No More Drunken Monkey

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I stopped off at the Drunken Monkey, (444 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL.) to meet Terry before heading to a party at Matt Rankin‘s house which was right down the street. The party was for Amanda and Matt Simantov who had just been married. Matt explained that the celebration was known as Ma’sshe Kanut. Ma’shhe Kanut is a Jewish Custom where friends wish the Bride and Groom Farewell before they returned home to their Seattle homeland.

A Traditional Ma’sshe Kanut is held at the friend of the bride. Ancient Rabbinic Law mandates a Fire to burn from the beginning of Ma’sshe Kanut (1 hour after sundown) until the last guest takes a hint that everyone wants to go to bed. If this is your first Ma’sshe Kanut, it is customary to bring Kosher Yuengling, Kosher Doritos, or Kosher something everyone will like.

Terry was running a little late, so I figured I had enough time to dash off a quick sketch over a cup of coffee. As always people sat transfixed, staring at computer screens, but who am I to talk. I’m staring at a computer screen right now. Jessica Pauli who is a band promoter was having a meeting at the next table over. All that I overheard is that the venue being discussed had a large comfortable green room. I wonder if I had sketched in that greenroom?

Terry arrived as the last watercolor washes were drying. We walked together down to Matt’s house. Matt was in the backyard nursing the fire pit. It was a cold night so I rotated periodically like a pig on a spit. Chairs circled the fire and soon everyone arrived. Marshmallows were roasted on sticks.  I had a stick with multiple branches but I only roasted one marshmallow. Brian Feldman had come from Washington D.C. to witness the wedding and after this fireside chat, Amanda and Matt would fly off to Washington State.

It was toward the end of the evening when I discovered that there is no such thing as a Ma’ssh Kanut. Matt had made up the word. That didn’t detract from the warmth and fellowship of the fire. I no longer go to Drunken Monkey since they used one of my sketches without consulting me on their Internet welcome page. I usually support local businesses but I can’t support theft.

Weekend Top 6 Picks

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Saturday March 15, 2014

1pm to 4pm Free. Family Days at the Museum. Maitland Art Museum 231 Packwood Ave W, Maitland, FL. Interactive garden sculpture party with Artists in Action. 2pm Screening of Herb & Dorothy 50X50 film.

2pm to 4pm Free. Train Shots Book Release Party. The official book release party for TRAIN SHOTS, by central Florida’s own Vanessa Blakeslee, presented by Burrow Press and the Urban Think Foundation. Event begins at two. Brief reading and Q&A with author at 2:30 p.m., followed by debut screening of TRAIN SHOTS book trailer, produced by Laputka Films, and book signing. http://burrowpress.com/train-shots

3pm to 5pm Free. Acme’s Urban Toy Art Show. Acme Superstore 905 E. SR 434, Longwood, FL. Art show featuring custom toys, art dolls, designer vinyls with family-friendly activities, face-painting, glitter tattoos, vendors, local professional artists, amateur artists, and student artwork from Millennium Middle School! Custom vinyl and art doll workshops and demos throughout the day! Pam Murray will be doing a demo session from 3pm-5pm working on an assortment of various custom items, while fielding questions and showing techniques on both vinyl pieces and model kits. Followed by the official reception for Millennium Middle School students from 5pm-7pm.

Sunday March 16, 2014

1pm to 3pm Free. Yoga. Every week. Lake Eola near the pagoda.

9pm-11pm Free. Solo Acoustic Spoken Word. Natura Coffee & Tea, 12078 Collegiate Way, Orlando, FL. 407 482-5000.

9pm to 11pm Free. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee: 929 W Fairbanks Ave Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out & laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Utility Box Art

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While driving home from Sam Flax, I noticed this artist painting a utility box in the Mills 50 District. From an article I read, I know that artists are paid $200 to paint a box. That might be enough money to pay for the paint and brushes. This artist was smart since he had a festival tent which kept him out of the scorching Florida sun. He had to maneuver around all the tax refund and foreclosed home signs. He had painted this box once before, but it was taken down when a new 7-11 was constructed on the site.

The weekend before, the auto air conditioning shop across the street caught on fire. He kept painting as fire trucks showed up on the scene. His box depicts urban buildings at odd angles and a single puppy on each panel. You can’t go wrong with painting cute puppies. The box is on the corner of North Ferncreek Avenue and Colonial Drive. Grab a 99 cent big gulp at the 7-11 if you stop by, or glance quickly to the right up Ferncreek if you are driving west on Colonial at 50 miles an hour.

I can’t believe I didn’t write the artists name on the sketch. I did write it in a notebook, but for the life of me, I can’t find it. If you know this artist’s work, please let me know. I might have to drive by and see if the finished box is signed.

John Mahoney

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I met John Mahoney way back in 1994. We were both interns at Disney Feature Animation, going through a six month training session. John always had a rebellious streak and the work he produced was inspired and only a loose interpretation of the projects. For instance, one assignment involved doing the inbetween drawings for an old Goofy animated scene. All the keys were supplied as xeroxes and we just had to add drawings to smooth out the action. It was mind numbing simple work. John created drawings under the animation camera making it seem like the drawings were spontaneously creating themselves.

We both ended up working at Disney but John made his way into the creative development department because of his uncompromising ways. I didn’t realize that he had been forced to work in the effects department, a position that he despised. He essentially began his own private sit down strike, allowing scenes to pile up on his desk. Rather than getting fired, he was given an office in creative development. A perk of the job was that he could order any art supplies he needed. If he wanted to do some watercolors, he could order a complete deluxe set. If he decided to use gouache the next day, the he would order a complete deluxe gouache set.

He did development work for the film “Kingdom in the Sun” which would later be called “The Emperors New Grove.” The film was being pitched to Michael Eisner, Aka Darth Vader. Don Hahn, the films producer gave an amazing in depth story pitch.  Michael wasn’t impressed. He said the film felt like a National Geographic documentary and he said the film couldn’t be made. John had been throwing together a short two minute animation that sort of explained the Mayan Creation myths using spontaneous drawings and loose brushwork. Michael saw that short and the film was saved. It is a shame the final film became so watered down.

John is now deeply committed to using Z-Brush to create fanciful and dark imagery. His quirky sensibility affects every project he tackles. Although he is an amazing draftsman, he is drawn to sculpting which he feels is a more pure and convincing way to portray form. He collects immense loose leaf folders full of artist work that he is inspired by. When he works, he surrounds himself with these inspiring images. When discussing how to pick a color palette, he said he likes to look at how ancient civilizations have used color. These cultures developed their color sensitivities over many centuries so the colors have become established. I am amazed and inspired by his drawings done on location.

Party @ The Plaza

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The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra has officially bought and moved into the Plaza Live Theater (425 N. Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL). The Plaza Live Theater has a long standing reputation of bringing world renowned musical talent to Orlando. Terry and I have gone here in the past to hear Michelle Shocked, Beau Soleil, The Mummies, and Gordon Lightfoot. The Philharmonic intends to maintain the traditional high standards. Since the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts doesn’t have a hall acoustically appropriate for an orchestra, the Plaza will give the Philharmonic a place to rehearse and perform.

The Party @ The Plaza on January 25th was a sort of housewarming and fundraiser for the Orchestra and the Plaza Live. The front parking lot was surrounded by metal barricades to discourage party crashers.  Catering was supplied by Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ.  Terry got me a pork and coleslaw “Sunday” that was delicious that I ate while I sketched. The Flat Mountain Band kicked off the evening at 6:30pm on the outdoor stage. There were four other stages inside the Plaza Live and even in the former Russian Ballet School. That ballet school is now in the Mills 50 District. The Dance space was converted into a piano lounge. I went in to listen to Dottie Clendenin perform light classical music. Unfortunately any time the door was opened, the Flat Mountain Bands music would waft in. On top of that, people would stand in the doorway talking while keeping the door ajar. The two musical forms didn’t play well together.

Brian T. Wilson kept Terry company while I sketched. He kept us company throughout the evening. It made us feel like we were the “cool kids” for once. The Jackson Creek String Band performed in the lobby of the Plaza Live. I’m almost certain I’ve heard them perform their lively blend of folk music before. From there, we went into the main stage area where Michael Andrew was performing with his Atomic Big Band. We sat next to Alyson Innes and Jose Fajardo.  Alyson is on the Fringe board with Terry so they always have plenty to gossip about.

Michael introduced David Shillhammer with so much musical gusto that was absolutely hilarious. David pulled raffle tickets for some amazing prizes. Winners ran up onto the stage with as much enthusiasm as you would see on “The Price is Right!” Terry and I mixed it up on the dance floor and then got our photo taken by a Photo Mingle which is a large screen TV that allows people to draw on and manipulate the photo. Photo Mingle was invented by local resident Mike Underwood in his garage.

Whole Hog Butchery Class

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On January 23rd I went to the East End Market, which is part of the Audubon Park Exchange (3201 Corrine Dr. Orlando, FL) to watch chef Tony Adams butcher a hog. Tony is an Award-Winning who founded Big Wheel Provisions and the Big Wheel Food Truck. He offered an in-depth preview of the Big Wheel Whole Hog Dinner that would be served later in the week. In preparation for the dinner, Chef Adams will showed guests how he goes from a whole hog to recipe-ready cut. The live demonstration included the butchering, different preparation techniques, and tastings. Additional hoers d’ oeuvres were be provided, and guests were invited to bring your own beer (BYOB).

Tony noted that this pig didn’t have a bullet hole in it’s forehead so it was likely electrocuted and then had its throat cut so it would bleed out. As a matter of fact he found some electrocution burns at the pig’s neck that further supported that theory. Apparently this is a quick and painless way to die. He stressed his respect for the animal and was grateful that it would offer nourishment. He explained that a good butcher could cut an animal up into its prime cuts within 15 minutes.

The belly, (number 6 on the chart) is where bacon comes from. The loin or New York strip (number 2) is found around the base of the spine just above the hip. Ironically the butt (number 4) isn’t from the pigs butt but rather from the strong upper muscles that support the head. The pigs head was the first thing that he cut off with a few precise incissions with his very sharp knife. The folding table used for the demonstration was a bit wobbly, so it wasn’t the ideal place to butcher the pig.

Tony is actually quite a good artist, because he drew detailed charts that explained the cuts as he did them. He showed how to remove the ribs from the spine with surgical precision. He said, “This looks like a rack of ribs because it IS a rack of ribs.” Hoers d’ oeuvres were prepared in the kitchen by Jes Tantalo using the cuts of meat he had just removed and gusts got to taste the pig even as they watched it butchered. With the sketch done, I stood up and moved in closer with the dozen or so students. I’ve always wanted to sketch a dissection or autopsy so this was the next best thing.

Amanda and Matt Simantov Wedding

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On January 19th Amanda and Matt Simantov were married at Congregation Ohev Shalom Synagogue (613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland Florida). Terry and I had attended a dinner party as well, but that was on the day of rest, so I wasn’t permitted to sketch. All the men at the wedding were encouraged to wear yamakas which are small caps that just cover the bald spot on a man’s head. Each yamaka came with a hair pin to help hold it in place. I buzz cut my hair, so there wasn’t anything to attach the hair clip to. At the reception before the wedding, I walked around the room like there was a text book balanced on my head. I ordered a soda however and realized that I would have to tip my head back when I drank. A straw would have solved the problem, but I didn’t see any. Whenever I drank, my yamaka would flop off onto the floor.

Plan B. There was a sushi bar. I’ve always found sushi rice to be rather sticky. Rather than eat the sushi I picked up, I dissected it, removing the raw fish and sea weed.  I then took the rice and molded it into a Frisbee shaped disk which I then placed inside the yamaka. I pressed it onto my head and regained my head mobility. As the rice dried, it must have lost its stickiness because just as I entered the Synagogue and looked up at the immense sun lit vaulted ceiling, it popped off again. I sat rice less through the service and avoided tilting my head as I sketched.

Terry and I sat sandwiched between Mark Baratelli and Brian Feldman both of whom claimed that they first introduced the wedding couple. During the service, one of the brides maids must have locked her knees because she nearly fainted and had to be moved to a pew by the brides maids around her. The officiant must have missed all the activity because he didn’t miss a beat.

The reception was also in the Synagogue. The photographer was testing out huge flash umbrellas, one of which war right next to the table Terry and I sat at. The flashes were blinding and constant, so I got up and sat across the room on a couch until the green spots stopped dancing in my vision. Elizabeth Drake Forbes gave a moving speech in which she listed all the amazing events Amanda had attended or helped organize while she was here in Orlando. Amanda had just moved to Seattle to be with Matt and that is where they returned to after the wedding. Amanda hasn’t acclimated herself there yet, so Elizabeth’s speech caused her to cry since she has had to let dear friends go to strike out and create a new life across the continent.

For the first dance, Amanda lip synced to a song by Debbie Gibson titled “Lost in Your Eyes” as she danced with Matt. Couples and friends crowded into a photo booth for regal commemorative shots, and of course there was dancing. When Matt was raised up in a chair for the traditional couples dance, he began to slip forward because the four guys couldn’t support his weight evenly. Terry shouted that I needed to help so I squeezed in and lifted it back up just in time. I wonder what kind of bad luck would have haunted the couple had Matt fallen from the chair. All the guests were given sparklers and they created a tunnel leading to the car as the couple ran from the reception to start their new life as husband and wife.

33 Variations

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On February 25th I went to the Winter Garden Theatre ballroom ( 160 West Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida) for a Designer Run of the show, 33 Variations, a play written by Moises Kaufman. Stage Manager Jay Ferrence was the first person I met when I entered the ballroom. He informed me that the purple tape marked the front of the stage. Actress Becky Eck entered soon afterwards and introduced herself. She had played Jane in “Alice Lost in Wonderland” and she did an amazing job grounding that production. A designer run is a full run through of the show that gives the set designer an idea of where characters will be blocked during the production. Producer Beth Marshall and director Aradhana Tiwari sat behind a folding table to watch the show. Pianist Julian Bond will be performing Beethoven‘s 33 Variations live on stage in the final production, but for now a recording was used and Julian watched to see how the performers would be moving on the set.

This was a dress rehearsal so some actors were in period outfits from Beethoven’s era and the rest of the cast was wearing modern clothing. Photographer Kristen Wheeler was shooting the show this night and she set up two lights to illuminate the actors. Beth warned her not to shoot the feet of some of the period costumed actors since they didn’t have the right shoes yet.  During the show, Kristen had total access to the stage and she moved around the actors catching every emotional moment while also switching on and off lights to get the shots. It was an impressive ballet that didn’t once phase the actors.

The plot examines the creative process of Beethoven’s obsessive variations build from a rather plane and uninspired composition by Diabelli (Brett P. Carson). At the same time, the play follows musicologist Katherine Brandt (played by Peg O’Keef) who yearns to understand Beethoven’s obsession. Brandt’s relationship with her daughter (Becky Eck) is strained as she succumbs to a disabling Sclerosis and at the same time Beethoven (Chris Gibson) goes deaf. I had watched a number of performers audition for the part of Beethoven and I must say Chris is compelling as the anger driven compulsive composer.

 The musicologist traveled to Vienna to inspect Beethoven’s original sketchbooks. By flipping through the pages she could see his every thought as he composed. She wondered if he might be mocking Diabelli’s composition with his variations or perhaps he just wanted to one-up Bach who had 32 variations. Beethoven’s loss of hearing may have actually helped him break new ground as he reinvented the very process of creation. Though cloaked in anger and bitterness, he found an amazing joy in the process even as the world grew silent. Minor composers like Diabelli could be satisfied and complacent with their insignificant contributions.

One moment in the rehearsal was absolute magic. I stopped sketching and was drawn in to the moment. Katherine Brandt disrobed as if in a doctors office. I imagined she was preparing for an MRI full body scan. She stood in a spotlight facing the audience with her arms out in a Christ like gesture. Beethoven stood behind her and they leaned back to back. His head leaned back on her shoulder and her head leaned back on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and shuddered with quick breaths of ecstasy. I noticed Becky Eck off stage began to cry, and my eyes welled up as well. There is a certain magic that happens when actors are no longer reciting lines, but they are emotionally invested in every moment.

Mark Your Calendars! The show runs from March 14-30, 2014
Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm,
PLUS Monday, March 24 at 8pm- INDUSTRY NITE

 Tickets: $25 ($21 students/seniors) BethMarshallPresents.com or GardenTheatre.org

Weekend Top 6 Picks

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Saturday March 8, 2014

2pm to 4pm $5, Free to Mennello Museum members. Gallery Walk and Talk with Valerie Ann Leeds, curator of “Southwestern Allure: The Art of the Santa Fe Art Colony”. The Mennello Museum of American Art 900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, Fl. Join us for a walk and talk through the exhibit with Dr. Valerie Ann Leeds, a New York City-based independent curator, writer, editor and art historian with a specialization in Robert Henri and early 20th-century American art.

3pm to 8pm Free. Frankie’s BIG FUN Market. 659 Bryn Mawr, (College park), Orlando , Fl. Every second Saturday. The grand opening of the new Apartment E location! In the coming months we will be growing into an all out sidewalk party, and the event will in time include all businesses that are located up and down beautiful Edgewater drive. Participating businesses are encouraged to co partner with creatives, host the entertainment in their location, or present creative entertainment in any way that “fits” with their business. This is the main goal, to “match creatives with the businesses that are already there, but that it is not the only aspect of this MARKET. There is no charge for creatives (artists,writers, musicians, arts groups, etc) to participate, no commission or entry fees will be required to be paid to APARTMENT E or any other director or sponsors.

8pm to Midnight 21+ Pre Sale: $30/person At the door: $40/peron The Great Orlando Mixer. Orlando’s largest cocktail party will be in Orlando’s most elaborately decorated vintage venue, complete with 1920s costumes, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and craft cocktails from the city’s top bars and bartenders.Throw on your best Prohibition-era garb and come out to sample the tastiest craft cocktails! A LIMITED number of tickets are available for this exclusive event. It WILL sell out!

Visit www.TheGreatOrlandoMixer.com to purchase tickets today!



Sunday March 9, 2014

10am to 6pm Free to attend. Fashion Square Art Fair. Orlando Fashion Square 3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, Fl. on the 2nd Sunday of every month Gallery Fresh Art Markets and Orlando Fashion Square Mall proudly present our “Fashion Square Art Fair.” This is an indoor event showcasing 30 to 60 artists and fine crafts persons located throughout Fashion Square Mall. Space for artists is limited, First Come First Served. ARTIST FAQ’s.

3pm to 5pm 5 cans of food. Spring into Music with the FSYO Annual Children Helping Children Concert. College Park Baptist Church, located at 1914 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL . The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, in partnership with The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, presents their annual Children Helping Children Concert on Sunday, March 9, 2014. FSYO’s pre-professional Symphonic Orchestra, with special soloists and Concerto Competition Finalists: Rebecca Edge and John Horzen, will perform in hopes of introducing young concertgoers to classical music while increasing awareness, raising funds and collecting donations for Second Harvest Food Bank. An ongoing partnership, all proceeds of this event will go to The Second Harvest Food Bank as they fight to end hunger and feed hope.

4pm to 6pm Free. Art and History Museum’s Art Car Party. 231 W. Packwood Ave. Maitland FL.

It’s time to see what the Orlando local muralist, Andrew Spear, has come up with! Join us as we unveil the finished exterior of the A&H Art Car. Did you collaborate the the inside? Come revisit your contribution! What else will be going on at this party?

Music by DJ Nigel , food from Creations Catering, drinks and a talk on creativity by Andrew Spear.

Wednesday Open Words

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Every Wednesday at Austin’s Coffee, (929 West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park FL) Curtis Meyer hosts an Open Mic called “Wednesday Open Words.” The evening starts at 8pm but I was in Winter Park and decided to go to Austin’s Coffee early to grab some diner. Students sat on the makeshift stage immersed in their laptops. The young woman seated across from me lounged on the couch intently reading a real paper bound book. I watched her expression as the read and at times she was visibly upset. Something horrible was going on in those pages. I imagined she might be reading “The Catcher in the Rye.” As I recall it had a red cover. When she got up to leave she noticed my sketch. I had to ask her what she was reading. It turned out that “The Hunger Games” was required reading for one of her classes.

Curtis arrived and gradually he cleared the stage and set up a microphone. The theme for the evening was Disney Animated Films. Having worked at Feature Animation, I had to be a bit of an expert on the decade of films I worked on. Curtis was very stoked about the film “Saving Mr. Banks” which stars Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. He insisted I go see it. To warm up the crowd, Curtis had everyone repeat, “Pink pajamas, penguins on the bottom.” It is a tongue twister which is rather fun to repeat again and again in succession. There were trivia questions between readers and I managed to guess the name of the dog in Disney Pixar’s “Up.” The dogs name was Dug. I won an odd green feathery pin with a yellow skull from “The Princess and the Frog.” It is now partially stained with black ink from one of my pens.

One particularly fun poem used all of the Disney made up words. It turns out that besides Supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus, there are many others that are just as strange. Curtis wanted to find one word that defines each Disney film plot. For instance Rapunzel, the word is Tangled. For Snow Queen the word is Frozen. For Little Mermaid the word might be pants. For Beauty and the Beast the word would be Stockholmed. This might make a good drinking game to whittle each film down to one word. One line from someones poem stuck with me, “The beauty of the world makes demands on us.

Curtis was great about being sure the audience respected how brave all the speakers were. Public speaking is a universal fear. Snapping fingers were encouraged when the poems were profound. Seda Gay spoke about four grown women who returned to the Disney theme parks together. Two of those women were now divorced but they all stepped back to their childhood relationships discovering where they left off. One poet was accompanied by a guitar player. He said most of his creative ideas were formed by the age of 11. He imagined flying being an everyday occurrence to get through our heavy Earth bound days. He was of course speaking as Peter Pan. Curtis chimed in, “All you got to do is believe.”