Artists’ Critique & Conversation

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The Art & History Museums of Maitland presented an exciting new initiative to assist in the professional development of local artists. A new series, titled Artists’ Critique & Conversation, will be held on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m.
The critiques will be held in the Germaine Marvel Building, (210 W. Packwood Avenue, Maitland). The Critique is FREE and the public is encouraged to attend. A bar was available with beer, wine, water and soft drinks.

The critiques will be led by artist, arts writer, and instructor Josh Garrick, along with two additional panelists each month. Parker Sketch offered his insights at the first event. After the panel review, all attendees displayed their work and engaged in discussions and peer reviews.

Artists of every medium and skill level are encouraged to participate. Each critique will review up to 9 artists, and all artists MUST sign up in advance. Each artist can only sign up for one of the nine slots every three months.

Garrick, who has spent his career in the arts, discusses the judging and critique of art, “From my years as a teacher at New York City’s School of Visual Arts, it has always been important to me – when ‘judging’ art – to create an environment in which my students and colleagues may expand their abilities, and not to insist on a style, or change an individual’s personal voice,” he says. “Rather, the most important consideration for me, as an aesthetic judge, is to seek out those persons whose work exhibits a unique and personal form of creativity. “Other important considerations include: composition, use of color, technical ability, control of the medium, and use of light and shading. While judgments of aesthetic value may be linked to emotions or cultural conditioning, I’ve found that I have the ability to put those aside and find – when judging – that my initial response to a work is my finest barometer.

“Having ‘judged’ well over 1000 student portfolios and Art Festivals throughout the Eastern US, I put aside my personal ‘interpretations,’ and allow the work to ‘sweep over me,’ as I was taught by Silas Rhodes, founder of the School of Visual Arts. Meanings and symbols mean little to me in the judging process. My senses, emotions, and training – or some combination of these – mean much more.

“When I participate as a juror, I ‘see’ from an artist’s point-of-view, and from a teacher’s point-of-view, and as a person willing to be public with an honest opinion. Jurors must be willing to voice their opinion … and stand by it, with everyone understanding that it is one man’s opinion – no more and no less. When my considered opinion of a student’s work was negative, I would tell that person, ‘It is one man’s opinion. It is an educated opinion, but it is one opinion.’ If there is a constructive lesson to be learned, that point is worth remembering.

“Finally,” Garrick concludes, “it is up to each Artist to maintain his or her own choices and opinions. This is YOUR work, and the most important judgment is how YOU judge your work.”

The next Artist’s Critique is Tuesday July 24th starting at 6PM in the Maitland Art Center’s Germaine Marvel Building, 210 W. Packwood Avenue, Maitland.

Tango Dance Class

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The dance class began in the Zebra Room (2609 Gower Street), at 2 A.M. Tango Productions run by Amy Allison, featured Victoria Sarquisse and Federico Jorquera, for the first time teaching workshops in Orlando. Victoria and Federico were both born and raised in Argentina and have been teaching Argentine tango in the Tampa area for the last 5 years.

Students arrived slowly, socializing and changing their shoes. The workshop began with Victoria leading everyone in warm up exercises. They all faced the mirrored wall stretching along with Victoria. I only had enough time to sketch Victoria with her hands stretched over her head. Men and women then separated into two groups. Frederico showed the men how to lead and the women were shown their embellishments.

Victoria explained that walking with dignified intention can be the most beautiful aspect of any Tango. The movement is initiated from the chest. She plucked the fabric of a participants blouse to demonstrate. Every step had deliberate confidence. The first important thing in Tango is a good embrace and the second is walking. There are many nuances built around every deliberate move. When men and women danced together, with volcadas in close embrace, they were instructed to feel the connection. In one exercise the men were instructed to take a small step back and the women would lean forward into his chest. Even though there was often space between them, every nuance needed to be communicated and felt. Victoria stressed that they needed to enjoy the journey. With the lessons complete, everyone danced with abandon, learning from each new partner.

Blues Dance

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After repairing my computer, Damon Natch Burke and his wife, Amy Davenport were going to take a Blues Dance Class at the Zebra Room (2609 Gowen Street, Orlando) . Damon suggested I meet him there so he could give me my repaired tablet. Of course I asked if I could stay and sketch. Damon talked to the instructors and they were fine with the idea. Cars drove inside what looked like a residential backyard and parked on the lawn between orange trees. I arrived at the same time as a petite girl from Knoxville Tennessee.

 Unfortunately the air conditioning in the Zebra room was broken. That didn’t stop this group of dancers. People kept arriving with fans and one couple showed up with three huge industrial fans. It was bliss when the breeze hit. With all the fans on however you couldn’t hear the instructors talk, so the fans were turned back off. I liked the premise that dance is an intuitive dialogue, or conversation between couples. Simple exercises started with couples facing each other and touching palms. They needed to stand close and move as one. They stepped together forward and back to the beat of the blues. When a lead dancer would spin his partner, she could go with the flow of his up beat pace or slow down the spin at the apex and dip in slow motion. Her desire for a slow sensual movement could then be followed up by the lead. The sensual dance conversation could continue without a word.

Broomstick Pony Workshop

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Preparations are underway at Urban ReThink for Orlando’s first ever Broomstick Pony Derby. Megan Boye, from Ibex Puppetry, brought along a wide assortment of materials for people to use to create their own broomstick pony. I was most impressed when she lugged in a huge military knapsack that was bulging at the seams. It turned out that the knapsack was full of fluff which would be used to stuff each horse head.

I followed a mom and daughter team as they created their red striped pony. In the conference room all the supplies were spread out on a long table and people were free to pick anything they wanted for their creations.  The room was a constant flurry of activity as head patterns were cut, hot glued and sewn. Every horse head was unique.

Orlando used to host fun quirky events like the Cumquat Parade. The Broomstick Pony Derby is  attempting to bring back that fun, civic minded, artistic sense of community. Folks of all ages will create and race handmade broomstick ponies, zebras, ostriches, aliens, you name it. Spectators will enjoy light-hearted races with whimsical outcomes. The Derby celebrate community and creativity and will raise funds, friends, and awareness for enhancing Urban ReThink’s operations and programming.There is one more pony making workshop on August 16th at 6:25PM to 9PM. There is a Broomstick Pony Showing, TONIGHT from 6:25PM to 9PM. The Derby will take place on Saturday, September 22, 9:00 to 11:00 am on Central Boulevard outside of Urban ReThink. May the best horse win. Broomstick pony galloping to local businesses will continue after the big race!

Milk Carton Superstars

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The third band I saw as part of I-4 Fest, inside Austin’s Coffee (929 W. Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park) on July 4th was Milk Carton Superstars. They had gone the extra mile by having an American flax covering the speakers. They also had their own LED lighting although it wasn’t needed since it was really bright outside. Milk Carton Superstars are a couple guys shaking riffs and rhymes out of thin air and turning them into rock & roll songs.


The band formed in early 2007 when longtime friends
Guy Larmay (guitars, bass, other) and Jim Myers (vocals, drums, other
also) began writing songs together again for the first time. They are
based in Mt. Dora.

The music was hard hitting rock and roll. My wife, Terry, hadn’t finished her crossword puzzle yet because a coffee had been spilled on it. We decided we had seen enough local music for one day.  I drove near Lake Eola where streets were already blocked off for the July 4th fireworks display. I didn’t want to deal with the inevitable traffic, so I drove to Boston Market where we had a holiday feast. After that, we drove straight home, where I watched war movies for the rest of the night as fire crackers and bottle rockets exploded around the quiet suburban streets. Zorro, an umbrella cockatoo, didn’t much like the noise. He raised his crest every time there was an explosion.

(the parentheticals)

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Every hour or so a new band would lug in their equipment and set up on the indoor stage at Austin’s Coffee (929 W. Fairbanks Ave.

Winter Park) for I-4 Fest. The second group I saw was (the parentheticals). I was enjoyed sketching the performers from my spot right next to the stage.

They played with energy and abandon. Luckily my sketch flowed with just the right amount of structure and looseness.

(the parentheticals) were born when three friends, all longtime  

singer/songwriter musicians but who had never worked together, decided 

 to collaborate for the first time on an original project. Despite the

distinctly different styles of writing, singing, and playing each brought to the table, they quickly found that their individual talents blended and complemented each other perfectly.  Creative bursts of  writing and jamming followed, and soon (the parentheticals) had crafted their unique laid-back, underground indie-rock sound.

Bill Massey was on bass, guitar, harmonica, keyboard and drum machine, Matt O’Grady on guitar, melodica and mandolin and Kristen DeAngelis on guitar and synths (when allowed). Everybody sings.  They are currently in the studio   working on their first collection of recordings while also playing live whenever possible.

I-4 Fest

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On July 4th, Terry and I went to Austin’s Coffee (929 W. Fairbanks Ave.
Winter Park) where I-4 Fest was being hosted. For $5 you could listen to local musicians perform all day long. There was a band playing on the outdoor stage, but since it was so hot outside, I ordered an Orange Blossom beer and went inside to enjoy the air conditioning. I sat on a rickety old kitchen chair. Chopper Stepe was performing on the small stage in front of the entry window. It was a simple acoustical performance in the intimate setting. Terry sat at a back counter doing a crossword puzzle while I sketched. Patriotic children’s art decorated the walls. A primitive Abe Lincoln stood in front of the American flag. A gun was being pointed at him and someone was telling him to “Look out!” Beer bottles decorated the stage. The music was simple warm and inviting.  My July 4th was off to a great start.

Science Center

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The Orlando Science Center is open late on Friday and Saturday evenings in the summer. The Cosby Observatory is open till 10PM. The first time I went to the Science Center to see the observatory, it was raining. Well, of course the dome wasn’t open, so I decided to wander and find another sketch opportunity. I was tempted by a transparent woman but then couldn’t resist the dinosaurs. The room was completely empty the whole time I sketched. Only one family entered and they seemed to know instinctively, how to stay out of the sketch.

Every once in a while I would hear a dinosaur snort and roar. It wasn’t until I was about an hour into the sketch, that I noticed the T-Rex was moving his jaw as he made noise. It took me by surprise and I waited the longest time to see if he would do it again. I started looking over my shoulder anytime I heard noises behind me.

The excavation pits were well worked with sand scattered on the floor. Many paleontologists had been busy uncovering the bones.  This really is the best time for adults to play among the science exhibits free from bus loads of school children. Giant screen films are shown as well in the CineDome of Tornado Alley and Rescue. The Friday and Saturday evening hours continue all summer through August 18th. Night time tickets are just $13 for adults and $8 for kids (age 3-11).

Cosby Observatory

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On Friday evenings this summer, the Cosby Observatory is open to the public till 10PM at the Orlando Science Center (777 East Princeton St.). Riding the elevator to the observatory, I felt like I was entering the bridge of the Enterprise as the glass elevator slipped above the circular ceiling panel.

A high school volunteer greeted me when I got off the elevator. Out on the balcony, a small telescope was set up. The sun was about to set and the scope was pointed directly at the sun. Special filters removed harmful radiation. All that remained was a dark round disk.

I then climbed the circular staircase to the much larger Telescope. The domes two large sliding panels had been pulled aside to expose the night sky. To find Saturn, the entire dome had to be rotated clockwise a few degrees. It was an impressive sight watching the dome groan and rotate on a track with the push of a button. The telescope usually tracks a planet automatically using high tech servos, but the tracking was down, and a volunteer had to re-center the planet each time a new visitor took a look. Parents held their children up to the eye piece and they had to stand on tip toe themselves. There was a movable staircase for shorter guests. A little girl became fascinated with what I was doing and she snuggled up to my drawing arm so much, I couldn’t move my elbow. Her mom finally stepped in and said, “Give the man some room.” Brian OHalloran was there with his wife and children. They claimed they had just seen me outside Downtown Theater  on the drive over to the Science Center, so they were convinced I had a clone.

Each time people climbed or descended the spiral staircase, the platform I was sitting on shook. At times the line to look through the eyepiece got quite long. I took a look after my sketch was complete. Saturn was visible with it’s rings along with Pica, a distant star. I heard over and over again that Saturn looked like a sticker. Sure enough that is the impression since it looks flat since it is so far away. Carl Darden who is the observatory caretaker pointed out that the city of Orlando had a haze over it that night, and that contributed to the light pollution which hinders crystal clear sky viewing. I could see the gradient haze as the sky grew bright towards the city lights. The first time I went to the Observatory, it had rained all day and the observation doors were closed, so be sure to stop by on a clear night.

Simple Living Institute

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The Simple Living Institute was holding it’s monthly meeting in the Camelia Room at Leu Gardens. It had been raining all day and thus it seemed appropriate that the talk was about rain barrels. Tia Meer had been gardening all day in the rain which is actually a blessing since you’re guaranteed to stay cool when it rains. She entered the room, muddy and wet and introduced the speakers. Her husband, Terry Meer, began the talk explaining that 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. Only 2.5% of that is fresh water and only 3/10 of 1% of that is drinkable water. He demonstrated how to build and plumb a rain barrel. In Florida or anywhere for that matter, huge amounts of rain water are wasted and lost to sewers and drainage ditches.

Tommy Branch demonstrated how he paints the blue barrels so they look like old fashioned wood barrels. He used a large house brush painting the whole barrel a light brown. Then he dries out the brush and adds dry brush streaks that look like wood grain. The vertical board separation lines he added last with a ruler and a sharpie. He said, “I’m no artist, so if I can do it anyone can.” Large rain barrels were on sale for $80 and half barrel planters were available for $40. Members all brought in plants which were for sale or trade on tables along the side of the room. There were at least 50 people in attendance despite the rain.