One Chic Fete Livened up Firestone Live with Art, Fashion and Burlesque

Posted on by Thor

Ashlie Rolfe invited me to sketch “One Chic Fete” on May 30, 2014 from 8:30pm -1:30am at Firestone Live, (578 N. Orange Ave
Orlando, FL). The event was an incredible fusion of all things creative, including fashion, music, burlesque, visual art, photography and more! It was a night of creativity, cocktails, and a collaboration of over 40+ designers, artists, musicians, etc.

When I arrived, I quickly decided to sketch from the second floor overlooking all the festivities. A retro motorcycle and the band on stage became my centers of interest. Chain link fences were set up around the whole venue as a place to hang art. The last time I exhibited work on a chain link fence was at Grant Elementary school in Dumont New Jersey. At the time I was quite obsessed with the space program and I hung a sketch I did of the Mercury space capsule. I was sure that one day I would be an astronaut. The trouble is that I couldn’t stop sketching.

Upstairs at Firestone I bumped into Ruby Darling who founded Skill Focus Burlesque. They performed that evening in costumes based on video game characters. As Ruby explained, “We dress up as all the things, or characters you are hoping to see! And then we strip down to pasties.” There was also a costume contest and my favorite was The Alien and it walked down the runway with a puppy on a leash. It was the perfect blend of Harrow and cuteness. I started to sketch the Alien, but it went offstage long before I could catch its proportions, so I had to erase it. As always, I was surprised with how many people were looking at their cell phones the whole time. When I was done sketching, I did a walk about to see which artists were showcasing their work.

Tiny Houses are Big Draw in Orlando

Posted on by Thor

Emily Lindahl and Dorian hosted a Tiny Houses open house at College Park Village RV/Tiny House Community in Orlando. Dorian lives in a custom-built single-level tiny house with an open floorplan (The Dorian, built by Maximus Extreme), while Emily lives in a tinier house, built by Elaine Walker of the Tiny House-Community,  based on the Tumbleweed Lusby plans (now the Elm 18 Equator). Built in 2009  the house has traveled nearly 7,000 miles from New Hampshire to
California to Washington DC to where it resides now in Florida. Emily met Elaine at a meetup in November and she told Elaine that she planned to sell her large house to start living small. About a month later, Elaine moved out of her tiny house to care for a family member in Florida and offered to let Emily move in. Emily accepted, but someday she hopes to save up enough to build a tiny house of her own.

When I arrived at the Tiny House Open House, Emily gave me a quick tour of her place. A huge vine has grown up the back wall of the home and is climbing onto tree limbs. Emily reached up on tip toe to show me a large gourd that will be a loofa sponge when she harvests it and dries it out. The first landscaping feature Emily added was a winding garden path. She definitely has a green thumb because the garden around her tiny house is flourishing. Her tiny house looks out across a gorgeous lake. Though she is living small, she has a million dollar view. Two hundred or so people showed up to the open house. It was a bit surreal to see a long line of giants waiting to tour the tiny house.

Emily Lindahl has been interested in tiny houses since she was in college. She first saw a Jay Shafer YouTube video on tiny houses in 2006. She grew up in a huge house but was always a bit of a minimalist. She attended a tumbleweed Tiny House building workshop in January 2013 and she and a classmate started a Tiny Houses Facebook group shortly after. The group page started with just 20 people but has grown to over 1600 members. The Tiny Houses Community is getting more organized by pooling resources and getting a website and forum. Emily is the Director of Communications for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra so she knows how to bring people together using social media. She hopes to one day see Tiny House communities throughout Florida. A tiny housed video series will be released on YouTube soon. Emily wrote the theme song for it. She uses the hashtag #emilystinyadventure online to share her experiences. You can also follow the adventure on Instagram at @emilystinyadventure plus she is sharing her tiny adventure on her blog.

East End Market Offers All Things Local

Posted on by Thor

My exhibition of several dozen original Orlando Urban Sketches has been hanging at East End Market (3201 Corrine Dr.
Orlando, FL) for the past several months. The show is slated to come down sometime in the beginning of September. Emily Rankin of Local Roots Distribution Company asked me to keep some cards in her farm store in the front of the market. I left her with a dozen or so cards that were left over from the Emotions Dance performance, Art Evolution. I did a sketch based on each choreographed performance and worked the dancers into iconic works of art. Over time I will be adding cards that have urban sketches of venues around Orlando.

After setting up the exhibit in the community room on the second floor of East End, I decided to stay and sketch the market, which is always bustling with activity. People stay at the juice bar for hours working on their computers making them perfect models. The thin pink haired girl was the reason for starting this sketch. When she wasn’t on  her computer, she was talking to the staff behind the bar. Mason jars are used as light bulbs above the bar. Behind me, the custom coffee bar was always serving up orders.

I’m so happy my work has been exhibited at East End. People keep approaching me to let me know that they liked getting a chance to see my sketches up close and in person. I always say that my sketches are about documenting people and places that make Orlando a stronger community. East End Market is a new venue where those people come together to share similar ideals. It has been the perfect place to share what I do with people that make a difference in this town.

Places Less Traveled at the Peacock Room

Posted on by Thor

On May 6th, I went to the opening reception for “Places Less Traveled” at the Peacock Room (1321 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL). This show featured Selected Graffiti Photographs taken by Grazyna Kleinman in Miami between 2011-2014. Grazyna travels to Art Basel in Miami each year and she documents the ever changing urban graffiti scene. The Wynwood Arts District in Miami has entire buildings covered in Graffiti and every year groups of artists travel there to expand and change the scene. She takes multiple photographs at each location and stitches them together to create her high resolution images. Some of the images are printed on metal giving them an interesting sheen. She had several self published books on display and I thumbed through to see more of her work. 3D glasses sat on the table along with the books. When you look at the photos with the glasses on, the graffiti tends to float above the walls.

Grazyna’s husband and son were at the opening. Her son is planning to become a stock broker and he bragged about how easy it is to make money in the stock market. I thought it would have been good for him to meet Terry to get a more realistic view of what the market has been like for the past twenty years. Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it.

In the main bar area there was a  Group Art Show by local Artists which was curated by Mendi Cowles.

The Citrus Bowl Gets a Face Lift

Posted on by Thor

Driving on the East West Expressway to work, I’ve often glanced over to see the Citrus Bowl being stripped down to it’s cement skeleton. I finally decided I needed to get off at the next exit to sketch the work in progress. I know that Orlando plans to host another Bowl game this year, so I’m assuming the reconstruction needs to be done by then. About 90% of the stadium will be torn down and replaced, including
portions that have stood since its original construction in 1937. Only
the upper decks, which were added in 1990 and remain viable as part of a
modern facility, will remain.

The new Citrus Bowl will offer an enhanced fan experience at every
level, with wider, chair-back seating, new concessions areas and
restrooms, and new club and premium spaces throughout the building. 

When the stadium reopens in fall 2014, it will continue to host
signature events including the Capital One Bowl, Russell Athletic Bowl,
Florida Blue Florida Classic and Monster Jam. In addition, the new venue
will allow Orlando to pursue more high-profile sports tourism events
such as neutral-site college football games, NFL preseason games,
international soccer matches, big-name concerts and more.

November 2013

Pre-construction mobilization began.

January 2014

Demolition of lower seating levels began.

March 2014

New seating bowl construction began.

Late Spring 2014

Construction of new concessions, restrooms, team locker rooms and operation/support areas began.

November 2014

Substantial completion achieved (95%) in time to be operational for fall events.

April 2015

Target for 100% completion.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for August 30 and 31

Posted on by Thor

Saturday August 30, 2014

9am to 3pm Free.  Sanford Farmers Market. First and Magnolia in Downtown Sanford. A small farmer’s market.

10am to 3pm Free. Summer Write-In. Downtown Orlando library in the Palm Room. Writers of all genres are welcome to bring your laptops or notebooks and write along fellow authors. This informal event provides you with quiet writing time allows you to come and leave at any time. There will be a few activities and breaks to keep you awake and inspired.

7:30pm to 9:30pm Free. Amy Watkins and Open Mic. The Geek Easy 114 S. Semoran Blvd Suite #6, Winter Park, Florida. Open to all: Musicians-Lyricists-Artists-and Poets of all kinds

Bring out the cape and have some fun.

http://poetry.meetup.com/362/

Sunday August 31, 2014

10am to Noon Free. Super Joy Riders. Eastern entrance of the Lake Eola Farmers’ Market. Participants dress as superheroes and ride en Masses around the city as they check off their scavenger hunt-like list of Do Gooder Duties; collecting litter, helping senior citizens cross the road, returning shopping carts, basically performing small acts of kindness for an hour and a half of hilarity and love.

The Super Joy Riders: Do Gooder Bike Ride is an exercise in community organizing and active engagement. We hope to use the ride as an opportunity to show how helping people can be simple, fun, and easy, especially while wearing a cape.

http://www.superjoyriders.com/

You + Superhero Costume + Bike = Best Sunday Ever

Noon to 5pm Free but get a beer. Sunday’s with Smiling Dan. The Falcon Bar and Gallery, 819 East Washington Street, Orlando, FL.

1pm to 3pm Free. Yoga. Weekly. Lake Eola Park, North Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL.

Lake Highland was Home to the Annual Max Starks NFL Youth Football and Speed Camp

Posted on by Thor

As a way to give back to the community, a free football camp was offered for two days at Lake Highland Preparatory School (901 Highland Ave, Orlando, FL). Hundreds of children sat in the bleachers as the professional athletes introduced themselves. Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Champion Max Starks, who calls Orlando home, hosted the
annual Max Starks NFL Youth Football and Speed Camp along with special guest and NFL Hall of Fame defensive
back Darrell Green.Then everyone flooded out onto the football field to warm up and run on the field. The school has classic architecture that makes it look like an Ivy League School. I sat down and leaned against a fence as I sketched the students on the field.

This was a free camp to girls and boys (minimum age 7) up to 18 years of
age. Registration forms can be picked up and returned to the Florida
Citrus Sports offices located on the second floor of the south end zone
office building at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium (1610 W. Church
Street, Orlando, FL 32805) or downloaded at www.maxstarks.com.

Friday’s speed camp, led by Darrell Green, will include NFL combine
simulations for high school athletes. Saturday’s Youth Football Camp
will teach the fundamentals and techniques of each position. All campers
received a free t-shirt, camp bag filled with goods, one ticket to
the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney, lunch and a one- hour life
skills and educational segment stressing the importance of staying in
school and developing a sterling image on and off the field.

Travis Blaise Works on His Cintique

Posted on by Thor

Travis Blaise worked with students at Misty Forest to help create storyboards for a short animated film titled “Rosalie and the Bottle Tree.” As I sketched Travis, he told me about the equipment he was using, and I decided to purchase the same scanner and printer he was using. The Epson has been serving me well. Misty Forest is a small private school that offers kids creative courses after regular school hours. A bottle tree consists of bottles stuck onto branches and they are created to bring good luck. Travis had the kids create all the storyboards and he was using the Cintique to edit together the images along with the sound track.

Travis is an amazing animator that worked at Disney Feature Animation when hand drawn animation was in it’s hay day. He is a master at working straight ahead, letting the scene develop organically.  He showed me how he uses the Cintique to animate using Flash. I was amazed that the program could be used to create organically drawn animation. I always assumed that Flash created flat, cut out type characters that were then moved like puppets.

Travis ended up leaving Orlando to work at Digital Domain, a computer animation studio. Digital Domain then closed down and I’m not sure where Travis went after that. Working in the animation industry is like tap dancing on quick sand.

Riding Horses on Vacation

Posted on by Thor

My wife Terry used to love to ride horses. She used to volunteer for the Police Equestrian Unit in Orlando riding the police horses  to make sure they got enough exercise. On a vacation to visit my family in Pennsylvania she went for a trail ride while I sketched the horses in the coral. She stopped riding abruptly when a police horse got spooked and threw her to the ground. She ended up with a huge bruise down her leg which had her limping for a week.Horse riders say that it isn’t a matter of “if” you will be thrown, but a matter of “when” you will be thrown. I have never trusted horses and I have never sat on top of a horse. I suspect they don’t have my best interests at heart.

 On a vacation to the Canadian Rockies this year, Terry once again went on a trail ride that went for miles up a muddy path to a glacier lookout. I stayed behind and did a sketch. The trail horses were super calm and she didn’t get thrown or injured. Perhaps as the saying goes, she is back in the saddle. The trail horses had Western saddles that have that horn to grab onto. The police horses have English saddles that leave a rider with nothing to grab if they loose their balance. Regardless of the saddle though, I still prefer to sketch horses rather than ride them.

The Shift to feature a Multiple Dance Company Ccollaboration

Posted on by Thor

Emotions Dance  founded by Larissa Humiston is teaming up with Orlando’s best in modern, improv, and contemporary dance to engage and enlighten audiences with new, experimental, and in-progress works all under one roof.

After the performance, there will be a Question and Answer session with the Artistic Directors to allow audiences to provide feedback as well as gain insight into the creative process.

A one-of-a-kind annual event hosted by Emotions Dance Company, The Shift: Calm and Chaos focuses primarily on shifting our perception of movement, dance, and art while allowing companies to grow and change as artists.

Companies participating this year include: Voci Dance, Yow Dance, Dawn Branch Works, Canvas Creative Coalition, Red Right Return Dance Company, Mary Love Dance Projects, Coby Dance Project and more!

Mark Your Calendar! The Shift: Calm and Chaos  will be performed on

Friday September 19 and Saturday Sept 20, 2014

8pm

at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center’s Mandell Theatre

(812 E Rollins St. Orlando FL). Presale tickets are available Aug 12 until September 12
GA- $18
Students/Seniors (65+)- $14
At the door- GA- $20
Students/ Seniors (65+)- $15
Discounted tickets available for parties of 10+.

Also on the horizon is  7 Deadly Sins happening October 17-25th at The Venue (511 Virginia Dr, Orlando, Fl). 7 Deadly Sins is an original work that combines
contemporary dance, visual art, performance art, poetry, music and
culinary art to examine topics of temptation and sin. Lust, pride,
gluttony, sloth, wrath, envy and greed come together to entice audience
members through an interactive art gallery setting. 

Featuring performances
by Emotions Dance Company, visual art by award winning body painter and
Skin Wars Season 1 contestant, Shannon Holt, visual art by award
winning body painter, Brit Lytle, artwork by Patrick Fatica, Amanda
Wegman, Scott Hodges, Thomas Thorspecken and others, spoken word
performances by E.J. Younes, J. Bradley, and Ashley Inguanta, aeral
performances by American Circus Academy, and a variety of refreshments
from local food vendors to satisfy your inner glutton.

Friday October 17
Saturday October 18
Friday October 24
Saturday October 25

7-10pm

The Venue (511 Virginia Drive. Orlando FL)

Presale tickets- $20 (available Sept 19-Oct 12)
At The Door- $25

This program contains some mature themes and may not be appropriate for children under 13.