If you can make it to the opening on March 21st, please register on Everbrite via the Facebook invitation page. There is no cover to get in, but registering will help guarantee that you get past the velvet ropes, should the Cameo Theater get too crowded.
After sketching the tipis, I walked towards the sound of tribal drumming. Leather hides were stretched tight creating two drums. Groups of men in bright tribal outfits sat around the drums striking down in unison under a large wooden shed structure. About fifty yards of a grassy field was encircled by spectators. Within the circle, people danced. Indian costumes in every color moved to the beat. This powwow was a gold mine of sketch opportunities. One gentleman with a full head dress asked if I did portraits. I assured him I could do a portrait but needed to finish the sketch I had started. He asked me to return the next weekend but the trip to Auberndale from Orlando is far too long.
A microphone was set up for announcements and I heard that cars parked at the far end of the marketplace might get towed. Darn it, that is where I parked. I rushed to finish the sketch. It seems there is always some conspiracy that keeps me from sketching in peace. The dancing in the inner circle stopped and a bird of prey show was about to be staged as I finished up. The handler warned the crowd. “If you have a small dog, please be sure it doesn’t bark. This falcon had a traumatic incident in it’s past involving a small dog and if your dog barks, she will attack it.” I noticed an overweight woman clutching her Chiwawa tightly to her chest. I almost stayed to see if the falcon would carry off a pup.
All the booths in the market place were now empty as I walked my way back to my car. Only a few vendors were still in the market covering up their goods. I discovered more open rural side roads on my trip back to Orlando. I like taking small roads even if I don’t know where they go, just to enjoy the old Florida scenery. Its good to become lost sometimes.
On Saturday January 11th I drove west to International Market World, 1052 U.S. 92, Auburndale, FL., to attend the “Spirit of the Buffalo.” It was a long drive through rural Central Florida to find the Market which must be open every weekend. I knew I had arrived when I spotted these tipis from the road. Right before entering the parking lot, I saw a car get rear ended at full speed. The clueless driver must have been texting. I parked in a muddy field and walked through the market towards the Powwow. The market was immense with fruit stalls, antiques and food trucks.
The Spirit of the Buffalo was located in a field next to the market. Admission was $5 for the day. A large circus tent was set up for larger performances. Open pit ovens were set up to cook maze and other foods. I made my way towards the tipis I had seen from the road. The word tipi comes from the Lakota language and means “a dwelling”. I found the only available shade under a large Live Oak and started sketching. There were large electrical poles next to the tipis which I left out after one of the vendors complained about how he wished they weren’t there. He was right. The sketch looks much better with the poles erased. The same vendor complained about the brown tipi to the right. It was made by a pale skinned hobbyist with no regard to the actual materials used, a “weekend warrior” is how he referred to him.
That hobbyist was ‘Tipi Tom’ who also stopped over to see my sketch. He has been making tipis since he was a kid and he loves attending these powwows. His dog, a basset hound named Scooby barked to greet anyone who got close to the encampment. Tom is now a grandfather to eight month old Joseph who he hopes will inherit his love of Indian traditions. A sign on one of the tipi’s indicated that the Lakota tribe once lived in these structures.
Spank! is playing at the Abbey through March 23rd. On February 20th, Terry and I went to a performance. The place was packed with voracious women dressed in leopard print and zebra stripes. The cougars were on the prowl. Two muscle bound men, their pecks gleaming, stood at the door, welcoming all that entered. I suspect most of the 3 or four men in the audience were gay, waiting in anticipation for some bondage and fun. I hadn’t read ‘Fifty shades of Gray’, but I knew about, as did Terry. Any straight single guys out there, why aren’t you going to see this show? It was a riot, and who wouldn’t want to be in a room full of women screaming for more sexual innuendo?
On the night Terry and I went, the role of Tasha was played by the swing, Sarah Hester Ross. She did a great job playing the young innocent who is swept up by Hugh, (Robert Stack‘s) sexual advances. Andrea Canny played EBJ the sex starved middle aged author who creates the hot scenes as they are performed using her laptop and some imagination. She was great at keeping the audience participation going. As one woman shouted out from the back row, Andrea shouted back “Yes darling, have another drink!”
As EBJ described Hugh’s dark brooding character, he stood in the spotlight with a black cape, his back to the audience. He turned around semi dressed as batman. He wore black underwear with the Bat logo spot lit on his crotch. His bare shaved chest took the audience by surprise, they went wild. Hugh often strutted in slow motion with a sexy James Bond demeanor. The light always chiseled out his muscles. I don’t know many straight guys that look that good, I need to work out. While Tasha just wanted to talk and learn all she could about Hugh, he just wanted what any man wants, plenty of hot steamy action. EBG wrote a scene in which the two couldn’t have sex, by placing them in hang gliders. Hugh was up to the challenge, swooping in behind Tasha and mounting her glider from behind while she delivered a monologue. It was hilarious. I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t catch my breath at times. I heard Terry laughing just as hard.
Tasha walked into the audience looking for a straight guy to interact with. I tucked my head down into the sketch hoping not to be picked. She found a another straight couple and asked the guy some advice about how big an object might fit into her orifice. He raised his arms and spread them wide. “Oh my, she shouted back. that is the size of snow skis. We are going to need some lube!” Though the play is organized into definite scenes, there is plenty of audience interaction like this keeping things lively. Although there is plenty of leather and lace, the sexual acts are pretty tame and obviously staged, but that makes them all the funnier. Tasha finds Hugh’s tooth brush and when he catshes her with it, he demonstrates how to use it to hilarious cheek stretching effect.
This is definitely the funniest show I have seen in a while. You single guys have to wake up and smell the roses. This is the most uninhibited and fun romp in town right now. Don’t miss out. Mark your calenders men. The ladies are already attracted to this show like moths to the flame.
The annual Mennello Museum Gala on February 22nd was referred to as, “An Evening With Fabulous Friends.” In exchange for illustrations supplied for the Museum’s 25th Anniversary, Terry negotiated tickets to the Gala held at the brand new Alfond Inn, (300 E New England Ave. at Rollins College, Winter Park FL.) Each year, The Friends of The Mennello Museum of American Art host an elegant gala to raise funds for the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and programs. This, the Eleventh Annual Gala celebrated The Mennello Museum of American Art, located in Orlando Loch Haven Park, which is owned and operated by the City of Orlando. The Gala also celebrates the passion of its founders, Michael A. and Marilyn L. Mennello. Marilyn passed away years ago and a statue of her is in the museum.
I was working from 9am to 5pm at Full Sail on the Saturday of the gala. Terry agreed to bring my suit and tie to the inn. I met her up front as her Porsche was being valet parked. I felt a little awkward being in jeans surrounded by tuxedos and women in ball gowns. Terry was in a gold sequin dress and blended right in. I rushed off to find a men’s room to change in. There was no large bathroom stall so it was like getting dressed in a very tight closet.
The silent auction items were in a small rotunda with a green house glass domed ceiling. Everyone crowded into this tight space with a craps table taking up a huge chunk of real estate in the center of the room. I spent most of my time trying to keep people from tripping on my art supply bag. Terry flourishes in this type of crowd and she squeezed her way around the room handing out fliers for my retrospective show next month. For a brief moment we stepped outside where it was cool and airy but we immediately went back into the chaotic crowd. I bumped into Michael Mennello and shook his hand. I’m not sure if he remembered me from the day I sketched him in his home.
When they opened the dining room, Terry and I found our way to table 26 which was the Enzian Theater table. Sigrid Tiedtke was warm and inviting, giving us both a hug. I was very flattered that she knew of my work. She looked much like her daughter Elizabeth who I often see at the Enzian. Philip Tiedtke sat next to Terry. The Tiedtke family established the Enzian Theater back in 1985 and it is Orlando’s top art house movie theater. The annual Florida Film Festival is now one of the top ranked film festivals in the country. Another couple at the table turned out to be musicians and I hope to sketch them performing some time soon. Frank Holt, the Executive Director of the Mennello Museum also ended up sitting at our table. Although table 26 was far from the podium, we were surrounded by talented heavy hitters in the arts community.
My tie wanted to keep flopping down onto the wet sketch. I dropped my pencil several times. The room was constantly buzzing with activity as the staff rushed to serve food. I picked at my plate of food as I worked, but I spent more time sketching than eating. The live auction had a fast talking auctioneer. The largest item was a trip to Colorado and most of the other items were group restaurant outings. Before I knew it, the Gala was over. Such events seem so rushed when you try to capture them with a sketch.
On January 10th, Terry and I went to “The Dapper Date: Celebrating the Art of Fashion” at the Maitland Art Center, 231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland Fl. Other People’s Property, which specializes in vintage clothing, showcased fashions from each decade, and clothing was on display and
for sale. One hundred percent of the proceeds were donated to the
Art and History Center. Terry was looking forward to seeing models sporting the various vintage outfits. We got there pretty early and immediately did see some slender models sporting their makeup cases.
“Culture Pop!” is a monthly, one-night-only pop-up exhibition of Central
Florida artists and artisans. Guests took part in interactive art
happenings, listened to “flash fiction” and literary readings
performed by Maitland Poets and Writers, and relaxed in the museums’
Mayan Lounge with music, mingling, beer and wine. Someone had a barn own that he was showing to guests. A native owl swooped down out of the nigh sky, curious to see the owl perched on then guys arm.
Cuban born artist Jake Fernandez gave a quick talk about his work on exhibition, “Constructed Landscapes”. He works with a wide range of media including, collage, drawing and
painting. His work moves between
realism and abstraction with mechanical precision as he documents the
beauty and mystery of the landscape. This show is on display through February 28th. He used thousands of photos and cuts them apart and reassembled them like an intricate mosaic in his final pieces. The final art resembled aerial photos of vast landscapes. Larger pieces are built using a grid which remains visible. Terry was curious about the shadow box frames he uses for his work. Apparently this is the way most museums frame and store work. Jake will be in isolation in one of the at the Maitland Art Center studios for the month of March. The windows will be blocked up so that he gets no sense of night and day. web cam will be set up so people can see how this isolation affects his art. I sketched Robert Ross in this studio and can vouch fort the face that the room has now windows except a tiny window in the bathroom.
Though I spotted a few models in the hallways, I never noticed them doing anything resembling a runway show. Chasing Jonah performed in the Mayan courtyard. The bass player, Brandon Miller, recognized me because I had sketched him performing onstage for the play, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Ashley Dudukovich, had a strong earthy singing voice as she performed mostly original songs. One person from the audience asked for them to do a cover, but they kept sharing original tunes. Sketching became easy as I lost myself in the music. I was seated right in front of the spotlight that illuminated the performers. Mayan base reliefs glowed in the stage lights as the night sky became a deep dark purple. Ashley was curious about my sketch between sets. She let me know that an animation exists that was done for one of her songs. Chasing Jonah is now recording their first album so it is an exciting time for the group.
Terry joined me listening to the music but lost patience and left. As I sketched, she explored the artists studios. I texted her when the sketch was done and she texted back that she was posing nude for a sculptor. I feared that my sketch had taken to long to finish. I started searching the studios to see what she was actually up to. I asked a couple of friends to keep their eyes open just in case they saw Terry nude somewhere on property. The search posy expanded. I eventually found her in Dawn Rosendahl‘s studio and she was fully dressed. Disaster averted.
Saturday March 1, 2014
2pm to 6pm Free. Artist Colony Day. Maitland Art Center, 231 Packwood Avenue West, Maitland, FL. 2-6pm Open Studios and hands on activities
2-6 MAC Wrap: help wrap the Maitland Art Center.
6 Founders tour Peter Banca.
2pm to 5pm $20.00 per Workshop. $35 for 2, $40 for all three! Dr. DJO BI teaches drumming and dancing at the Jammin! School. The Aikido Orlando Dojo 3764 Howell Branch Road, Winter Park, Florida 32792. Dr. Djo Bi has a unique talent and understanding of the rhythms and sounds of his culture. His parents were musicians, and he had a drum in his hands since he was a toddler. Around age 5, he was performing in church; and by the time he was a young teenager, he was invited to begin a professional career as a musician/artist among seasoned adult musicians and dancers. Having lived in Paris, France, for a dozen years, he was able to involve himself with a wide variety of musical experiences. He was even involved with the African Museum in Brussels, Belgium, as part of a research group with Curator Anne Marie Bouttiaux returning with him to his village to learn about mask dance culture. He is the preeminent Zaouly Mask Drummer in the United States.
7pm to 9pm $15. What’s Your Story? East End Market 3201 Corrine Dr., Orlando, Florida 32803. The Orlando Story Club (www.orlandostoryclub.com) is an organization formed to arrange storytelling events in various forms for the enjoyment of the Central Florida community. For their inaugural event they have joined forces with Jennifer Marvel and the Audubon Park Garden District (www.apgardens.com). The event will start at 7pm and will run for approximately 2 hours.
Anyone who wishes to be a storyteller will be invited to put their name in a hat starting at 7pm when the doors open. At 7:25p a local comedian/host will get the festivities started. He will select 10 storyteller names from a hat. He will also nominate 3 judges at random from the audience giving them each a set of scorecards. The first storyteller will start at 7:30p.
The stories are limited to 5 minutes. They must be told without notes and connect to the theme of the evening (Wild Adventures). The theme for this first event will be Wild Adventures. At the end of each story the 3 sets of judges vote and the total score is recorded on a scoreboard at the front of the room. Between each story our comedian will help bridge the gaps as the next storyteller gets ready and the judges tally their scores.
After 5 stories there will be a 15-minute intermission (for more drinks to be ordered). This is followed by the remaining 5 stories. At the end of the night the scores are added up and a prize is awarded to the best storyteller of the evening.
Sunday March 2, 2014
10am to 4pm Free. Lake Eola Farmers Market. Every Sunday. The South East corner of Lake Eola park.
11am to 4pm Free. Art and History Center Art Car Day. Maitland Art Center, 231 Packwood Avenue West, Maitland, FL. Help Andrew Spear create the Art car.
11am to 6pm Free. DeLand Indie Market Spring Edition. Deland Indie Market at Artisan Alley Artisan Alley, DeLand, Florida 32720. The DeLand Indie Market is a curated event that is held 4 times a year showcasing Artists, Boutiques, Vintage and Handmade Vendors.
On January 8th there was an art exhibit opening titled, “Our Dandy Cat: The Life and Memory of Dorian Gray” at Dandelion Communitea Cafe, 618 N Thornton Ave, Orlando, Fl. Dorian Grey, was a much beloved gray cat that lived on the Dandelion grounds. Dorian mysteriously died in mid December. The employees and community who loved him honored Dorian through art. The art work will remained up for the Month of January.
I arrived and ordered a banana salad wrap and the house tea. There is a huge selection of teas and I’m always daunted by the choices. Paintings and sketches of Dorian lined the walls. Hurricane Maria stopped in and joined me for a while. She had done the charming sketch of Dorian right above my head. She also did a large 18 by 24 inch framed caricature sketch of the entire Dandelion staff. Dorian made a cameo appearance in that sketch as well. She said it was a nerve wracking task to get each caricature to look like the individuals while having appeal. Push a caricature to far and someone could be insulted, yet the exaggeration is where the fun is.
Maria explained that Dorian might have died by licking a puddle of anti freeze below a car. Cats are renowned for tasting anything they come upon. A researcher mounted cameras on a number of domestic cats to see what they do when they wander through a neighborhood. Cat owners were astounded at how many life threatening incidents a cat will go through every day. Owners were also shocked at how often the cats were killers. A cat will return home with only a fraction of the prey that they hunt.
Leigh Tarentino is now the Artist in Residence at the Maitland Art Center. On January 7th she gave a talk about her work at the Cottage on Lake Lilly in Maitland. Leigh was the resident artist between December 30th of 2013 and January 17th of 2014. She came to Orlando from her home state of Rhode Island.
Tarentino creates
paintings, works on paper, and digital prints constructed from
photographs of the built landscape. She received a BFA in Painting from
the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA in Painting and Printmaking
from the Rhode Island School of Design. She is currently an assistant
professor at Brown University.
While in residence at the Maitland Art Center, she worked on several new panel paintings from her Memory of Snow
series. This series of small-scale paintings depict snowy winter
nighttime scenes of yards, houses, and gardens, often illuminated by
winter holiday lights on trees and bushes. The work she completed while
in residence in January will be included in a solo exhibition in March
2014 at the Falk Gallery at Christopher Newport University in Virginia.
I appreciated the fact that she creates finished works of art on paper. She feels that paper suffers from the stigma of only being used for preparatory sketches for larger works of art on canvas. She wants to change that perception and only works on paper. I appreciate the way she works on a series of paintings at a time. Much of the work she showed depicted fractured urban environments. She takes photos and then assembles the images in the computer, using that image to create the final piece.
She feels that people in cold environments use Christmas lights to add light at a dismal dark time of year. I hope she got out to see that Floridians go wild with Christmas lights probably because they miss the change of seasons. Leigh said, “The
time I spent here was refreshing and I am returning home with renewed
energy for studio work. I liked the small studio buildings and galleries
scattered around a beautiful central garden. I’m planning to do a
series about the layout and history of the Art Center as an artist-built
community and residence for the exhibition in October.”
Elysia Mann is the new artist in residence between February 3rd and March 17th.
Sandra Lacey wrote a musical called “God Still Dreams of Eden.” I saw it performed several years ago in the black box theater inside the Orlando Shakes. The musical was light hearted fun. “For 20 years Minerva Morgan had let her long-held secret come between her and the only man she ever loved. The appearance of a run-away bride added a dangerous complication…” Sandra told me that bringing the story to the stage lead to further development of the characters. The actors breathed new life into the characters she had imagined. To further expand the story, she developed it into a novel.
On January 3rd, Sandra signed copies of her book at Longs Christian Book and Outlet, 1140 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs FL. I checked with Roger Long, the bookstore owner before I started to sketch. Sandra hadn’t arrived yet, but a table was set up where she could sign books. She set up a little stand next to the table where she placed chocolate chip cookies. Anyone who stopped by would get a quick synopsis about the book. Sandra gathered e-mail addresses and signed books which were 30% off on that day only.
Most patrons in the store were looking for Christian music. There was a station with head phones which allowed people to search for particular tunes. Staff often had to help out people who didn’t know the name of the artist or the song title. One lady was in the store the entire time I sketched. She wasn’t staff, and she never seemed to find what she was looking for. She spoke to a couple for a while and then insisted on praying with them. I’m convinced that if I returned today, she would still be wandering the isles.
Sandra told me that “God Still Dreams of Eden” will be returning to the stage in about a year. Don Hopkinson is the musical director and the plan is to bring the musical back to the Shakes or the Abbey. I’m curious to see how the story has been further fleshed out.
