Crawling on Earth Day

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Earth Day happened to fall on the same day as the World Wide Sketch Crawl. I organized the Orlando Sketch crawl to take place in Lake Eola Park so that we could sketch the Earth Day festivities. I had a tent space, so I made that the home base where all the artists could gather. The tent was right next to IBEX puppetry’s tent, so there was Q sketch opportunity right there.

About four artists showed up, and at lunch time, we all went to the food vendors who were set up around a huge Live Oak tree. A belly dancer performed, but I didn’t sketch since I was still eating. Gay Geiger did manage to get a sketch. After lunch I ran across this artist painting a light bulb shaped earth. There was also a woman helping with the painting, but she left before t could catch her. Jeannette McCree stopped to catch this sketch as well.

Researching Ideas, I found out that it is  a media and experience design company using the premise that
powerful stories create powerful experiences.Their vision is of an enriched,
diverse, and flourishing worldwide community connected through stories. IDEAS has announced that after 6 ½ years, it will be moving from its
current home in Downtown Orlando. No immediate timetable or future
location has been determined.

Over all, hosing the sketch crawl at the Earth Day Festival was an amazing experience. Everyone got some great sketches and it was fun meeting new artists.

Phantasmagoria VI “The Darkness Returns” to the Orlando Shakespere Theater.

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I went to sketch the final dress rehearsal of “The Darkness Returns” at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center
812 E Rollins St, Orlando, Florida. Having just returned from 

sold out performances in Orlando and
Atlanta with the touring show “Wicked Little Tales”, Phantasmagoria
Orlando/DiDonna Productions is presenting Phantasmagoria  VI
“The Darkness Returns” to celebrate the 2015 Halloween Season and its
sixth year in Central Florida!

The show will thunder on to the Mandell Stage with all new stories of terror! Live performers,
“Phantastical” dance, explosive stage combat, large scale puppetry,
aerial performance and haunting storytelling combine to create a
tapestry of macabre and whimsical horror!

The evocative troupe of storytellers, dancers, and chorus embarked on their newest journeys through the literary tales of
terror, as well as horrific folk stories, legends, and myths from around
the world. “For 100 years they have not been seen except in fleeting
glances, and now as we enter a new century the power and magic of the
stories return. . . with very dangerous consequences.”

I have had the rare opportunity to watch this show mature over time. This newest incarnation opens with stark black and white images of World War I battle scenes projected on the back wall. The horrors of the tales told are more deeply routed in the horrors of man’s inhumanity to man. The first tale involved a man’s obsessive desire to kill a cat. With the deed done, the cat hung stiff and lifeless from a tree, managing to stay completely still while the tree limbs danced in a breeze. A magician performed for the jaded cast of storytellers but even they were amazed by what seemed like a predictable trick that alluded reason. Their stories are themselves magical because the tales become tangibly alive and viscerally dangerous.

When the cast hits it’s stride, there is a certain whimsical delight as they re-tell the tales of horror. Each character has a back story which has developed over time, but the show holds up as being self contained. Members of the cast often mysteriously appear in the audience and you might be startled as they whisper in your ear. There was a new Russian inspired dance routine in which all the female cast held hands and then each twirled in succession until they formed a tight knit, cross armed line. The aerialists stretched and contorted themselves with a grace causing an awed silence in the theater. There is no better way to warm up to the horrors and chills of Halloween than to see Phantasmagoria “The Darkness Returns”.

PERFORMANCE DATES:
(All Performances begin at 8pm, with VIP show immediately following main stage show)
Oct 10 (Sat), Oct 11 (Sun)
Oct 16 (Fri), Oct 17 (Sat), Oct 18 (Sun) Oct 19 (Mon)
Oct 23 (Fri), Oct 24 (Sat), Oct 25 (Sun), Oct 26 (Mon)
Oct 30 (Fri), Oct 31 (Sat)

(SUGGESTED AGES: Phantasmagoria contains horror of the literary kind,
but is still frightening. Suggested ages are 8 and up with parental
guidance. With all respect, infants, babies and younger children may not
be admitted)

TICKETS:
Student/Senior/Military Admission – $15.00
Student/Senior/Military VIP Admission – $25.00
General admission – $25.00
General VIP Admission – $35.00

(VIP Admission includes Pick of Seating, VIP post show performance,
Take home Souvenir, Download of Halloween night story, Photo Op with
cast and glass of wine or soft drink)
Reserve (for will call cash only at door) 407-328-9005
Credit card orders visit www.OrlandoAtPlay.com

Weekend Top 6 Picks for October 10th and 11th.

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Saturday October 10, 2015

9am to 3 pm Free. Sanford Farmers Market. Sanford Florida at First and  Magnolia.

1 pm to 11 pm Free. 10th annual Winter Garden Music Fest in Historic Downtown Winter Garden. The free three-day outdoor and indoor music celebration held on Plant Street features over 30 musical groups and performers of various genres from Central Florida. Hours on Sunday are 1pm to 5 pm.

8pm to Zam  Free, but get a drink. “Return of the Dead” Art Show. The Falcon Bar and Gallery, 819 E Washington St, Orlando, FL. Art Show theme open to interpretation. FYI, Walking Dead season premiere will be the same weekend.

Sunday October 11, 2015 

11am to 1 pm  Donation based community YogART class: 7 Chakra series. Artegon Marketplace 5250 International Dr, Orlando, Florida. Every 2nd Sunday of the month YogART will be hosting FREE Color Therapy Yoga classes for the community at Artegon Marketplace (located in the community room across from section B6 – use movie theater entrance)

We are excited to bring you our “7 Chakra Series” that will focus each class on each individual chakra: breaking down it’s color, meaning, location and function. This particular class will revolve around our second major energy point known as “The Sacral Chakra”.

Color Therapy glasses will also be provided for those who wish to experience the effects of color therapy. Orange will be the primary focus for our Root Chakra but you may wear any color you want to work with.

This is an ALL LEVELS class which incorporates stretching, breathing exercises and light yoga poses geared around the Sacral Chakra.

We also have a color wheel on our site that explains the benefit of each color (glasses) Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. http://www.yogartinc.com/color-therapy-chart/

Please bring your own yoga mat and prepare to unwind.

Noon to 4:30 pm Free Family Day. The Mennello Museum of American Art, 900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL. The make-and-take craft table is open from noon-2:30 p.m., and docents are available to give mini-tours of the museum. Then it’s open house in the galleries until 4:30 p.m.

9pm to11pm Free. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out & laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Pop Up Discos in Miami try Stayin Alive.

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Terry’s friend Elaine Pasekoff organized monthly Pop Up Discos in Miami. Her thought was that 50 somethings aren’t interested in the modern club scene, but they have fond memories of their disco days. Elaine had a birthday Disco party that was a blast, and she wanted to keep the party going. She used to work for the Miami Herald, so she called in favors to get ad space for her Pop Up Disco concept. During Art Basel, this disco had a fair attendance, but it was to far from the main arts scene to really pull in a huge crowd. The venue changes month to month and this one was in a small back room of a bar. A friend of Elaine’s was the DJ.

When the evening was over, Elaine confided that she is about to give up on the Pop Up Disco concept. It is a full time job to promote the event on social media and the newspaper. Attendance was never as high as she had hoped so the profits don’t justify all the hours she puts in to keep the concept alive.  A young crowd had been offered a discount on the cover charge since they livened up the dance floor. Unfortunately most 50 somethings are content to stay at home rather than kick up some dust on a disco dance floor.

Maxine’s for the Holidays.

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Maxine’s on Shine, 338 Shine Avenue Orlando FL, is an intimate restaurant where discerning locals go to taste fine wines and have a great meal. The owners, Maxine and Kirt Earhart are always there to meet and greet. Maxine shoots photos of regular customers and Kirt has a wonderful way of addressing everyone and making them feel at home. The restaurant recently won the title of the best neighborhood restaurant and the title is well deserved. If you ever want advice on a wine selection, then be sure to ask Kirt because he has a refined since of taste and he knows his wines.

Each week there are themed dining experiences. Every Tuesday is Maxines neighborhood perks which half off on bottles of wine worth $40 or more. Wednesdays are Maxine’s Girls Night out which provides happy hour all night long for the ladies. Thursday has Parlor Nights which focuses on guitar, baroque, flamenco, and or blues depending on the performer. It is a great date night out, On the second Thursday of every month,  Maxine’s takes part in Thornton Park’s Art and wine Walk . You can meet the artist whose work in hanging in the restaurant and you can sample wines from a featured winery. Friday nights the main stage comes alive with the best from Orlando’s live music scene. Satiation Saturday has a full rejuicication brunch from 10 am to 3 pm. Happy hour is all day long until A pm when college football hits the tube.  The evening then features live music. Sunday features a rejuicication brunch from 10 am to Up m and then there is Serendipity Sunday Supper Club which features weekly acoustic music hand picked by WPRK’s Jessica Pauli.

Keep in mind that reservations are highly recommended because this place fills up fast especially on weekends. I’ve had dinner at the bar several times and the food has always been great. This is the place in Orlando to see and be seen.

FAVO showcases local art, rain or shine.

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Faith Arts Village Orlando (FAVO),  221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida, features 36 art studios open for public viewing, food trucks, live music, and children’s fun art projects. The family friendly event happens every first Friday. The former motel comes alive with art. It was a rainy day when I did this sketch of Will Benton‘s studio space on the second floor at FAVO. Friends visited sitting on his couch and will sold one of his pieces. will has been painting really large canvases that reach to the ceiling. One canvas featured large spiraling Ultramarine circles that matched a lampshade.

This sketch was done from outside Will’s studio looking in. Thankfully there was some cover from the rain but wind gusts sometimes caused some spray to settle on the page. A guitarist performed which offered a calming effect. I went to FAVO to see a show that featured artists paintings on sneakers titled, So Shoe Me. Organized by Deliz V. Berrios and Bethany Taylor Meyers the show was  incredibly fun, the room even had a central bench where you could sit down and try on the art to see if it fit. I felt it was too cramped in the small motel room for me to sit down to sketch,  I’d be blocking art. My solution was to be a voyeur on the outside looking in.

On Friday October 2nd Jack Void showed his ceramic work at FAVO. That is the great thing about this monthly showcase, there is always something new to see. Mark your Calendar, the next FAVO is on Friday November 6th from A pm to 9pm.

Emotions Dance heats up the holidays.

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I needed to pick up some art that I had donated to a 7 Deadly Sins performance. I arrange to to go to an Emotions Dance rehearsal to pick up the art and possibly sketch. Emotions Dance had moved to a new dance studio, (145 Wekiva Springs rd. Suite 145 in Longwood). A landmark was a Graffiti Junction which seems to be every where these days. Larissa Humiston the dance company’s founder greeted me and gave me the artwork. The room had dozens of folding chairs set up for a recital, so it was easy to find a place to sit and sketch.

A male and female dancer were performing a romantic duet. They went through the motions but weren’t generating enough heat. Larissa shouted, “You’re going to look like you are madly in love by the time I get done with you.” An under study followed the female dancers moves without dancing all out. Sketching dance rehearsals is always a challenge because I need to pick out one moment from an endless stream of graceful fluid dance. I’m never completely satisfied but that is what keeps me coming back.

Emotions
Dance offers a variety of classes and workshops for all levels. Adult
open contemporary classes are held every Tuesday night for only $10/ $8
professional rate. All classes are located at Turning Pointe-145 Wekiva
Springs Road Suite 145 in Longwood. 9-10:30pm. Each week we do a little
bit of everything, ballet barre warm up and technique work, across the
floor with jumps and turns and then a combination at the end of class in
either ballet, jazz, modern or contemporary. Join to get a full body
workout and technique class!

The OrlandoiX Welcome Party at Wall Street Plaza.

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OrlandoiX features five power-packed days (October 2 to 6) of dynamic keynotes, panels, exhibits, and entertainment that showcases leading advancements in entertainment technology, interactive media, and digital arts. Prepare to meet the largest brain trust of knowledge and connections you have ever reached in one week. No other event attracts this many technology-astute early adopters
from disparate, yet complementary, backgrounds. Attendees will include:
game developers, designers, producers, creative technologists,
animators, artists, programmers, tech enthusiasts, national media,
venture investors, and digital entrepreneurs.

The opening night welcome party was held downtown at Wall Street Plaza. Since this is a tech centric event, [ decided to take my new tablet out on location. I just started using a Cintig Companion 2 and I’ve put free trials of Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro, and SAI. Since Windows 10 is also a free download, I decided to get that operating system up and running since I find Windows 8 to be quite confusing. I went inside the barricaded party area and got a wrist band covered in bats. I started sketching an inflatable IZEA sign and the stage using SAI, but then the program froze up and closed, giving me a cryptic message. “Unprotected exception, application has terminated by unprotected exception.” WTF! I tried opening the programs but kept getting the same warning. Finally [ decided to switch over to Sketchbook Pro which is what I used to do this sketch. Since I got crowded inside the barricades, I decided to sketch from outside the enclosure to avoid sketching a sea of butts.

As I worked on this sketch I got a low battery warning. I saved and kept sketching in a panic. Three disheveled, pleasantly drunk people looked over my shoulder as I raced against the battery. “That is dope! I always thought technology sucked but that is amazing, It’s just like a pencil on paper.” Another couple of drunk guys stood in front of me saying something about my sister. I ignored them until they got bored and left. It threatened to rain and stage hands rushed to set up a tent over the DJ to protect the equipment. I had the same concern, but the faint mist never became rain.  Then the screen went black. Well, I guess the sketch is done.  I was so annoyed. I should have brought a sheet of paper and a pencil!  I had spent most of my time fighting software problems. Back at home I worked until 2 am to try and get SAI to open up. After going into a misc.ini file and changing a 0 to a 1, it finally started to work. Although technology was more of a hindrance than a help, it is still a mountain that I need to climb.

Outside the Spectum Tent at Art Basel local artists worked.

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The Spectrum Tent at Art Basel in Miami featured Monique Lassooij and Eleazar Delgado hard at work on large canvases. Monique’s work is somber being executed mostly in black and white with some hints of red, while Eleazar’s work was bright with orange flames visible even on the back of his canvas. The canvases were held up with two by four supports which were anchored into the ground using lengths of re-bar. I found some nice shade and started sketching. The Art Miami tent was right across the street. There is so much happening during Art Basel that it seems redundant going into the tents. Besides the art, there is the lure of air conditioning however.

Weekend top 6 Picks forSaturday October 3, 2015 and October 4, 2015.

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Saturday October 3, 2015.

11pm to 1pm. Free. Book Launch Party: Perspective Made Easy by Robbie Lee. Bookmark It 3201 Corrine Drive, Suite 109, Orlando, Florida. What better way to celebrate Florida Bookstore Day than with a Book Launch Party! Join local illustrator, beloved art teacher and now AUTHOR, Robbie Lee, on Saturday, October 3 for the launch of his new book “Perspective Made Easy” by Impact Press (2015).

Besides giving us a peak into his creative process, Robbie will be leading hands-on drawing demonstrations, so bring your imagination! Delicious treats will be provided by Audubon Park favorites La Femme du Fromage and Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux. Budding artists of all ages welcome!

Designed to teach readers of all skill levels how to draw the world around them- everything from cars, rooms, and landscapes to rockets, furniture, and pants- with realistic and convincing depth, Perspective Made Easy’s format is a colorful blend of a comic and traditional step-by-step instruction.

Plus rumor has, it’s pretty dang funny too.

1pm to 4pm Free. Fan Faire 2015. Hart Memorial Central Library, 211 East Dakin Avenue, Kissimmee, Fl. The time has come, geeks one and all, for our yearly Fan Faire! A comic-con celebrating all fandoms. If you love Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, GoT, OUaT, LOTR, Anime, Manga, Comics, Pixie Hollow, Minecraft, or more, cosplay your best and join the rest! Games, prizes, costume contests, and crafts aplenty. View presentations by experts and shop local artists.

Check out our website!

Presenters:

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament – Orlando

Grand Artifice at www.fb.com/GrandArtifice

7pm to 9 pm. Free. Functionally Literate presents: Padgett Powell. Celebrate 3 years of Functionally Literate, plus Florida Bookstore Day, and the release of Padgett Powell’s latest book: Cries for Help, Various.

Readings begin shortly after 7pm and feature: Padgett Powell, Rebbecca Evanhoe & Beth McKee.

Free & open to the public.

Beer & wine by donation.

Books for sale by Bookmark It Bookstore.

Book signing to follow the reading.

This event is part of Burrow Press’ 5-year anniversary double-header. Consider making a tax-deductible donation to Burrow, or purchasing tickets to our October 7th Literary Death Match. More info here: burrowpress.com/tix

Sunday October 4, 2015.

3pm to 5 pm. Free. Pine Castle Historical Society quarterly meeting. Pine Castle Woman’s Club 5901 South Orange Ave, Orlando FL 32809 (at the corner of Oak Ridge Road).Christie Woods will present on the Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library as a potential vision for our new Pine Castle History Center.
Please join us for snacks and root beer floats courtesy of our local A&W!

9pm to 11pm. Free.  Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee: 929 W Fairbanks Ave Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out & laugh, or give it a try yourself.

9pm to 11pm. Free. Solo Acoustic Spoken Word. Natura Coffee & Tea, 12078 Collegiate Way, Orlando, FL. 407 482-5000