Wine Women & Shoes

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Wine Women and Shoes held at Sea World‘s Ports of Call on May 18th, raised money to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida which is a private, nonprofit organization that collects and distributes donated food to more than 500 nonprofit partner agencies in six Central Florida counties: Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia.

When Terry and I arrived at Ports of Call, we first had our photo taken. The photographer remembered that I had sketched Wine Women and Shoes last year and she later took several shots of me at work. Maria Diestro lead Terry and I inside a bit early so I could get a jump on my sketch. I immediately focused my attention on these couches bathed in magenta light. No one was seated yet but I figured women wearing high heels would definitely want to sit and rest.

Terry sampled the food and wine while I sketched. She sat on the couch and I caught her fingerirg her iPhone. The only other men in the room were waiters holding silver platters with high heel shoes on them. There were vendors everywhere and a percentage of any sales went to Second Harvest. For $50 you could buy a key to a closet door. Inside that closed was merchandise valued at over $6,000.

Wendy Wallenberg and Coralie Claeysen-Gleyson, the director at Jai Gallery, joked around with Terry for a while.  This was my first time meeting Coralie and I was so pleased that she knew about my sketch-a-Day project. Wendy was wearing an industrial pair of high heels that seemed to catch every woman’s eye. There was a competition for the woman wearing the most fabulous shoes and I heard Wendy won. Terry lamented that she didn’t wear her Eiffel tower themed high heels. With my sketch done, I had time to nibble one pastry before the food was carted away.

Chris Belt

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Christopher Belt, the creator of the Accidental Music Festival, performed on classical guitar, with Nathan Selikoff showing his artwork on April 21st at the Timucua White House (2000 South Summerlin Avenue, Orlando FL). It was a very crowded concert, but I managed to find a front row seat. Prior to Christopher taking the stage, Benoit Glazer’s daughter performed on violin along with a first chair violinist whose name I didn’t catch. They performed one piece, so I knew that my time was limited to sketch them.

A large flat screen TV was set up behind the stage. As Chris performed, Nathan Selikoff sat with his hands suspended over a laptop. Nathan interacted with and manipulated an abstract pulsating form on the screen with the movement of his hands using a new motion capture device that was reminiscent of user interfaces as used in Science Fiction films like the Minority Report or Iron Man.

On piece Chris performed was by composer J.S. Adams who was in the audience. The piece was written for guitar and tape. Much of the music had a new age flair. Much of the music was so quiet and intimate that I could hear people breathing beside me. It was a pleasant way to sketch away a Sunday afternoon.

Plein Air Paint Day with Josette Urso

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The Maitland Art and History Center‘s new Artist-In-Residence Josette Urso, from Brooklyn New York, began her
residency on April 28. Her residency continued through June 2. The
program honors the legacy of founder J. André Smith, and the 75th
anniversary of the Research Studio’s (now the Art and History
Museums of Maitland) first Bok Fellow. 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. During her tenure, Urso will work
in her studio and paint plein air, affording visitors an opportunity to
see her create throughout campus.

On Saturday, May 11th, from 10 AM to 1 PM, Josette Urso held an official Plein Air Paint Day at the Maitland Art Center (231 W Packwood Ave, Maitland, FL). Painters from around Central Florida were encouraged to come and create alongside Urso. She showed us the tools and techniques she uses to create her widely-collected paintings. This program was FREE and the public was encouraged to attend.

Josette showed us a color wheel and explained how a limited palette could unify a painting. She had some empty slide casings which she said could help a beginner to see a composition. She said in a workshop she taught in Taiwan, several students taped the slide casings to the brim of their baseball caps.  She explained the importance of thumbnail drawings and she demonstrated a thumbnail sketch using as few lines as possible. We then went off to do our own thumbnails. I excitedly sketched the fifteen or so students around me as they sketched architectural details or foliage. I knew artist Chere Force and Lynn Whipple. I checked out other artists progress and then returned to my own work.

The next step took me outside my comfort zone. We had to pick a thumbnail sketch, and work it  up as a larger painting without using line. My primary issue seemed to be that my brush was to small to put down satisfying bold blocks of color. I found that my two color studies were done before the class was over so I couldn’t resist putting in a few sensual lines afterwards. It was a fun workshop and I’m thinking I might work faster with my daily sketches by focusing on large washes first. The issue I’ve had is that the pens I use die the second they touch water. If I can find a good fountain pen, that might solve that problem. An even bolder decision would be to give up the pen all together. Time and daily experimentation will tell.

Snap!

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Snap!  2013 “Motion to Light” is a 4-day photography celebration showcasing the work of renowned international and national photographers, as well as emerging talent. It explores movement, lighting, hope and features works of photographers from France, Thailand, Czech Republic, Japan, Poland, Canada, Germany plus New York, Los Angeles, Portland, etc…

Snap! Orlando is a large scale international photography event with exhibits, projections and installations, salon talks, guest speakers lectures, workshops, competitions and community engagement. Hosted in an empty warehouse in the Ivanhoe District of Orlando (1427-A Alden Rd, Orlando Fl 32803), Snap! included large scale exhibits and projections; receptions and special events; guest speakers lectures; student and community competitions, youth programs, and much more.

On May 3rd, Terry and I went to the opening night in the 13,000 square foot warehouse. This was Snaps 4th annual exhibition in Orlando. I quickly decided to sketch from a second floor walkway while Terry explored the exhibit. Before I finished the sketch, she decided she had seen enough and she went home.

As I sketched, I noticed actress and photographer, Mikki Scanlon Kriekard, shooting video. She joined me on the walkway and started shooting video of me as I sketched. The funny thing is, as soon as she aimed the camera at me, another photographer moved in and started taking shots just to be sure he wasn’t missing anything. Others took in the scene with their cell phones. Mikki followed me around like a paparazzi as I walked around to check out the show when my sketch was done. I got to meet her husband Bryan Kriekard and I asked him if she always had her camera on. We laughed when he insisted there were times when he insisted it be turned off. I’m used to being the one scrutinizing people. It was interesting having the tables turned. I liked the attention but didn’t know how to act “natural”. Regardless, Mikki caught an interesting slice of life with her video.

My favorite photos were by Nicolas Senegas. The large scale photo showed a nude woman partly submerged in water. It reminded me of Victorian images of the redheaded Ophelia floating in a river. Another cool series of photos showed sand being thrown onto muscular nude bodies. The photographer was Oliver Valsecchi. All I could think was that he should meet Jessica Mariko of Drip!

Mystery Sketch Theater

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Mystery Sketch Theater happens on the first Wednesday of every month. They now have a new home at a warehouse in Winter Park (784 Cherry St, Winter Park, FL).  I had a devil of a time finding the warehouse the first time and happened to use it’s parking lot s a place to turn around to head the other way down Cherry street. I finally saw the number above the front entry. The back loading bay door was open and that was where artists were gathered. There was no air conditioning but it had just rained and the open warehouse bay door gave us a decent cross breeze.

Moriah Beagel, the model was dressed in a pink fairy outfit. I sketched her before she took he first 30 second pose and then I sketched the artists. In all there were 10 to 15 artists. Artists in the back row probable didn’t get a clear view of Moriah’s feet. I sat on my artists stool in the loading dock doorway. The warehouse had a strange display of a rain barrel with mannequin legs inside and a torso above.

 Moriah was born And educated in Kansas, she hails from Colorado where she perfected the art of coffee. She have been posing for artists for ten years. She is currently writing short stories, posing and working as a barrista. She enjoys costume concepts that show dichotomy. Opposites drawn together. In this costume set went  for the elements of life and death. Fairies with opposite intentions. Towards the end of the modeling session Moriah changed into a much darker costume and held the skull capped walking stick. Pink and green changed to purple and black.

There was the usual themed drawing competition but I seldom compete since I am always still working on my sketch. They usually have some cool art book up for grabs. I use the breaks to keep pushing color on the page. I like the new warehouse setting, it is much grittier and industrial than working at A Comic Shop. The cost for the model was $5 and Kristen Pauline and Adrienne Frankenfield always have some treat to eat and drink. The next Mystery Sketch Theater should be July 3, 2013 from 8pm to 10:30pm, mark you calendar.

Hammers and Lambs

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On June 12, I went to The Venue, (511 Virginia Drive Orlando, FL) to watch the set up for an improvisational dance performance by called “La Mia Danza“. This was going to be a one time collaboration of improvised Dance and Music starring the captivating
dancer Michelina Wingerter along with live music by Tacatantán Record’s
Abdias Ernesto Garcia.

When I arrived, Abdias greeted me. A rehearsal was still in progress for another show opening the following week. Dancer Michelina was in this production as well, along with Megan Bueto, Tymisha Harris and Blue Star. Called “Hammers and Lambs” this show is produced by Blue Star and is inspired by the paintings of Patrick Fatica. The dance number I saw rehearsed involved plenty of hammers, or croquet mallets.

Hammers and Lambs will begin each evening at The Hammered Lamb (1235 N. Orange Ave.) with a preview of Patric’s newest paintings. There will be complimentary wine and food. Then patrons will be whisked to The Venue by O-cart for the dance performance inspired by Patrick’s work. I love the idea of one art form inspiring another art form.

There are four more performances. The evening begins at 7pm sharp.

June 22, 24, 28, 29

Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 on the day of the show. Tickets are available at the Hammered Lamb or The Venue, or call (407) 412-6895

NBA Finals

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Terry and I like to go out to watch the NBA Finals games. We decided to go to Bar Louie’s (7335 West Sand Lake Road). When we walked in, we were literally the only patrons in the place. Terry picked a high top table with a view of the bank of flat screen TV’s above the bar. I ordered a macaroni and cheese dish that was really good. There were five cheeses and a light dusting of crunchies on top. Once I finished eating, I sipped my Blue Moon and sketched the bar hoping someone would enter to populate the scene. 

The pre-game show had closed captions scrawling across the top of the screen. Terry asked the bartender to turn them off. He fumbled with multiple remote controls with no luck. He gave up. Terry spotted one TV on the opposite side of the bar without the captions so she moved. When I finished my sketch I joined her. The Miami Heat won this game 103 to 84. It was a blow out. Yet the next game the San Antonio Spurs blew the Heat out of the water. The Spurs had Danny Green who kept sinking 3 point baskets from downtown. It seemed like he couldn’t miss.

On my sketch I wrote, NBA Playoffs, even though it was the finals. That shows you how much I know about basketball. 

Weekend Top 6 Pick Picks 

Saturday June 22, 2013

1pm to 8pm. FREE Art on Tap. Taps from Scratch (1809 E winter park rd, Orlando, Florida 32803) is proud to present our First Annual “Art on Tap”. They are dedicated to their core Mission of presenting the Finest crafted Beer, Cider and Alcoholic Soda to the community on a platform that encompasses the Arts. Artist are starting to take notice of this free hub and gathering place where you can bring in a piece to sell at will, hang it, sell it and receive 100% of sale proceeds, or bring an easel and paint and as member enjoy as much beer as they want, anytime they want, for just $5.00. Musicians come in and out for nightly open mic, new partnerships and bands beginning to emerge. Art on Tap will be followed by the traditional Saturday Open Mic.

7:30pm to 11pm. FREE Contra Dancing.  Secret Lake Park, (200 N Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry, FL). All Ages Welcome – Instruction Provided at 7:30 pm. No partners necessary.

Contra dance is …

    Easier than walking

    More exercise than jogging

    More fun than you can imagine

http://orlandocontradance.org/schedule.shtml

8pm to midnight. FREE Orlando Hardcore Reunion Punk Show. The Peacock Room (1321 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32803).  Hardcore Punk Rock Like You Remember It!!!!!

Rat Cafeteria, Declared Ungovernable and Dissent Featuring Wade Anthony



Sunday June 23, 2013

11am to 2pm. FREE: Parrot Adventures Club Meeting. Albert Park (2400 Edgewater Dr. College Park) Orlando FL 32804). Parrot Adventures is the fastest growing bird club in Central FL. Come explore the parrot community with us & give your bird a taste of the great outdoors! www.facebook.com/pages/Parrot-Adventures-Orlando/229311423757202

www.parrotadventures.com

Noon to 6pm. FREE: The Town of Oakland’s 7th Annual TRIPLE “A” FESTIVAL. Speer Park (331 N Tubb St Oakland, FL 34760). HapCO Music Foundation presents this festival in the town of Oakland. Tripple A encourages artistic expression among youth and celebrates the work of local artists. The festival historically honors Juneteenth, now celebrated throughout the United States with picnics and festivals. We present artistry as exhibited in those who contribute to African-American culture. The festival is organized in collaboration with Orange and Seminole Counties to increase exposure and encourage community participation in the arts.

7:30pm to 9:30pm. FREE: Concert! Clarinet/Cello Duo! The White House, (2000 South Summerlin Ave. Orlando FL 32806). Christine Barron Plays with cellist Justice Milsom. All genres, including Kletzmer. Artist: Elizabeth St-Hilaire-Nelson. www.mapquest.com/maps?address=2000+S+Summerlin+Ave&city=Orlando&state=FL&zipcode=32806

www.timucua.com/calendar.html

http://christinebarron.weebly.com

www.nelsoncreative.com/gallery

Thornton 2nd Thursday Wine & Art Walk

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On the 2nd Thursday of every month, Washington Street just two blocks East of Lake Eola burst alive with color for the Thornton 2nd Thursday Wine Walk.

$10 cash gets you a wine glass and a map of all the locations where you will be greeted with a complimentary pour of wine. Glass pick up is at Mother Falcon (819 E. Washington Street). The walk proceeds go to the Thornton Park District Non-Profit. Many Thornton Park restaurants and bars, artist vendors are set-up throughout Thornton Park.

When I arrived in June, artists were just getting settled in their sidewalk spots. Electricity was available for when it got dark. I liked this wall of abstract art that artist Nick Seyler had set up next to Dexter’s Restaurant.  His tiki totems added a bit of tropical flair. The second tier of paintings was set up on tripods on a table. Several bursts of wind from looming storm clouds toppled paintings over, but there were pedestrians who caught the work and helped him lean it back again.

Dresden Kincaid of Earth Culture had her intricate handmade jewelry set up on a table. Her pieces are “natural expressions of art and positivity.” She uses natural minerals and gem stones woven together by thin wire to create intricate jewelry. I liked that she spent much of her time focused on creating a piece. There were always women stopped at her table trying things on. Dresden showed Nick some of the crystals she had with her. They were stored in tiny one inch clear plastic boxes. I used to collect minerals and I have a bunch of those boxes full of crystals above my desk. Intrigued, I walked over. Nick was holding a cluster of clear quartz crystals with cubes of pyrite or “fools gold.” It wasn’t for sale. She handed me one of her rings and it really was amazing how she used thin wire to weave together various natural stones.

Clouds and a bit of thunder had artist nervous that it might rain. I sketched faster. Nick said to Dresden,that “You will have to duck under your table if it starts raining.” She replied, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a rainbow appeared.” Fifteen minutes later a huge rainbow arched to the East over Washington Street. I’ve never before met someone who could predict a rainbow. As I was adding color to Nick’s paintings on my sketch, the sun burst through the tree leaves above his work mimicking the bright colors in his work. The whole sky to the west turned yellow then orange.

Jason L. Lee and Brad Biggs, the Arts Hub founders both stopped by to say hello. Brad had exciting news about some future Arts Hub shows and Jason showed me a ring that Dresden had created for him. As dusk settled in, my sketch was done. I walked West and spoke to several artists. This Wine Walk used to be held on Third Thursday but it conflicted with all the people viewing gallery openings downtown. Melissa Felcman of Mother Falcon moved it to the 2nd Thursday of each month and now The Arts Hub Florida organizes all the artists. When the street lights came on and the artists turned on spot lights to illuminate their work, the scene became a magical nocturne with art glowing warm as the evening cooled. I think I need to return to try and catch that light.

If you want a relaxing event on Thursday July 11th, then mark your calendar and head to Thornton Park to sip and stroll. The Thornton Park Parking Garage has entrances on North Eola Drive and East Washington Street. Street parking is available if you patiently look for it.

Rebuilding Together Orlando

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Rebuilding Together Orlando assists low-income senior citizens, veterans, families with children and disabled homeowners living in Central Florida with repairs to help make their home comfortable safe and dry. Ed Green, the executive director said, “Many today are faced with putting off critical home repairs in order to eat.” The organization’s goal is “A safe and healthy home for every person.” I had met Ed once before at Urban ReThink.

When I arrived at this home in a neighborhood off Kirkman Avenue, there were perhaps 15 people painting the building. Ed told me that the hone had been painted bright pumpkin orange but he convinced the owner to repaint the home a light beige so it would blend in better with the homes around it. A canopy was set up to offer volunteers shade when they took a break. I sketched someone who was painting the front door which had been unhinged and leaned up against a Nissan pick up truck.

Inside the house, a bathroom had been gutted and a new wheel chair accessible shower was being installed. A teenage boy in the home had Cerebral Palsy and the mother had to lift him to get him into the shower in the past. He wasn’t a small child anymore so lifting him had become a challenge. The shower unit arrived while I was sketching, so work began in earnest in the bathroom. Most of the volunteers, in their red shirts, who had helped paint the home finished up and began to leave after socializing.

A door to door insurance salesman stopped by and spoke to the home owners about his brand of insurance. The homeowner argued about how the offer didn’t look so good. The salesmen then started asking about the work being done on the home. When he realized it was a volunteer project, he took interest saying he had done volunteer work in the past and he’d love to get involved. He signed up to do some volunteer work the next weekend.

Fake Landlord Scam

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On Friday January 14th as I drove home after sketching on Virginia Drive, I was surprised to see a police car parked a block from my home, with its red and blue lights cutting into the night. A Channel 9 News van was parked behind the police cruiser. Several young men stood in the street with large black plastic bags piled near by, their heads bowed.

This McMansion was build in 2008 just before the Housing market crash which sent the country into a recession and resulted in countless foreclosures. After this 7 bedroom, 6.5 bathroom, 4242 square foot home was built, it remained vacant. It is estimated to be worth over $710,400 yet it was never sold. For the last five years the place has been abandoned. The grass turned into tall weeds and the pool became a green sludge. The neighborhood homeowners association seemed to ignore the buildings
abandoned state. Then again, abandoned, unmaintained, homes are now a common sight
throughout the neighborhood.

Kelly Wyatt moved in last week with her five sons signing a rental agreement to pay $1,800 a month. She paid $1,800 cash up front. The usual rent for a place this big would be close to $4,000 a month. She was told she was getting a deal if she would maintain the place. My wife saw one of the sons mowing the lawn for the first time in years. Dead tree branches were moved curbside for pick up. Kelly majored in the Visual and Performing Arts at Owens Community College in Toledo Ohio before moving to Florida. She is the CEO of Diversity Theater Company and works at Glasshouse Ministries as a chief executive officer.

Kelly called Channel 9 News when the sheriff’s office informed her that she had just three hours to leave the home she thought she was renting legally. Her family stayed in the 5501 Bay Side Drive Mansion just four or five nights before she was told she would have to leave. She was the victim of a scam. The real owners, Jody and Monica Mendelsen who live in a humble waterfront home in Plantation Florida, had no idea that anyone was living in their Bay Side home until the Orlando Sheriff’s department called.

The scam artist may have created fake identification papers in the Mendelsen’s name. The big mystery is how this fake landlord got the keys to the abandoned home. According to Kelly’s description he was about 5’10” tall, a bit heavy built, perhaps Indian with slightly grey hair and he drove a silver SUV. It is not clear if all the locks had been changed in the home or if the original home keys had been used. No one has been able to contact the fake landlord. Apparently this type of scam happens often.

Kelly, her five sons, a yellow Labrador and a cat were suddenly homeless.
“I feel like I have been robbed.” Wyatt said. The family had little in the way of possessions. There were a few suitcases, a couple of computers, a house plant, a box fan and clothes in plastic bags. There wasn’t any furniture to be moved. Most of her belonging were still in storage in Ohio. Apparently viewers of the Channel 9 News broadcast started calling the station offering assistance. I don’t know if this family has a roof over its head today.

As I sketched the home, I heard loud squeaks coming from inside like the sound of a basketball player’s sneakers on the polished floor boards.  The NBA finals were flickering onto TV screens across America. I finally realized the sound was of a fire detector with a dying battery. Once again the building was abandoned with no one to replace the battery, a symbol of false hope and greed.