Lorri Ethridge is an artist who came to my Sketch Crawl around Lake Eola back in July. At 7 AM that morning as I sketched the sun rising near the Japanese pavilion, I could see her sitting on the dock in front of the Pavilion looking out over the lake and sketching the skyline. We talked briefly at the second stop on the Crawl which was at Panera Bread.
Several months later she sent me a message asking me if I knew Karie Brown who makes hand crafted handbags. I was thrilled to be able to bring them together. Lorri organized an event in Winter Springs called Handmade Holiday. She asked if I could stop out and document the occasion. Tables were set up in Huey Magoo’s in Winter Springs Town Center. Huey Magoo’s gave a portion of all food sales to Christmas Dreams for Children, a foundation in Christmas Florida.
The event was held inside since it was one of the first cold nights in Orlando this year. I stood and leaned back to one of the restaurant booths. The table right in front of me offered hand made teddy bears, woman’s purses and small wooden Japanese dolls. A UCF sports jersey was framed on the wall as “Art”. People who came to the event lingered perhaps not wanting to go back out in the cold or just happy to spend some time to talk to neighbors.
Get Your Paint On
On Sunday November 15th The Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Community Center on Mills Avenue and some local businesses were vandalized with anti gay messages, slurs and swastikas. Signs of this mindless hate crime were quickly removed but the damage to the community lingered. An inspired proactive event was planned to paint a rainbow mural on the side of the Center. People who showed up to this fund raising event could paint a section of the mural with a $5 donation. Funds raised went to the Centers “Secure, Restore and Continue Challenge”. The plan was to eclipse the hate with a message of understanding, acceptance and diversity. “We are not letting the vandals win by living in fear,” said Micheal Vance, Executive Director of The Center. “Instead people are becoming active in our community, in our fight for rights, and in our local organizations to ensure that the public continues to be educated that hate and discrimination hurts everyone.“
When I arrived Dewey Chaffee and Douglas McGeouch were shooting video. We said our hellos and I got a warm hug. Also on hand were the Orlando Sisters who helped by holding signs out by the roadway and organizing the event in general. A family with their children arrived as I was sketching to work on the mural. The youngest boy maybe 10 years old, asked if the people doing the mural were Christians. The mother explained that they came from all walks of life. She then told him that some nasty people had painted bad things on the wall and that everyone was coming together to make a positive difference. The little boy had to stand on his tip toes to paint his section of the mural. Much later a young woman standing on a ladder said “We should also donate to the Adult Literacy League should this happen again.” She was referring to the fact that some of the damaging messages looked to have been written by a grade school drop out. It is hoped that the Orlando community will remember the good work done on this vibrant and fun day rather than the hateful crime of last month.
Help Portrait
On December 12th, over 7000 photographers in 608 locations in 58 countries collaborated with a common cause. They used their time, talent and equipment to give back to the community by giving free portraits to those in need. The organization that made this all possible is called Help Portrait. Help Portrait was founded several months ago by Jeremy Coward and the idea spread like wildfire thanks to youtube.
In Orlando about 40 photographers went to the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida to help out. The Coalition for the Homeless is more than a shelter; it is a comprehensive program designed to empower homeless men, women and children to become self-sufficient. In addition to food and shelter, the Coalition provides programs and services including education, job skills training, case management, licensed day care, child development programs and housing placement.
When I arrived at the Coalition with Tisse Mallon, we were given a quick tour of the facility by Michael Hajek and shown all the rooms that had been set up with lighting and backdrops. The rooms were small and filled with photography equipment making things cramped. Tisse set up a spot to shoot portraits outside using a large bush as a backdrop and started to work with two other photographers. My original plan was to shadow Tisse throughout the day but the thought of sketching thousands of leaves outside was to daunting. I decided to sit in this tight little room and started to sketch one of the two makeup artists. I didn’t sketch the photo shoots themselves since each shoot was over after just 15 shots and that is to a hectic pace for a sketch.
There were several news crews shooting video right from the start. They interviewed one mother who was having a family portrait taken for the first time ever. She cried as she thanked the Coalition, God and all the people who had come out to make this photo shoot possible.
In one day the Orlando photographers shot over 350 portraits. For me it was rewarding to watch the woman’s reactions when the makeup artists showed them how they looked. Amy Tacner who is the makeup artist in the first sketch, said that the makeup for a fashion photo shoot could take up to two hours. Here she listened to what each person needed and worked with them, sometimes just removing some of the shine from their skin and always spending the time to make the person feel and look special. She had an amazing rapport with each person she worked with. Everyone is unique, and beautiful, and on this day everyone was reminded of that. As photos were taken the room was filled with laughter as the photographers and their subjects worked together, joking, connecting and sharing. With so many photographers on hand they started to take pictures of each other as the flood of clients slowed. I believe the gifts given this day go far beyond the images captured. What was freely given was respect, human dignity and love. Some gifts as simple as they are to give, are priceless. On this day men and women helped change the world one portrait at a time.
Wheels for Kids
Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan organized this Holiday giveaway called Wheels for Kids. I found out about the event because Terry is a volunteer for the police Department’s mounted unit and she was asked to help out by being a pooper scooper for the police horses. Terry and I walked the distance from the horses stables to the address on Robinson street, following the horses the whole way. The horses were on hand to look like reindeer in front of the fire engine as it pulled up. The mounted officers all wore Santa hats. As the ladder truck pulled up a black Santa waved to the crowd from the ladders bucket.
An excited group of children stood in front of the middle school where the event happened. Two trucks pulled up and quickly about 95 bikes were taken out and lined up curb side. TV reporters were on hand interviewing the children. All the bikes were for children of the Orlando Housing Authorities Reeves Terrace. Each child was also fitted for a free helmet. Kids looked serious and somber as they were fitted. A police officer helped a young girl balance as she tried her bike for the first time. This is what the holidays are all about.
Christmas Tree Tent
While driving across town I stopped at Barney’s Christmas trees sales tent at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on Colonial Avenue. Trees start at $35. It was rather cold so I sat in the sun. I like the way the natural conifers blend it with the cut trees on display around and in the tent. I was almost tempted to get one but putting up a tree and then taking it right down again the next week seems like such a waste. I only saw one family buying a tree and there were plenty of trees inside so it looked tome like sales might be down. There was a large dumpster behind this tent piled high with tree branches, maybe I could do something with those? Pine needles to make a fairly good mulch. For all the Christmas themed events I have been sketching, I just haven’t been feeling in the holiday spirit. Running around town every day to do a sketch is starting to feel like work. I find the commercialization of the Holiday uninspiring.
I have heard of random acts of kindness that have bought people together. For instance some of the cast of The Singing Christmas Trees will be Caroling for Margaret, a friends mother, who is at home in Hospice care. Margaret and her daughter, Mary, used to go to The Singing Christmas Trees every year. Of course this year they were unable to go. Simple acts like this are what Christmas is all about.
Aloha Holidays
The Maitland Art Center hosted an event called Aloha Holidays. The street in front of the arts center was blocked off making way for an assortment of crafts tents and food vendors. I wandered the tents looking at all the tropical delights. My attention was immediately drawn to the music act and a fellow who had to be the real Santa Claus. His beard was real and his Hawaiian print shirt and shorts fit in nicely with the tropical theme. Periodically children of young families would pose with him.
Aloha Productions was the name of the music group and they played non stop. At one point two chairs were placed in front of the musicians and two Polynesians demonstrated how to weave a basket from palm fronds. There was a lively Hula dance demonstration as well. A Polynesian rendition of Over the Rainbow was one of the more memorable numbers. The song is very relaxing and for a moment the rush of the holidays no longer mattered. The producer of the group saw me working and he gave me his cards saying I should sketch at weddings. He said that with the economy going south, that more couples are getting married. I would have thought the opposite would be true but he should know.
The Nutcracker at Lake Eola
The Russian Ballet of Orlando presented a free performance of The Nutcracker at The Lake Eola Band-shell.It was a freezing cold night, well down in the 40’s anyway, so I dressed in 3 layers a sweatshirt, fleece jacket and a windbreaker. Even with all that I was rather cold. instead of sitting in the theater benches I picked a nice tree to lean up against. This gave me a good overall view of the band-shell and audience. This sketch was done on the digital tablet. The tablet is good for getting bright colors and it has the added advantage of getting nice and hot when the processor is being put through a workout. It worked as a nice hand warmer. I am making a commitment to use the tablet more often when sketching at night and indoors.
During a fifteen minute intermission a group of children ran screaming after a swan causing it to swim as fast as possible away from them. The father rather lamely asked them to leave the poor bird alone but they continued the pursuit. At one point during the Swan Lake number the swans started to honk loudly lifting their tall necks. Then they went right back to searching for food under the water.
I can’t offer much of a review of the Ballet. There was always someone standing between me and the stage but I did catch quick glimpses. I can tell you that the dancers who were standing off stage were freezing. I could see them huddled together and jumping up and down to try and stay warm. The cold weather made this feel like a true Christmas performance.
ChanuIKEA
För åttonde natten Hanukkah, Brian Feldman värd en dynamisk händelse med sin mor i IKEA Orlando på 4092 Eastgate Drive. Jag kom några minuter för tidigt och hittade Chris Blanc, Jeremy Seghers och Mark Baratelli väntar inom restaurangområdet i butiken. De diskuterade om de skulle få lite mat innan Brian kom. Jag bestämde jag kunde inte skissa och äta på samma gång så jag väntade. Brian anlände sent. Den grupp människor som sakta samlades gick till ett bord på en lokal vid toppen av rulltrappan där vi kunde se posten vägen till affären. Seth Kubersky i Orlando Weekly sa att förra årets tillställning var mycket lika. För diner Seth beställde lox vilket är en mycket Judisk skålen med svenska köttbullar som säkerligen inte är. När Brian kom han sökte efter ett eluttag för att koppla in sin elektrisk Menorah. Den första kontakten fungerade inte och jag hittade honom ett annat utlopp. Fru Feldman delade ut dreidels för alla och förklarade spelen betydelse. Ett högt tillkännagivande om butiken intercom meddelade att restaurangen skulle stängas i 15 minuter. Strax därefter Brian reste sig och började göra tillkännagivanden av hans egna som översatt från hebreiska till svenska. Låntagare vid andra bord började sneglande över tänkande Brian skulle kunna tala i tungor. Brian leder sedan monterar folk på en rundtur i IKEA talar i hans översatta svenska manus. För att avsluta skissen jag var tvungen att stanna kvar. Porttelefonen meddelade att butiken skulle läggas ned i 15 minuter, så jag började jobba snabbare. När porttelefonen meddelade att butiken var stängd jag fortfarande dröjde tillsätta några sista tvättar. När jag gick ner till första våningen, fann jag gruppen i slutet. Jag frågade vad jag hade missat, och ingen kunde egentligen kan erbjuda en tydlig förklaring. Brian hade separerat från gruppen vid ett tillfälle och de förlorat kontakten med honom. Jag börjar tro att hela poängen med ChanuIKEA var för alla att uppleva semester rusa på turné i ögonblicken innan butiken stängd.
Hialeah Racetrack Re-Opens
The Hialeah Racetrack first opened in 1921. In 1979 the track was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1988 it was designated a National Historic landmark. In 2001 the track was closed and it has sat idle for 7 years. On Saturday November 28th the Racetrack re-opened and I went along with Terry, Elaine, and Derrik to experience the excitement. There was a huge line of cars perhaps a mile long waiting to get into the parking lot. Derrik maneuvered his vehicle onto a post office lawn and we walked a block to enter the track. while walking down a long drive we could see a large flock of Flamingos flying in a tight circle around a small lake in the center of the track. Loud Cuban music was playing and people were dancing. The track was located in a Cuban neighborhood and these folks know how to party! Entire multi-generational families were swaying to the rhythmic beat.
The event was very crowded. We watched the horses and jockeys as they made their way to the track. I thought horse number 4 with a bright yellow jersey was looking fit and I picked him as the winner. Derrick made his way to place a bet, and Terry and I went to the stands to watch the race. When the horses entered the starting gates everyone got to their feet. when the race started there was an instant roar from the crowd. I was shocked at how short the race was. These were Quarter horses and they only sprint the straightaway in front of the stands. My horse didn’t win. He wasn’t even close.
After realizing I shouldn’t bet on the races, I went outside and did this sketch. Between races people would come out to enjoy the sun and check their racing forms. The 8th race was the last race of the day and we decided to get out early. People were still streaming into the track as we were leaving. They were showing up for a live concert. I have never experienced anything like this boisterous event in quiet Orlando.
The Miami Herald Press
The day after Thanksgiving, Elaine, our hostess had to go in to work at the Miami Herald. She had some last minute errands to run for an event she was planning called “The Herald Hunt”. At 6AM every female in the house made a bee line to the mall to shop on Black Friday. Elaine came back from the shopping madness and as agreed she took me to the Herald to sketch the printing press. She was a bit nervous about getting me in since security was beefed up in the building.
Shown in the sketch is the silent room where workers periodically check to see if the printing press needed adjusting. They would leave the room and run up the steps to make adjustments to the press. The foreman suggested I wear earplugs and I took his suggestion. The noise is deafening. A long line of printed items flowed up a conveyor belt through a hole in the ceiling. Elaine explained that papers are bound up on this upper floor. Sketching opportunities were endless. I walked past the machinist shop and sparks were flying as the machinists worked.
After a while the foreman stopped by and looked over my shoulder. Rather than try to shout over the noise, he gave me a thumbs up.