Knives Out

Posted on by Thor

A critic can cut like a knife. That is the premise behind performance artist Brian Feldman‘s Knives Out at The Glass Knife, (276 Orlando Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789)which featured five current and former critics from Central Florida, each taking a stab at reading 3 reviews they’ve previously written about past Brian Feldman Projects; 15 reviews for the 15th anniversary of Brian Feldman’s performance art career.

Featuring the arts criticism of Mark Baratelli (The Daily City), Carl F Gauze (Ink 19), Seth Kubersky (Orlando Weekly), Elizabeth Maupin (Orlando Sentinel), and Thomas Thorspecken (Analog Artist Digital World). (Due to a schedule conflict with Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Brian’s Mom, Marilyn Wattman-Feldman, read for Betsey Maupin.) As an added bonus, I  decided Pam Schwartz would read for me since I was busy sketching the event.

Originally envisioned to take place inside of the Randall Made Knives Museum in Orlando, after Brian’s proposal was rejected he was conflicted as to whether this project was still worth pursuing. While the final realization may not have been nearly as visually interesting as critics in a room filled with 1,000 knives, there was at least be cake available.

A disadvantage of The Glass Knife’s outdoor patio is that the sound of traffic meant that I could only hear bits and pieces of each review. I showed up to the event completely unprepared. I didn’t realize that Brian had wanted each critic to choose the columns they wanted to read. I knew that time to sketch was limited, so I got right to work. Brian seemed to have assigned seating, but he relinquished the seat at the far end of the table that I felt I needed to sketch from. I managed to sketch every critic but Carl F Gauze since he was hidden behind others at the table. I usually try to get the back of his head in any sketch that I do.

Pam did a great job reading my columns. I particularly liked the article about the end of Analog TV. I really liked Seth’s article about Wawa Shabawa. Carl read his review of #txtshow which had not been published yet. The gist of the review was that not many went to the show, but the few that did had a great time. Orlando is a transient town so anyone that was familiar with his Orlando Performances starting 15 years ago have likely left town. Then why am I still here?



Knives Out was one of 5 of Brian’s performances (part of #BFP15) that he brought back to Orlando to Celebrate his 15 years as a performance artist. The last shows still to come include:

Fiddler on the Phone will have 2 performances.

• Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Sunset (6:28 PM EST)

• Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Sunset (6:29 PM EST)

Depending on your musical number order, Brian Feldman will call you between 6:28 PM – approximately 9:30 PM EST.

The performance will come direct to your Phone (Brian Feldman will call you from a pay phone).

Free (only 16 calls available)

Register for your phone call at brianfeldman.com.

Note: All calls to area codes outside of the U.S. will be made collect.

Taking
place entirely over a pay phone, this performance features Brian
Feldman singing Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein’s classic
Tony Award®-winning 1964 musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” a capella, one
song at a time, one phone call at a time.

Specific songs from the
show may be requested, and will be fulfilled in the order received.
Otherwise, all songs will be allocated randomly. Phone calls will range
from approximately 1 to 8 minutes.  

The Feldman Dynamic on March 8, 2019 at 7:30 PM at:

Stardust Video and Coffee

1842 E. Winter Park Rd.

Orlando, FL 32803

Cost: $15 advance, $20 at the door

Free
if your last name is “Feldman” (at the door, with valid photo ID).
Offer not valid if tickets are sold out prior to the performance.

The
original Brian Feldman Project returns to Central Florida for the first
time in over five years, and to Orlando for the first time in over 10
years.

An unprecedented reality theater event featuring a family –
Brian Feldman’s actual family (Mom, Dad, and sister) – having dinner
together live on stage. There’s no script, no rehearsal, and every
performance is completely different. It’s not improv. It’s the reality
show that will never be on TV.

The Feldman Dynamic is Brian Feldman, Edward Alan Feldman, Adrienne McIntosh, and Marilyn Wattman-Feldman.  

Fusion Fridays

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Fusion Fridays at a Magi Temple Belly Dance School, (3589 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32806) is hosted by Serafina Schiano. I have seen Serafina perform many times with Phantasmagoria and other productions in town.

A Magi is teaming up to promote all sorts of workshops and cultural affairs
in the Central Florida area, so there is always something fun and
different to inspire your creative side! In an effort to
make the arts accessible to everyone, this class session was donation-based.

The session began with a review of Zil Rhythms and musicality. Everyone sat on the floor in a circle and Serafina explained the Zil Rhythms. They each pt on finer cymbals on each hand and then started with 3 triple gallops Which had the simple pattern of 123, 123, 123. The 3, 3, 7 combination went, 123, 123, 1234567. There was also a 3,5,5 combination and a 3,1,3,1,3 combination. Some of these are more difficult to maintain and some got lost in the midst of their pattern. Rhythm is something that is felt intuitively not necessarily learned.

I was amazed that the students picked up a routine in just 15 minutes in the second half of class. Serafina picked a piece of music by Fifth Harmony called Work from Home (Ty Dolla $ign.) Moves taught included head circles, chest circles, and hip circles and rib combos. Written on sheet of paper, the choreography looked incredibly complex. Yet by the end of class everyone had mastered the entire routine. I have a deep respect for everyone who mastered this lesson which resulted in a hip and contemporary Belly dance routine. There was a well deserved shot of pleasure when they completed their run through.


Should you want to explore Belly Dancing you can study with Serafina every Fusion Friday at Magi Temple Belly Dance School. Class runs from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. It is an opportunity to train your body, Cultivate your unique style, and  ignite your passion.

Gertrude and Claudius at the Shakes

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Gertrude and Claudius based on the novel written by John Updike and adapted by Mark St. Germain, acts as a prequel to Hamlet. I had just sketched Hamlet the earlier in the month. The set remained the same, being a royal castle in Denmark. This play began with a royal wedding between King Amieth (Kenny Babel) and Gertrude (Paige Lindsey White). The king was a man with unsubtle tastes and ways but a true love for his queen. On their wedding night be fell fast asleep as the queen got ready for bed.

There was trouble in paradise as the queen felt she lost her identity with her royal responsibilities and she was actually frightened of her son, Hamlet (Junior Nyong’ o). In this play, Hamlet had a very small part to play. This play was about the queen and how she was seduced by the king’s brother, Claudius (Gene Gillette). As the queen felt more confined, the brothers letters from far away lands helped her imagine a life of freedom.

The infamous couple serve as the villains in Shakespeare’s work, but
are offered a new exposition in this tale of good intentions and family
dysfunction. With ominous hints at the familiar story to come, Gertrude and Claudius is a play that shakes up what you thought you knew about the royal couple. It is a classic tale of guilt and revenge.

This was a more modern production as well, without the flowery language of Shakespeare. There were also many moments of levity, acting as a stark contrast to the brooding Hamlet that would follow. Though Hamlet is a classic, this play is far easier to digest. If you have a chance to see both plays, go and see Gertrude and Claudius first and follow that on another night with Hamlet.

Remaining show times are:

Thursday, February 28, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Friday, March 1, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 – 2:00 PM

Wednesday, March 6, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 9, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Sunday, March 10, 2019 – 2:00 PM – Talk back Performance

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 2:00 PM

Friday, March 15, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 16, 2019 – 2:00 PM

Friday, March 22, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 2:00 PM

Tickets are $30 to $53

Florida Licence Mobile

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My last sketch at the IDignity Identification Clinic was of the FLOW Mobile parked behind the Salvation Army Gym,

(440 W Colonial Dr.

Orlando,

Fl

32804). For people who had all the proof required to obtain a Florida ID (or license
renewal), one could be obtained at no charge via the FLOW mobile
(Florida Licensing On Wheels) at the event. People I had sketched inside as they made their way through the process ended  up out here where they could get their ID handed to them inside this bus. A few volunteers hung out in the tent to offer guidance. Some people lingered for a cigarette or a chat before they left to rebuild their life with the added asset of an ID. These Identification Clinics happen on the third Thursday of every month. 

It began to rain which chased me off to find my car parked several blocks away. As I was about to cross Concord Street on foot, a car rushed by at about 90 miles per hour. I swerved into oncoming traffic to get around slower cars and then tried to turn right down Hughey Avenue which is a frontage road parallel to I-4. The car was traveling too fast to make the turn and it crashed into a dirt embankment which saved it from crashing into a cement support wall. The car was perched on to of the hill with its tires dangling. Police drove up to the crash scene in a black SUV. I was walking towards the crash and saw police scanning the ground looking for foot prints in the dirt. The car was empty. Whoever had been driving had fled the crash scene on foot. People in a condo near the crash were on there balcony looking down at the scene and pointing. The police wore ski masks which hid part of their faces. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to stick around since clearly someone was wanted and desperately trying to escape capture. They could be armed. I walked the two blocks to my car and drove back to the studio.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for March 2 and 3, 2019

Posted on by Thor

Saturday March 2, 2019

8pm to 11pm Free. The Tremolords + The Wildtones. The Veranda Live 707 E. Washington St., Orlando, Florida 32801. Real. Raw. Rock and Roll.

Doors 7pm … Bands play 8-11pm

8pm to 10pm Free. Shuffleboard.  Orlando’s Beardall Courts 800 Delaney Ave Orlando FL. Shuffleboard at Orlando’s Beardall Courts at 800 Delaney Ave on the 1st Saturday of each month.

10:3pm to 12:30am Get a drink and or food. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL. Hot blooded flamenco dancing to acoustic guitar.

Sunday March 3, 2019

10am to Noon. Free. Enchanted Nature Walkabout. Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S Denning Dr, Winter Park, FL 32789.  After all the enchanted guides health issues this past year, he plan to conduct his first
official walkabout at Mead Gardens on March 3rd, which
is s Fae Day (03/03).

2pm to 6pm Knives Out.  The Glass Knife, 276 Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Critic read select reviews of past Brian Feldman performances.

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 and laugh, or give it a try yourself.

IDignity Intake Station at the Client Service Event

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In the Salvation Army Gym (440 West Colonial Drive Orlando FL) people started entering for help in getting IDs. The first stop was the intake station. Volunteers lined one side of this long table dressed in their IDignity volunteer T-Shirts sitting opposite people seeking assistance in getting identification. First of course the need would need to be assessed. IDignity provides assistance in obtaining Florida ID cards and licenses,
birth certificates, Social Security cards, replacement citizenship or
immigration records and other documents needed to obtain an ID/license.

Once the forms were filled out and the person was issued an entry number, the volunteer would raise his or her hand which would bring over a volunteer who would provide a personalized path to start the process of obtaining identification documents. Some people came with all the paperwork needed to make getting the ID easy but others required more work. I overheard one volunteer telling a person that they just needed to mail themselves a letter to verify their address. Funny how in this digital age that a stamped envelope if a solid verification of a residence.

The place ran like clockwork. Sometimes the person did not need to face the task alone. A friend might stay by their side the entire day. People were from all walks of life. Some dresses in button down shirts and dress shoes while others were far more informal. A mother came with her new born child on her hip.

I was introduced during the orientation, so many volunteers came up to me to see my progress on the sketch. I had met some of these people at other fund raisers and community events around town. They all were so thankful that the mission of this place might be introduced to a new audience. IDignity has serviced over 20,000 people which is about the population of Maitland Florida.

I was told that the last venue that these events were held in was much smaller, so everyone is thankful for the full basketball court of space where they can help the community’s needs. The ID card acquired brings each person the freedom to apply for work or school, gain access to shelters, seek
help from social service programs, open a bank account or cash a check,
secure permanent housing, or overcome many other obstacles to being
self-sufficient.

IDignity Orientation

Posted on by Thor

I went to an IDignity event at The Salvation Army Gym (440 W. Colonial Dr.,

Orlando, FL 32804) which is near the construction for the new Creative Village. These events happen every Third Thursday of each month. Volunteers had to arrive by 7am. I tried to get there at that time, but the parking lots were full so I parked several blocks away in Parramore and walked.

There was a line outside the Salvation Army of people waiting to get in to obtain identification. On man had set up outside at 4am to be ready when the doors opened. He would be the first to go through the process of getting his ID. Service is first-come, first-served.

I asked a volunteer where to find the volunteer entrance. Ben Jimenez the creative media specialist, was my point person, helping me get oriented. Michael Dippy, the Executive Director, shook my hand and thanked me for helping tell their story. When I arrived inside, volunteers were getting their orientation. Many volunteers had returned time and time again and others were new to the process. A blue curtain separated the gym into two halves. In the first area, volunteers greet patrons, giving them a numbered card that is the patron’s guide through the event. Danielle Landaal, the program manager, explained how the day would proceed with people first entering at 8:30am to 11am. Intake would end when maximum capacity was reached.

Put simply, IDignity restores dignity and hope by providing identification. It was created to help the disadvantaged in Central Florida
through the complex steps of getting personal identification. Documents
like birth certificates, Florida ID cards, and Social Security cards
are essential for anyone to fully take part in society.

Every person’s story is unique. I was told about a man who was visiting Orlando as a tourist and he was robbed. He was stranded here living for a time at the airport unable to fly home. Getting his identity back meant he could get his life back. An ID the basic building block needed to get any job, a place to live and to become a contributing member of society.

After this orientation meeting, the volunteers splintered off into smaller groups. Some volunteers would be helping patrons at the intake station.  People could obtain a birth certificate on site, get a Florida ID or driver’s License on site, get assistance from Social Security or the Department of Veterans affairs, get legal counsel or ask about health advice. What is amazing is that all these social services have agreed to come together under one roof once a month, thus simplifying the process.

The room was a buzz and the doors opened allowing the first people in for assistance…

Interview at Maxine’s

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JB Webb and the Reverend produce a podcast about the Orlando Arts and Culture scene called The JB Rev Show. I recently did some art work for this show which depicted this dynamic duo as if on the cover of a comic book. It was fun working with JB to make that happen.

I was called in to Maxine’s on Shine for an interview on the show. The production was staged in the red room in the back corner of the restaurant. Before the place became the restaurant it is today this room was used to stage weddings. Now it’s walls are blood red and it has plenty of romantic and erotic art.

The JB REV Show is quirky and fast paced. I put on the headphones and joined in for the ride and it was over before I knew what hit me. Honestly I am not sure if I got a word into the mix. I was so mesmerized by the quirky hosts. I then settled in to sketch the production as they interviewed their next guest, Tony Mauss who was the husband of Billy Maines.

My life is measured by the pages in my sketchbooks. Just 15 pages prior to this sketch, I had sketched Billy Maines as he talked about his experiences after the Pulse Nightclub Massacre. Shortly after doing that sketch I found out that Billy had been let go from Watermark where he was the editor and chief, and shortly after, he died on Friday, July 21, 2017 at the age of 45. It was a real shock since he seemed in good health the day we spoke with him. He did joke about a persistent cough.

In a statement to the Orlando Weekly, Tony said, “My husband, Billy Manes, passed away peacefully on Friday afternoon
surrounded by his family of friends. He had been ill for a couple of
weeks with what turned out to be pneumonia, and by the time we sought
medical attention, it was too far advanced. He died due to complications
of his condition leading to organ failure.”

Mauss continued, “Billy Manes was a walking fucking miracle, a man who
fought ferociously to create a world where justice, equality and respect
were the cornerstones of his community. He loved Orlando. He knew what
was possible here in this sprawling mass of ex-pats, misfits,
introverts, seekers, party people, bookworms, performers, makers,
artists and friends. His driving force was love. He loved you, Orlando,
and he knew of your love for him. He fed off it; it sustained him. He
would have fought proudly for each and every one of you forever.
Unfortunately, his body had other plans.

“So … grieve, Orlando, grieve, but don’t forget to laugh, create joy, and love each other wildly. That would honor him.”

Though the JB Rev Show makes a point of being irreverent, they toned down the jokes a notch to pay tribute to a man who had spent his life reporting about local politics in the Orlando Weekly and Watermark, making the seemingly boring inner workings of local government entertaining and relevant.

#txtshow returns to Orlando after 10 years.

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I began this daily sketch blog back in 2009. It was on March 3rd of 2009 that I posted a sketch of Brian Feldman‘s performance of #txtshow at the Jack Kerouac House. The room was crowded back then and I squeezed into a corner of the room to catch the crowd as they looked at their smart phone screens in the dark room. Back then not many people used Twitter or txt, so they had to be taught how to get started.

#txtshow is one of Brian Feldman’s most famous performances and the longest running independent production in D.C. theater history – returns to the venue it originated, the Kerouac House (1418 Clouser Ave, Orlando, Florida 32804) exactly 10 years to the day.

For this completely interactive performance, all audience members keep their phones “on” – as a mysterious character named txt (pronounced ‘text’) recites anonymous, real-time tweets written by YOU, live and in-person.

Audience members are instructed to bring their smart phones, ideally fully-charged, and actively use them during the show’s 45 minute duration. It is not necessary to have a Twitter account in order to participate, as everyone in attendance is randomly assigned a protected and anonymous account for their use.

Unfortunately for the first  performance in Orlando there wasn’t much of a crowd. Just four of us sat in the seats set up in the Kerouac House living room. It was an absolutely gorgeous day outside, so perhaps most people were out at the beaches or enjoying outdoor activities with their families.

Tisse Malon was there with her sister offering samples of Frutisse – a new, fruit tea infusion beverage made in Orlando with love and without preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, or coloring. Pam Schwartz had joined me to the show so that meant there were just three people sending txts on their phones since my hands were busy sketching. Even with so few authors, the show as hilarious. A joke about pirates needed to be read twice for the proper delivery. Someone kept sharing animal insights that were also quite humorous. With so few authors, I kind of knew when Pam had written a txt. She was laughing so loud she couldn’t catch her breath and she had to wipe the tears from her eyes. It was a fun afternoon. Brian didn’t hold the even in the evening since the Oscars were going on that night.

There are three more performances of #txtshow remaining.

#txtshow costs  $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

• Monday, February 25 at 7:00 PM

• Tuesday, February 26 at 7:00 PM (10th Anniversary date)

• Wednesday, February 27 at 7:00 PM

• Thursday, February 28 at 7:00 PM

#txtshow is just one of 5 performances in various venues that Brain is bringing back to Orlando to celebrate 15 years of his performance art.

Wawa® Shabbawa will be on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 7:00 PM at:

Wawa Store #5145

11750 University Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32817Cost: Free Admission

All guests must RSVP on OneTable:

https://dinners.onetable.org/events/78972835-ebe8-4027-8baf-c03179dc190e

“Wawa® Shabbawa” – Brian Feldman’s newest hit dinner project – returns to Central Florida, right down the road from the second largest Jewish collegiate population outside of the State of Israel!

Knives Out will be on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at 2:00 PM SHARP at:

The Glass Knife

276 Orlando Ave.

Winter Park, FL 32789

Cost: Free to attend

The public is invited to join Brian and the critics at their table, or at an adjoining patio table, and order anything off the menu of The Glass Knife (food or drink), at their expense.

Knives Out features five current and former critics from Central Florida, each taking a stab at reading 3 reviews they’ve previously written about past Brian Feldman Projects; 15 reviews for the 15th anniversary of Brian Feldman’s performance art career.

Fiddler on the Phone will have 2 performances.

• Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Sunset (6:28 PM EST)

• Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Sunset (6:29 PM EST)

Depending on your musical number order, Brian Feldman will call you between 6:28 PM – approximately 9:30 PM EST.

The performance will come direct to your Phone (Brian Feldman will call you from a pay phone).

Free (only 16 calls available)

Register for your phone call at brianfeldman.com.

Note: All calls to area codes outside of the U.S. will be made collect.

Taking place entirely over a pay phone, this performance features Brian Feldman singing Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein’s classic Tony Award®-winning 1964 musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” a capella, one song at a time, one phone call at a time.

Specific songs from the show may be requested, and will be fulfilled in the order received. Otherwise, all songs will be allocated randomly. Phone calls will range from approximately 1 to 8 minutes.  

The Feldman Dynamic on March 8, 2019 at 7:30 PM at:

Stardust Video & Coffee

1842 E. Winter Park Rd.

Orlando, FL 32803

Cost: $15 advance, $20 at the door

Free if your last name is “Feldman” (at the door, with valid photo ID). Offer not valid if tickets are sold out prior to the performance.

The original Brian Feldman Project returns to Central Florida for the first time in over five years, and to Orlando for the first time in over 10 years.

An unprecedented reality theater event featuring a family – Brian Feldman’s actual family (Mom, Dad, and sister) – having dinner together live on stage. There’s no script, no rehearsal, and every performance is completely different. It’s not improv. It’s the reality show that will never be on TV.

The Feldman Dynamic is Brian Feldman, Edward Alan Feldman, Adrienne McIntosh, and Marilyn Wattman-Feldman.  

Jack Fields Artist Talk

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Jack Fields gave an artist talk at The Maitland Art Center, (231 W Packwood Ave, Maitland, FL 32751). I first sketched Jack when he was a puppeteer at a Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater up in the Altamonte mall. A grant from United Arts helped Jack produce a short puppetry film. Performance artist Brian Feldman made a short cameo appearance in that film.

One of Jack’s signature puppets is names Godrick. Godrick is a life sized puppet that jack slips inside. He is bulbous  with black drapery that hides any sign of feet. His large head head isn’t on the shoulders but instead juts out of the characters hips area. A hat sits where his head used to be. His articulated mouth is the one element that animates on the huge puppet. I have sketched Godrick in action at several festivals and the kids love him. There is something about his simple bell shapes form that must appeal top them.

On the table were several glittery heads from the film Happy Memories. I can’t say I understand what the film was about, but it was certainly visually stimulating. My happiest memory was seeing Brain Feldman get zapped by mystical light beams and become a cupcake headed guru.