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.

Hyper-Bolic

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Hyper-Bolic, written and performed by Jessica Earley, was staged at the Venue on Virginia Avenue before Fringe.  This show was raw and intensely personal, being all about Jessica’s break up with a boyfriend. Lindsay Smith and Stephanie Lister helped Jessica throughout the production. This performance was for one night only and the Venue was packed. The performance combined puppetry, dance and some forms of performance that defy definition. The show was build around the five stages of grief. I knew Jessica from her paintings which often expose women’s issues. When she spoke of her work in the past, she was always soft spoken yet sincere.

Things began quietly enough with a short shadow puppet show that presented love in it’s ideal form, lasting forever and surmounting mountains and streams. I sketched Jessica as she held a deer puppet as she said, “Oh Dear!” The stage was covered in white blankets and Jessica was covered in a white robe appearing like an ancient shaman. She sang to a small horse puppet that questioned her singing abilities. On this lonely landscape she masturbated with a huge sewing needle and held a conversation with a button which someone later told me was a symbol for the vagina.

Jessica stood on a table and imitated the poses of ideal couples who hugged and expressed love in idealized advertising images. The images flickered by at an increasing pace and she struggles to keep up. She used a cardboard laptop to try and reach out via social media which offered empty meaningless comfort from well meaning friends, leaving her lonelier than before.

A large dream catcher was assembled and Jessica became entwined
in it and struggled to break free as if caught in a spider’s web. Things truly became raw when Jessica called on a few friends to come on stage and join her in a ritual of healing. They each placed their hands on her as she raised her arms and shouted to the sky, “Heal me!” I noticed one of her friends had tears in her eyes as she participated in the ritual. Jack Fields who was seated at my table was called up and he told me later that he didn’t realize he would become part of the act, but having participated he felt even more involved in the act of recovery.

Jessica was able to catch lightning in a bottle. Everyone has experienced the heartbreak of relationships which don’t stand the test of time, and Jessica had found a way to express the torment and agony. I knew that Jessica had started modeling at Full Sail and it made sense that this exposure offered a form of personal acceptance. At the end of the show she stood before the audience naked as her hands laced through words of redemption and recovery.  I truly hope that she expands on the show and hopefully brings it to next years Fringe. She has hit a raw and fragile nerve. I had witnessed a performance that was truly trans-formative. How amazing to see an artist hit fill stride, finding new and creative ways to express herself. I felt honored to have been present.

Brad Catron Quartet

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On April 17th I went to Tastings (164 Lake Ave Maitland Fl), to listen to jazz and sketch.  The Jazz Tastings Quartet performs every Friday starting at 7PM. I ordered a white wine and a lobster bisque that was delicious. The band got on stage just as I was finishing my bisque. Cary Frank was on the keyboards and you can’t see him in my sketch. He is behind the bass player, John Toney.  I recognized John, I had sketched him perform once before at the Obama Campaign Headquarters. Brad Catron was up front with his self deprecating humor and fast fingers on guitar. The fish bowl tip jar was half full of dollar bills from the start.

The music was lively helping motivate every line and splash of color. After my second cup of white wine the sketch started to look not so bad. As often happens, the band took a break before the sketch was done. I kept painting, forgetting about local color, and going with colors that worked for the sketch.

It was a good sketch session, although the bisque and wines were more expensive than I expected. Most people don’t recognize the cost of making art.  Maybe I should put a tip jar out every time I sketch. With my luck, I’d be arrested for busking or begging.

UCF Book Festival

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On April 13th, Terry and I went to the UCF Book Festival in the UCF Arena. We actually had to take separate cars since I had to teach at Full Sail right afterwards. The central court area of the arenas was jammed full of booths full of authors selling their signed books. Terry actually knew one of the first authors, Elizabeth Allen, who wrote a book called, “Who Got Liz Gardner“. The book is about the sexual exploits of the young author. I haven’t read it, but Terry loved it. Liz sat at the table with her husband who was also an author. The table had a divider down the middle. Liz met her husband at an acting workshop where actors had to break up into teams. Liz wasn’t paired with anyone, and the instructor asked the class, “Who got Liz Garner? The title implies the question, “Who married Liz Gardner?”

We bumped into a lawyer who is also an author, He advised me to start putting large watermarks on my sketched to avoid people using my work online for free. I am experimenting with watermarks now but really want to avoid a rude symbol that dominates every drawing. The lawyer was saddened by some of the authors who self published books and had no distribution plans other than at small book festivals like this. Large areas of stadium seating were blocked off with black cloth drops. I took up the challenge to sketch the overall view of the cavernous space while Terry explored more authors talks. Several authors in my sketch were giving a talk to three or four people seated in the stands. The audience might have just been family.

Storm Troopers invaded the children’s reading area and then patrolled the show floor along with some Jedi and Sith Lords. I take Star Wars as a movie franchise not a classic novel, but I suppose the kids didn’t care. A UCF football uniform was set up as a photo opportunity where you could wedge your face above the shoulder pads to look like you were in uniform. I later discovered that authors, Bob Kealing and Jeff Kunerth were at the Book Fair and somehow I missed them.

On the Center stage a poetry slam began with a half full audience in 5 rows of folding seats. After the sketch was done, Terry and I got some free Slurpees. Terry had seen enough so we headed out. We grabbed some lunch a Logan’s Steakhouse and then I went off to work.