Paint the bride.

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So, what do you do with your wedding dress when the wedding is over? Most women pack it away in a box and store it for eternity in their closet or attic. Kimme Priddle married Ed Hernandez and she decided to turn her wedding dress into art.

Current Galleries right above The Imperial at Washburn Imports (116 E 1st Street Sanford,

FL

32771) is run by local arts promoter Frankie Messina of Apartment E. Frankie loves the arts and bringing people together. He let Kim and Ed use the Current Gallery’s round room to exhibit their photographs and mixed media art. The highest price was $225 and the lowest $50. 


In the center of the gallery was a small stage with a garden trellis acting as the framing curtains. White Christmas lights were spiraled around the trellis, shining like bright stars. Roses and yellow flowers along with fern and lace completed the elegant stage, along with a sign saying, “Paint the bride.” Wedding guests friends and artists took turns painting the dress being modeled by Kimme. I didn’t see who put the red hand print on her right breast. The room became quite crowded and I patiently waited for quick glimpses of the bride. The paint supplies sat a large wooden wire spool that acted as a table. Two bedside lamps illuminated the scene. 


A daughter of the couple played tunes on an electric keyboard beside me. As quickly as the scene grew crowded and chaotic, it then quickly became still as everyone left. How wonderful would it have been if the groom and officiant arrived, also were painted and then the ceremony took place as well. Unfortunately the wedding happened either before or after.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for October 15th and 16th.

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October 15, 2016

5pm to 11pm Free. Creative City Project. Orange Avenue Downtown Orlando FL. With an estimated 15,000 attendees and more than 800 artists at Creative City Project 2015, it was the biggest and baddest yet. But it’s only the beginning of what we can achieve together as we help Orlando become a city know for creativity and innovation. My sketches will be projected on the side of the Sun Trust building as part of the event.

The Creative City Project 2016 will take over Downtown Orlando with art and creativity.

And this marks a new rhythm for the Creative City Project. From here on out, the Creative City Project will take place the THIRD WEEKEND OF EVERY OCTOBER. No more need to look up dates. Just remember the third weekend of every October. This should make it easier for us all to remember and make space for our city’s most exciting art and performance event!

Journey with us as we awaken the streets and public spaces of our city with art and performance. See Orlando like never before as you immerse yourself among the 100 person Central Florida Community Arts Orchestra. Encounter the Orlando Ballet among the high rises of the city. And, back again this year is a performance from La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil high above Orange Ave.

The Creative City Project is ready to awaken you to a new life of deep inspiration. As you walk the streets of the city, you’ll encounter unexpected creative experiences that remind you that more is possible. You’ll discover amazing cross genre artistic collaborations; large scale performances; and intimate, interactive moments. And when it’s all over, you’ll walk away inspired to embrace a life of adventure the rest of the year.

8pm to 11pm $7 No Borders The Tournament. Will’s Pub, 1042 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL. After a year and a half of building this unique platform for artists to challenge themselves while putting on a show. We were overwhelmed with all the artists that want to participate. What better way to test their skills then on our 4ft x 4ft canvases in an 8 artist tournament.

The 4 winners will qualify to compete on our 6ft x 6ft competitions starting early next year.

Our original rules apply.

4 Black markers with different tips

One color marker

4ft x 4ft Smooth White Canvas

30 Minutes to Complete

Artists get judged on 5 categories

1. Creativity and Originality

2. Neatness

3. Time Management

4. Use of Color Marker

5. Overall Balance

The Crowd gets to pick The Peoples Champ before the judges ruling is announced.

Artists for our first tournament are as follows:

Don Rimx

Jesika Butler

Heidi Kneisl (The Naysayer)

Dante Seven Alvarado

Darrell C Johnson

Todd Bot

Luce Sky

Alejandro Ruiz aka Revel

Our trusty judges are

Earl Lugo

Stazo Oner

Special Guest Judge

Josue Ortiz

 Our house DJ spinning that 90’s hip hop we all grew up listening to and falling in love with Chris Mendez aka DJ Cubby and laying down some cuts, scratches and bruises DJ Sureshot (Theo Sureshot Smith)

Doors open at 8

Show starts at 8:30

$7 Cover

Sunday October 16, 2016

Noon to 3pm Suggested donation. Music at the Casa. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Classern String Quartet.

2pm to 4pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola Park, 195 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL. Near the red pagoda. Every week.

8:30pm to 10:30pm Free but get a coffee. Solo Acoustic Spoken Word. Natura Coffee & Tea, 12078 Collegiate Way, Orlando, FL. 407 482-5000.

Creative Process Workshop with Cirque Artistic Director, Daniel Ross.

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The Gallery at Avalon Island (37 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, Florida 32801) hosted a Creative Process Workshop with Cirque Artistic Director, Daniel Ross. The even I promised to bring a new level of depth and strength to attendees artistic process in this first Creative Process Workshop. The talk uncovered how to develop strong personal practices and how to work with a team of artists to bring a work to life.

The Creative City Project is honored to host the Artistic Director of Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba in this evening in three parts.

First, Daniel gave insights into the Creative Process from his experience working with Cirque du Soleil all over the world.

Second, we’ll take time to answer your questions about your own Creative Process and how to develop a strong company and organization to bring your creative ideas to life.

And lastly, Daniel gave feedback on some of your works in progress. 

The Creative City Project is committed to cultivating a thriving arts community in Orlando, and this new series of workshops is just one more way we’re doing that. Don’t miss it! Reserve your spot today.

When I arrived, the talk back was well under way. I muscled my way in through the standing room only crowd to find a decent view. The room was full of choreographers, dancers, visual artists, documentary film makers, writers and actors. I recognized faces in the crowd from past sketches. Orlando has such a rich talent base. One point that came up that I firmly believe in is to create, even when the mood doesn’t suit you. So long as you keep creating on consistent schedule, then you then find you are creative than you thought you are.

Liahona LDS Books: A Deseret Book Location.

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Liahona LDS Books: A Deseret Book Location, (8905 Conroy Windermere Rd, Orlando, FL 32835), is a Mormon bookstore supplying religious reading material, music, movies, art, jewelry and gifts.  I didn’t know the meaning of Deseret, so I asked Linda Sarascino what it meant and online. “The State of Deseret was a provisional state of the United States,
proposed in 1849 by settlers from The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. The provisional state existed for slightly over two years and was never
recognized by the United States government. The name derives from the word for “honeybee” in the Book of Mormon.” 

I decided to bring my Elite Animation Academy, Urban Sketching Students to the bookstore to sketch. A statue of a prophet held out his to let costumers see the items on the counter. American Flag triangular flags were draped along the counter. My students sat in the stores reading room chairs. I need to encourage them to get closer the action. 

A very well dressed family entered the store and wandered the racks. There were children’s books and toys in the bad of the store. I never knew there were so many religious children’s books on the market. American flag and cloud paintings hung on the wall next to the entry door. Prints were arranged in the wicker basket. The sales lady was from New York City as was the family. They were in town for the Morman Convention. I was fascinated by this clean fashionable sub culture. My mom used to dress me up in a new suit every Easter with an embroidered label on the breast pocket. For whatever reason their clean cut out fits brought me back. 

Outside the sun set behind the duck pond.  My students got some decent sketches, and this was the first class, where I encouraged them to add watercolor to their sketches. Perhaps there was some divine intervention.  

Blackalicious at the Social.

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I met Katie Jane, and Britton Paine, at the Social (54 North Orange Ave, Orlando, FL) to hear Blackalicious perform.  I ordered a drink and sketched the band as they set up on stage. The place gradually filled up as I sketched. We must have arrived very early. The concert itself was a blast. Blackalicious i a bulky mass of a performer and he dominate the stage and crowd. The pit in front of the stage filled with a unified dancing mass.

New Breed was a lively brass band that performed next. with several drinks in me, the lines flowed easier but less accurately. (t was fun to try to catch the glow of all the different colored stage lights. Local artist and perform Asaan Swam burger Brooks was in the house and swung by for some face time.

Blackalicious took the stage again, and his rap lyrics seemed absolutely spontaneous as if s constant improvised flow.Another rapper got the crowd to raise their hands and pump their fists in the air. I have never experienced a mo lively and raucous concert. the social is small which keeps , performers and audience in close proximity. Sketching to rap music is a joy. I couldn’t stop myself and ended up do in y third sketch.  What ever happened to my “one a day” mantra? Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. In an inebriated moment of inspiration I might produce some thing unexpected.

Someone flipping through my sketchbooks though these sketches were an unfinished mess, but I rather like them. Sometimes it in about a polished result, but about the experience. Right now, Hurricane Matthew is threatening Florida, essentially shutting down the state. Wouldn’t it be fun if the Hurricane were named Blackalicious? This performer is very much a force of nature.

Angels at the Abbey.

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The Abbey, (100 S Eola Dr #100, Orlando, FL) hosted a red carpet event benefiting the Pulse of Orlando Fund. The evening marked three months since the tragedy and focused on the positivity, love, and inspiration we have seen from around the World. The evening included a Silent Auction, sale of Original Art pieces from around the World, performances by the Orlando Gay Chorus, Evin, and featured performer Brandon Parsons, singer of the hit single “Forty-Nine Times.”

Pulse entertainment manager, Neema Bahrami, was the MC for the evening and Pulse owner Barbara Poma was also in attendance.

This was a VIP red carpet event with limited tickets sold. 
100% of the proceeds for the evening went to the Pulse of Orlando Fund, the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit currently distributing funds to victims.

When I arrived at the Abbey, the Angels were lining up outside to greet guests as they arrived. It was a grey dusk and as I started to sketch it started to drizzle. I ran for cover on the patio. Winds picked up and angel wings snapped briskly, sometimes in other angel’s faces. Finally the light rain became a downpour and all the angels had to take cover. Some angels held their wings in place, while others let their wings flap. Duane Garrett in the bandanna and hat looked like a serious biker. That makes sense since Harley drivers are often some of the most charitable people you will meet. Duane introduced me to his wife Sunshine Garrett and she told me about how they have been wearing the wings to as many events as possible since day 1.  The wings were finally abandoned to the costume racks. The elements had won, but only after a valiant effort. In tight quarters, the wings PVC supports would often get tangled. The best way to maneuver was stepping sideways. One woman stood in the rain alone despite being drenched. The wings must get heavy when wet.

Toward the end of the evening, Barbara Poma, Pulse employees and several survivors lined up on the stage. A woman at the end of the line began to cry and the person next to her put her arms around her. Who had she lost? I felt an incredible love and loss as the room filled with applause. Approximately $4000 was raised for the Pulse of Orlando Fund.

Family Days at the Mennello Museum of American Art.

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On the Second Sunday of each month there is a Free Family Day at the Mennello Museum of American Art, (900 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). The make-and-take craft table is open from noon-2:30 p.m., and docents are available to give mini-tours of the museum. Then it’s open house in the galleries until 4:30 p.m. 

The craft table is always bustling with parents and children. On this day, kids could convert an ordinary stick into an exotic talisman. Yarn could be wrapped around the stick and there was plenty of paint and beads to add to the decorations. The Earl Cunningham paintings literally glow with the way they are lit in this gallery. 

The next free family fun day will be Sunday, October 9th, 12 – 2:30 p.m. Guests can engage with the newest temporary exhibition, Three American Artists
on one of the 15 minute Tenacious Tours happening every half hour. Be
inspired to create your own work of art investigating energy and wind
like Alice Aycock, landscape and material like Barbara Sorensen, and
figure and metaphor like Deborah Butterfield. The galleries will remain
open until 4:00pm!

Catharsis brings a personal form of Horror to Orlando.

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Catharsis is an all-new immersive haunted experience unlike anything Florida has ever encountered. You are offered the freedom to discover your true self.
This experience is not about simply startling you. This is not an
“extreme” haunted house. Catharsis is about reaching you on a deeper
level. It’s about the chill that runs down your spine. It’s about the
involuntary feeling of dread that consumes you as you step out into the
unknown. Reservations are now open. click here for tickets.

Human beings have always been attracted to
vice, but too often our sinful impulses are thwarted. experience Catharsis to find out for yourself what happens when our species is
given complete freedom to express our darkest desires. when experiencing catharsis, you will find all attention is fiercely focused directly on you.

This experience is not about simply startling you. It’s about
reaching you on a deeper level. It’s about the chill that runs down your
spine. It’s about the involuntary feeling of dread that consumes you as
you step out into the unknown.

Choosing to enter alone or in a small group is only your first decision. Your next may very well spell your doom. Whether you hide your
frightened face, try to cease your nervous shakes, or simply scream out
with the voice of a thousand wretched souls… now there’s a choice that
we will enjoy toying with. You will face consequences for your
reactions. You may never know just where you went wrong.

You won’t see the scares coming. You won’t be distracted by others ahead
of you. It’s as if all of the terrors have been specifically unleashed
on you…

You’re just one sinful step away from losing your soul.

The Catharsis experience is available on select nights throughout October 2016. 

Hours: 8:00pm – 11:30pm

Tickets to Catharsis are sold in 30-minute arrival windows. you must arrive and check in during that window. upon arrival, you will first enter the Deadly Sins Bar where you may check in, relax, enjoy a drink and a few sinfully fun activities while you await your entry to the experience.
Selena Blackwood behind the bar has an amazing ability to know what sins tempt you most. She knows no boundaries.

Dates:  

October 8, 2016 

October 13, 2016 

October 14, 2016 

October 15, 2016 

October 16, 2016 

October 21, 2016 

October 22, 2016 

October 23, 2016 

October 26, 2016 

October 27, 2016 

October 28, 2016 

October 29, 2016 

October 30, 2016

You will experience Catharsis in groups of 1 – 4.

Standard entry ($24 per person) – you / your group may enter with other guests.

Private entry upgrade ($10 extra per person) – you / your group will enter without other
guests. this upgrade enables you to enter ALONE, if you wish…

To experience catharsis ALONE or in a PRIVATE GROUP you MUST purchase a standard arrival ticket PLUS the upgrade for each person. 

Catharsis is inevitable.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for October 8th and 9th.

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Because of Hurricane Matthew, many weekend events are being canceled. Check online.

Saturday October 3, 2016

9am to 5pm Free. 43rd Annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival. Central Park, West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park, FL. Art confined to tents.

3pm to 5pm Free. The Orlando Come Out with Pride Parade. The streets around Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando. Show your support make the the biggest most color of Pride Parade ever. 49 Angels will march with Macy’s balloons. Many more surprises. Pride, Predjudice and Protest, an exhibit at the Orland Regional History Center has the history of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) community in Central Florida . This
exhibit from the nonprofit GLBT History Museum of Central Florida shares
the progress and setbacks of the Central Florida GLBT community over
the past five decades of change. A section of the exhibit features items left at Pulse memorials.

6pm to ? Free. Come Out With Pride After Party. The Abbey, 100 South Eola Drive, Orlando, FL. Sure to be a wild party and celebration of life and love.



Sunday October 4, 2016

 Noon to 2pm Donation based community YogART class: 7 Chakra series. Artegon Marketplace 5250 International Dr, Orlando, Florida 32819. Every 2nd Sunday of the month YogART will be hosting FREE Color Therapy Yoga classes for the community at Artegon Marketplace (located in the community room across from section B6 – use movie theater entrance)

We are excited to bring you our “7 Chakra Series” that will focus each class on each individual chakra: breaking down it’s color, meaning, location and function. This particular class will revolve around our second major energy point known as “The Sacral Chakra”.

Color Therapy glasses will also be provided for those who wish to experience the effects of color therapy. Orange will be the primary focus for our Root Chakra but you may wear any color you want to work with.

This is an ALL LEVELS class which incorporates stretching, breathing exercises and light yoga poses geared around the Sacral Chakra.

We also have a color wheel on our site that explains the benefit of each color (glasses) Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. http://www.yogartinc.com/color-therapy-chart/

Please bring your own yoga mat and prepare to unwind

1pm to 5pm Free. Family Day on the Second Sunday. The Mennello Museum of American Art, 900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803.The make-and-take craft table is open from noon-2:30 p.m., and docents are available to give mini-tours of the museum. Then it’s open house in the galleries until 4:30 p.m.

2pm to 7pm Free. Feria De Tapa Toro. 8441 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819. FREE PAELLA, MUSIC, DANCING and GAMES!

We’re bringing a taste of Feria De Seville, a traditional Spanish fair, to Orlando. This free, family-friendly event will include free paella from Tapa Toro, live music, flamenco dancing entertainment and various interactive games.

This event will be held on the I-Drive360 Courtyard

Get Ready to Rumble.

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At the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, idealistic young lovers Maria and Tony find themselves caught between rival street gangs, the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence, and prejudice is one of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, and relevant musical dramas of our time. West Side Story’‘s legendary jazz, Latin, and classical-inspired score features the treasured songs ““Something’‘s Coming,“” ““Tonight,” ““I Feel Pretty,” and ““America.“”

I didn’t find anyone to take the second seat. I also had a drink ticket, so I ordered a red wine at Harriet’s bar before the show. Several kids getting snacks at the bar had never seen the show before, so the lady behind the counter let them know the they were in for a treat. I sat house right and pretty far back, so my sketching wouldn’t disturb anyone. This show is incredibly timely. Each show is done in honor of a victim of the Pulse tragedy of June 12th. Angel wings were on display in the lobby and a photo and biography was on the display.

In the second act Tony and Maria dream of a place far away from street gang and violence. The idyllic song “Somewhere” in this show featured gang members and the women dressed all in white and they danced and played like children. There was in once and joy in the dance. I found myself crying. It was beautifully choreographed and I’m certain it was inspired be the violence that has traumatized Orlando. Towards the end of the song all the dancers lifted their arms, and they seemed to float blissfully above the stage.

So many of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting we Puerto Rican thus the prejudice an hate against them seemed as if it had been written yesterday. In a world where labels define us all, how can there be a time for us or a place for us? That is why I found myself crying. Nothing has change since the 1960 when the play first hit the stage.

Both Marc Koeck who played Tony and Carlee Evans who played Maria had amazing voices. I was swept away, safe in the darkness of the theater.  I slipped away during the uproar of the standing ovation. I didn’t want to break the spell by clapping. I let the emotion linger and wash over me on the drive home. People want to forget. A committee vetoed some of my sketches of Pulse vigils from being projected on the Sun Trust Bank during this month’s Creative City Project. We are only strong if we remember and don’t sweep aside the loss. We hope for change but it never comes. But we can never give up.

You don’t want to miss this show.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 – 2:00 PM

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 – 7:30 PM

Thursday, October 6, 2016 – 7:30 PM

Friday, October 7, 2016 – 7:30 PM

Saturday, October 8, 2016 – 2:00 PM

Saturday, October 8, 2016 – 7:30 PM

Sunday, October 9, 2016 – 2:00 PM