Weekend Top 6 Picks for September 28 and 29, 2019

Posted on by Thor

Saturday September 28, 2019 

10am to 5pm. Adults $8. Accidental Historian. Orange County Regional History Center 65 E. Central Blvd. Orlando, Florida 32801. You might be a historian without even realizing it! That’s certainly
true of many bloggers, urban sketchers, photographers, and more. In this
engaging exhibition, created at the History Center, learn how
individuals who are absorbed in documenting the world of today
accidentally become some of Central Florida’s finest historians for the
future. Catch a glimpse into some of our favorite collections that were
created for the now – more than 100 years ago.

The Accidental Historian features both historic and
contemporary work and collections, including drawings by the renowned
artist and teacher Ralph Bagley and Urban Sketchers Orlando, poetry by
Orlando’s inaugural poet laureate Susan Lilley, audiovisual work by food
blogger Ricky Ly, historic images by photographer T.P. Robinson, and
more. Also on display is a tower of my sketchbooks from documenting Orlando Arts and Culture over the last 8 years.

7pm to 9pm  Free. Brewery Tour. Orlando Brewing, 1301 Atlanta Ave, Orlando, FL.

10:30pm to Midnight. Free but get food and or drink. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32801. 

Sunday September 29, 2019

11am to Noon. $5 Yoga. Lake Eola near red gazebo. 

Noon to 2pm Free. Bobby Koelble Presents Jazz in the Garden. 1300 S Denning Dr, Winter Park, FL 32789.  Join
us as we enjoy an afternoon of electric Jazz music, tasty food, craft
cocktails, and shopping in a beautiful, serene setting all while helping
to benefit Mead Botanical Garden.

Bobby Koelble Presents Jazz in
the garden, is a series of Jazz concerts that will be hosted by Mead
Botanical Garden. The shows, that will fall on the last Sunday of the
month from September thru November, will consist of world class
musicians performing a collection of your favorite Jazz standards with a
twist. 

There will be food and beverages available for purchase,
a shopping area curated by Suzette’s One Of A Kind Finds, as well as a
limited number of VIP passes which will include a brunch buffet catered
by Bites and Bubbles, beer or cocktail and a VIP viewing area.

7:30pm to 9:30pm $10-$20 suggested donation. Please also bring food or wine to share.  CF2’s 7th Annual Composer DIY Salon Concert.  Timucua 2000 S Summerlin Ave, Orlando, Florida 32806. For
seven years, Central Florida Composers Forum (CF2) has been offering
its members a first-come, first-on, get-er-done yerself opportunity to
present work to the Orlando/Central Florida public. The composers
themselves perform or arrange for the performers. That always means a
wider variety of sonic possibilities than a more typical, curated CF2
concert featuring a unified instrumentation.

This program
features Rebekah Todia’s Crossing The Bar, for piano and voice; Melody
Cook’s For Two Voices, No. 2, for clarinet and piano; Holly Cordero’s
Personified Bliss, for string quartet, Bob Jr.’s Conjure the Storm, for
piano, guitar, bass, and drums; Paul Austin Sanders’ electronic
compositions Danze Africanne, Spirit of the East, and Bop Latinesque;
and premieres of Alex Burtzos’ X Codes, for violin, clarinet, and piano,
and also his Perforation, for solo piano.

All ears are welcome.

Everyone Can Code at Full Sail

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This free workshop at Full Sail University was based on the premise that coding is an essential skill for helping students thrive in a technology-driven future. Learning to code unlocks creativity, develops problem-solving skills, and opens career paths.

Everyone Can Code, is a free comprehensive curriculum that makes it easy to teach coding to students from kindergarten to college. With teacher guides and lessons, you can introduce coding concepts visually on iPad in elementary school, move to writing code with the Swift Playgrounds app in middle school, and support students in building iOS apps on Mac with Xcode in high school and beyond.

Whether your students are first-time coders or aspiring app developers, youʼll have all the tools you need to teach coding in your classroom.

In the workshop, we learned why Swift is the best language for teaching and learning coding, as well as for developing powerful apps.
Swift Playgrounds, is a revolutionary app for iPad that makes getting started with coding fun and interactive.
Hear about App Development with Swift, a high school and college curriculum for Mac that shows students how to create apps from start to finish. I seemed a bit like the odd duck in the room since I didn’t have an open laptop in front of me.

After the seminar I returned to my studio and played the Swift Playgrounds game and actually found I was  learning coding skills fast. After several weeks of coding to solve puzzles I hit a road block that I could not solve. The coding was put on the back burner as I focused on my main passion which is creating art. Perhaps there is a middle ground and I may start playing with code again. Even in the workshop they said that learning code on your own is a real challenge. But after this workshop I realized I could get young students started on learning code. I would be a fun course to teach if I stayed ahead of the learning curve of the students.

Accidental Launch

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The Accidental Historian will be on exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center (65 Central Boulevard Orlando FL) from September 21, 2019 to January 19, 2020. I accidentally did this sketch because it made no sense to drive all  the way home just to drive back downtown to meet a friend for a drink. Rather than burn gas, I decided to sketch as this huge transparency was framed and installed. A custom frame had to be made which was also a light box. Sliding everything into place was a team effort.

When the framed piece was plugged in the rocket laugh glowed blindingly bright. The framing was inspected and a few spots were found where wires touched the transparency creating awkward puckering effects. Everything had to be taken apart again to resolve the issue. Two people held the frame while a third pulled out the plexiglass. I thought I had found a spot where I was out of the way but the plexiglass had to pulled out in my direction and I got up to  get out of the way. Once it was dismantled I sat back down.

The space launch photos going on display are by Red Huber and Klaus Wilkins. Besides these bold images there will also be pitch place panels on the wall with holes punched in it which will look like stars when illuminated from behind. It is going to be an impressive display and I can’t wait to see it all in place. There is an amazing amount of work that goes into the install of a temporary exhibit like this an the small staff at the History Center are all flexing new muscles to go the extra mile to create such an amazing display. Just as in theater there is much chaos in the rush to open the show.There is excitement and uncertainty in the creative chaos. I am happy I got to be a witness if only for a moment.

Accidental Historian Events

Stay tuned for details

  • Accidental Historian Youth and Family Days

    September 21, 2019 and November 16, 2019

  • Cuisine Corner: Cross Creek Cookery

    September 28, 2019 (At the Orlando Public Library)

  • Accidental Historian Panel Discussion

    October 20, 2019

  • Urban Sketchers Workshops exact times and more details to come.

    Workshop 1: Saturday, October 12, 2019 – Instructors; Gay Geiger and Art Esteban will have artists sketch the brutalist architecture of the public library using Chinese ink and twigs.

    Workshop 2: Sunday, November 10, 2019 – Instructor; Thomas Thorspecken. Sunday in the Park with Thor. At this workshop we will sketch the historic Sperry Fountain at Lake Eola
    which is actually the second fountain on site. Students will have a historic 1920s photo by T.P. Robinson for inspiration.

    Workshop 3: Saturday, December 14, 2019 Instructor; Greg Bryla

  • Historically Poetic

    November 7, 2019

  • Coffee with a Curator

    November 17, 2019

First Friday Lunch and Learn Series

History Center staff offer a behind-the-scenes look at the museum and share their research.

Crooked Can

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The Orlando Urban Sketchers went to Crooked Can (426 W Plant St, Winter Garden, FL 34787). On this sunny mid morning, people were gathering in the grass covered play area to do yoga. Our group of sketchers ordered drinks and bites and started sketching.

Crooked can is in the Plant Street Market which is a local community market located in historic downtown Winter Garden, with 20 vendors featuring natural, organic food
and handmade products all inside of one building.

The Market is open 7 days a week, and they are a community of quality
and diverse farm fresh products, artisan specialties and local products. There is often Live Entertainment and the patio is pet friendly.

As an added bonus, Eddie Pittman, an amazing artist from my former Disney Feature Animation  days joined  us to document the occasion. Greg Bryla pulled together an interesting composite sketch that takes different elements from various times and locations to build a story in one sketch. What is so great about Urban Sketching is that every artist has their own style and no two sketches ever look the same. In this digital age where many are trying to showcase their life as a glamorous but homogenized selfie, getting to see life through spontaneous sketches can be a breath of fresh air.

If you would like to meet the Orlando Urban Sketchers, stop out on September 28, 2019 for the free Accidental Historian Exhibit Tour and Sketch Walk. Artists will meet at the Orange County Regional History Center (65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, Florida 32801) at 10am and the event runs through 1pm. Join us as we tour the Accidental Historian Exhibition, featuring the Orlando Urban Sketchers’ art. Group Sketch walk will follow the tour.

The Orlando Urban Sketchers is proud to be included in the exhibition; The Accidental Historian, at the Orange County Regional History Center in Downtown Orlando. You can tour the exhibit, sketch inside the History Center, and join this unique group of artists for a Short Sketch-Walk on Saturday, September 28th 10am-1pm. – Registration is required – Entry to the History Center is free to urban sketchers participating in the Sept. 28th event.

SCHEDULE:

MEET UP: 10:00 am – at the Orange County Regional History Center main entrance (65 E. Central Blvd, Orlando, FL)

EXHIBIT TOUR: (optional sketch-in the-museum): 10:00 am to 11:00 am

SKETCH WALK: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm – Sketch walk begins at the History Center front garden and continues down Magnolia Ave towards CityArts building(10 min walk from the History Center)

SKETCHBOOKS THROW-DOWN: 1:00 PM We will gather for our traditional Sketchbook-throw down (Show and Tell) and lunch at Harp and Celt Irish Pub at 25 S. Magnolia (next to City Arts)
All drawing levels and skills are welcome. Bring your sketchbook and sketching supplies of your choice, drinking water, a hat and appropriate clothes for the weather.
The event is FREE

PARKING: Parking is available in the garage located across from the public library at 112 E Central Blvd. Also, the Lymmo bus service provides free public transportation from many spots in downtown Orlando. The History Center is handicapped accessible with elevators on every floor. Two handicapped parking spaces are available on the north side of the building on E. Washington Street.
Contact us: uskorlando@gmail.com

What is The Accidental Historian exhibit?
You might be a historian without even realizing it! That’s certainly true of many bloggers, urban sketchers, photographers, and more. In this engaging exhibition, created at the History Center, learn how individuals who are absorbed in documenting the world of today accidentally become some of Central Florida’s finest historians for the future. Catch a glimpse into some of our favorite collections that were created for the now – more than 100 years ago.

The Accidental Historian features both historic and contemporary work and collections, including drawings by the renowned artist and teacher Ralph Bagley and Urban Sketchers Orlando, poetry by Orlando’s inaugural poet laureate Susan Lilley, audiovisual work by food blogger Ricky Ly, historic images by photographer T.P. Robinson, and more.

Visitors to the exhibit can create 19th-century “tweets” and step into a larger-than-life,

Instagrammable photo station, along with other fun features. The exhibit is fully bilingual, presented in both English and Spanish. Related programs range from preservation workshops to poetry readings and a historical food-based demonstration.

Thank you to the Oranges County Regional History Center for including the Orlando Urban Sketchers in the amazing exhibition.

Escaping the confines of the artist studio

Posted on by Thor

On Sundays I teach an Urban Sketching class at Crealde School of Art (600 Saint Andrews Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32792). I have some very talented students in this class and my goal is to just loosen them up so that they can capture a scene quickly and then focus on a few details to help sell the story behind the sketch. The temperatures have finally dropped to a reasonable degree so that we can sketch outside sometimes without baking while trying to finish the sketch.

One student showed me an absolutely gorgeous pencil rendering of some shells. It was photo real and highly detailed. The trouble with sketching on location is that a sketch must be done in the time allowed. I tend to judge when a sketch is complete based on how much by butt hurts. Perhaps that isn’t a great measure of good art but it is practical.

So many of my lessons are about how to put multiple  people into a sketch. I usually dash off a quick sketch like this to demonstrate the principle while also circulating around and doing individualized sketched that show how “the bones” of a composition might be strengthened. By the end of the course I hope that each student will learn how to manage their time so that a watercolor sketch is completed in the time we have. My tips and techniques are mostly about how to speed up the process and focus only on the details that tell a story.

Each of my students are unsatisfied with what they can capture n a sketch right now and I have to point out that that feeling never goes away if you really want to produce great art. As Michelangelo said, “The
greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and
falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our
mark.”

Panera and Urban Sketching

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On Sundays for the next 6 weeks I am teaching an Urban Sketching class at Crealde School of Art. One of the first venues we explore with or sketchbooks is Panera Bread (2516 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, FL.) Each class begins with about an hour of instruction in the classroom along with some sketching exercises to apply the new principle taught. Then we head out to sketch on location. Paneras on a Sunday morning starts off rather slow and by the time the lunch hour approaches the place becomes packed.

This allows for a relaxed first hour to sketch the interior setting without worrying about the human element. Then as people file in we sketch people at the tables that were established in pencil. I teach the students to pay attention to how much food was ordered and how full peoples glasses are, to get a sense of how long the person might be at the table to be sketched. People come and go while the sketch is in progress and the goal is to make it seem like a moment in time had been captured. Catching fellow sketchers in the sketch is an advantage because they are on the same time table, lingering rather than rushing to finish eating and get out.

I don’t always take the time to do a sketch myself since I circulate and give each student notes that might help them with the composition or gestures that can be caught. I  have a very talented crew of students for the next six weeks and I am excited to share my thoughts on how to capture life in a sketch. One of my students showed me a fordable devise with magnets that can be used to hod a palette and water jar. It is a smart design and I might incorporate something similar into my work flow. By teaching I often find that I learn things  as well.

Seasons: The Musical

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Seasons with music by Elaine Pechacek and lyrics by Katie Hammond was first presented at Fringe back in 2014 and I had a chance to sketch that production back then. I remember saying back then that this production deserved to grow and find its way into a much bigger venue. It is now being presented at the Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801.)

Helen (Megan Valle) was young and vibrant and a night on the town ends in a one night stand with Peter (Peter Heid.) Peter is enamored with her, head over heals in love. She has plans to go to medical school but those plans are dashed when she realizes that she is pregnant. Peter like a true gentleman proposes marriage on one knee. She agrees reluctantly to marry.

Hope (Gabriella Hockensmith) since a beautiful balled about fulfilling her dream of becoming a bride. Her mother Mrs. Jones (Rebecca Fisher) discovers around the same time that she has breast cancer. As she is struggling through chemo she sees a blue bird and takes it as a sign  that thing might be alright.

Helen had doubts about her new role as a mom and the newly wed struggled to make their new roles work. I have been researching ancestors lately and often wondered what difficulties they might have had to overcome. Helen and Peters struggles were very real. The play culminates in an overpowering lullaby sing at the beginning and end off life. It is at these extremes that love is pure and absolute. I doubt there was a dry eye in the house. It is impossible to experience this play and not be touched. The song performed by Rebecca Fisher about living each moment and seizing the day was stellar.

The final performance of Seasons: The Musical is tonight,  September 21, 2019. If you have a chance to go you should not miss it.

Tickets range from $15 to $20. 

Weekend Top 6 Picks for September 21 and 22, 2019

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Saturday September 21, 2019

10am to Noon. Free. A special tour for interested artists. Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge 450 E. South St., Orlando, Florida, 32801. Orange County, Florida Public Art is looking for artists for a $31,500 commission available for Public Art Project Exterior or Interior Art for New Facilities at the refuge.

Eligibility: International
State: Florida
Entry Deadline: 10/30/19
Days remaining to deadline: 75
REQUIREMENTS:
Media
Images – Minimum: 1, Maximum: 10
Audio – Minimum: 0, Maximum: 1
Video – Minimum: 0, Maximum: 1
Total Media – Minimum: 1, Maximum: 12
View Site Details

Project: 

Back To Nature Wildlife Refuge & Education Center 10525 Clapp Simms Duda Road Orlando, Florida, 32832 

www.btnwildlife.org 

www.facebook.com/BTNwildlife
Project Description

The
Orange County Public Art Review Board seeks an artist or artist team(s)
to develop artwork for the new Back to Nature (BTN) Wildlife Refuge
Center located at Eagles Roost, an Orange County Green PLACE property
managed by the Environmental Protection Division (EPD). The Green PLACE
program is an Orange County public land acquisition and land management
program. This project includes five (5) new buildings that will replace
existing portables. The values of nature, history, community and
nonurban lifestyle should inform the art.

Background

Orange
County, Florida is a rapidly growing metropolitan area of more than one
million residents that contains the city of Orlando and a dozen other
municipalities. Back To Nature (BTN) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public
wildlife rehabilitation facility serving the Central Florida Region.
Since its incorporation in June 1989, BTN has been rescuing, raising,
rehabilitating and releasing injured or orphaned Florida-native species
and educating Orange County visitors about respecting and preserving the
environment. The organization hosts an education center, where citizens
can view and learn about wildlife.

Site

Back To Nature is
located at 10525 Clapp Simms Duda Road on 20 acres of the 232 acres at
Eagles Roost conservation land. This project will add a new Education
Center that will provide a space for community meetings. A new Visitor
Center also will be constructed.

Building and Site

Numerous
possible locations are available for placing or integrating art. These
are the primary spaces with possibilities for art installation or
integration.

· An interior wall (Visitor’s Center)

· Exterior walls (Visitor’s Center and Education Center)

· Front porch of the Education Center and Visitor Center

· Entry sign

· (Common Areas) Walkway

· Approach to the site along the driveway 

Grounds layout, floor plans and elevations are included in the “View Site” feature.

Budget

$31,500 has been approved for artwork.

Artwork

The
Public Artist Selection Panel seeks creative solutions for possible
locations mentioned above or other locations suggested by the artist.
The artwork should be permanent and durable with little maintenance
needed in the location to which it will be sited. 

Artwork should
reflect the mission of the Back to Nature facility that serves as a
rehabilitation center for injured native animals and an educational
center for children and adults to learn about nature with help from the
resident animal ambassadors (animals unable to be returned to the wild).
Many people with impairments find empathy and connection with animals
living with impairment.

Eligibility

This opportunity is
open to professional artists working in any media. Student artists may
apply, if they can secure an experienced public artist to serve as a
mentor to oversee their work.

Selection Process

A
selection panel consisting of the project manager, arts professionals
and BTN staff will review artist qualifications and images of past work.
Several artists will be selected to provide proposals and will be paid a
stipend of $500 each for their site-specific proposal. Final artist(s)
selection will take place after review of the proposals. The director of
Arts & Cultural Affairs serves as the nonvoting chair of the
Selection Panel. 

The Public Artist Selection Panel and Orange
County reserve the right to reject any or all applications, proposals,
applicants or projects, and to modify or terminate the application
process or the selection process for any reason and without prior
notice.

Selection Criteria

Artists will be evaluated on
artistic excellence, as evidenced by submitted materials, professional
experience and compatibility with the architectural design, park
environment and values of the center.

Submittal Requirements

·
Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs uses the CaFÉ online
service for its public art selection process. There is no charge for
artists to register with CaFÉ or submit an application.

· Experience with public art projects with a similar budget is not required but helpful.

· Professional resume (teams must submit resumes for each member).

· Letter of interest, outlining interest in the project and a preliminary statement of approach.

·
A minimum of one (1) image is required, and the maximum is 12.
Images of finished works or conceptual drawings can be submitted.
Provide additional information to assure the Selection Panel of what the
finished work will look like and that it will be completed and
installed as designed.
Timeline

· Release of call to artists: Monday, August 12

· Artist Site Visit at BTN: Saturday, September 21, 10 a.m.-noon

· Submittals due: Wednesday, October 30, midnight MST

· Panel review: Tuesday, November 5, 1-3 p.m. 

· Selected finalists notified: Wednesday, November 6

· Final Proposals Due: Monday, February 3, 2020

· Artwork installation: Winter 2020/Spring 2021

7pm to 9pm Free. Smelly Cat: The All That 90’s Show. Boxi Park Lake Nona, 6877 Tavistock Lakes Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827. Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat, what are they feeding you?
The
members of Subliminal Doubt are STOKED to bring you an all-new show
featuring A VARIETY of hits from the years 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994,
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and even… 1999!

8pm to 10pm $15-$20. Seasons the Musical. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. Seasons the Musical spans the course of one year,
and is a story about love. This original musical delves into the lives
of two couples. Helen and Peter – classmates who reconnect at a high
school reunion, and struggle with an unexpected pregnancy. And, Hope and
Mrs. Jones – a mother and daughter with a close bond celebrating a
recent engagement and grappling with an unwelcome diagnosis. Poignant
and touching, this story explores these characters with humor and
realism, and will leave the audience wanting more.

Lyrics by Katie Hammond
Music by Elaine Pechacek

Sunday September 22, 2019

9:30am to 12:20pm $275 Urban Sketching Class. Crealde School of Art, 600 St Andrews Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32792. Learn
to sketch from subject to the environment. Classroom sessions will
focus on sketching clothed models and progress towards sketching the
model and classroom environment. Learn how to incorporate storytelling
into your sketches in our location sessions. These trips to local venues
will challenge you to use your sketchbook the way a photojournalist
uses a camera. The six-week goal is to produce finished sketches using
pencil, pen, and watercolor within two hours. Skill level: Intermediate. 

11am to Noon. $5 Yoga. Lake Eola Park near red gazebo. 

Noon to 3pm Donation based. Music at the Casa. Jorge Mendoza. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Members
of the public are invited to visit our historic home museum on a Sunday
afternoon to listen to live music and take a tour of our historic home
museum and the James Gamble Rogers II Studio by trained docents.

Accidental Historian Install

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The Accidental Historian Exhibit will be on display the the Orange County Regional History Center (65 East Central Boulevard Orlando FL) from September 21, 2019 to January 21, 2020. I went in to sketch during the install of the exhibit. I was  intrigued with the fact the eight years of my sketchbooks were stacked like the Tower of Terror inside a glass museum case. The staff tried to just stack the books but it swayed uncontrollably and they had to come up with a plan B. A clear plastic spine was created that supports the high column of books but even with that solution, the tower slumps forward just a bit like an old man reaching for a cane. On top of the tower one sketchbook is open to a sketch of a giant inflatable alligator that was once in front of the History Center thanks to Heather Henson. A laser level stood sentry like a War of the Worlds armored attack vehicle. It stood on spindly legs staring at the sketchbook tower perhaps judging how fragile it looked.

In this exhibition, created at the
History Center, you get to learn how individuals who are absorbed in documenting
the world of today accidentally become some of Central Florida’s finest
historians for the future. You can also catch a glimpse into some of the museums
collections that were created for the now – more than 100 years ago.

The Accidental Historian features both historic and
contemporary work and collections, including drawings by the renowned
artist and teacher Ralph Bagley and Orlando Urban Sketchers , poetry by
Orlando’s inaugural poet laureate Susan Lilley, audiovisual work by food
blogger Ricky Ly, historic images by photographer T.P. Robinson, and of course a some Orlando sketches by myself.

Visitors to the exhibit can create 19th-century “tweets” and step
into a larger-than-life, Instagrammable photo station, along with other
fun features. The exhibit is fully bilingual, presented in both English
and Spanish. Related programs range from preservation workshops to
poetry readings and a historical food-based demonstration.

In my sketch, I focused on the huge open sketchbook in the corner of the room where Orlando Urban Sketchers work was displayed. I am proud that these artists who work together to explore Central Florida with their sketchbooks are now seeing their work exhibited in a museum. Their vision is unique in a time when people tend to shoot homogenized selfies with thoughtless abandon. These artists take the time to truly see the world around them.

Orlando Arts Collecive

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The Orlando Arts Collective is a diverse group of artists who enjoy supporting, sharing, communicating, and collaborating with other fellow artists. OAC members are painters, sculptors, photographers, and mixed-media artists.

Members conduct workshops, run critique seminars, curate art shows, participate in other community shows and events, and go on art related field trips together. The group encourages members to participate in art activities, shows and other groups throughout the community, and to share their experiences. Having adventures is one of the hallmarks of the OAC.

They are an IRS-501(c) 3 not-for-profit group, which allows them to conduct classes and work with charities. This also means they have a Board of Directors and annual dues. Even though they have a board they are not a board-centered group. All decisions are determined by a majority of their members. The annual membership is $30.00, which helps to pay for group shows, classes, and guest speakers. Extra fees may be required for participation in gallery shows. The members have shown and participated in various art venues in and around Orlando, such as City Arts Orlando, Mega Con, Third Thursdays, Dandelion Cafe, Pom Poms, and FAVO.

The Orlando Art Collective meets on the second Thursday of each month between 6:30-8:30 pm.

I stopped in to a meeting and sketched while members were learning new techniques in a printing workshop. Everything was provided and there were some unique results.  At the end of the table one artist apologized because he had evicted me from a painting workshop at the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens one year because I was sketching as I listened. I laughed and said there were no hard feelings.

Also on the table were ceramic tile hearts which were for a mural that is now up on the side of Lamp Shade Fair which is a 65-year-old business on 1336 N. Mills Avenue, Orlando, Fl. The ceramic hearts were created by artists from around the world and will be arranged into a rainbow coming from the open hand of a Banksy-inspired silhouette of a young girl blowing a kiss.