Time Trials at Daytona International Speedway

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Wendy Wallenberg gave me a tip about sketching time trials at Daytona International Speedway. it is a long scenic drive to the speedway down the Beach Line Expressway. Wendy met me at the entrance and guided me to the bleachers being used to watch the race. This wasn’t a crowded day at the track. The few people in the bleachers were mostly friends and family of the drivers. Car 0158A crashed before I got to the track. The driver was female and she was unhurt but clearly the car is going to need lots of love and care. Since the crews catch phrase is “No Mo Money”  it might be some time before that front end gets repaired. No Mo Money Race Engineering is a full service race shop. Now offering Race car rentals, Track day rentals, Enduro Racing, Chump car Racing, Track side service, and Coaching. Specializing in Mazda Miata’s.

Track side, I sat in the top row of the bleachers to  get a view over the fencing. cars would scream by so fast that they were just blurs. Being an  off day at the track, it was possible to park anywhere to see the race from any angle. I contented myself with these bleachers.

I never know who is in the lead of who is trailing. I suppose with time you can learn to follow the leaders. From my perspective it was a constant loud assault on the senses. The same effect might be achieved with a large crowd of competitors running with leaf blowers.

After the race, there was a small gathering with food and drink near the starting line. It offered a chance to mix and mingle with the racers.

Mother’s Day at the Mennello Museum of American Art

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I  went to the the Mennello Museum of American Art, (900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803) to sketch the Free Family Day on the Second Sunday of the month. This just happened to line up with  Mother’s Day. At the front desk, there was a free rose for every mother who came to the museum on that day. On display in the entry gallery were fairly large twisted metal sculptures along with the preparatory drawings on the walls. I decided to sit on a bench and sketch the sextant who greeted guests and handed out roses to the moms. Quite a few museum guests brought their mom along for  a day at the museum.

On exhibit in the museum now is, “When the Water Rises: Recent Paintings by Julie Heffernan“, who uses the power of paint’s materiality and immediacy in the Mennello Museum’s exhibition.
She brings form to the reality of our environmental and sociopolitical
problems. This exhibition debuts nine new works by the artist.

Heffernan’s work explores the imagery of the mind’s eye to create
complex environments. Her recent paintings create alternative habitats
in response to the environmental disaster and planetary excess. With
rising waters, she imagines worlds in trees or on rafts in which
undulating mattresses, tree boughs, and road signs guide the journey.
Construction cones interrupt the landscape signaling places to stop,
enter tiny interior worlds, and reflect on the human condition—its
hopeless activity, violence, failure, and redemption. Heffernan tends
these alternative environments to safeguard bounties we cannot live
without. In other moments, she names and points fingers to those people
and activities implicated in recent calamities of both the physical and
socio-political environment. Intricately wrought, Heffernan’s paintings
evoke the fantastical allegory of Hieronymus Bosch and the sublime of
Thomas Cole and Albert Bierstadt.

Also on exhibit in the Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden outside are two large sculptures, “Waltzing Matilda” and “Twin Vortexes” by American sculptor Alice Aycock. The Mennello Museum inaugurated the Grounds for Exhibitions with these beautiful works which
were originally part of series of seven sculptures
in Aycock’s significant outdoor exhibition on Park Avenue in Manhattan
entitled Park Avenue Paper Chase. Grounds for Exhibition features
year-long large-scale sculpture exhibitions by nationally renowned
American artists who otherwise would not be shared with Orlando
audiences. The sculptures will be on display through September 2018.

Blue Box 12

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I established the Blue Box Initiative, so I could sketch talented performers in each of the 27 blue boxes which are painted on the sidewalks downtown Orlando. These boxes are for panhandlers and buskers. Busking was possible only during day light hours, but a recent amendment allows the boxes to be used at night. Although set up for panhandlers, police often insist street performers must use the blue boxes. Performing outside the boxes can result in 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Sasha Kendrick volunteered to perform in Blue Box 12 which is right across from the Lake Eola Band Shell. To me, performing on the Band Shell stage would make the most sense, but that is not allowed. Las Vegas has black circles painted on the pavement of Freemont Street which is also used to keep performers contained. The difference about Las Vegas is that every black circle has performers because there are so many tourists walking the streets that it is worth it for the performers to work just about every night. In Orlando the tourists keep to the theme parks never walking the streets of downtown and there is little effort to attract tourists downtown.

Blue Box 12 was in the blazing sun with no chance of shade. The light sidewalk cement acted like a mirrored reflector. Luckily I had thought to bring some sun screen. Sasha played her violin heroically for the hour or so that I sketched. I had established some of the background scene before she arrived. She pointed out that the extreme heat could cause the wood of her violin to warp. The bridge, which hold the strings away from the body of the violin in particular could warp and then literally spring free of the instrument.

I kept my sketch brief, and then we walked across the street where she continued to  play on a Lake Eola bench in the shade. She played in Lake Eola often and the police are happy to allow her to play. Someone bought us both a soda while she played and I did a second sketch. This was the first and only time that I have been given a tip for sketching on location. Were I to put out a tip jar anytime I  sketched, I would be considered a pan handler who was breaking the law and could face 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The week of the Winter Park Paint out, a similar ordinance is in place, but the Paint out organizers got a permit which allowed for the creation of art on Park Avenue for the five days of the event.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for May 5 and 6, 2018

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Saturday May 5, 2016

7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free but get a drink or two. Thomas Watkins in concert. Marlow’s Tavern 6889 Eagle Watch Drive, Orlando, FL 32822. Marlow’s Tavern is in a great location near the airport,
convenient to everything. Great food, tons of parking, and a friendly
atmosphere.

 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free. Shuffleboard at Orlando’s Beardall Courts. Orlando’s Beardall Courts 800 Delaney Ave Orlando FL. Shuffleboard at Orlando’s Beardall Courts at 800 Delaney Ave on the 1st Saturday of each month. Free fun!

10:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL. Hot blooded flamenco dances to acoustic guitar.

Sunday May 6, 2018

10:00 a.m. to Noon Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

Noon to 1 p.m. Donation. Yoga. Lake Eola near the red gazebo. Bring your own mat.

4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Maitland Stage Band. Maitland Art Center 231 W Packwood Ave, Maitland, Florida 32751. Jim Foy directs the Maitland Stage Band featuring Harry James and
Benny Goodman selections with singer Tina Stefanos-Philips performing
Helen Forrest tunes. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful Art
Center and the Rotary Plaza Stage, Sunday May 6, FREE concert.

Earth Fest Casselberry Florida

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The performers stood on a truck bed stage under two large red umbrellas. There was no shade on the lawn in front of them and a few people watched from the shade of trees on the outskirts of the lawn. IT was boiling hot.

9th Annual EarthFest, Central Florida’s second largest environmentally friendly festival will be held on Saturday, April 28, from 10 AM to 3 PM at Lake Concord Park in Casselberry

Sponsored by the City of Casselberry, Casselberry Friends of the Park and Keep Seminole Beautiful, EarthFest 2018 brings awareness about protecting our environment, creating clean energy and reducing our carbon footprint. The goal is to educate, encourage and empower citizens to create a sustainable environment by participating at the many fun activities located at the Green Vendor Area, Green Transportation and Energy Area, Entertainment Area, Kids Zone, and other fun zones throughout the entire park.

 EarthFest 2018 highlights include a special performance by Beth McKee and The Swamp Sistas, the Arbor Day Free Tree Giveaway, free plant giveaways, butterfly releases, eco-fun activities and live entertainment. Throughout the day, numerous workshops and educational presentations will be held both indoors and at the individual environmental vendor booths.   The Art House features the Recycled Art Show with art that is totally created from re-purposed material.  The Commission Chambers will host the Drop Savers Award Program.

The Good Friday Lamentation

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I went to the Saint George Orthodox Church (24 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801) to sketch a Lamentation of Christ service. I knew nothing about what to expect so it was like going to a play without knowing the plot. This church is right on Lake Eola and each week there is a food share in the parking lot behind the church which always brings a crowd. Institutions around the church get upset that they have to clean up the Styrofoam containers that litter the area after each feeding. I’m surprised the church hasn’t considered a more ecological way of distributing food.

The Good Friday Lamentation service had a canopy set up at the front of the church which was covered in roses. A cantor in black robes walked through the space waving a golden orb that gave off a smoky incense. The service examines the grief of Mary, a mother watching her son die a torturous death, executed as a criminal, while knowing he was the Son of God.  The liturgical hymns of ancient centuries probe this scene in compelling, chanted dialogue between mother and son on Holy Friday.   The tone is mournful while attention is drawn to a representation of Christ’s tomb: the kouvloukion covered in flowers and holding the epitaphios,  an image of the dead Christ. Incense permeates the senses. The mood is solemn as the hymns chanted by the cantors (or psaltis) contemplate the Creator who “became earthly to renew the earthly.” At this moment in the Eastern Orthodox Holy Friday ritual, the chanting is true lamentation. My primary concern was with the beauty of the service.

The Greek Orthodox Church has been serving the needs of the Orthodox community of Orlando for over 35
years, it has become an icon in Downtown. Services are held in Arabic, Greek, Slavonic and English. The Lamentation that I  sketched I believe was in Slavic. Towards the end of the service everyone got up and they walked outside the church and circled the building. That was when I decided my sketch was complete.

Paint Out Garden Party

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Held on the last night of the week long Winter Park Paint Out, the Paint Out Garden Party was held at the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens. Tickets were $100, but exhibiting artists were allowed to bring one guest for free. Guests were dressed in cabaña chic/garden cocktail attire which in Orlando means the usual informal ware. I decided immediately that I wanted to sketch the band called The Gazebros.

Pam arrived and we go a few drinks and bites and then I got to work. She explored and found the other food stations around the property. My favorite dish was a very basic Mac and Cheese. I ate one heaping plate as I sketched. As an artist, the breaks between songs felt like an eternity. The band’s covers like Simon and Garfunkel‘s “The Boxer” were recognizable and nostalgic. As the sun set, the light grew golden. Much later in the evening I saw the band playing in the dark. This scene with the iPads illuminating the singers was the scene I wish I had sketched. Hopefully I can catch this band again at a night time gig.

Inside the “Wet Gallery” none of my sketches had sold. Other artists had sold 8 to 10 pieces already. This wasn’t a competition, but I certainly need the cash. I decided to slash prices from $800 a piece to $600 per piece. Organizer Hal Stringer changed the prices with a magic marker. Pam and I stood near the work to answer any questions and to joke with prospective buyers. Pam is a natural at talking to people and telling stories about how each piece was created. Several of the artists came up to my work to point out that they were in the paintings. I think that the other artists liked what I was doing although it wasn’t Plein Air oil painting. Hal Stringer started pointing out several pieces to a friend and then he let me know that he had bought my painting of Man Carving His Own Destiny. Although only one piece sold, I can take solace in the fact that a true art expert bought my work.

When My sketch was done, we did the rounds to see what food remained. The Mac and Cheese had run out. Pam had found some amazing extra peanutty peanut butter cookies. Unfortunately those had been devoured as well. This is the disadvantage of sketching while most guests are eating. I had to satiate myself with one more sangria.

They Love to Watch Her Strut

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This year I am one of 25 artists participating in the Winter Park Paint Out. Each artist is assigned one morning or afternoon session in which they have to do a painting on the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens property. I was assigned to paint on Thursday afternoon. I stop by every afternoon anyway to drop off the previous day’s painting for the gallery wall. My wall by the way is right next to the bathrooms in case you go and want to find my work. I have been told that is a good spot to have your work hang since everyone has to go to the bathroom at some time.

I wandered the property checking out each artist’s work in progress. There is always so much to learn just seeing how different artists block in their paintings. My second priority was o find a shady spot to park myself to do a painting. My baseball hat was left behind on the Frontier plane I took back to Orlando last week. I know the hat was on the plane since I used it to hold all my belongings going through security. After all the passengers were off I went back on the plane to go to my seat to see where it fell. I was damn near tackled by a male stewardess who shouted at me “GET OFF THE PLANE repeatedly. I understood him the first time and backed off. He called back on an intercom for someone to look at seat 30A and immediately announced that the hat wasn’t there. Did they even take the time to look? Another passenger had worn his expensive headphones on the plane and he hoped to get them back since they must have fallen off while he slept. His was a lost cause as well. Clearly these items were pocketed. That is what you get for flying a low budget airline. As I walked away one of the airport cleanup crew said “I apologize for his behavior.” That can’t make up for Frontier crew treating customers like crap. I plan to get a new hat at some point and I will pay to have “Never Fly Frontier” embroidered onto it.

This statue by Albin Polasek is titled “Maiden of the Roman Campagna.” In stark silhouette, she looks like she is wearing headphones and dancing to music. The house next to the Polasek Museum was playing a Bob Seger  song called “They Love to Watch Her Strut.” “They do respect her butt, they love to watch her strut.” I imagined that was the music she was listening to as I sketched. She is actually holding a long strand of braided hair, but I preferred to leave her listening to headphones. That song played on a loop for the next two hours or so. I don’t know why someone would ever want to hear the same some over and over again for. I started to wonder if I should let someone know that the person on the property next door had died while listening to the song and the music would repeat for eternity until someone found the body.

Multiple patrons stopped to see my sketch in progress. A little boy was curious about my brush which holds water in it’s handle. He felt this as like having a James Bond water gun with you anywhere you went. He desperately wanted one so he could squirt his friends by surprise.

Winter Park “Sunset Paint In”

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The public was invited to come by as Winter Park Paint Out Artists gathered on the shore of Lake Maitland, hosted by the Winter Park Racquet Club (2111 Vía Tuscany Winter Park, FL 32789.) There the artists captured a beautiful Florida sunset from the west-facing shores Lake Maitland. Guests settled in with friends and family as dusk drew near and they watched the magic unfold across  canvasses. This was the perfect opportunity for members and non-members of the club to invite guests and check out this one-of-a-kind event. Artists painted along the shoreline as well as throughout the lush and festive grounds. Guests could grab a drink and share the vista and watch as these outstanding artists created a vivid sunset memory on canvas. Artwork was available for sale the night of the event and you can also see the evenings completed artwork in the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens (633 Osceola Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) “wet room” gallery through April 28, 2018.

I set up in the shade of a bush to sketch the artists working in the shade in front of the mansion that is next to the Racquet club. It turns out I was right next to the admissions tent which is where everyone picked up their cup and a comment card to see which wines were the best. Since I was right at the entrance, quite a few people stopped to look over my shoulder. The multiple conversations were as enlightening and fun as getting the sketch done. I met a water colorist who knew of my work from Instagram. I also ran into Cher Cloude Topps, a former student who was experiencing the paint out for the first time.  Robert Willson asked me quite a few questions about the fountain pen I was using. It turns out he hand makes fountain pens and we spoke about having me take one of his pens for a “test drive” and giving him feedback on how the pen works for creating art.

The artist in the red shirt was Don Sontag from Winter Park. He was working on a painting of the admissions tents with the sunset behind them. The other artist I believe was Scott Heistand from Ormond Beach. Unfortunately he left before I got a chance to see his finished painting. By the time this sketch was done, the sun was about to set. I was given a sandwich and some chips, so I stood closer to the water to watch the final moments as the sun hit the horizon. The temperature immediately dropped, so I decided it was time to turn in my wine voucher. The red wine warmed me up a bit as I joked with a few of the artists before I left.

Painting Demo

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Winter Park Paint Out Artist Steve Andrews gave a painting demonstration in Downtown Orlando at the Orange County Administration Building Sculpture Garden (201 South Rosalind Avenue Orlando FL). He set up on the lawn facing the Orlando skyline. This was a free event so anyone was invited to attend. As I arrived, Rachel Frisby and several assistants were setting up the Albin Polasek Museum banner and a tent. I paced around an tried to figure out what I should sketch as they set up. I finally realized I should sit back a bit so I could include the sculpture of a man trying to fly with I-beams and very non aerodynamic wings. It seemed fitting in that it implied to me that most of man’s aspirations though well intentioned can be futile. I had every intention of doing a good sketch but it always seems that circumstances are always set in place to keep me from the task of taking flight.

Several people approached as I set up the scene asking well intentioned questions that stole time as the sun raced towards the horizon. Terry Olson who heads up the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs stopped to say hello. He then checked out Steve’s progress and headed on his way, probably to another cultural event. I see him everywhere I go. A security guard from the Orange County Building approached and asked if I was with the County. It was clear he was looking to stop my sketch in progress. I told him I was, to buy time, and kept working. My mistake had been to say hello to him as he did his rounds. He approached a second time and asked to see my credentials. I showed him my Winter Park Paint Out badge and told him that this was an event that had been approved with a permit. He told me he had not been informed and I assume he went back inside to call around to see if he could get the artist/anarchist off of the city property. I must have seemed an easy target since I sat apart from the crowd. His main concern was that this would be an isolated event. We don’t want artists running amok downtown, now do we?

Steve began blocking in his painting as everyone sat on the lawn to watch. The biggest challenge was looking straight into the setting sun. Instead of using line, he boldly blocked in the shapes in oil always being able to refine a shape as the painting progressed. He told a story that his father had been a doctor during world War II and he was one of the few doctors who stayed in Orlando during the war effort. Orange County Regional History Center curator Pam Schwartz made arrangements to get his fathers oral history.

The crowd gathered to watch Steve paint broke out into laughter. I didn’t understand why at first. Rachel later explained that her dog had taken the moment to squat in front of the artist and take a lingering dump right in the scene he was painting. “Everyone is a critic!” Steve mused.

Today is the last day of the Winter park Paint Out, so it is your last chance to see all the paintings that have been created this week in the “wet gallery”. Admission to the Albin Polasek Museum (633 Osceola Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) is free for the paint out until 5pm. Tonight is the Paint Out Garden Party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is the big blow out gala which showcases all of the art from the event. Over 400 patrons are expected to attend dressed in cabana chic garden attire. Tickets to the Garden Party are  $100 in advance or $125 at the door. Each ticket enti­tles the buyer to $50.00 off the pur­chase of a paint­ing dur­ing the Gar­den Party! (Limit one ticket per paint­ing val­ued at $300 or more)