling well so she relaxed on a sofa at the back of the room. Author Karen Price joined me at my table.

Janna Benge was the featured author. She and her husband Geoff run a monthly Silver Fern Writing Workshop out of their winter Park home. The couple hails from New Zealand. They became accidental authors and accidental immigrants to the United States. Janna has ghost written about 100 books; she and Geoff co-wrote two historical biography series which has 61 title, and three million copies in about 15 languages. She is now working on a fictionalized memoir of a Victorian murderess. She read an excerpt from that book. Written in the first person, the woman agonized over her need to confess what she had done. The murderess was based on true events that Janna researched and then fictionalized.

After Janna read, the mic was open for any author to share their work. There is something very rewarding going out and hearing fiction and poetry from local authors. Soft Exposure is Orlando’s kinder, gentler spoken word night. Much of that comes from Naomi’s quiet inspiring words and Frankie’s bear hug of artistic inclusiveness.

Emotions Dance Audition

Posted on by Thor

On February 26th, Larissa Humiston, the Artistic Director of Emotions Dance, held an open audition for dancers at Turning Pointe Dance Studio (470 E Lake Brantley Dr. Longwood, FL).

Emotions Dance was seeking professional level dancers (age 18 and over) to audition for their 2013 season. the dance company requires strong technical dancers willing to take artistic risks.

The audition began with all the dancers at the ballet barre.  Emotions Dance cast participated in all the exercises along with the ten or so dancers who were auditioning. Several male dancers were auditioning as well. Larissa stood at the front of the room demonstrating the exercises she wanted everyone to do. The ballet barres were moved aside and then small groups of dancers did progressions across the floor with turns and jumps, a contemporary dance combination, and improvisational movement inspired by “Apologies” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. One of the male dancers asked what the song was about. Larissa explained that the female singer was apologizing for a messy break up. The dancer wanted to know if he should be expressing the emotions of the female singer or the guy she was breaking up with. The hurt and fear is universal.

Dancers came prepared with a professional resume and head shot. There was a $10 audition fee to cover insurance and processing fees. One dancer had not renewed her contract which meant another dancer had to learn her routine in a mad rush before a performance a week away. Emotions Dance had three spots open for females, three spots open for males, and one apprentice (between ages 12-18) spot available. I was still working on my sketch as the cast and Larissa discussed the performances by the dancers that auditioned. The bar is set high and not every dancer has that expressive spark that is hard to define but is instantly recognized when the magic is there.

Upcoming Emotions Dance performances include…

April 6, 2013 – HATCH Series in NYC

May 7, 2013 – Relay for Life Event

May 15-28, 2013 – Orlando Fringe

June 1 & 8, 2013 – Element Earth

Children of a Lesser God

Posted on by Thor

The Garden Theatre announces Beth Marshall Presents’ production of the powerful drama, Children of a Lesser God by Mark Medoff sponsored by Progress Energy, March 15-30, 2013, at the Garden Theatre (160 West Plant Street, Winter Garden). On Friday, March 22nd at 8pm, there will be a fully interpreted American Sign Language performance in partnership with the Center for Independent Living.

Winner of the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award, Children of a Lesser God is the powerful drama by Mark Medoff.  The show is being directed by Brenna Nicely and Beth Marshall, sign language direction was by Joe Kramlinger. This is the first time Beth has directed a show at the Garden Theatre although this is the eighth show produced by her here.

I went to the Garden Theatre to sketch the dress rehearsal. The front door to the theatre was locked so I walked around the building clockwise to try and find an open door. I climbed two flights of a stairwell before realizing it wouldn’t lead to the theater. The stage door was in the back and thankfully it was open. I stepped right into the actors green room. There was one door leading to the stage. The black curtains disoriented me. I stepped out and saw Will Hagaman who plays James Leeds, as he instructed Mike Deaven as Orin Dennis on how to speak. I realized that I was on stage and quickly stepped back behind the black curtain. I scooted along the wing to the front of the stage but I couldn’t go down the steps into the theater without stepping on stage again. I waited till the scene being rehearsed was finished. Beth shouted out, “Come out of there Thomas.”

As I found a seat, I saw the James Leeds on stage embracing Sarah Norman played by Eliza Steves. They signed to each other intimately. Beth warned me that a sign language interpreter would be standing right in front of where I sat. In the show, James is an instructor at an institute for the deaf. Sarah has never spoken. She refuses to try and do something if she can’t do it well. She signs faster than an interpreter can speak. James falls in love with her and they get married.

 Sarah Norman is performed by Eliza Steven

Every married couple has their differences, communication is the anchor to any relationship but a common ground is hard to find between silence and sound. I found myself rooting for the couple hoping they could mend their differences. Their love story revolves around the politics within the deaf community
about bridging the gap between the hearing and deaf worlds. The show packs an emotional one two punch that overwhelms to the point of tears. It glows with radiance of hope and abandon and then the depths of despair. As Sarah stood and signed without an interpreter, I felt the undeniable urge to understand. The set was minimal with no props. All the attention is spent on the spark between James and Sarah.

Besides myself there was only a row of acting students from a States Acting Competition. We all stood and applauded. This show leaves you thinking long after you leave the theatre. Will Hagaman did an amazing job as James. He not  only had to learn his lines, he had to learn sign language. Eliza Stevens did an astonishing job expressing her emotions without a word. More importantly the couple had a spark that ignited the emotional engine of the show.

Show times are Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2PM and 8PM,  Sundays at 2PM and Thursday March 28th at 8PM. Tickets are $25 for adults and $21 for seniors and students. The show runs through March 30th.Saturdays
at 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm, plus Thursday, March 28 at 8pm.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $21 for seniors/students. For tickets, visit gardentheatre.org or call the Garden Theatre Box Office at 407-877-GRDN (4736).

Drip Comic Art Party

Posted on by Thor

Mega Con is at the Orange County Convention Center this week and Drip is throwing a huge party every night of the week. On Wednesday March 13th, Drip (8747 International Dr. Suite 102, Behind Denny’s and Senor Frogs) had a Comic Art Party. I decided to participate by doing life sized chalk drawings of anyone in a comic themed costume on the black walls of the bar. Through March 16th, Drip is performing special Comics and Sci-Fi Shows at 8PM and 11PM each night. Tickets are $35 for the show or $43 for the show and a white Drip T-shirt. You will want the shirt because you will get wet.

Artists were invited to show any work they might have that had a comic, sci-fi or Japanese Anime theme. All mediums were encouraged. The only sketches that I could find I had done at Mega Con a few years ago. I framed them and brought them along. When I arrived, attendance was pretty thin. I asked for some chalk and waited for my first model. The dancer who performs as red, Brigetta Frias, was my first model. We both stood on a table and I sketched her life sized on the black wall. When we hopped down to see what the sketch looked like I was surprised to see how large I drew her head. That was because we were so close as I sketched her. Next, blue, Meagan Nagy, posed and my skill at drawing so large improved. All the Drip dancers wore capes. Yellow, Jessie Sander, was running around all night just to get the cape to flap in her wake.

When I sketched Tracy Lulu Brown everything clicked into place. Tracy’s goth fetish outfit with a plaid skirt and fishnet stockings seemed natural rather than a costume. It wasn’t until I was sketching, that I noticed she had horns. I exaggerated forms and the chalk lines flowed with a gestural ease. I think the fact that she was an artist put my mind at rest. A fire alarm had to be incorporated. Tracy is now working for Drip making sure every performance flows without interruption. Every action is set to a musical beat. I met Tracy’s husband AJ who had a black mask painted on his face and black dog ears.

Shane Malesky and his wife Heather were there showcasing his Chronic Damage Art.  Chris Tobar had a series of his gas mask paintings across the room from me. One artist that I didn’t get a chance to meet was doing little four inch square paintings of cupcakes on canvas. A make shift screen was set up where people could play a Super Mario Brothers road race game. Balloon artist Bruce Carr  had eight balloon arms that sprouted from his back. His entire head was enclosed in a white balloon helmet. He posed for me and his arms snaked all over the wall. He spent well over an hour creating a balloon mask inspired by one of Shane’s paintings. It was an impressive reproduction of a red face screaming. When Bruce took off his balloon helmet he broke his glasses and I believe he had to be driven home since he wouldn’t be able to drive.

I met Lynann Barr who is a beauty and special effects makeup artist. She had worked at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights where she had to crank out hundreds of face makeups a night. This was her first time doing body painting but when the evening was over she realized it had been a walk in the park. It was a first for me as well to do life sized drawings, but it was a blast. Although attendance was light, I was busy all night adding giant figures to the wall. There wasn’t an artist on hand to sketch my performance. Drip is bringing Sexy back to International Drive.

La Femme Fondue

Posted on by Thor

Christie and Evan Miga needed time off after the mad rush to bring Dog Powered Robot to Fringe last year. They had four months of extensive rehearsals and a whole cast of cardboard robots that were built. They were constantly managing people. After the show they decided to live in Paris for two months. Fisher Miga, the dog behind Dog Powered Robot went with them. Christie said that within four days they had settled into the Parisian lifestyle. Three days a week Evan freelanced for the design firm he was working for in Orlando. Though he was living in Paris, he worked Orlando hours, sharing his work via the Internet. That left the rest of the week open for the couple to explore Paris. They discovered quirky arts outlets that few tourists visit. Christie loved a tiny Museum of Magic that had rooms filled with mechanized tin toys. Right next to the Eiffel tower was a sumptuous garden that only Parisians frequent.

 When Christie Miga returned to Orlando she started a series of paintings inspired by the trip to Paris. Though abstract, the work is autobiographical as she explains with pure color how Paris inspired her. This series explodes with rich vibrant color. The blue is the exact color of the Mediterranean and the bright magenta reminds her of tight bright magenta pants that many women were wearing in Paris. Provence inspired her use of bright yellow and orange. She mixes her own water based paints and she has some idea how the paints will interact when they are poured on the canvas side by side. The word fondue is the feminine of the French verb fondre (‘to melt’). The colors seem to melt an flow together on the canvas. The paintings are abstract yet they feel like violent storm clouds on a distant planet or the delicate vibrant colors of a butterfly wing. The black dripping motif is used often and it reminded me of a piano keyboard as I tried to sketch it. Ironically, earlier that day, I had been writing about color for a Book on Urban Sketching. Christie’s bold use of fluid primary colors offered amazing insights about how colors interact. She worked to modern pop French music.

Many of the pieces have bold urban graphic elements that look like graffiti stencils. For instance one canvas has a bold image of the Eiffel Tower that then melts into vibrant dripping colors. Subtle blue lettering in French says, “This is not the Eiffel tower.” A bright splotch of moon then drips as well. Once Christie starts one of these liquid abstracts, she has to finish it while the paint remains wet. Amazingly she finished her canvas in the same amount of time it took me to do the sketch.

La Femme Fondue is being shown at the Timucua White House, (2000 South Summerlin Avenue, Orlando FL), on March 22nd starting at 7:30PM. This reception is one night only. The artwork and prints will be for sale.The White House is a fantastic venue to see Christie’s work since the spotlight literally make her canvases glow.