Rhinos

Posted on by Thor

Rhinoceros is an absurdist play by Eugène Ionesco, written in 1959. There was a movie adaptation in 1974. Over the course of the play the inhabitants of a small, provincial French town turn into rhinos. It is about conformity and mass delusion. Ultimately only one human does not succumb to the plague. The main character’s love interest begins explaining that he is in the wrong for wanting to remain human. The rhinos, stampeding down the streets and building hallways seem happy as they bellow and scream. “Those are the real people.”, she says about the rhinos, “They look happy, they are right to do what they did.” She then quietly walks out the doorway to become a rhino herself, leaving him alone. The last human in the town and perhaps the earth.

We are living in a rhino apocalypse where the best defense is to be immune to peer pressure. Most people are returning to a pre-pandemic life. However the pandemic is not over with over 500 Americans dying every day. Granted back in January thousands of people were dying every day but over 2000 deaths a week is not unacceptable. Basic health precautions are still needed.

As people pack together in public spaces, they are living a mass delusion thinking no mitigation measure are needed. They are living a lie. Being fully vaccinated, I believe I am safe from hospitalization and death, but I am not safe from Long COVID. There is not treatment options or cure for Long COVID. It would mean months, years or perhaps a lifetime of debilitation illness. About 1 in 5 people who were infected develop Long COVID.

The CDC published a study which states, “It is likely that a substantial proportion of patients surviving COVID-19 will experience long term symptoms, requiring prolonged care even after a mild or moderate disease. These symptoms might negatively affect patients quality of life.” Though in black and white, it seems to have been kept rather quiet. There are no ongoing warnings about the dangers of repeat infections causing Long COVID so most of the population remains ignorant. Ignorance is bliss.

When I wear an N-95 mask in public, some people are genuinely insulted. You can see the anger in their eyes. They fear the mask because it reminds them that they are living in a fantasy. The contagion has already spread. Most people have bought into the mass delusion that becoming infected multiple times is the new normal.

Mass delusion is intoxicating and tempting. When you see large crowds of Rhinos gathering in tight herds and breathing in each others faces, it is tempting to believe that life has returned to normal. The rhinos seem happy. But the virus can not be seen and it is still circulating. Vaccines and repeat infections are not stopping the spread of the virus and the proliferation of new more infectious variants.

Being burnt is all in the mind, it is laziness and anxiety!

Posted on by Thor

There is no cure or treatment for Long COVID. One in five people who have had COVID report having long COVID symptoms. Symptoms of long COVID include, but are not limited to…

  • fatigue, exhaustion after physical or mental effort,
  • fever,
  • respiratory symptoms, including difficulty breathing or shortness of breath and cough.

Other possible symptoms include:

  • neurological symptoms or mental health conditions, including difficulty thinking or concentrating
  • headache
  • sleep problems
  • dizziness when you stand
  • pins-and-needles feeling
  • loss of smell or taste,
  • depression or anxiety
  • joint or muscle pain
  • heart symptoms or conditions, including chest pain and fast or pounding heartbeat
  • digestive symptoms, including diarrhea and stomach pain
  • blood clots and blood vessel (vascular) issues, including a blood clot that travels to the lungs from deep veins in the legs and blocks blood flow to the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
  • rash and changes in the menstrual cycle

The CDC recently added this to their website… “Emerging evidence suggests that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),the virus that causes COVID-19 can have lasting effects on nearly every organ and organ system of the body weeks, months, and potentially years after infection (11,12). Documented serious post-COVID-19 conditions include cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, endocrine, hematological, gastrointestinal complications, as well as death.”

This new revelation from the CDC leads me to believe that it is better to not get infected rather than ‘return to normal’ and suffer repeat infections that could result in long COVID.

Professional athletes are not immune to long COVID. Athletes with long COVID are having to slow down and pace themselves to manage their condition. Symptoms spike after exercise. Exercise intolerance is common among long COVID patients.

After the 2021 Superbowl win, Tom Brady the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tested positive for COVID-19 after after the Buccaneers celebrated their Super Bowl championship with a large celebratory parade in the Hillsborough River, Florida. Tom Brady’s father spent 3 weeks in the hospital in a life or death battle with COVID. Tom Brady announced on February 1, 2023 that he is retiring “for good” from football. Are these three events related? Any theories would only be conjecture. It is up to Tom to decided how he and his family want to live a healthy life going forward.

“Football, beer and above all gambling filled up the horizon of their minds. To keep them in control was not difficult.” – George Orwell, 1984.

We’ve moved on from wildfires, why are we still talking about them?

Posted on by Thor

In Denmark 17 million mink were killed at 200 farms when COVID spread like wildfire through the facilities. The animals were buried in huge open pits and the bodies later surfaced after rains and settling. Humans spread the virus to the animals who are kept if small cages on on top of the other in long rows. The airborne COVID virus then spread easily from one mink to the other right down each row. All the mink were then killed because there was a concern that they would pass the virus back to humans. In America 10,000 mink died from COVID. It is unknown if the virus was transferred back to humans. Congress cut funding for sequence testing so we are in the dark ages moving forward. Most Americans are thankful for this ignorant bliss as they pretend all is well, with about 500 deaths a day. I know America is a disposable society, but how to you dispose of so many bodies without people noticing?

The Omicron variant which is still circulating today likely came from an animal host like rats and then transferred back to humans after it had mutated multiple times in the animal hosts. Omicron took everyone by surprise. It literally seemed to come out of nowhere. The virus has infected American Red Tailed deer but they are not being exterminated on mass, though hunters do thin the heard every year. A new variant could come from anywhere. Luckily the XBB.1.5 variant has not produced a large surge in cases. That might mean that vaccinations and past infections are keeping the numbers from rising. The pandemic however is not over. There could be unexpected curve balls around the corner.

So, is COVID over? Despite over 2000 Americans dying from COVID every week, Joe Biden is ending the COVID public health emergency on May 11, 2023. At that time all testing and treatments will be out of pocket for those who are infected. On Jan 30, 2023 WHO declared COVID a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, despite the American president’s position. So who do you trust, a president looking to get re-elected, or scientists who track the virus every single day?

2023 is ushering a new there is a new, dangerous phase that requires urgent attention, called the “we’ve moved on” phase.

A Big Day for Baseball: Poster Evolution, Final

Posted on by Thor

A Big Day for Baseball: A Magic Tree House Adventure is playing at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater through March 18, 2023. This poster is closely based on the book designs of the very popular Magic Tree House series. I did multiple designs based on the Jackie Robinson story, but those tended to look more like they were for adults. Returning t the leaf and acorn design motif lightened the mood of the poster.

I read the script and it should be a very fun play about kids being able to be on the field for a very historic baseball game. Jackie Robibnson was the the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). Robinson made his debut in a Dodgers uniform wearing number 42 on April 11, 1947, in a preseason exhibition game against the New York Yankees at Ebbets Field with 24,237 in attendance. These two lucky kids get to experience the day as a bat boy and girl from the field. It should be an exciting day of theater.

It’s not a wildfire, it’s a different type of fire that looks like a wildfire!

Posted on by Thor

The Chinese government announced that they may provide weapons to Russia. The US propaganda machine therefor decided it is once again time to demonize China and the Chinese. The Wall Street Journal reported on February 26, 2023 that the United States Department of Energy (DOE) concluded that the virus likely stemmed from a lab leak in China. From the onset of the pandemic, questions emerged about the virus’ origins with two leading theories typically dominating the scientific community.

Most scientists initially believed the virus was likely transmitted to “patient zero” via a bat in an open-air market in Wuhan. However, a second theory that the virus could have been man-made and leaked from a nearby lab also gained traction, in the United States.

The report did not confirm or show evidence of conspiracy theories that have spread on social media amid the pandemic, including that the virus was made as a biological weapon or that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was involved in the leak.

So far there is no “smoking gun.” Regardless of how the virus started, the wildfire has spread around the world unchecked. Gaslighting from public officials today is aimed at convincing everyone needs to “live with the virus”. That however equated to over 500 people a week dying from the virus. There is no push for masking or air purification in public buildings. Living with the virus equals death and disability.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill: Poster Evolution

Posted on by Thor

This was my favorite painted version of the poster for the Orlando Shakespeare Center. Lady Day stood in a strong spotlight that broke her into an abstraction of lights and darks. Pinks and blues work together like bold puzzle pieces. The bottle on the table stands as erect and proud as the singer herself.

For the final poster however I needed to move in closer to the singer. Tymisha Harris was likely to be cast in the roll but that had not been established yet. I danced a line between making the singer look like Lady Day and Tymisha. I did like the chance to rework the microphone adding it metallic sheen.

Performances continue through March 5, 2023. I will be sketching a performance next week and I can’t wait.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill: Poster Evolution First Pass

Posted on by Thor

The first pass of the Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill poster featured the ban high up on a stage and Lady Day down on the floor at the audience level. The title treatment seemed to work right off the bat so I kept it in each variation of the poster design. I was playing with the idea of a very smoky lounge and how that might affect the lighting and even ghostly wisps of smoke rising from the floor.

My favorite detail is of the cello player and yet his cello is hidden behind the piano. The piano player himself is off screen. Even the hands of the drummer are not visible. Clearly I needed to make the musicians more visible and make the act of playing the instruments more clearly visible.

I liked the warm lighting, but wanted to incorporate more cool blues and purples into the painting. As a first pass I was mostly pleased that the title was working.

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill: Poster Evolution, Final

Posted on by Thor

This is the final version of the Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill Poster for the Shakes. I am working on the next season’s posters right now so it helps to look back at how each show concept developed. As you can see by the dates on the poster you still have over a week to see the show. I did extensive research about this show prior to painting the poster so I am excited to finally see it in person. I will be in the audience sketching next week. I know going in the emotional roller coaster I will likely experience and I have seen the actress Tymisha Harris perform before so I know the performance will be overwhelming.

It took me four other renditions of this poster to get to this final image and I will share that progression over the next couple of days. The most devastating song in the show is Strange Fruit.

Henry V Poster Evolution

Posted on by Thor

The Henry V poster for the Orlando Shakes (812 E Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803) was a rare case where one of my first concepts made it to the final draft. The crossed swords forming a V was my first impulse when designing the art. I did another poser design focusing more on the crown with wooden pikes forming a V pattern.

I decided to try adding some handwriting that was an account of the battle in the light area of the poster. I couldn’t read the handwriting so I assumed it would work as an abstract pattern. Should a scholar actually know how to read it at least it would be an accurate historical record of the battle.

The next design I did was right on point. The only thing I had to do was move the king much closer to the audience. Thankfully I had painted the king separately so he could easily be scaled. These tweaks and adjustments are part of the fun of watching the concept evolve.

 

Henry V by William Shakespeare ran from January 18 – February 5, 2023. I did get to sketch a performance. The show was riveting, but it is hard to portray just how horrifically devastating the battle was. The king was a brute on the battlefield and knew how to inspire his troops. When it came to winning the heart of a woman however he could not use the same battle tactics.

The Prom

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The Prom, at Theater South Playhouse was such an unexpected delight. Theater South is a tiny gem of a theater near Isleworth. The play is based on the book by Bob Martin, with book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin and music by Mathew Sylar. The show was directed by Tara Kromer.

It had a huge cast that barely fit on the stage when they were all on stage together at the curtain call. The theater’s web site encouraged masks, but they are not required. I was delighted to see two huge air purifiers purring away in the theater. Pam and I were two of the 4 people in the audience wearing masks.

The show is about Emma (Jana Denning) who wants to go to the Prom with Alyssa (Gia Milazzo). Their love is secret but Emma wants the night to be their chance to shine. The small Illinois tow cancels the Prom to squelch the controversy of forbidden love. This heavy handed solution however blows up in their face since it garners the attention of some famous actors who decide that Emma is their new cause.

New York City stars visited the town and made Emma’s story their own. At first they had a narcissistic need to be in the spotlight but over time they truly learned to help.

I have such a deep respect for the talent of this mostly teen cast. Following local news I recently saw a video of a teen who took the bus to go to a town meeting and beg for the government officials to allow her the right to exist. Another trans teen was asked by an official if she had a dick. I have to wonder if he has any morality.

Emma had hoped that the Prom would be her chance to celebrate her love. But on the night of her prom she walked into a completely empty gym. The PTA had moved the prom to a different venue without telling her.  This play is a celebration of inclusivity in a town that has ancient undercurrents of racism and homophobia. The hope lies in the younger generation who can see the light when they know they are being persuaded to be vicious and mean.

Janna Demming really hits the ball out of the park with her solos. When she performed a facetime guitar solo about her desire to just be herself, I have to admit I shed a tear. That performance went viral and suddenly kids from all around the country were online sharing their similar stories of being excluded and unable to be themselves. A second prom was planned to include everyone and new friends came in from out of town. This prom was a blow out celebration. The rainbow waving joyous celebration seemed to be perfectly suited for Orlando which is a beautiful inclusive gem in the sea of hate that is Florida.

The show continues through February 26th and I highly recommend it. Prepare to be dazzled.