Polasek Museum

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I was asked to participate this year in an event called the Winter Park Paint Out.The event will be happening between April 23 and April 30th. During this week plein air painters will set up all around Winter Park to paint. I will report on this unique event with my usual sketches. To promote the event, the Polasek Museum hosted a poster competition with the winning entry getting $1000. I was invited to the opening reception where all the plein air paintings were on exhibit. In the corner of the room an easel was set up and draped with a while sheets.The finished poster was hidden and would be United when the time was right.

I decided I couldn’t set up in the man gallery without sitting in front of someones painting. Even I am not that rude. So I went outside to the gorgeous gardens and decided to take an outsider’s view of the proceedings. An Albin Polesek bronze sculpture of Saint Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio quietly and stoically held its vigil as the sun set. Patrons from last years Paint Out were invited to the reception to meet the artists who would be painting this year.

Don Sandag came out to say hello. I first met Don back when I worked at Disney Feature Animation. Don came to the studio to run painting workshops in the evening back then. He told me he looks forward to the Paint Out each year because artists were pampered and treated like Rock Stars. Mary Hill and her boyfriend Berto Ortega were inside. Berto is a painter originally from New York City. Mary and another painter mugged at me through the window making me laugh. By the time the poster winter was announced, the sun had set and the cool, blue dusk light darkened Saint Francis. I heard the wave of applause as the winner was announced. I threw down my last water color washes and rushed inside. Don Sondag’s painting of the Polasek statue, “Mother” had won.

Afterward a group of artists remained. Larry Moore was discussing the idea that artists should make a percentage any time one of their paintings is resold. Don joked that this idea might backfire if the work was sold for less than the initial price, for instance at a garage sale. I spoke to the editor of Winter Park Magazine about using my sketches as a way to report on this years event. Getting to meet all these amazing artists is going to be a thrill. I am bound to learn a thing or two.

Pulse of Orlando

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What follows is a fictitious account. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental…

It was another rehearsal in the weeks leading up to Fringe. The actors sat around the kitchen table at Mike’s house reading personal stories and poems. They shared several bottles of red wine. Soon the rehearsal was more of an opportunity for members of the cast to share intimate secrets. The notion that this was a reading vanished and the conversations blossomed. Todd then admitted that he had started to dance at a gay club. Having a room full of people admiring his body gave him a visceral thrill. Anna, the director then decided that we all had to see Todd perform. We piled into two cars and headed off to Pulse. I was one of the designated drivers since I had been sketching rather than drinking. Anna sat on a copy of the Alchemist that was on my passenger seat. She and Sandra had just been talking about this book. Excited, she said she had to read it and she shoved it into her large purse.

We all filed into Pulse. My bag was checked since they thought I might have a camera. I explained that I only had a sketchbook. I backed myself into a nook and immediately started to sketch. Men gyrated in the amber light. I was right behind Todd who was dancing on the bar in front of me. About halfway into the sketch Anna pulled me over to join the cast that was assembled in a tight cluster at the end of the bar and dancing. Sandra and John were dancing provocatively close. When they grew self conscious, Anna would shove them together. She was always the director even in matters of the heart. They had all been drinking some exotic shots and combined with the red wine they were feeling no pain. A guy actually groped my balls as if this was his way of saying hello. I shoved his hand aside and decided I needed to walk away and finish the sketch. I wandered back to my spot, where I had to stop sketching every time someone needed to shove into the bathroom. When I returned to the group, my sketch finished, it was obvious that Anna had been drinking too much. Todd, the male dancer was with her trying to get her to sit down. He suggested Betsy and I try and get her home. When I approached Anna she backed away and disappeared into the packed dance floor. I wasn’t about to chase her around the club. Betsy seemed sober so I asked her to talk to Anna and convince her to leave. However Betsy was busy trying to find her cell phone which she had left in the other car on the drive over.

I exited the club and waited outside. I was sure Betsy would be out any minute with Anna and her cell phone but the clock kept ticking. Then suddenly Anna stumbled out and sat on the retaining wall beside me. She didn’t realize I was there. She had been sick and she couldn’t keep her head up. I asked if she was alright and she was surprised to see me. Embarrassed she began running down the street. Betsy exited the club and we both trailed behind her, concerned she might run into traffic. She finally collapsed between two parked cars and slumped over in a seated position. I reassured her until she shouted out, “Leave me alone!” I was making matters worse. I backed off and decided this had to be settled by the cast. Tod managed to help Anna get into his car. It was agreed that we would drive her to Mike’s house where she could sleep it off. I then drove Sandra and Betsy to Mike’s and when Todd and Anna arrived, the girls helped tuck her in for the night. I waited long enough to be sure everyone was fine, then I drove home. I’m convinced the events of this night helped bind the individual actors in the show into a tight knit ensemble. I suppose I could have left at any time, but I was the designated driver, besides I got a decent sketch.

Carol Stein at the White House

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Terry knew Carol Stein from Dor Shalom, a local Jewish social group. This concert at Benoit Glazer’s home (2000 south Summerlin Avenue) was one of the monthly concert held in this acoustically superb space. Carol plays light entertaining jazz that often incorporated riffs from classical music. She performed along with Eddie Marshall, Barry Smith and Charlie Silva. Jason Hunt had his detailed photo realistic pencil renderings hanging around the performance space. Carol pointed out that she is the proud owner if several of his pieces. I set up on the second floor balcony and started sketching frantically. Terry joined me on this outing but she stayed on the ground floor while I worked. Carol’s mom was in the audience, and she dedicated a song to her. It was a fun lighthearted evening of jazz.

Fall Festival

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Terry and I went down to Lake Eola for the annual Fall Festival. It was a beautiful day, bright and crisp.The streets around the Park were blocked from traffic and crafts tents lined both sides of the street. The streets were packed with people. Of all the jewelry, lawn gnomes, wooden signs and ceramics I saw, nothing interested me. shopping with no set goal is hard for me. There is no, “thrill of the hunt” when shopping, I Just want to get what I need and leave. I do experience “the thrill of the hunt” when it comes to sketching. After patiently walking through two thirds of the festival I finally had to let Terry know that t couldn’t take it anymore, I had to sketch. I had stopped right at the North East corner of the Park where a beautiful flowerbed was in full bloom. Yellow and violet flowers were arranged to create the image of a giant star.

I set up my artist stood on the sidewalk behind a craftsman’s tent. Behind the flower bed children were running, screaming, and bouncing. Parents relaxed on the stone retaining wall that arched around the flower bed. Radio station K92 FM was set up in a mobile van pumping out music. One of those inflatable fabric tube puppets grated and gestured to the beat, flapping happily. When I finished the sketch, I called Terry and we decided to get some food. We both ordered juicy Mediterranean gyros and sat on a park bench near a Civil war memorial to people watch. Imagining peoples lives and relationships was far more interesting than any trinket found in the tents.

Daytona International Speedway

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Mark Baratelli of TheDailyCity.com gave me a call and asked if I would like to go to the Daytona International Speedway to sketch a race. I of course said, “YES!” We met at IKEA and I drove the rest of the was to the speedway. Mark had been invited by Red Bull to experience the start of the race from the Pit Road Patios. This involved VIP access to the infield of the race track. We were both stoked but at 8:30 AM our excitement was restrained. At least Mark had a full cup of coffee for his morning jolt. We Knew we were getting close when we started seeing RV Parks. Then the bandstands loomed on the horizon and traffic settled to a crawl. The lot we had been instructed to park in was reserved for handicapped parking. After several calls to our contact, we were told to park across the street at a mall. Parking there was $50 but we were told we would be reimbursed. We walked to tunnel four which would lead to the infield. A Red Bull “Wing Girl” drove up in a jolt cart and drove us the rest of the way to the Red Bull Patio.

There were beautiful women everywhere. On the track, I swore I heard a 747 jet airplane firing up its engine. The patio grandstands were right behind the pit stops. I picked up a Red Bull and slopped some breakfast food on a plate and then started sketching as the pit crews set up. We had several hours before the race world start. We were offered a walking tour of the pits and the garage area where all the cars went through multiple inspections. Groups of five men would push the race cars from spot to spot. There were so many amazing sketch opportunities. I hope I get to return someday when I can fully commit myself to the event. As it was, I only had time for one sketch before I had to go back to Orlando to go to my night job at Full Sail.

Right before race time lunch was putout. It was an impressive spread. A D.J. was mixing music. This was a young crowd most of college aged kids. We were told this was part of a champagne to introduce NASCAR to a younger demographic. I was sad when we had to go, the party was just firing up.The sound of the race cars rushing by was deafening. As a “Red Wing Girl” drove us back out with the golf cart, we saw row after row of fans who were waiting for the race to start as they stood on the roofs of their RVs.The entire infield was an RV city.

Crown Royal

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It was the evening of an Orlando Magic game. I heard that a NASCAR vehicle was going to be on display down on Church street.When I arrived the closest thing I saw to a race car was this stumpy race simulator. Magic fans on the way to the Amway Center could also have their picture taken with a racing trophy on a pedestal. Reaching into my bag, I discovered I had left my sketchbooks at home. Subconsciously I must have wanted to use the tablet PC. Since there was little light it was the best option. A woman named Dana introduced herself. She had organized this event and she also handled events out at the Daytona International Speedway. She also let me know that car number 17 the Crown Royal would be at Church Street around 9 pm.

Just as I was finishing up this sketch a huge sixteen wheeled pulled up in front of me. The driver got out of the cab walked to the back of the truck and extended a shiny chrome ramp. Then using a winch the black race car was backed down to the street level. About six police offers were there and they inspected the cars every curve. It was a sexy machine. The truck driver asked if we all wanted to hear the engine fire up. Of course we did! He turned the ignition leaving in the cars diver side window. The starter clicked and sputtered like an old worn out Chevy. I thought, “Oh, great, the one race car I get to see on the streets of Orlando and it is a dud.” Then the engine, suddenly roared to life with such force and volume that it literally pushed me backwards forcing me to catch me balance on one foot. The noise filled the Church Street corridor. After revving the engine a few more times he shot the engine down. The silence was deafening.

I had promised Terry I would be home at a reasonable hour, so I didn’t stay to finish a second sketch. I agonized about this, placing about and considering the best sketching angle. When the Magic game was over there would be huge crowds of people around the vehicle. I also knew that I would be out at Daytona the next day. It turned out, that Terry stayed out late so I could have finished the sketch. Oh well, there will be other race cars.

Nude Nite

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This year Nude Nite was in a large warehouse South of Downtown, (SODO). Terry and I arrived in separate vehicles. I parked in front of a cement factory. Terry got to the event before me and greeted me at the entrance. We got to the event early but it was already packed inside. The first thing we saw was this woman seated nude on a blue inflatable chairs with a red fabric covering her head and a phone outlet cord plate where her face would be. I started sketching Immediately. A sign invited people to pick up the phone. On occasion people would sit opposite the woman and hold the phone. Most people only did this long enough to have their picture taken. As one patron said, “I am presuming that’s what pay-for-phone-sex sounds like. It was hard to hear, because of all the ambient noise, but I did hear enough.” As the crowd grew thicker, fewer people took the seat since there would be an audience watching them for a reaction. Terry came back after wandering and looking at all the nude art. She mentioned that there was nowhere to sit in the whole place. I suggested she sit opposite the woman I was sketching but she didn’t want to become part of the performance.

After the first sketch we walked around together and I got to see all the art for the first time. By now the venue was jam packed. Emotions Dancers slipped gracefully around among the crowd. Periodically one of the dancers would let out an ear piercing scream. We kept bumping into people we knew. I recognized the work of some of the artists I know. For the second sketch, I watched beautiful women get body painted with graffiti from head to toe. I noticed that no one was completely nude. women always wore panties. A more accurate title for the event might be Topless Night. Sketching the body painter, I was often bumped by photographers who were so excited to shoot a nude body that they never looked where they were going. Actually this was true all night, everyone stared and crashed into one another.
I was starving. We had been to a reception prior to Nude Nite but the food was gone by the time we arrived. Terry had some sushi provided by Sushi 101. She couldn’t use the chop sticks provided so they wrapped a rubber band around them to make them easier to use. We wandered around looking for an open restaurant but nothing was open but fast food restaurants. We were almost home before we had to give up and go to Burger King.
I found out that an artist who exhibited work at Nude Nite had a painting go missing. If you see this painting anywhere around town, leave a comment on this blog. The artist is offering a reward for information leading to its return. The reward is either a print of the painting or a small original charcoal drawing of the artists choice. I had my own work disappear at a Sonesta Hotel fundraiser and work has been defaced at Pom Poms Cafe, we need to stop the madness or Orlando will become a cultural backwater.

Shooting Orlando Live

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After spending 82 hours on the streets of downtown Orlando, Peter Murphy went straight into shooting a video broadcast of Orlando Live. The show began at 10 pm at the City Arts Factory. Cameras were set up in the hallway entry. There was the frantic activity of getting ready with time running out. Wires snaked everywhere in the hallway. Singer, songwriter, Britt Daley who was setup right outside the entry gave a live performance. Peter looked tired, his eyes glassy, but he lit up once the cameras started rolling.

His first interview was with Hannah Miller. Hannah is a puppeteer and she had several of the puppets she made for an upcoming show titled “Gift of the Magi.” One puppet hung from a light. A stagehand was concerned the light might topple with the added weight, but Hannah assured her that the puppet was extremely light. The conversation quickly turned from the world of entertainment to the experiences Peter had on the streets of Orlando. He discovered that Hannah volunteered for an organization called iDignity, which finds identification papers for the poor. Without IDs it is impossible to get a job. The organization’s mission is so simple and yet empowering, allowing people to take control of their lives.

Hannah had wonderful ideas about how to revitalize downtown by allowing street performers to work and improving the downtown culture through art. The only big business downtown at night now seems to be the sale of alcohol. Just then a gaggle of college girls started yelling and screaming because they saw the cameras. As Hannah walked back to her car, some jerk snatched a puppet out of her arms ripping it in the process. When she got to the parking lot space she had paid for, she found her car had been towed. She spent the rest of the night trying to find her car and extricate it from the impound lot all the way out by the airport. The towing pirates even made her wait an additional 40 minutes before they showed up to the lot. Rather than holding a grudge, she had this to say, “I’m going out of my way every time I leave my house for the next week to be super, super nice to everybody. I think Orlando needs it.”

The Human Heart

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It was Valentine’s Day. A large group of people stood assembled at the edge of the Repertory Theater parking lot for an event called, the Human Heart, an Outright Love In. There were a few Mylar balloons and much excited chatter. Out on the lawn there was a large heart shape created with Doug Rhodehamel’s brown paper bag mushrooms. Nicki using a megaphone asked everyone to form a large circle around the mushrooms. Then groups of people were invited to step in closer to the heart shaped mushrooms. She began by inviting clergy and priests to step forward.

The fading golden sunlight hit the tops of the trees, igniting them with a bright orange glow. Soon everyone on the field was formed into the shape of a heart. They held hands and began to sing, “Seasons of Love.” Earlier in the day, Nicki and Rachel, who organized this event, went to the Orange County Courthouse to ask for the right to be married. They were denied. “You never hear on the evening news that there is too much love in this world!” This event was all about equality and love. Everyone had been given candles, and as it grew dark the candles were lit and the singing resumed.

Terry arrived and we agreed to skip “The Kiss Tones “a Brian Feldman and Britt Daley production at Stardust Video and Coffee. I had my sketch for the day. Instead we went to go to Citrus for an amazing dinner and a bottle of wine. I had a crispy baked salmon with a pomegranate glaze that was mouth wateringly good. It was the perfect Valentine’s date night.

Blind Love

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I fired off a tweet asking, “Why are children taught that animals are put on this earth to entertain us?” This was along with a link to an article I wrote about abuse of animals at the circus. Mark Baratelli replied that his cat entertained him. I couldn’t argue with that. He later put out a call for help asking someone to adopt a blind Tabby cat named Smokey. Smokey was born without eyes. The Orange County Animal Services had put out an announcement that he needed a home. Mark, who re-tweeted the announcement also said he would donate money if this blind cat found a home. Though I’m not a cat owner, I tweeted back that I would match his donation if Mark’s buzz on twitter resulted in this cat getting adopted. I grew up with a gray cat named Smokey. I had to chip in. Thanks to this internet campaign, $400 dollars will be donated to the Orange County Animal Services.

Within 24 hours Smokey had a home when a mother and her son went in to adopt him. The little boy said the kitty will be able to sleep in his bed. Smokey still needed shots and to be neutered so he couldn’t leave the shelter right away. Mark texted me and asked if I would like to go to animal services to meet Smokey. I jumped at the chance. I got to Animal services before Mark and Brian Feldman arrived. Kathleen Kennedy greeted us all when we were all assembled. Mark shouted out as he hugged her, “What are you doing here?” “Living the dream.”she replied as she walked us back to the holding area. We walked by row after row of cages. Smokey’s cage was opened and she let Mark hold him. A baby kitty in the next cage kept pawing at Mark through the cage bars, trying to catch his attention. After a quick video interview and a flurry of photos, Smokey was put back in his cage.

As I started to sketch, one of the volunteers named Christopher, took Smokey back out and held him for quite some time. Smokey liked to feel the breeze on his face and he crawled up Christopher’s shoulder to sniff the fresh air. Later as I sketched the abandoned cats in their cages, another volunteer took Smokey out and held him. He is a bit of a superstar and every volunteer is happy he found a home. That didn’t detract however from the fact that there are so many cats that still haven’t found a home. Wide eyed cats stared back at me as I sketched, their future remained uncertain.