We’ve moved on from wildfires, why are we still talking about them?

Posted on by Thor

In Denmark 17 million mink were killed at 200 farms when COVID spread like wildfire through the facilities. The animals were buried in huge open pits and the bodies later surfaced after rains and settling. Humans spread the virus to the animals who are kept if small cages on on top of the other in long rows. The airborne COVID virus then spread easily from one mink to the other right down each row. All the mink were then killed because there was a concern that they would pass the virus back to humans. In America 10,000 mink died from COVID. It is unknown if the virus was transferred back to humans. Congress cut funding for sequence testing so we are in the dark ages moving forward. Most Americans are thankful for this ignorant bliss as they pretend all is well, with about 500 deaths a day. I know America is a disposable society, but how to you dispose of so many bodies without people noticing?

The Omicron variant which is still circulating today likely came from an animal host like rats and then transferred back to humans after it had mutated multiple times in the animal hosts. Omicron took everyone by surprise. It literally seemed to come out of nowhere. The virus has infected American Red Tailed deer but they are not being exterminated on mass, though hunters do thin the heard every year. A new variant could come from anywhere. Luckily the XBB.1.5 variant has not produced a large surge in cases. That might mean that vaccinations and past infections are keeping the numbers from rising. The pandemic however is not over. There could be unexpected curve balls around the corner.

So, is COVID over? Despite over 2000 Americans dying from COVID every week, Joe Biden is ending the COVID public health emergency on May 11, 2023. At that time all testing and treatments will be out of pocket for those who are infected. On Jan 30, 2023 WHO declared COVID a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, despite the American president’s position. So who do you trust, a president looking to get re-elected, or scientists who track the virus every single day?

2023 is ushering a new there is a new, dangerous phase that requires urgent attention, called the “we’ve moved on” phase.

A Big Day for Baseball: Poster Evolution, Final

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A Big Day for Baseball: A Magic Tree House Adventure is playing at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater through March 18, 2023. This poster is closely based on the book designs of the very popular Magic Tree House series. I did multiple designs based on the Jackie Robinson story, but those tended to look more like they were for adults. Returning t the leaf and acorn design motif lightened the mood of the poster.

I read the script and it should be a very fun play about kids being able to be on the field for a very historic baseball game. Jackie Robibnson was the the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). Robinson made his debut in a Dodgers uniform wearing number 42 on April 11, 1947, in a preseason exhibition game against the New York Yankees at Ebbets Field with 24,237 in attendance. These two lucky kids get to experience the day as a bat boy and girl from the field. It should be an exciting day of theater.

It’s not a wildfire, it’s a different type of fire that looks like a wildfire!

Posted on by Thor

The Chinese government announced that they may provide weapons to Russia. The US propaganda machine therefor decided it is once again time to demonize China and the Chinese. The Wall Street Journal reported on February 26, 2023 that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) concluded that the virus likely stemmed from a lab leak in China. From the onset of the pandemic, questions emerged about the virus’ origins with two leading theories typically dominating the scientific community.

Most scientists initially believed the virus was likely transmitted to “patient zero” via a bat in an open-air market in Wuhan. However, a second theory that the virus could have been man-made and leaked from a nearby lab also gained traction, in the United States.

The report did not confirm or show evidence of conspiracy theories that have spread on social media amid the pandemic, including that the virus was made as a biological weapon or that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was involved in the leak.

So far there is no “smoking gun.” Regardless of how the virus started, the wildfire has spread around the world unchecked. Gaslighting from public officials today is aimed at convincing everyone needs to “live with the virus”. That however equated to over 500 people a week dying from the virus. There is no push for masking or air purification in public buildings. Living with the virus equals death and disability.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill: Poster Evolution

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This was my favorite painted version of the poster for the Orlando Shakespeare Center. Lady Day stood in a strong spotlight that broke her into an abstraction of lights and darks. Pinks and blues work together like bold puzzle pieces. The bottle on the table stands as erect and proud as the singer herself.

For the final poster however I needed to move in closer to the singer. Tymisha Harris was likely to be cast in the roll but that had not been established yet. I danced a line between making the singer look like Lady Day and Tymisha. I did like the chance to rework the microphone adding it metallic sheen.

Performances continue through March 5, 2023. I will be sketching a performance next week and I can’t wait.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill: Poster Evolution First Pass

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The first pass of the Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill poster featured the ban high up on a stage and Lady Day down on the floor at the audience level. The title treatment seemed to work right off the bat so I kept it in each variation of the poster design. I was playing with the idea of a very smoky lounge and how that might affect the lighting and even ghostly wisps of smoke rising from the floor.

My favorite detail is of the cello player and yet his cello is hidden behind the piano. The piano player himself is off screen. Even the hands of the drummer are not visible. Clearly I needed to make the musicians more visible and make the act of playing the instruments more clearly visible.

I liked the warm lighting, but wanted to incorporate more cool blues and purples into the painting. As a first pass I was mostly pleased that the title was working.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill: Poster Evolution, Final

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This is the final version of the Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill Poster for the Shakes. I am working on the next season’s posters right now so it helps to look back at how each show concept developed. As you can see by the dates on the poster you still have over a week to see the show. I did extensive research about this show prior to painting the poster so I am excited to finally see it in person. I will be in the audience sketching next week. I know going in the emotional roller coaster I will likely experience and I have seen the actress Tymisha Harris perform before so I know the performance will be overwhelming.

It took me four other renditions of this poster to get to this final image and I will share that progression over the next couple of days. The most devastating song in the show is Strange Fruit.

Henry V Poster Evolution

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The Henry V poster for the Orlando Shakes (812 E Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803) was a rare case where one of my first concepts made it to the final draft. The crossed swords forming a V was my first impulse when designing the art. I did another poser design focusing more on the crown with wooden pikes forming a V pattern.

I decided to try adding some handwriting that was an account of the battle in the light area of the poster. I couldn’t read the handwriting so I assumed it would work as an abstract pattern. Should a scholar actually know how to read it at least it would be an accurate historical record of the battle.

The next design I did was right on point. The only thing I had to do was move the king much closer to the audience. Thankfully I had painted the king separately so he could easily be scaled. These tweaks and adjustments are part of the fun of watching the concept evolve.

 

Henry V by William Shakespeare ran from January 18 – February 5, 2023. I did get to sketch a performance. The show was riveting, but it is hard to portray just how horrifically devastating the battle was. The king was a brute on the battlefield and knew how to inspire his troops. When it came to winning the heart of a woman however he could not use the same battle tactics.

The Prom

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The Prom, at Theater South Playhouse was such an unexpected delight. Theater South is a tiny gem of a theater near Isleworth. The play is based on the book by Bob Martin, with book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin and music by Mathew Sylar. The show was directed by Tara Kromer.

It had a huge cast that barely fit on the stage when they were all on stage together at the curtain call. The theater’s web site encouraged masks, but they are not required. I was delighted to see two huge air purifiers purring away in the theater. Pam and I were two of the 4 people in the audience wearing masks.

The show is about Emma (Jana Denning) who wants to go to the Prom with Alyssa (Gia Milazzo). Their love is secret but Emma wants the night to be their chance to shine. The small Illinois tow cancels the Prom to squelch the controversy of forbidden love. This heavy handed solution however blows up in their face since it garners the attention of some famous actors who decide that Emma is their new cause.

New York City stars visited the town and made Emma’s story their own. At first they had a narcissistic need to be in the spotlight but over time they truly learned to help.

I have such a deep respect for the talent of this mostly teen cast. Following local news I recently saw a video of a teen who took the bus to go to a town meeting and beg for the government officials to allow her the right to exist. Another trans teen was asked by an official if she had a dick. I have to wonder if he has any morality.

Emma had hoped that the Prom would be her chance to celebrate her love. But on the night of her prom she walked into a completely empty gym. The PTA had moved the prom to a different venue without telling her.  This play is a celebration of inclusivity in a town that has ancient undercurrents of racism and homophobia. The hope lies in the younger generation who can see the light when they know they are being persuaded to be vicious and mean.

Janna Demming really hits the ball out of the park with her solos. When she performed a facetime guitar solo about her desire to just be herself, I have to admit I shed a tear. That performance went viral and suddenly kids from all around the country were online sharing their similar stories of being excluded and unable to be themselves. A second prom was planned to include everyone and new friends came in from out of town. This prom was a blow out celebration. The rainbow waving joyous celebration seemed to be perfectly suited for Orlando which is a beautiful inclusive gem in the sea of hate that is Florida.

The show continues through February 26th and I highly recommend it. Prepare to be dazzled.

 

We have to learn to live with catching fire every few months!

Posted on by Thor

Immunity against coronavirus infection wanes quickly and reinfections are common. Protection against severe illness and death was the original goal of vaccines. Vaccines against respiratory viruses rarely protect against full infection. Any notion of herd immunity is out of reach. Too many people are not vaccinated. The coronavirus continues to find ways to evade immunity.

This virus is always going to be with us.  COVID detonates an immune response that can be deadly or debilitating.

The hope is that people will start to take all respiratory viruses more seriously, leading to lasting changes in mask wearing and ventilation.This does not seem to be the case.

This is the exit wildfire!

Posted on by Thor

Since Omicron surged, many countries have been scrapping COVID-19 restrictions in a shortsighted anticipation of entering an endemic phase. In a post-Omicron world, lockdowns will likely be phased out, and simple safety precautions against the airborne COVID virus, like masking and ventilation are being ignored. The virus is not endemic. No one knows what will happen next.

If the world becomes complacent, the virus will continue to spread in its own enthusiastic fashion. Humanity is simply not intelligent enough to keep safety measures in place until the pandemic is over. Across the country,  people have wishfully returned back to normal in a carefree and ignorant way. An estimated 3 billion people are unvaccinated by choice or lack access to vaccines.

The fire will continue to rage sing there is so much wood left to burn.