Sunday in the Park with George

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I went to the new Mad Cow, Blackbox Theater (54 West Church Street) where Lisa (pronounced Li-za) Buck was working on a huge set painting for Sunday in the Park with George. The painting was based on the large pointillist canvas now hanging in the Chicago Institute of Art in Chicago. The painting leaves out all the figures which will have the cast stepping in to fill the roles.

Lisa used long bamboo poles to hold her paint brushes. Painting was like an act of ballet with Lisa in constant motion. She had slated two hours to paint in the water. She was using old scenic paint which was chalkier than she was used to. This meant her brush dried out quickly with each brush stroke. This kind of forced her to work in s semi-pointillist manner. Overall she takes about 22 hours to finish a piece be it this large, or small. Lisa will be doing the set design for an upcoming Mad Cow production called The Road to Mecca.

Sunday in the Park with George Rehearsal

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The Harriet Theater stage was a blank canvas waiting to be painted. George Seurat, played by Matt Horohoe, turned away from Dot, played by Hannah Laird, to return to his painting. Dot followed him angrily as he climbed the ladder to work on his immense painting, The Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. She shouted at him, “Yes, George, run to your work. Hide behind your painting. I have come to tell you I am leaving because I thought you might care to know-foolish of me, because you care about nothing.”

(George) I care about many things.

(Dot)
Things-not people.

(George)
People, too. I cannot divide my feelings up as neatly as you, and I am not hiding behind my canvas-I am living in it.

(Dot)
What you care for is yourself.

“Tell me that you’re hurt, Tell me you’re relieved, Tell me that you’re bored. Anything, but don’t assume I know. Tell me what you feel!”

My fatigued eyes watered up as I sketched the heated argument in song. I knew every word.

Having seen the original, Sunday in the Park with George on Broadway, I was excited when Mad Cow Theater announced that this musical would be the first show to open in the new Harriet Theater (54 Church Street, Orlando). The space was still raw and unused when I walked in to sketch a rehearsal. All the theater seats were still covered with bubble wrap.  Director Timothy Williams sat in the front row watching the actors perform. Everyone was still, “on book” but the performance as Seurat and Dot argued was vibrant and hit home. I was shocked at how much Hannah Laird, with her cherub-like face resembled Bernadette Peters. Robin Jensen on piano slowed down the beat in one scene so the actors could keep pace and then speed up.The actors did an amazing job keeping up with Sondheim’s fast paced lyrics. Their voices were warm and full.  Robin kept stressing that everyone needed to clearly enunciate each word.

A square cut out stood in place for a dog. George interacted with the dog as he sketched, personifying how his life might be. No one knew if the dog would face stage left or right once cut out and painted, so Tim shouted out for someone to look at the painting to find out. It turns out that George had been addressing the dogs rump. I liked that Tim suggested to Matt that he think about the old Disney animators and the way they would act out how a deer or a dog might behave.

When all the actors assembled on stage to recreate the finished painting my heart swelled with the music. It is easy to see why this show won a Pulitzer prize. As I left, Tim noticed I was carrying an artists stool and he pointed at me saying to the prop man, “Look! That is the kind of seat we need for George!”  The ladder will later be “pimped out” with a shelf where George keeps his palette, paints and beer. The music and Lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim and the play is based on a book by James Lapine. The opening Night performance in Orlando will be October 6, 2012 and  the show runs through October 28th. The gala,
which will take place on October 6, features a pre-show dinner at  the
Rusty Spoon, followed by the Opening Night performance of Sunday in the Park with George, and a post show cast party at Kres Chophouse (17 West Church Street, Orlando). Gala tickets are $125. Regular show ticket prices are $25-$32.

“A blank page or canvas, his favorite. So many possibilities.”

Pisa Pizza

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I had intended to do a sketch of a film maker’s panel discussion as part of the Global Peace Film Festival at the Cornell Fine Art Museum on Rollins College. When I entered the museum however, the receptionist didn’t know anything about a panel discussion. She said that a film would be shown and she directed me towards a table behind me. On the table was an admission price of $8 which I didn’t know about. The receptionist then shouted at me, “I don’t think you are allowed in with that artists stool!” She started to call security and I just turned to her and said, “Don’t worry, I’m not going in.” I didn’t feel like fighting to get the sketch.

On the drive home, I decided to stop at Pisa Pizza (7058 West Colonial Drive, Orlando). For me this hole in the wall establishment is where I go when I’m craving the comfort of a steaming hot slice of cheese pizza. There was only two other people in the joint, seated over by the Push Bus Plush Toy Claw Machine.  Periodically the claw would drop and the machine would let out a loud mechanical wheeze. Talking heads on the TV discussed politics. A circular mirror distorted the room.

Half way into the sketch, The Lion King started up on the TV behind me. My heart still swells with pride during the opening sequence. When Simba tucked his head under his dead fathers paw, I wanted to shout out, “I worked on that scene.” The guy that was flipping pizza dough when I walked in, was now lounging in the seat behind me, chuckling as he watched the film. My sketch formed as I listened to a very dear and familiar story. Someday I’ll find my way on the path unwinding.

Occupy Orlando 2.0

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September 17th marked the one year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. An open forum was held at the Administration Building (201 South Rosalind Avenue) in downtown Orlando. Last year the Occupy Orlando demonstrators camped out in Senator Beth Johnson Park on Lake Ivanhoe for about two months. Some demonstrators were arrested for  petty actions like writing on the sidewalk with chalk or sleeping on the grass. Personal items were confiscated by police. The group was ejected in December and they then moved down to City Hall. The demonstrations then slowly lost ground.

About 25 people at most gathered for this one year anniversary. One news van was parked nearby. I was surprised to find the Occupy leader in a stiff pressed, collared dress shirt with a black tie. One speaker felt that the anarchist principles of some members of the group undermined the cause. Another speaker felt the movement wasn’t dead but was now regrouping and working within the system to bring about change. The Occupy movement has been used by advertising and the “We are the 99%” slogan is now a part of popular culture.  More than once, the importance of getting people registered to vote was pointed out. Many of the young demonstrators were new to the disappointments that came with little or no change. Change never happens fast however. Lives were lost in the battle to bring equal rights to all men and it took decades for women to gain the right to vote.

I sketched Jim Howe of the Communication Workers of America as he spoke. Hundreds of thousands of petition signatures were gathered to get a sick time initiative on the November ballot. County Commissioners seem to be doing all they can to stall the initiative which would require employees to offer sick time to employees. If approved by voters, the sick-time initiative would require employers
with 15 or more workers to provide paid time off to employees who are
sick or caring for a sick family member. Both full- and part-time
employees would earn one hour of sick time for every 37 hours they work,
to a maximum of 56 hours per year. In a service industry town, I can imagine many businesses wouldn’t feel they profit from a sick time initiative.

One speaker who is running for public office, said elections should not be about raising the largest amount of campaign money. He felt elections should be about reaching the most voters online. A young demonstrator said that since the movement broke up, he has been occupying a MacDonald’s where he talks to people about change. The important thing is that he remains out in the community sharing his thoughts and opening a discussion. A speaker shouted out, “Mic check!” everyone shouted back, “Mic check!”. “It’s good to hear your still out there” he said. After the last speaker was finished, the grey sky opened up and it began to pour. Everyone scattered for cover. I wrapped my sketchbooks in plastic and walked back to my car huddled under my umbrella in the deluge.

Jammin Tuesdays

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Every Tuesday there are classes at Thee Jammin Drum School Studio (1216 N. Bumby Avenue, Orlando). Martin Greywolf Murphy greeted me at the door of the small suburban home.  His grey T-shirt was covered with the  calm expression of a lone wolf. The classes take place in a small room on the side of the home which might have once been a garage. Now the room is filled with dozens of exotic drums and other percussion instruments. I started blocking in the room on my sketch before students arrived.

Mark DeMaio taught the first class which focused on West African Dununba technique and rhythms. Three students and Mark sat in a tight circle playing the large handmade drums between their knees. Wooden dowels were used to set the beat. There is something primal and inspiring in the ancient rhythms. It was an opportunity for everyone to really focus on the syncopated patterns and to
become more deeply immersed in the cooperative practice that generates
the deeply melodic basis of these rhythms that the Djembe parts are
accompaniment to.

Greywolf taught the next class in poly-rhythmic Afro-Brazilian rhythm Samba! The class began with old school Samba de Roda, “Samba in a circle”, and worked towards Rio style Carnival Samba with a broad range of percussion instruments and incorporating unique Jammin! The two students were rather well versed in rhythm and poly-rhythmic structure. In the end they were playing dual cone shaped cow bells. Well, I doubt they were cow bells, but that is how they sounded. The endless rhythm and beats were a joy to sketch to. Greywolf showed a short U-Tube video he had worked on and explained how it mimicked  the beats and structure a drum circle. Classes are $12 a piece or 6 classes for $60.

Pirate Day!

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I was running late getting to the Orlando Science Center (777 East Princeton Street, Orlando Fl)  to attend and sketch Blog Con. It was raining so I sucked it up and paid $5 to park in the parking garage across the street. Walking across the glass enclosed walkway to the museum I passed children in costume as pirates. The place was packed full of pirates. The conference I was there was informative but I played hookey long enough to sketch the pirate at the entrance who quickly made balloon sabers, swords and cutlasses for the kids. The second two kids got their swords, they would be fencing and stabbing each other in the belly.

Leonardo Da Vinci‘s flying machine was suspended from the ceiling. Made of wood, I highly doubt it would fly, but the pirate seated next to me said the pulley systems would multiply the force applied to the winch six times.  Any time folks would walk by this friendly pirate would say, Arrrrre ye having a good time. I heard this said so often that I wanted a saber to run me through. Pirates behind me were rolling dice to pick crew mates. A wench informed me that quarters below deck were quite cozy.

Trends with Friends

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Wendy Wallenberg told Terry about a fashion show at Bloomingdale’s and I decided to tag along. Terry was worried that we might not get in since our names weren’t on the list. I was going straight from work and felt under dressed with jeans and a five o’clock shadow. The event wasn’t crowded and anyone could get in. We arrived long before people got seated on either side of the runway. I decided to stand at a table facing two manikins with a sweeping view of the runway. I noticed when the models arrived with their small roll along luggage and slender figures like flight attendants. Terry scouted for food and drink while I sketched. She brought back some smoked salmon on a slice of bread. It looked delicious. I’m not sure what drinks were offered, but she went back for more.

Wendy hadn’t arrived yet and Terry was getting bored. When Wendy did arrive, just before the show started, she texted me, “I’m here, don’t forget to put me in the sketch”. I looked up and waved to her seated next to Terry. Ten percent of all sales that night would go to MD Andersen Cancer Center of Orlando thanks to the efforts of Women Playing for TIME. Melanie Pace who was the wardrobe stylist, announced the models as they went down the runway. The runway presentation involved transforming “Daytime Wardrobe into Evening Chic“. I focused on Hope each time she strutted down the runway. I mixed and matched her wardrobe each time she modeled. Fashion models seldom stand still.

I was still applying color as the fashion show wrapped up. A server offered me a peach cobbler and man was it delicious.  I finished up the sketch so I could leave with Terry. Wendy wanted to shop. None of the outfits modeled appealed to Terry.

Mystery Sketch Theater

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Tonight, Mystery Sketch Theater will have a special session specifically focused on figure drawing with a long pose. Christie will be back as the model. Christie will be wearing a Galadriel dress from Lord of the Rings, also requested by the artists!

The event will last 1.5 hours. We will do a few sample poses at the beginning for everyone to get warmed up and figure out which pose they like best, and then we will continue with the selected pose for the rest of the evening with
breaks in between for the model, and the pose re-established after each break.

Please take note that this event is on a THURSDAY and starts promptly at 7PM. We wanted to be kind to our hosts and not keep them at the shop on an evening they are not open late.  The entry fee is $5 for the event (no games or prizes this time, but we’ll still pick up some snacks), and it will still be held at The Geek Easy, located inside of A Comic Shop (114 South Semoran Blvd # 6
Winter Park, FL 32792-4433
(407) 332-9636).

As always, outside food and drink are welcome, and come early for a good seat. Those drawing tables go quickly!

Models Rehearsing

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Artist and designer Lynne Polley gave me a tip to sketch a rehearsal for the models that will take to the cat walk for Harriett’s Park Avenue Fashion Week. The rehearsal was in the small Wedding Chapel (301 West New England Avenue, Winter Park). I was a bit early approaching the chapel, but I saw a young man go in. As I approached the door, I heard a driving, hip, pop beat from inside that seemed out of place. Gorgeous models were lined up along a wall. Church pews were lined up on a diagonal line creating a runway. The modeling coach was at the end of the runway for a view of each models strut.

The darn pews kept me from sketching the models sinewy legs. The angular poses and relaxed walks are all highly rehearsed. The line kept moving and the models walked for many hours. The instructor shouted out that they all needed to relax. Arms were stiff and tense. She was a bit upset that one of the male models had shaved the hair on his head leaving a Mohawk. She warned everyone to keep their looks. They were picked by clothes manufacturers because of their hair color and looks. Photos of models taken at the last session apparently weren’t that good. Showing the photos to fashion designers, she had to reassure them. “She is pretty in person, really!” She warned everyone, “If you trip on the runway, I will find you.” I sat with several moms who were there to support their young budding models.

Later in the rehearsal, a leggy, blonde 16 year old model joined the group. She wasn’t used to wearing the high heels she had on and when she walked down the isle, her heels clomped down, sounding like a bull in a china shop. She leaned forward like a stilt walker loosing her balance. The modeling coach worked with her extensively trying to get her to relax. Another model offered her another pair of heels and she improved but still walked with an imbalanced awkward grace. I smiled inside. One of the models looked over my shoulder and asked, “Are you an artist?” I cringed, never looking up from the sketch and barked back, “Yes!”

Grand Opening Celebration at the Obama Volunteer Office

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The Obama Volunteer Office held a FREE Grand Opening Celebration on Friday Sept 7th, starting at 5:30PM. The office is located at 200 North Denning Drive in Winter Park right behind the Winter Park Village. I saw police cruiser lights flashing as I drove down Denning towards the event. I figured parking might be a problem so I drove into a Publix parking lot and walked the half mile or so to the event. Sure enough, cars were parked on lawns and all the street parking spots were full.

 Tables were set up in the parking lot and musicians were setting up in the performance tent. The John Valeri Quintet began to perform and Miss Jacqueline Jones
sang with them later in the set. I began my sketch by studying an elder man wearing an American Flag shirt. Four food trucks were set up in the back of the lot. As I sketched a dark sinister cloud pushed in from the west. I rushed my line work fearing rain.

There was a deluge. Everyone ran for cover. Most people, including myself, crowded under the performance tent. A large puddle began to form where I was standing so I lifted my art bag off the ground onto a cement curb. I went inside the volunteer offices thinking I might have time for a second sketch. People were pressed tight together. Former Sentinel theater critic Elizabeth Maupin seemed to be working in the office as a volunteer. An acapella quartet broke out in song in the hallway.  I had to pick Terry up from the airport so I vetoed the notion of a second sketch. I opened up my little umbrella and braved the walk back to my car.