Before the Race

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Between races, the cars returned to the garage on the Daytona International Speedway infield for repairs and maintenance. You get to the infield by driving under the track through a tunnel. Here all the trailers that transport the race cars are parked. Wendy Wallenberg leaned against Jim Kneeland‘s number 37 Mazda Miada. Before the race, the drivers have to give their driving license to race officials. Only after the race can the drivers get their license back. This is to keep drivers from being overly agressive or breaking rules of conduct.

Tires literally melt as the cars scream down the Daytona Speedway track.  They often jet stream behind another car. The cars don’t only tailgate, they touch bumpers. The back car pushes the front car and both cars go faster. lt is very easy to cause a spin out but no accidents happened while I watched the race. This was my first time watching a race from up close, and it was a unique thrill. I believe the red car, number 25 was the car that won the next race.

Orlando Soup Highlights Community Projects

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On May 13th, the inaugural Orlando Soup event was held at East End Market. Modeled after the successful Detroit SOUP that started four years ago,
is a micro-granting community dinner offering local activists,
entrepreneurs and creatives a platform for networking and an opportunity
to win funding for projects.

For a donation of $7, attendees received soup (made by Slow Food Orlando using fresh, local ingredients), salad and bread. Before dinner was served, everyone listened to four short community project proposals covering a range of community improvement topics such as art, urban agriculture, social justice, social entrepreneurship, education, technology, and more. During dinner, attendees cast a vote by placing a cube of sugar into cups representing the different projects for their favorite project and, at the end of the night, the project that received the most votes was funded by $5 from each attendees’ donation. The winner will appear at the next SOUP dinner to report their project’s progress.

Brendan O’Connor pitched a wacky, fun idea of starting a Pop-up University offering college level courses in a bounce house. The simple idea is that people learn fast when having fun. The courses taught wasn’t yet established but I’d love to teach animation principles in a bounce house.  Ricardo Williams was part of a group called Project Rethink that intends to to place “sustainable graffiti” around Orlando that has environmental awareness messages.  Sustainable graffiti is accomplished by picking a dirty wall and using a stencil to spray wash or clean the message into the grime. Over time the message will disappear was the wall gets dirty again. Another method of creating messages would be moss graffiti. The message would appear where moss was encouraged to grow. I love this idea and hope to get out to sketch artists in action.

I sketched Ashley Erin Pollard as she pitched the idea of creating vending machines that offer art. She is an architect by day and hopes this project will help her become better connected to the Orlando Arts community. The idea isn’t entirely new but I’d love to see it brought to Orlando. Ashley was the presenter right after Brendan. I was inspired by how petite she seemed compared to the huge podium. Ultimately my cube of sugar went into the cup for her project. I am all for bringing more art to Orlando.

Jimmy Sherfey presented the Florida Coffee Symposium. This local
miniature conference will celebrate the culture of coffee producers at
origins across the globe. He is
planning the first Florida Coffee Symposium for September 6, 2014.

The winner at the first-ever Orlando SOUP on May 13, 2014 was Project ReThink, presented by Chris Castro and Clayton Ferrara.  They won $500-800 to help fund their project.  My Ivanhoe district, Fringe mural will be in the line up at the next Orlando Soup, TONIGHT 7-9pm at East End Market (3201 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL)! The tickets were $10 and the event is SOLD OUT. Hope to see you there as you support creativity, social entrepreneurship, sustainability, and community building.

The History Boys at The Mad Cow Theater

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On August 5th, I went to a dress rehearsal of The History Boys, written by Alan Bennett, at The Mad Cow Theater.  This show, directed by Mark Edward Smith was quick witted and fast paced. The school bells rang with incessant frequency causing the boys to cascade and rush like waves hitting a beach.  I grew flustered, trying to catch then all in one place. Philip Nolen, gave a memorable performance as the boys’ unorthodox history teacher. Philip kept the boys and audience laughing while making them think. He would playfully swat a student if he wasn’t keeping up with the playful banter. The boys would protest but they didn’t mind. One admitted he was a bit hurt that he wasn’t swatted. It meant the teacher didn’t like him.

One boy described his date with a girl as if he was recreating a historic battle. Adolescent sexual yearnings were fodder for playful humor. I came to admire the teacher’s closed door tactics until he was found guilty of inappropriately touching a boy.  It suddenly seemed that the all boy’s school was bubbling over with homosexuality. A young teacher, Peter Travis, joins the school staff and he challenges the view of history as entertainment. he prepares the unruly handful of senior
schoolboys, for coveted places at either Oxford or Cambridge by making them challenge historic fact. Everyone at an Ivy league school knows the boring facts. They want to see someone think outside the box. The boys were encouraged to challenge conventions and therefor  they not
only learned historic fact but they understood its motives and meaning. I was a bit put off by this teacher’s view that any student who didn’t get good grades could always go into the arts.

When the older teacher is about to be expelled, he breaks down in class, lamenting the years he wasted teaching the same material again and again. It is the first time the students got to see him as a flawed man rather than a clown. Everyone seems to want to sweep his indiscretion under the rug except for the school administrator played by Tommy Keesling. The very purpose of education seemed overshadowed by the chaos of adolescence. The play write turns a blind eye to the harm done from lost trust. The one boy who didn’t play along in classroom games got accepted into his chosen Ivy league school not because of what he learned from history, but from his family connections.

 The History Boys plays Thursdays – Sundays, Aug 8 – Sept 7, 2014 in The Harriett Theatre.
Curtain time is 7:30pm for all evening performances and 2:30pm for all matinees. Tickets start at $28.25.

 The History Boys

• What: A comedy-drama by Alan Bennett

• Length: 2:40, including intermission

• Where: Mad Cow Theatre, 54 W. Church St., Orlando

• When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 7

• Tickets: $28.25 and higher

• Call: 407-297-8788

• Online: madcowtheatre.com

The China Garden Restaurant in Winter Park

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After work at Full Sail, I planned to sketch a Batman vs. Superman themed event at The Comic Shop. I got off work at 5pm and therefor was in the neighborhood early. The China Garden (118 S Semoran Blvd, Winter Park, FL)  is in the same strip mall as The Comic Shop, so I decided to stop in for dinner.

 I ordered a simple fried rice dish and sketched as I ate. Across from me another man ate alone while reading a book, so I sketched him. The colorful lanterns on the ceiling also caught my eye. While living in NYC, I once had to purchase such lanterns for set designer, Jim Yeomans as a set prop for “A Streetcar Named Desire“. The lantern’s I purchased however were too large so I was stuck with them. It took me years to sell them all off. In the booth in front of me a family settled in and they all spoke French. This seemed surprising since Orlando always impressed me as being rather homogeneous rather than a cultural melting pot.

The fried rice was decent and once the sketch was done, I walked over to The Comic Shop. In the back room of the Comic Shop is a bar known as “The Geek Easy” which is where I assumed the Batman event would be. The entrance to the Geek Easy however was now the entrance to a bathroom and two workers were busy installing the plumbing. Because of this construction the Event was delayed several hours. I already had a sketch for the day so I got ready to leave. I was offered a black cape and cheap cardboard Batman mask as consolation, but I didn’t take the swag. I couldn’t imagine any instance where I might need to wear a Batman cape. I’m no super hero, just a mild mannered artist.

Waiting at the Toyota Dealership Service Department

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I had to bring my Prius in for its thirty thousand mile service to Toyota of Orlando (3575 Vineland Road Orlando FL). There was a nation wide safety recall of certain Prius models built between 2010 and 2014. My car was recalled. It seems that if there was a heavy load like a trailer, or boat attached to the car, it would not be able to handle the load an the car would shut down. I never haul anything heavier than a sketchbook, but I was concerned that the car might not handle the Florida heat. All that was needed was a software update and the power management and motor generator system would be repaired.

The thirty thousand multi-point inspection involved replacing all the fluids and rotating the tires. I had a few scuffs on the side of several tires because I park so close to curbs. The service technician tried to sell me new tires even though there is plenty of tread left. He claimed that there might be road noise since the tires were rotated but the car now is as silent as ever. I suspect he wanted to sell tires weather they were needed or not. There was a deal where you get the 4th tire free if you buy 3. The invoice also shouts out that “We Sell Tires!”

Middle aged business men used the waiting area as their office. One paced back and forth worried and upset about fees incurred in a deal. I decided to do a digital sketch since the recall was because of a computer software glitch. Just as I finished the sketch, the computer blacked out. Up until this visit to the dealership, all the service was free. The thirty thousand mile service ended up costing $730. Ouch!

The Flight Home From Richmond Virginia

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The flight back to Orlando from Richmond Virginia was pretty uneventful. I sketched the airport waiting area before we boarded the plane. I’m always surprised how many people are always staring at their phones. This week the Thorspecken clan are visiting Orlando from Germany, Connecticut, Upstate New York and Charleston South Carolina. They are all staying in a double suite  at a hotel only a quarter of a mile from home. The second they arrived they all were scrambling to get their digital devices hooked up to the web. Once dinner was over, the room went silent as everyone took out their phones to get “connected”. It had been many years since everyone had been together. When I travel, I still write a post every day but I make it a rule not to share my experiences on Facebook. Terry has followed my lead, since writing experiences on Facebook is like announcing that “I’m not home, please take all I own.”

My brother Don Thorspecken had over 500 photos on his tablet from a trip he took to Germany to visit Cornelia and Nini Thorspecken. We are related to Cornelia through Dr. Augustus Thorspecken who came to America in the 1830’s. His brother remained in Germany and Cornelia is related through him.  Years ago Terry and I traveled to Germany where we met every Thorspecken we could find. Flipping through the digital photos, history came alive. Dr. Oscar Thorspecken helped save Jews destined for the work camps by making it appear like they were sick. Oscar’s wife however was all for the Nazi party, proud that her son was in the war. This caused a rift in the family. Shortly after the war, one of the sons was hiking in the mountains where he was murdered for his  camera. Cornelia is a professional flute player who kept the Thorspecken name, even after she was married. I was most excited by photos Don took of photo albums he was shown in Germany. This put a face to the stories. My father pushed into Germany at the end of World War II crossing the Ruhr river and moving through the industrial district towards Berlin. He said once that he saw the Thorspecken name on a storefront. On my trip I met Herbert who served in the Luftwaffe. It is a small world. Basically every war is a civil war with distant cousin fighting cousin.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for August 9th and 10th

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Saturday August 9, 2014

9am to 2am  Orlando Nerd Fest 2014  3-Day Pass tickets
$50.00 August 7-11, 2014. Orlando Airport Marriott 7499 Augusta National Dr, Orlando, Fl. We’re putting together the biggest and best annual multi-day nerd party! Part music festival, part family reunion, all fun! The things we’re looking to do might seem very familiar if you’ve ever attended a Nepalese, a MAGfest, or even a Day After Show! Our designs are being made with you and your friends in mind for what quite possibly could be your best nerdy family vacation ever!! We have 60+ performers! You can find the Headliner Schedule here.

11am to 6pm Free.  Big Bang Bazaar. Maitland Civic Center Maitland Ave, Maitland, Fl. Over 100 Indie Arts, Crafts and Vintage Vendors! Join us for some Shopping, All Day Movies, Food and Fun! First 100 guests get a FREE swag bag full of goodies! Keep out of the summer sun with this amazing indoor event!

6:45pm to 10pm Tickets: $150 Taste of the Nation. Orlando World Center Marriott 8701 World Center Dr. Orlando, Fl. Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Orlando event brings together the area’s top chefs who donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in Central Florida. Along with culinary delights, guests have the opportunity to sample select wines, cocktails and premium beers and enjoy silent and live auctions and entertainment. Every dollar raised fights hunger and homelessness in the Central Florida. Local beneficiaries include Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Sunday August 10, 2014

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

12:30pm to 4pm Free. Florida Gospel Jam. Fish on Fire 7937 Daetwyler Drive Belle Island FL. Non Denominational Gospel open mic Every 2nd and 4th Sunday.

1pm to 3pm Free. Script Reading Workshop. Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show, 8267 International Drive, Orlando, FL. Read and workshop plays.

Bookmark It is Orlando’s Best New Bookstore

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Bookmark It (3201 Corrine Drive Orlando FL) was the editors pick in the Orlando Weekly “Best of Orlando” issue. Located on the second floor of the East End Market, this bookstore offers books by local authors as well as books that further the markets mission of offering locally grown produce for restaurants and shoppers. While I was just starting this sketch, Adonal Foyle, an Orlando Magic basketball player stopped in to sign some of his books. He wrote a children’s book titled  Too-Tall Foyle Finds His Game (Volume 1) along with, Shiyana F. Valentine-Williams and illustrated by Toni Pawlowsky. Too-Tall Foyle has trouble finding a sport that fits his abilities
and the other kids keep laughing at him. He faces give up sports
entirely but hopes to find his game. The book is set in the Caribbean and features
vibrant illustrations, the book is based on the life experiences of the NBA veteran player. Proceeds from sales go to support his Kerosene Lamp Foundation which uses basketball to
engage and empower at-risk youth to grow into healthy and well-educated
leaders in the Caribbean and USA. Foyle’s very presence made the bookstore feel small.His huge meaty hands gave a firm warm handshake.

I decided to take my tablet out to sketch. I worked in a bit of a panic since I didn’t know if the battery would last. The computer offers too many choices which slowed down my workflow. Kim Britt, Bookmark It’s founder, was experiencing technical difficulties with her laptop and smart phone.  Her phone kept turning off and then gave her the “blue screen of death”. She was petrified that she would loose all her photos and contacts. She looked up an Apple Store and discovered she would need to drive up to Altamonte within the hour to get the phone repaired. Although her assistant Moriah Lorraine Russo had the day off, Kim had to call her in because the store was staying open late for a “Sip and Stroll” event. The great thing about the sip and stroll is that I got to sip white wine while I sketched. Moriah told me about Wednesday night figure drawing classes at “The Space” and I plan to stop over there soon. She was going out to dinner, so she was only able to watch the store for half an hour. Patrick Greene came in to fill in after she left. Rather than making life easier, technology caused a frantic panic as it sputtered and faltered. As I sketched I got a warning that the battery was running low. In a panic, I saved my file and sketched faster. Before my sketch was done, my computer screen blacked out. The battery had died. As I researched this article, Facebook crashed. I suspect that relying on technology for answers is not a great idea.

Shannon Holt Hosted a Body Painting and Fine ART Fundraiser

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On July 18th, Shannon Holt held a Body Painting and Fine Art Fundraiser at Cafe DaVinci (112 W Georgia Ave, DeLand, FL.)  Shannon has been invited to participate in a Body Painting gathering in NYC. She is one of twenty five artists that were invited to participate. The event at Cafe Da Vinci was a fundraiser to get her up to NYC. Her fine art paintings were on display on the walls. When I arrived, the three models were just beginning to take their pose. The models on the sides looked like they would get exhausted since they were leaning over the whole time. I suggested to Shannon that they might want to lean against a piano stool to ease the pain.

Shannon put out a call for volunteer models on Facebook for “bendy” models. She was hoping for as many as ten models, with two assistants for this live paint job. Shannon’s mom was busy putting price tags on Shannon’s paintings as Shannon started to sketch on her three models.  Da Vinci’s got more and more crowded as Shannon’s Body Art progressed. A Florida Panther began to take shape on the models semi-nude bodies.

Mark Your Calendar! Starting August 6th (TONIGHT!) at 9pm Shannon will star on “Skin Wars” which is Game Show Network‘s Ultimate Body Painting Competition. This is a reality show similar to “Face Off” where talented artists showcase their talents and each week one contestant is voted out of the competition. II is exciting to see one of Central Florida’s talented artists in competition for $100,000. Although the TV show has already been taped, Shannon couldn’t give away who won. There is a Skin Wars Shannon Party tonight at CafeDa Vinci. Stop out and chear for Shannon in the Olympics of Body Painting! 

As she started to paint her assistant Emma Kenemer showed up to help. Amazingly all the body painting work was done in three hours and that included breaks for the models. Sometimes only one model would pose at a time. Models LeNelle Stephens, Troy, and Alaina Pixley demonstrated patience, beauty and endurance. Before I left, I dropped some money in the tip jar. It was amazing to see such a collaboration. Working live, Shannon had to deal with constant distractions as she raced against the clock to finish her panther.  Body paintings are a fleeting art, and she had photographer Ryder Gledhill take shots of the finished piece. Shannon continues to raise funds for NYC. she is thinking of doing a kick starter. This would also be a great time to hire her to do a private painting and photography
session, buy some art or throw an unforgettable body paint party! NYC OR BUST!

The Wedding Ceremony of Andrea Kastner and Thomas Morton

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Thomas Morton and Andrea Kastner were married on April 26th 2014 at noon in Richmond Virginia. Wedding plans had to be changed at the last minute because the church they were going to be married in suffered from a huge fire. They were lucky to find another church in the heart of Richmond that could do the ceremony. It was a small intimate gathering of friends and family who gathered for the ceremony. I began my sketch by penciling in the harp player who performed as guests entered the church. The pastor said something to her and she packed up and moved to a far corner of the church.

After the exchange of rings, the pastor announced, “Forasmuch as Tom and Andrea have consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this congregation and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce them husband and wife in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The ceremony was short and sweet which means I was still sketching as everyone filed out of the church.  The pastor came over to see what I was doing. He admired the work, but I suspect he wanted me to wrap it up so I rushed to put some final washes down. The reception was in Richmond’s suburbs at the couples home. Bright pink and purple blossoms adorned trees all around the city.