Air Bag Recall

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I got a notice in the mail that the the passenger side airbag on my Prius was recalled. It would be replaced for free but I  would have to take it in. The Toyota Dealership is state of the art with a lounge and indoor cafe which makes the wait less painful. Having to  wait also of course is a perfect opportunity to get a sketch done. While most customers used their cell phones, I was busy putting lines and washes on the page.

Now, more than a year later, my rear back tire has a slow leak and I am long overdue for an oil change. Chances are this month or next, I will be going in for another sketch opportunity. I can’t vouch for how well the new air bags work, I haven’t had a chance to test them out.

Wall Street Cantina

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Sometimes I just need to get a chimichanga for lunch. Wall Street Cantina (19 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801) might not have the best Mexican food in Downtown Orlando but I was once again passing by and felt the urge for a chimi while  staring at Mexican wrestlers wearing masks. Don’t judge me. This was also a fine chance for some lunchtime people watching and sketching. This place  really gets hopping when sports games are playing on the weekends. During the week it is a bit quieter inside.

ODD on the Eve of 49 Portraits being Exhibited at Gatlin

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On the Eve of the opening of 49 Pulse Portraits at The Gatlin Creative, (4940 South Orange Avenue Unit D, Orlando, FL 32806), artists gathered for drinks and a chance to sketch and chat. The Orlando weekly had listed the event in their event calendar and I was pleased that a couple stopped out as a date night. On the walls were the original portraits created by 16 local artists of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub massacre. All the portraits were done in one night just as all the lives had been taken in just one night.

Approaching Gatlin Creative, there was a gorgeous sunset to the west. Interrupting the skyline was a billboard that announced the upcoming gun show at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. It was Odd to host this event in the shadow of that billboard. We live in the Gunshine State.

The Gatlin Creative, is an art
production house and creative space. Its creators, Tiffany Windsor and Ralph Ballentine
have made a
second home. Both working independently and also as partners in the film
industry, they base all projects out of their studio here. The Gatlin
offers other individuals and groups a place to create art, to teach, to
learn and to build; a place for people who wish to make things happen.
 

It’s
comprised of both personal studio space but also incorporates an
additional 1,000 sq ft of space to rent. Whether it be art classes,
crafty courses, small photo shoots or a
place to meet and work; The Gatlin has much to offer.

As a way to meet each artist who attends ODD, I like to have artists face off and sketch each other with a five minute time limit. All of my sketches were done in that short time window. I like the rush of trying to block in the sketch and get just enough information on the page so that the person might be recognized. I get to take chances and let go a bit and the results aren’t very pretty but they are interesting. Part of the challenge of doing sketches every day is to be able to accept whatever is created. There is no time for erasing or second guessing.

Artist Colin Boyer regularly attended ODD events. He went on to be a portrait artist at Disney World and he did some amazing work there. His digital illustrations are stunning. It kind of makes me want to slow down and spend more time on paintings myself. he recently had a beautiful child, so there might not be enough time for these sketch outings for him. I still hoist these ODD events each month. If artists show up that is great but if I am on my own, I still sketch, sample the drinks and food and write up the experience. It is my chance to become a foodie once a month.

World of Beer

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I went to World of Beer located in the Marketplace at Dr Phillips (7800 Dr Phillips Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819) to meet a friend and chat. Any time I arrive someplace first I get the sketchbook out to sketch while I wait for waiters or the person I am meeting. This is a mad dash sketch which I knew I would probably not complete. That didn’t stop me from trying. The bar has a wide assortment of beers and it fills up as people file in after work.

Besides the wide assortment of beers there is also pub grub like German Pretzels, Tater tots chicken wings, burgers and flat breads. I ordered tots to go with my brew. Later that evening I was sketching a rehearsal, so this was my dinner. Like most sports bars there is a phalanx of TV screens so that you are starting into a tube no matter which direction you look.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for August 25 and 26, 2018

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Saturday August 25, 2018

10 a.m. to Noon. Free. FusionFest Open House, Preview and Sign-up. City Beautiful, 1220 Alden Road, Orlando, FL 32803. Do you like to share the culture of your heritage, or perhaps you know
someone who does? Or perhaps you would like to be inspired to create a
song or dance or prepare a new dish using elements from different
influences? Or maybe you would like to volunteer for an exciting new
festival designed to bring people together?

We are hosting a
FusionFest Open House, Preview and Sign-up event on Saturday, August
25, from 10 a.m.-noon. Please stop by to learn more about FusionFest,
and then pass this invitation on to anyone else who might be curious
about this celebration of diversity planned for November 24 and 25 in
downtown Orlando.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free. New Musical Discovery Series – The United States of Us. The MEZZ 100 S Eola Dr Ste 200, Orlando, Florida 32801. Florida Theatrical Association presents a workshop of THE UNITED STATE
OF US, one of the winners selected from more than 40 entries in the
Second Annual New Musical Discovery Series.

Book & Lyrics by Alan Gordon

Music by Joy Son

Staged Reading Directed by Michael Wanzie

Synopsis:
Set in Brooklyn in 1998, Ken, a single gay man, agrees to marry Esme, a
Colombian student, when she finds herself pregnant and on the verge of
deportation. When the prospect of same-sex marriage comes to New York, a
surprising threat is presented to this unusual family unit.

10:30 p.m. to Midnight. Free but get food and drink. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL. Hot blooded flamenco dancing set to acoustic guitar.

Sunday August 26, 2018

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $255 members, $275 non-members. Urban Sketching Course. First of 6 weekly sessions. Crealde 600 St. Andrews Blvd Winter Park FL Class 1B. Beginning of each class involves classroom sketch assignments followed by a session of sketching outside the classroom in the neighborhood. Goal at the end of 6 weeks is to produce finished sketched within two hours.

10 a.m.to Noon. Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $10-$20 suggested donation. Helena. Helena is an ensemble of Central Florida’s most dauntless singers. The
group made their debut at Timucua in 2016 and quickly established
themselves by performing adventurous and ambitious repertoire by and
about women. Don’t miss this Orlando treasure. Please bring food or wine to share.

Radio Interview

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I was asked by Mary Thompson Hunt to be a guest on Real Radio’s “From The HeArt” on Magic 107.7 FM. Mary’s husband Jason Hunt does highly detailed pencil renderings. Jason and I had both had our work projected on the side of the Suntrust Building  in downtown Orlando during the Creative City Project. It was amazing to see my sketches projected 3 stories high on a skyscraper. The point of the projections was to spark conversation.

Joshua Vickery and Mary hosted the radio interview.  The show is about the arts of Central Florida. We’d wanted to  hear about both of our work, how we create and why. In particular they were curious about my take on the creative arts and
visual arts scene of Orlando. Of course sketching at an art opening is one of the most challenging and frustrating experiences because people only pause to look at any work of art for a moment and then they move on. Instead I focus on musicians and actors who must remain on stage for the duration of a show. My work needs to be finished before any show is over. I then close the sketchbook and consider the sketch complete.

As Jason described his work I felt a universal connection to him and his process. “My graphite pencil drawings are called ‘Moments in Time’. For 58
years I’ve drawn from life’s experiences of innocence, loss,
inspiration, love, and the many beliefs we embrace throughout life.
Seems memories often become a tapestry of our many bits of pleasure and
scraps of pain.”

“My graphite pencil drawings are in black and white because I’ve come
to believe that most truths are found in the many shades of gray. I draw
what I love about this world and what is possible for us in
relationship to one another. I’m passionate about depicting the
beautiful everyday moments and also our inevitable bouts with madness
and pain.”

My work is a bit less about scraps of pain. I tend to focus on people who gather together for entertainment, fun and pleasure. In part because of the difficulty and challenges of drawing on location, my sketches seldom depict a stolen smile or laugh. Even in public I tend to find people bowing their heads in reverence to technology. In  our efforts to become part of the hive, we are becoming more isolated.

The radio interview was only an hour, so I had to work fast to catch the chaos of microphones and digital screens. The host was in the opposite room behind a glass screen so and interpersonal eye contact or expressions to be found in a person’s face were lost. Regardless it was a fun experience.

a Retrospective of Science Center Sketches on Exhibit

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Since 2009, I have been going to the Orlando Science Center to sketch exhibits, galas and events. On the third floor I now have 32 pieces framed and  lining the walls that are a retrospective of the sketches done over the years. My Analog Artist Digital World exhibit is up through October 23, 2018 so there is plenty of time to stop by.

The opening of my exhibit lined up with Science Night Live which is an evening where adults get to imbibe and interact with the exhibits which are usually reserved for the kids. My exhibit is in the halls that overlook Hall of Heroes. Many of my sketches over the years were done from this upper vantage point. Sketching this “god’s eye view” offers some privacy allowing enough time to get each sketch done.

Hall of Heroes is a traveling exhibit which allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world of superheroes, crime fighters, gadgets
and spies. Guests journey through several different themed
environments with surprises around every corner. Visitors of all ages
will love this exhibit that combines science and science fiction and
lets you discover your own super strengths. The Hall of Heroes Exhibit comes down September 3, 2018.

On the night of my opening, I invited about 5 Orlando Urban sketchers out to document the evening. I knew that I would have to spend much of my time at my table to answer any questions about mu work. Pam Schwartz was kind enough to man the table allowing me enough time to finish the sketch above.

I didn’t understand the appeal of a full sized half Bat Mobile. It seemed like it might be a photo opportunity but guests were not allowed back to sit in the drivers seat. I have to wonder where the other half of the vehicle might be. It must be sitting in another Science Center somewhere. The original Bat Mobile sold for 4 million dollars at auction. If that is so, then this half of the Bat Mobile might be worth 2 million dollars.

There was a model of a Bat Mobile made entirely out of 4 inch long wooden sticks. They were sort  of like Popsicle sticks but thicker. There were loose sticks for guests to build their own. A couple built a skyscraper tower. Until it got to high for the woman to reach. They abandoned their creation and then a very tall guy who must be a basketball player added some more floors. It stayed at that height for some time until a thin guy looked up at it and decided to add one more floor. The upper floors buckled and he tried to save the building by grabbing the midsection which made the whole thing much worse. It crashed down and scattered all over the room. Holy Tower of Babel!

Wall Street Cantina

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I was running a series of errands downtown and decided to stop into Wall Street Cantina (19 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801) for a chimichanga which consisted of a rolled tortilla filled with shredded grilled chicken, green chilies,
refried beans and cheese, fried to a golden brown topped with roasted
salsa and melted cheese. I enjoyed it, and the portions were quite good.  Wall Street Cantinaisn’t the best choice for Mexican food downtown but I just needed a bite between chores  The table next to me, several men were focused on their cell phones the
entire time I was there. People on cell phones ate a perfect subject to
sketch because they ate oblivious to the world around them as they focus
on their tiny screens.

Tin and Taco (40 W Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801) is a far better choice these days for Mexican food downtown, and it is just a few blocks away from Wall Street. Another decent choice is Gringos Locos ( 22 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801) which has the advantage of being open late at night. I recently ate a Lean Green Machine Burrito there that contained, chicken, guacamole, rice, lettice, pico, cheese, sour cream and salsa verde and it was quite good. 

Abhidhamma: A Psychology of Awakening

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On Wednesdays there is a Mindful Meditation Group that meets in a small backyard hut behind the home of Peter Carlson (1818 Carrigan Avenue, Winter Park, 32789). I went a few times during a turbulent period in my life to quiet my mind. The  evening starts with an hour of meditation followed by a group discussion.

On this day Peter was discussing the Abhidhamma, which is a Sanskrit term
that derives from the expression
“concerning the teachings.” For the Buddhists however, the term means approximately
“higher” or “further” teaching, and it refers
both to the doctrinal investigations of the new scholastic movement and
to the body of texts yielded by its systematic exposition of Buddhist
thought.

Peter discussed a psychology of awakening, suggesting ways to connect the spiritual realizations of Buddhism with the psychological insights of the West. His white board had notes about universal conditioners, contact, volition, vitality, attention, and contact. The focus was on our will to do which is affected by our feelings and perceptions, seeing (very important to me), hearing, smell and taste. Though I cant claim to fully understand every point offered, it was nice to wrestle with larger concepts rather than keep going over the daily thoughts about how to survive and stay say inspired.

49, 53 and Beyond Kids Mural

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Susan Gromala Crary helped home school students design and then execute a Pulse themed mural in the stairwell leading up to the studio where Michael Pilato and Yuriy Karabash painted a pule mural that now hangs next to a  laundromat on Washington Street across from Dexter’s in Thornton park. Chimene Pindar Hurst asked Michael and Yuriy to come to Orlando to work on the mural. I do not believe that the mural is permanently installed in Thornton Park and I am not sure of where it will finally reside.

The children’s stairwell mural however is a permanent fixture at the Colonial and Mills Avenue studio above the pizza joint. While painting the mural a can of yellow paint was spilled, and rather than get upset, they incorporated the yellow paint into the overall design. Yellow hand prints and puddles of yellow can be found  all  the way up the steps.

The home school students sang as they worked. One student used a tiny brush to paint in her section of the mural. Susan said that was her style. Inspirational phrases swirled around the myriad of rainbow colored hearts. It was inspiring to see the community come together to help make this studio pace livable and to paint bright colors to try and help the city heal.