When I first entered the Scottish Games, I was immediately greeted with the sounds of this bagpipe and drum corps band. The leader with the baton, would stand perfectly still until the song was about to end, then he would raise the baton over his head and wave it gently for a few beats before slamming it to the ground ending the performance. I knew my time was limited, so I started sketching immediately. The group performed about 3 songs before they wrapped things up and disbanded. I was far from finished so I entered the park area following my ears, and headed straight to the Piping Station. Here bag pipers were all standing around rehearsing. I used these individuals to add details to my sketch which had already been blocked in from the first groups performance. As I sketched, a bagpiper approached ma and asked “Excuse me sir, you’re not a Steward Check are you?” I of course replied “No” since I didn’t know what a Steward Check was. Looking around I finally realized that there were Stewards seated in small tented areas who were judging individual bagpiper’s performances. The performer would play his pipes marching back and forth in front of the Steward. The pipers who were waiting would talk nervously to each other anticipating their turn. I added the background from the bagpipe station rather then the parking lot where I first saw this group. There were hundreds of bagpipers at the Highland Games. You could here them from where ever you were all day long.
Newcomers Meet the Arts at the Shakespeare Theater
This informational meeting to introduce people to the arts was held at 8Am at the Shakespeare Theater so people could stop in and then head off to work. John Thiesen the campaign manager introduced the event and explained that representatives from six Arts organizations would talk about what they offer the artistic community. First Sharon Lasic of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater gave a brief history of the building in which we were meeting. The building was for many years the Science Center and History Center of Orlando. After the New Science Center was built, the building was almost torn down to make room for more green area in Lock haven Park. A petition was passed around and the building saved. The Shakespeare Theater started in 1989 at the Lake Eola Bandshell and performances happened outdoors for many years.
Corry Warren from United Arts talked about Arts Fest which will be happening next month. This ten day festival is going on from February fifth to the fourteenth. It is a way to experience theater for FREE although some events have limited seating. Tickets will be available in advance starting at 10 AM on Tuesday February second. Be sure to check the Arts Fest Schedule and get a jump on this amazing opportunity! My calendar is already stuffed full of all the places I plan to go sketch.
Henry Maldinado talked about the offerings at the Enzian Movie Theater. The Enzian is unique in the country in that it is a fantastic place to have dinner and a movie. The Enzian is home to the internationally acclaimed Florida Film Festival as well. I also found out that the Enzina is showing old classic movie on the big screen. This is the one place where you could see Casablanca with Humphry Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. When you experience a movie like that on the big screen you realize why it is a classic.
Suzan Bright talked about the Orlando Philharmonic and how they are helping keep Opera alive by offering limited staged operas with the Philharmonic no longer in the pit, but up on the stage right behind the singers. This new Opera series will include Carmen, and Porgy and Bess. Carmen will be performed February 26th at 8PM and February 28th at 2PM. Porgy and Bess will be performed on April 9th at 8PM and April 11th at 2PM. As usual I dream of sketching these shows from the wings. Get tickets early.
Scott Evans talked about the importance of keeping Arts Education alive and well in the Orlando School System. In a study, the students that took arts classes achieved higher grades than students who didn’t take arts classes. Autumn Schafer spoke about the Red Chair Project which offers ways to save on tickets year round. Red Chair offers such amazing deal as two for one tickets and a $99 Arts Sampler which offers a ticket to each of the following, Orlando Ballet, a Broadway Musical, The Orlando Museum of Art, the Philharmonic, Shakespeare Theater, and the Orlando Rep. With so much going on, I can’t understand why anyone would want to be a couch potato at home.
After each person spoke an item was raffled off and I won a United Arts Card which offers discounts to arts events all over town. Whooo Hoo! Look like I will be covering alot more arts events in 2010!
Drip Fundraiser at Blank Space
The Drip Dance Company held a fundraiser at Blank Space Gallery 201 East Central Boulevard across from the Public Library. This sketch shows Christie Miga at the Canvas dip station. She created this colorful canvas in minutes by pouring the paint onto its surface then letting it flow diagonally with gravity doing the work. The colors would blend and flow together in unexpected ways. Small canvases are stacked in the corner. For a small fee a guest could take a canvas and dip it on the pool of paints left on the plastic drop after Christie finished the big canvas. In the background in the corner of the room was something called a Sake Luge. This device had a guitar amplifier hooked up so that when sake was poured into the top it would flow down a series of slides and make a haunting ethereal sound on its route. The works of MC Esher were being projected on a screen. Steve acted as the DJ for the night. He stood behind his laptop computer the whole time mixing songs. Sam and Tin Tin, two drippies, were covered head to toe with monetary contribution amounts. Their bodies were divided up like those cattle meat charts you see describing cuts of beef. For $20 you could paint Tin Tin’s butt cheek red or for $15 you might paint Sam’s left breast.
There was a station set up to paint Christmas ornaments by dipping them is paint cans, or dripping the paint on using a brush or stirring stick. A young dancer would perform from a hoop that had been crudely hung from an exposed ceiling beam. The hoop dancers little sister was watching and tried to imitate her sisters performance before the crowds arrived.
I was sitting next to a ping pong table while I did the first sketch and it became difficult to draw as a game began and the guy on my end of the table took the game very seriously. He was slamming the ball as hard as he could and I was bumped more than a few times, but I persisted until the sketch was complete.
The walls were covered by the works of an artist who now had a line of Swatch watches based on his bold primitive work. The paintings remind me a bit of Keith Haring’s subway chalk graffiti work from the 80’s in NYC. AS I got ready to leave, I passed a group of girls on the sidewalk as they painted Sam’s bicep. They were having a grand old time.
The Drip Dance group is now rehearsing for a new Valentines show called FRESH which will premiere on February 13th and 14th at City Arts Factory. Mark your calenders for what should be an amazing event!
The Orlando Science Center
I was at the Orlando Science Center for Otronicon. Otronicon, is a video game enthusiasts dream come true, was spread out throughout the museum including the dinosaur room. As soon as I entered I knew I has to draw the Tyrannosaurus Rex. He looked angry, like he wanted to devour every video game geek in the room. To the left in the sketch children work in a sand box where they can uncover fossils. Clustered under the fossilized fish a crowd had gathered to watch a large screen TV which was blasting a guitar hero performance. There was a constant stream of people coming and going.
As I was working, a little girl approached me and was transfixed by what I was doing. She left and came back several times and finally asked if she could take a picture of my drawing to show her mom. I said it was fine. Then she took several steps back and took a picture of me as I worked. I like the fact that she is taking time to document the moments of her museum experience. I hope she continues to be fascinated by the infinite universe and ever changing world around her.
Otronicon
My Full Sail job had me working at Otronicon, helping Sam Ewing as he taught a classroom full of students the basics of Animation. The students, both young and old, paid very close attention to what Sam had to offer, and got to work developing a 24 page flip book.
The Orlando Science Center was packed. I have never seen the place so crowded. After the class was over, I wandered around watching all the kids and adults playing video games. I stopped at this area where everyone was playing the same game. They were all involved in a game called VBS2 which is a military training simulator. The military bought a commercial video game called Armor 2 and converted it into the high tech simulator seen here. All the players were working together as teams in the game. One boy shouted out, “Ha, I killed you. That was me, I killed you.” Most of the time however they stared at the screens intently focusing on the flaming oil fields and enemy tanks. Some players were situated inside virtual tanks, while others were field infantry. The creepy guy with the gas mask wandered over to mess with the kids by reaching in while they weren’t looking and pressing arbitrary keys on the keyboard.
In another area, military men wearing field fatigues were showing kids how to fire of an authentic looking M16 which would blast out a laser beam at the target. Joking around with Evan Miga later that day, he said that the military is selling military service to kids with ads that make it look like every day is a game, where they get to enjoy using high tech graphics in the field. Evan joked that if kids join today they would get an extra life. Otronicon is now over so you will have to wait till next year if you are in the mood to kill.
Stable Party
Terry takes horse riding lessons at Morton Equestrian Center in Ocoee. For the holidays the barn hosted an outdoor barbecue. Guests each bought a side dish or deserts. This was a real home grown Florida party complete with cowboys and plenty of talented horse riders. The whole event took place in the middle of a riding ring. The horse jumps were still in place and people gathered around the roaring fire to keep warm since the night was rather cold for Florida.
Before I ate, I sat in the bleachers which are set up for people to watch the horses. Terry was still getting over a rather bad fall off of a horse and her instructor Emily offered her encouragement. The saying, “get right back on the horse”, has a new meaning once you have been thrown 6 feet. Terry’s had a huge 3 foot long black and blue mark all the way up the back of her leg.
There were beers in a cooler but I stuck with caffeine as I rushed to finish the sketch. The night was crisp and cold and the laughter and conversations continued for many hours. Once I finished I went and picked up some pulled pork on a bun and plenty of cookies. Terry was talking to a man who had owned horses for years and she was trying to find out how much land cost outside Orlando since she now dreams of a simple life in the country.
Scottish Highland Games
If you have never been to the Scottish Highland Games, you really should go. They take place at Central Winds Park at (1000 East SR 434 in Winter Springs). The event’ is still going on today (Sunday, January 17) from 9AM to 4:30PM with a concert following at 6PM. I had an absolute blast sketching the events all day long on the first day of the festivities. This sketch is of the Kingdom of York which is an encampment which demonstrates the art of blacksmithing. It threatened to rain several times but the weather held. The Kingdom of York lists their core values as: Fairness, Integrity, Loyalty, and Respect. One of the blacksmiths, when he saw the sketch, was very pleased that I had trimmed at least ten pounds off of his figure. I discovered the artisan working the bellows is named Jack and I had sketched him and his wife Christina before. They were the couple I chose to sketch who were helping paint over hate at the Center on Mills Avenue.
In the background of this sketch you can see the sheaf toss in progress. I never got close enough to see the competitors up close but now I realize that they use a pitchfork to hurl the bales over the pole. The bar is slowly raised after each round and it becomes increasingly difficult to get the sheep over the pole. The crowd would scream with delight whenever the sheaf went over.
Fairwinds Broadway Across America – Orlando 2010-2011 Season Announcement
I was invited to attend the Broadway Across America unveiling of the upcoming shows in 2010 and 2011. This is the line up:
Phantom of the Opera: January 20 – February 14, 2010
In the Heights: March 9-14, 2010
Xanadu: April 27 – May 2, 2010
Spring Awakening: May 18-23, 2010
Young Frankenstein: November 30 – December 5, 2010
Rock of Ages: January 11-16, 2011
West Side Story: February 1-6, 2011
Wicked: February 23 – March 27, 2011
Shrek The Musical: May 17-22, 2011
Hair: June 21-26, 2011
The festivities were held at the Fairwinds Corporate Tower (135 West Central Boulevard). I decided to dress up a bit for the event, so I wore a suit and nice slacks. To get in, I was told I would have to get an wristband. Jeremy Seghers was handling the bands, so I felt at ease knowing I was among friends. Inside the bank there was no noticeable decorations except for the fact that a bar had been set up. I immediately walked towards this group of men pictured in the sketch; an a capella singing group called 4:2:Five. They were singing, “They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway. They say there’s always magic in the air. But when you,re walking down that street, and you ain’t had enough to eat, the glitter rubs right off and your nowhere…” I loved singing this song when I lived in Manhattan. The lyrics take on a magnified meaning once you have had to struggle to make ends meet in the Big Apple as an artist. I sang along happily sketching the performers. Amanda Norvell, who arranged for me to sketch, said hello and Terry Olson walked up to me and said, “I am sorry, we do not allow sketching in here”. He was kidding, and we both laughed. I seem to bump into him everywhere I go these days.
When it came time to add some color to the sketch, I realized that I had left my brushes at home. I had changed my pants, and the brushes were in my pants at home. I was frustrated, but had to finish the sketch regardless. I ended up finding a reject brush that functions more like a sponge than a brush. It sucks the color into the handle and then refuses to put down a decent wash. Well, regardless of the struggles, I managed to get something done.
After this group left the floor, the Mayor gave a quick speech. He joked around that he had been given a key to the banks’ safe last time he was here, but he hadn’t managed to get to the money yet. Singers then performed solos from the upcoming season shows.
Of the shows coming to Orlando this year, I am looking forward to sketching “Phantom” and “In the Heights” the most. When I lived in New York City, I lived in Washington Heights, so sketching “In the Heights” should feel like going home again. I hope to start sketching the load-ins for each of the shows when they get to town, as well as sketching from the wings. I also hope to start sketching the Broadway series cast parties and events. 2010 should be an exciting year, as I discover Broadway in Orlando through my sketches.
Crisis Nursery
Amanda Chadwick is celebrating her birthday with a week long series of events she has planned. This is the greatest idea I have heard in a while. Why only celebrate on one day of the year? The first party was at the Children’s Home Society, Crisis Nursery where Amanda is an events coordinator. I was the first to arrive and gradually 6 or 7 of her friends trickled in. Most of her friends are comedians so I knew there would be plenty of laughter. Before we were let in to play Amanda explained a little about the Nursery’s function.
The home is a place of refuge for children who been abused or neglected. Sometimes new born infants come straight from the hospital. It is hoped that all the children will find foster parents in a loving and stable home. Some children who have developed behavioral issues, end up returning to the Crisis Nursery. Amanda said that most visits are rather structured but this time she wanted to have a free and open play period. When we first entered everyone sat on the couch in the living room area. Within minutes children were hugging and playing with the newcomers. I thought I would sit down on my portable stool and start sketching, but the children were soon standing in front and beside me asking what I was doing. They immediately wanted to sketch themselves and I gave each a pencil. I had another pad for them to sketch in. One boy asked me to draw him. He then took the sketch and went over to a corner table to work on it. He worked for the longest time hunched over and focused. Amanda came over and told me I had inspired him.
I drew a little girl and then she asked me to draw her dress so I sketched her from head to toe. She was thrilled and took the sketch to hang in her room. The electronic piano was bought in by Elizabeth Drake Forbes. The children crowded around it, discovering new sounds and beats. This moment gave me a center of interest and finally gave me time to sketch. Most children were still running around with balls flying and bouncing off of heads and ceiling fans. Amanda bought cupcakes and everyone sat around the table to eat them. Then the children went outside to play and burn off the sugar. I stayed and finished up this sketch. One little girl loved the piano so much she returned to it when everyone else had lost interest. She began to develop a beat and sound that finally resembled music.
One little girl was sad and crying. Mary Hill saw the girl crying and she sat down on the floor near her. Mary said, “I hear you, you are sad. I hear you.” The little girl didn’t quite know how to process this but as Mary continued to talk soothingly to the little girl, she slowly inched towards Mary until she was sitting on her lap. When it was time to leave there were many hugs. This was the best birthday party ever!
Radio Rickshaw
I got a tip from Brian Feldman that local podcast Radio Rickshaw was about to broadcast its 100th episode. At the last minute Brian contacted Dan Ginader, one of the show hosts, and found out where the program is broadcast from. With the address in hand thanks to a barrage of text messages, I drove towards the Milk District where the broadcast studio is located. I was surprised to find myself in a suburban neighborhood as I approached the address. House numbers were impossible to see so I parked and walked the last few blocks. Don Fowler and John Valines, the other two hosts of the radio show, were seated on the front porch of the small suburban home smoking. They were surprised to see me and we introduced ourselves. When they finished their smokes we went inside. The broadcast studio takes up a small area of the living room. A banner with Radio Rickshaw printed on it sort of divides up the living space from the working sound studio. Two dog cages were stored in a corner of the room. Space was cramped, so I ended up standing to do my sketch in the entry way to the sound studio.
The broadcast was irreverent and fun. I learned a few things about the cultural scene in Orlando, so I suspect I will be tuning in more often. Don explained that he had just had an argument with his girlfriend and he suspected she might have broken up with him via Facebook. An argument ensued as to whether it was worse to be dumped via Twitter, text message or Facebook. It turned out that I was the first studio audience in the show’s 100 episode history. John seemed to feel that I disliked him, since I had drawn his girlfriend at Beth Marshall’s Halloween party and I left the spot where he had been seated empty. Dan pointed out that he had gone to Brian Feldman’s ChanuIKEA event and even sat down right in front of me thinking he would end up in the sketch. I ended up drawing only an empty chair and the plate and utensils he had used to eat dinner that night.
This sketch, however, proves that I love these guys and I am more than happy to draw them. At the end of the program, I was quickly interviewed about my blog. In my quest to answer all of Dan’s questions, I forgot to plug my 2009 Sketchbook Retrospective now on display at Dandelion Communitea Cafe through the end of January. D’oh! Should the Radio Rickshaw boys decide to plug my show on episode 101, they might find themselves looking a little less transparent in my sketch.
Postscript: The Radio Rickshaw boys did, in fact plug my show in the 101st episode of their show. So, as promised, here is the sketch in it’s original state. Brian Feldman tried to stir the pot, by saying their plug was insincere and rushed, but it was good enough for me. Here is to 99 more episodes!