Mennello Museum

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I have been returning periodically to the Mennello Museum (900 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL) to do sketches of the exterior. This is my favorite sketch so far. I had to eliminate a tree to help streamline the composition. Trees have been disappearing at an alarming rate at the museum recently. The property is owned by the City of Orlando and they maintain the landscape. A large hole that looked like a grave marked the spot where one tree once stood. A wedding was happening that day and I imagine the happy couple posing for photos in front of the open grave where the huge root system had been dug up.

Another day I came to draw, bright yellow caution tape marked off a large area behind the museum.  A tree branch had fallen and the yellow tape was meant to protect an unsuspecting public. I hope the tree isn’t cut down to spite its branches. There is a huge Live Oak in front of the museum with sweeping long branches that swoop down and touch the ground. It must be hundreds of years old. It is a gorgeous tree. Spanish moss hangs lazily from many of the trees as a reminder that we are in the deep south.

Now on display in the Museum you can discover the Everglades through art. In 1935 American artist Eugene Francis Savage made the first of many
journeys into the Florida Everglades to study the Seminoles. Inspired
by his observations over two decades, he created perhaps the most
extensive painted record of the Florida Seminoles from the early 20th
century. These works reflect Savage’s concern for the plight of native
culture as tourism, land development and environmentalist debates
threatened their traditional way of life. Capturing the natural rhythms
of the Everglades, these works present a vision of Seminole life and
seek to awaken the imagination and inspire the spirit. This is a great series of paintings. Be sure to see this rare collection before it leaves on January 5th. Its a great place to bring family over the holiday. 

Admission for adults is $5. Members get in free. Get a loved one a museum membership this holiday season. It makes a great stocking stuffer and is a gift that keeps giving all year long. I have two free tickets to the museum for the first person who can name the artist whose pen and ink drawings with watercolor were published in 2000 as the book “Crackers in the Glade.” His work is now on display in the Mennello through January 5th. Just post your answer in the comments section to win, or e-mail the answer to analogartistdigitalworld@gmail.com.

The museum will be closed December 23-25 and December 30-January 1st.

Darius Goes West

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I went to a screening of a documentary film titled “Darius Goes West.” Darius Weems has Duchenne muscular dystrophy which restricts him to a wheelchair. Darius’s brother Mario Weems died from the same disease at age 19.  Logan Smalley was a counselor at a ‘Project REACH‘ camp, a facility set
up to give the experiences of being at ‘camp’ to children with
disabilities, there he met Darius. After reading a copy of a letter Darius had penned to MTV‘s show Pimp My Ride
in which Darius had asked them to consider refurbishing his wheelchair,
Smalley organized a cross-country trip for Darius to Los Angeles, which
to the group became known as the ‘Darius Goes West Project’.  Though the initial letter had been ignored, they decided to get Darius out west so he could meet the producers face to face. The film documents the trip west with Darius and 11 of his friends.

Darius had never left his hometown of Athens Georgia so this road trip was the adventure of a lifetime. The term “goslabi” on the filmmakers T shirts referred to a scene in the movie where Darius was offered goslabi in a Chinese restaurant. Goslabi is a hot past often offered with sushi. Darius took a whole teaspoon and the scene showed his shocked reaction. The friendship and bonds between the characters became clear over the course of the film. This prank, rather than cruel, showed that Darius wasn’t seen in any way as a cripple but rather as an equal.

Documenting the trip in the mobile home showed how often simple amenities like a bathroom or store are often not wheelchair accessible. The young college students help Darius overcome every obstacle. In the end, Darius gets to the west coast and meets the cast of “Pimp My Ride.” The actual cast loved the idea, but the producers held fast and refused to upgrade Darius’s wheelchair. The boys had to return defeated. 7,000 mile road trip across the United States to promote awareness of the fatal disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and to raise money for research into a cure.

Back in their hometown, people had raised money and hired a local mechanic and craftsman to add custom features to a wheelchair. Flames were painted on its side, a state of the art audio system was worked into the chair. The alterations to the chair however weren’t as important as the alterations to the participants. When they started, the boys knew nothing about film making or fundraising. The film has won an incredible number of awards and the goal to raise awareness has become an unstoppable movement. The film celebrates life that should be embraced with open arms. No setback or disability can stop someone who truly wants to live.

All proceeds from the film go to ‘Charley’s Fund‘, named for DMD sufferer Charley Seckler, and set up as a non-profit foundation investing in scientific research to help cure DMD. The filmmakers had originally hoped the film might raise $70,000 for DMD research, but by March 2009 they had raised $1.5 million, and by June 2009 they had raised $2 million.

Nostalgiart

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On November 20th, I went to Bart (1205 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, Fl) to see Christie Miga‘s Nostalgiart show opening. As Christie said, “I have created a small, yet completely rad spray paint show based on my favorite things as a child of the 80’s: He-man, Mario Bros., Jem, Garbage Pail Kids, etc. It’s been a few months since my last art show because I needed a little break from the deep thoughts and underlying meanings of my last show. So, I decided to just have fun and create art that simply makes me happy and for no other reason than that.”

Bart is a small bar that has vintage arcade video games from the 80s and 90s. I got there before the place filled up ordered a beer and started sketching. Christie and Evan Miga showed up shortly after and sat on the couch beside me as they finished up the food they had ordered from the food truck outside. Christie had what looked like a cake box but it was full of Christmas ornaments Christie had painted. AS friends and patrons filled the room, the couple mingled. One lady at the bar asked me if she could look inside the box beside me. I guess she thought I was in charge. I said it was fine and she looked through picking out several ornaments she might like to buy. I pointed out Evan to her and she approached him to complete the sale.

Evan has just recently gotten a dream job at Disney Imagineering. When I asked him about it, he sounded just like I did when I first started working at Disney Feature Animation. He is thrilled to be surrounded by so many amazing artists. Red dots started appearing under many of the paintings which were priced to sell. The paintings were fun and colorful with a powdery airbrushed feel. Many referred back to childhood animation shows but what attracted me was the bright patterns and colors achieved with stencils and occasional areas of hand painting. I’d love to see an entire car covered with these powdery abstractions. I mentioned the idea to Terry but she prefers the metallic grey surface that rolled off the showroom floor.

By the time my sketch was done, about half the pieces on the walls were sold and the room was packed and buzzing. Someone explained to me that this is the way you need to sell art in Orlando, by matching your work to the theme of a venue and offering it for cash that people might have in their wallet. Pop, fun and airy work seems to sell best in this theme park town. This show fit the bill and was a home run hit. Mark your calendar! The show is only up till the evening of December 23. Head over and check it out before the Holidays.

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Weekend Top 6 Picks

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Saturday December 21, 2013

10am to 4pm  Commander’s Call. Free. Museum of Military History 5210 West Irlo Bronson Hwy Kissimmee FL. This ongoing program is held on the 3rd Sat of each month is designed to appeal to families, military memorabilia collectors, history buffs, re-enactors & others interested in military history. In addition, persons interested in displaying, trading or selling their military items such as honor coins, swords, photographs, military buttons, scale model boats & planes, military art, uniforms or other equipment register in advance by calling the museum to reserve a spot. Re-enactors & veterans are welcome to come in uniform to add to the history & authenticity of the military experience. Non-military booths such as health care providers, home improvement, local attractions or other businesses are invited to be vendors for minimal donation.

3pm to 7pm Cruisin’ Downtown DeLand Car Show! Free. East Indiana Ave Downtown DeLand, Deland FL.  Classic cars & rods.  Live DJ, giveaways, shopping & dining. Fun for the family! Every 3rd Saturday night! http://mainstreetdeland.org/calendar.cfm/mode/details/id/12037/recurringId/71147/cruisdowntown-deland-car-show

9pm to Midnight The Falcon Presents: C-Note Collection. Free, but be sure to grab a drink and linger. The Falcon 819 E. Washington Street, Suite 2, Orlando, Fl. Original art and framed prints under $100.

Sunday December 22, 2013

1pm to 3pm Irish Music. Free. Olivia’s in 108 N. Bay Street, Eustice FL. http://www.oliviascoffeehouse.com/

5:30pm to 9pm Southern Fried Sunday. $10 Will’s Pub 1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL. Thomas Wynn & Friends, Hymn for Her, Bad Santa & The Angry Elves and The Bloody Jug Band will be entertaining you with some great music!   BBQ from The Smiling Bison!

6:30pm to 9:30pm   First European Winter Fair. Rosen Shingle Creek 9939 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL.  The newest family event is a European-Style Gift-mart and Culinary-crafting. Booths and vendors, with displays on the decorated outdoor patio of the beautiful hotel, will offer gifts and crafts, cocktails and food, chocolate workshops, ornament-making, cookie decorating, custom Christmas stockings and more. Call 866.996.6338 for reservations.

Windermere Arts Festival

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The Windermere Arts Festival is held annually in a lakeside park nestled among the chain of lakes. There were artists tents, a boat show, antique cars and a wake boarding competition. Local authors read from their work.

; Rhoade on his red bicycle told me a little about the mission to try and save Nehrling Gardens. The Gardens are
the former home of famed horticulturalist Henry Nehrling, who
purchased the property in 1885 to establish a garden where he could
experiment with tropical and subtropical plants year round. It is
located in Gotha, Florida, a small community near Orlando that was
founded by German Americans in the 1870s. The 1880s frame
vernacular style home and semi-detached kitchen were moved by
ox-cart to the site in the early 1900s.

 

Palm Cottage
Gardens was Florida’s first experimental botanical garden where Dr.
Nehrling tested over 3,000 new and rare plants for the USDA. By the
early 1900s it was a popular destination for thousands of tourists,
nature lovers, and new Florida settlers. Many prominent people of
the era, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Liberty Hyde
Bailey, Theodore Mead and Dr. David Fairchild, marveled at the
garden and celebrated Nehrling’s extraordinary work. Of the 60
plus acres purchased by Henry Nehrling between 1885 and 1897, only
the 6-acre homestead site remains; a portion of this extends into Lake Nally. Remnants of the original 100-year old tree canopy and
many of his plantings still exist, and the house is a charming and
authentic example of pioneer Florida life.

  

The Mission of the
Henry Nehrling Society is to preserve Dr. Nehrling’s historic home and
gardens in Gotha, Florida, and provide a History and Horticultural
Education Center focusing on environmental conservation and to:

  • Honor Dr. Nehrling’s horticultural and ornithological achievements.
  • Preserve the remaining historical home and gardens in Gotha, Florida.
  • Recognize the community’s historical and German-American cultural heritage.
  • Teach environmentally
    sound gardening and landscaping practices through horticultural classes
    and demonstration gardens; provide education for wetlands restoration
    and conservation.

See Art Orlando

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I went to Loft 55 Gallery and Boutique (55 West Church Street, suite 114, Orlando, Fl), curated by Ashlie Lawson, to see  an interactive performance concept by Stephen AG Carey. This local artist will be locked within a gallery to only portray the messages given to him by the community. He calls this exhibit “Messages 4 the Cure” to help advocate for those who have survived, still battling or lost their lives to cancer. People were able to write a message and tape it to the gallery
windows for those individuals who survived, are still battling, or lost
their lives to cancer. The artist then rewrote the messages onto an art
piece hanging on the galleries wall.

Unfortunately when I arrived a little before rush hour, a sign on the door said the artist was out for a three hour break. The painting in progress had maybe ten lines of copy written into the piece. The writing was too small for me to read. The painting was far from complete. This was a sad excuse for performance art. The concept was good but the execution wasn’t great. I lost interest and left.

Since I still needed to do a sketch, I hiked to Lake Eola to sketch one of the new See Art Orlando sculptures of a flock of gulls swooping over the lake. See Art Orlando’s mission is to enhance the aesthetic experience and cultural image of Downtown Orlando through a major Public Sculpture Community Project. The installation of iconic works of art throughout the City will bring National and International attention to Orlando and will add to the economic viability of the community.

The flock was sculpted by Douwe (“Dow”, a Dutch name) Blumberg. He came to his art career by a rather circuitous route. Born in Los Angeles of two amateur artists. During a childhood that was almost a continual art education, he spent some formative years in Europe being exposed to western artistic traditions. Later he attended the University of Southern California’s prestigious Idyllwild School of the Arts and Music. This was followed up with four years of sculpture/metal working education during which he won many national awards. His education was capped by an apprenticeship at a CA art foundry where he mastered the many facets of creating bronzes. He attributes his ability to work in varied techniques and styles to this style of learning.

Upon graduation however, he did not immediately pursue an art career. Instead, he became a professional horse trainer, a career he pursued for 18 years at his ranch outside of L.A. Gradually, however, he started sculpting again, albeit part time, and began accepting commissions. As demand for his work grew, he was forced to choose between the two careers; his lifelong passion of sculpting won out. Closing his barn in 2000, he relocated to centrally located Kentucky where he has a studio and home north of Lexington. Douwe has completed well over 200 private and public commissions and has numerous awards, residencies and shows to his credit.

Dickens by Candlelight

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On December 14th I went to a dress rehearsal for Dickens by Candlelight at The Cross (1300 Brookhaven Drive Orlando FL). The Cross is in Ivanhoe Village and it is in a neighborhood of warehouses. When I arrived it was dark so I waited under a street lamp out front. After maybe ten minutes I saw a Prius pull into the parking lot next to the building and Terry Olson popped out and quickly rushed behind the building like the white rabbit. I followed, but when I rounded the corner he was gone. There was a small glass door at the back of the building and through it I could see a woman in turn of the century period dress. I entered the dark room.

John DiDonna who plays Scrooge had informed me about the rehearsal. Monica Long Tamborello and Robin Olson  played just about every other character in the Dickens tale, The Christmas Carol. This is the 16th anniversary year that Dickens By Candlelight has been performed in Orlando. Robin Olson who first wrote this adaptation is returning to the cast this year. Producer Kenneth Ingraham gave me tips on where I might catch the action in my sketch. Fewer people showed up than expected, and he suggested I sit closer but I was already committed to this sketch.

The warehouse doubles as a church and it turned out that the rehearsal was being staged for parishioners to thank them for letting the space be used for rehearsals.  Ben Hoyer and his family were the first to arrive. Ben is the founder of Credo Coffee Shop and he helped acquire this space for church use. As people arrived, the cast made their way back stage behind barn-like sliding doors. A bare branch was suspended from the ceiling with delicate golden ornaments hanging from it. Each table in the room had a red candle and tiny bells. At one point in the production everyone was encouraged to ring the bells then stop on cue.

The tale cleverly envelops the audience as the characters move through
and around the guests who are seated at treat-laden tables.  The three talented Orlando
actors, portray all of the roles and artfully transform themselves from
character to character and stave to stave.  The best way to witness
visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and  Future is while
enjoying homemade cookies and a pot of freshly-brewed hot  tea.   Since there have been so many film adaptations of Dickens Christmas Carol, I expected to feel jaded. But the cast kept the story engaging and suspenseful. John DiDonna did an amazing job portraying Scrooges greed and then joyful redemption.

When it came time for the ghostly visits, the room was only illuminated by the flickering candles. Scrooge shouted in terror when the huge metal garage door rattled by forces unseen.  I suspect Terry Olson must have been outside rattling the doors on cue but the effect was ghostly and unnerving. This subtle use of sound and candlelight held more dramatic terror than any of today’s special effects laden films. This is theater’s magic as people gather together in a dark room to share a tale. Children huddled close in their parents arms. The costume changes were quick and numerous with every word save one having come from Dickens pen. Audience members became part of the action as they joined the cast in holiday celebrations.

I highly recommend this show to ring in your holiday season. Shows will be in the Patron’s Room at the Orlando Shakespeare Center (812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL). Tickets are $35 with group rates available.

Wednesday December 18, 8pm

Thursday December 19, 8pm

Friday December 20, 8pm

Saturday December 21 4pm and 8pm 

Sunday December 22, 4pm and 8pm

Monday December 23, 8pm

Culture Pop

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On November 8th, I exhibited a sketch at the Maitland Art Center (231 W. Packwood Avenue, Maitland FL.) Devin Dominguez had the unique idea of exhibiting art on clothes lines in the museum’s courtyard. Since there was no charge to the artists, I submitted a sketch for the evening. My sketch was on the right hand clothesline in that inverted pyramid stand.

The evening included music, poetry from Maitland Poets and Writers, and food from Gator County BBQ Food Truck and of course cocktails. The Art and History Museum’s Main Galleries will were open for guests to enjoy A Day in the Life of the Research Studio and shop at the Museum Store. Terry stopped out, excited to hear local author Naomi Butterfield read. Inside the Art Center, there was an exhibit by the first artist in residence in 56 years,  Josette Urso from Brooklyn New York. This is the first formal,
nationally competitive Residency program at the Art and History Center since
Smith’s fellowship program, which was funded by Mary Curtis Bok from
1938 through 1957. Several of Josette’s pen and ink drawings were absolutely stunning. I should have bought one. All the sketches and drawings were done around the Maitland Museum property, having the Mayan motifs. Other work was more abstract. It was a really good exhibition.

We ran in to a former colleague of Terry’s who was exhibiting several photos of horses. The plan was to stay until the event closed and then take the sketch home that night, but after watching several readings, Terry wanted to go out to get some dinner. We ended up getting some fast food. I picked up my art a week later.

Amazon Hose and Rubber

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While driving to the College Park Jazz Festival, I noticed that Amazon Hose and Rubber will be moving from the warehouse they have occupied for years. The current location is 1625 West Princeton Street Orlando, Florida and the new Location (Coming January 2014) will be 4105 Seaboard Rd Orlando, Florida. The current location was always easy to spot since there is an old water tower behind it and the front facade is covered with a colorful mural that showcases Florida wildlife.

Summer Rodman is  the president of this family owned business started
started by her grandfather Harry Jacoby back in
1919.  Her grandmother Lorena did collections and worked int he office until
she took over in 1973 after his death. She was a little blond with a
big personality and many of the long time players in the industry still
remember her. Lorena ran this male-dominated business
at a time when a woman had many more challenges than now, and she not
only succeeded but set an example of leadership, dedication and the
pursuit of superior customer satisfaction. Summers mother ran the business for years and still consults. Though the business started small, it is now grosses over 11 million dollars by supplying Central Florida’s hose needs. They also serve national and international orders thanks to the Internet. It was ranked as one of the Top 5 Women owned Businesses in Central Florida by the Orlando Business Journal.

There is a counter at the front entrance of the current location where costumers can sit to wait for their hose order to be filled. Construction workers and do it yourselfers constantly muscled up to the counter. Staff would scour the warehouse which is like the Library of Congress for hoses. Row after row of shelving housed every kind of hose and bracket.