Great Irish Hooley

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Over Labor day weekend, Monday September 2nd, I went to Raglan Road (1640 North Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL) for the Great Irish Hooley. Raglan Road is located on Pleasure Island near Downtown Disney. A Hooley is a unique Irish Festival jam packed with the best of Irish Music and Entertainment outside of Ireland. This sounded to good to be true, so I braved the Disney Tourist crowds to get a sketch.

When I pulled into the Downtown Disney parking lot, it immediately began to rain. I pulled out my iPhone and pulled up the weather radar app. Sure enough the radar showed a small rain cell right over my location. The clouds were moving fast and the radar showed a wide open expanse once the storm passed. The radar updates every five minutes and I waited in the car with the rain pelting loudly on metal. After fifteen minutes the rain slowed and I started over to Raglan Road.

As luck would have it there was an awning that provided perfect cover right across from the pub. The lightning rods on every corner of the pub seemed ready for any strike. The outdoor stage was covered with tarps and I assumed I would be sketching a rained out event. One of the Irish dancers, Daniella, spoke with tourists in front of the pub. She took an interest in my sketch and then spoke with Disney Coworkers who were exploring the parks on their day off. He was leaving his Disney job soon and she expressed regret about having to see so many people always leaving. A manager checked with the bartender, and nerves bristled that she would start telling employees gathered outside the pub what to do. The manager noticed me sketching and walked over. Luckily she just glanced down, said, “Nice” and walked off.

Someone joked with the bartender, saying, “You look lonely. Seven dollars for a Guinness! No wonder you look lonely!”  He ordered a drink anyway. The stage was cleared and Johnny Norton and Justin Murphy began to play. A crowd formed quickly in the street to watch. Declan Masterson followed that act playing lively music for jigs and reels. The dancer, Daniella began doing a jig in front of the band, then people in the audience joined in. This turned out to be an amazing performance by traditional Irish musicians who had been flown in for the four day event. Though off to a soggy start, this turned out to be a hell of a good time. I heard the interior of the pub is absolutely gorgeous so that may warrant a return visit.

August Critique Group

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Parker Sketch organized a monthly Art Critique group at The Barefoot Spa (801 Virginia Dr., Orlando, Fl). The group is a supportive and constructive discussion group about art. Work of about 12 artists is looked at and discussed. The opportunity to show art is on a first-come, first served basis. You do not have to show art to participate. You do not have to be an artist to participate. If you are interested in art and want to meet other people who also enjoy art, this is a great event.

The group looks for newer art, that is relevant to what you are doing now. If you bring more than one, please make them all be part of a series. We are either looking to talk about one piece, or several together as a group.

It doesn’t matter what kind of art you do, we have had oil painters, paper makers, glass artists, found object sculptors, video artists, watercolor painters, ceramicists, artists who draw and collage, jewelry artists, print makers, etc. It also doesn’t matter how much experience you have. We have included artists who have never shown and artists who are nationally recognized competition winners.

The point is to get people from many different styles, backgrounds, and experience levels together to talk about everyones’ work!

This is a group of artists talking as peers.The discussions have included pricing, finding materials, technique, framing, exhibition opportunities, and, yes, traditional critique. We are trying to mix different artists and get them talking about art! We will be looking at art individually, and talk about it for about 10 minutes. Though time is short, the idea is  to spend the evening talking about everyone’s art!

I arrived at the critique a bit late but I was astounded to find a front row seat still open. The first artist who’s work I saw was Heather Ashworth.  She had a portrait and a diptych of a woman who’s hair blew aside and became tree branches and blossoms. There was some concern that she didn’t spend much time on the clouds painted in the portrait. Some artists wanted to see a smoother transition between hair and branches as well. Bethany Taylor Myers showed a Hopperesque painting of a neighborhood. She wanted advice on perspective and since I had just been writing on the subject, I offered her a thumbnail and brief advice. She was concerned about painting telephone lines that would cross in front of the house. Several artist agreed that if the lines don’t add to the story they could be left out. Jean Claude showed a bold black and white depiction of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. He got an amazing amount of detail with the scratch off technique. Thomas Jacobson Artist showed a huge painting of a yellow sun flower. A mysterious orange glow hinted at illumination by fire. A skull and flowers painting was creepy and mesmerizing in its detail. He is also a tattoo artist and his work is intricate and amazing.

Parker Sketch was the last to show his art he had a large roll of canvas that unfurled depicted a cup of gin and tonic. He did the painting by walking around it on the floor and attacking it like Jackson Pollack. There were some wonderful abstract passages that came from the sheer physicality of the process. Mark Your Calendar! Parker plans to pin this huge canvas to the wall as part of his joint show with Shannon Holt called “Just One More…” The opening is September 19th from 6pm to 9pm at City Arts Factory (29 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Fl). The next critique group is September 26th from 6-9pm at Barefoot Spa.

Oklahoma!

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On September 6th I went to the final performance of Oklahoma at the Northland Church (530 Dog Track Road Longwood FL). Since I had already sketched the huge stage, I rushed up for a front row seat on stage right. As people continued to filter in, I started sketching in the stage. I knew how the opening act would unfold so I had a good idea where the actors would be staged. There was also a lone stool onstage which became the scenes anchor. A mother and her little girl sat to my right. I apologized to her that I’d be sketching for much of the show. She didn’t mind. As a matter of fact, her little girl was scribbling much of the time as well.

Aunt Eller played by Alice Smetheram sat in the stool.  The romance between Curly and Laurey played by Wes Miller and Cassidy Tompkins, became obvious though they jokingly tease each other. Their teasing turns to an argument and Aunt Eller shouts out “Why don’t you just kiss her?” 
Curly asked Laurey to go to a box social dance with him that night, but she refuses, feeling that Curly
had waited too long. He attempts to persuade her by telling her that he
will take her in the finest carriage money can buy, “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top“,
but she teases him about it until he says he made it up to get back at
her, and Laurey flounces off, not realizing that Curly really has rented
such a rig.

A lonely farm hand named Jud, played by Tim Evanicki, becomes obsessed with Laurey and he asks her to the dance. She accepts to spite Curly although she is terrified of Jud.  Tim’s performance was amazing. He must have operatic training and he was always a menacing presence. The Orlando Ballet collaborated with Central Florida Community Arts to bring about a graceful dream ballet as Laurey as she lamented her choice of suitors.

The production was painfully long and I discovered that my choice in seats meant staring at backsides during the more crowded scenes at the box social. With an army of performers however, it was easy to get swept away by the music. Mark your Calendar! On September 20 and 21 at 7:30 and September 22 at 6:30 CFC Arts will be presenting The Music of Rogers & Hammerstein at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Tickets are $10 at the door. The Orlando Ballet 2013 season will kick off with “Tribute” on October 18-20th at the Bob Carr.

Oklahoma!

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Oklahoma written by Oscar Hammerstein and music by Richard Rodgers  was performed as a semi-staged concert on September 5th and 6th by Central Florida Community Arts. I went to the final dress rehearsal on September 4th at Northland, A Church Distributed (530 Dog Track Road, Longwood, Fl). The interior of this church is absolutely cavernous. Some volunteers were busy placing inserts in the programs. The concert would benefit victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes There was a 300 voice choir, 70 performers along with a 100 member orchestra. Most performers were volunteers. The guest conductor was Clay Price.

Joshua Vickery, the co-founder and executive director of CFC Arts welcomed me. This organization had set up its first headquarters in the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts (1111 N. Orange Ave. Orlando Fl ) a building it shares with the Orlando Ballet. They had to move out recently because the building is plagued with a mold problem. The building is set right across the street from Lake Ivanhoe and it’s foundation is actually below lake level. Any time it rains, the ground floor floods. I’ve seen the flooding myself several times when I’ve sketched at the building. Now CFC Arts and the Ballet need a new home.

The scenes played out on the arched stage the pushed out towards the audience. The musical began with Curley, played by Wes Miller and Aunt Eller, played by Alice Smetheram, singing “Oh what a beautiful morning” at Laurey’s farmhouse.  That was the moment I decided to sketch. When the entire cast sang “Oklahoma!” the shear scale of the concert became clear. It had been a long time since I saw the movie production so I followed the plot with interest. The production was surprisingly long. When I finished the sketch Act II had not yet begun. The cast was given a break and I decided to call it a night. I would have to see the ending at a performance.

Mark Your Calendar! CFC Arts will be presenting “The Music of Rogers & Hammerstein” on September 20 at 7:30pm, September 21 at 7:30pm and September 22nd at 6:30pm. tickets are $12 for advanced online reserved seating or $10 at the door. Performances will be at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, (1001 E Princeton Street, Orlando, FL).

Dizzi Bone

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Dizzi Bone is an energetic boxer that is owned by Kristen Wheeler and her husband Shane. Kristen is the photographer for many of the arts groups in town, and Dizzi accompanies her on many of those shoots. I first met this pup at a photo shoot for a Boudoir Bombshells calender. As models pursed their lips into sexy vowels, Dizzi did what she does best, she spun in circles. She became petrified when red, white and blue balloons began to fill the studio for the July 4th shot. A cleft palette gives her a face only a mother could love, yet she is the unofficial mascot for many Central Florida arts groups.

I went to the Wheeler’s yellow Victorian house with a white picket fence in Eustice to sketch Dizzi. She was very excited when I arrived, spinning around the house, but she finally settled on the couch as Kristen made some gumbo in the kitchen. The lamp was given to Kristen by Beth Marshall. The shade is rumored to once have been used in a bordello. There was a large tumor is on Dizzi’s front leg and a smaller cancerous growth was on her butt. She doesn’t always get to sleep on the couch so being sketched meant she got a models privilege. Movie posters and cinema paraphernalia decorated the home. The downstairs bathroom was dedicated to Marilyn Monroe. A cat made herself comfortable on my artist stool and then batted a cat nip toy around the room as Dizzi snoozed. She would often keep one eye open just in case.

Dizzi needs surgery. The large tumor on her elbow, a small one on
her hind quarters, and several other growths on her body need to be
removed. The estimate Kristen was given includes pre and post care,
surgery itself, medications, blood work, EKG etc. But Kristen and Shane were not
approved for CareCredit so we will have to pay for everything up front. They will also have to order a custom DogLegg  for post surgery to aid in the physical therapy. With
everything it comes to around $1000.00. The couple of course will be
contributing what little they can, but with your help they can get
her through this immediately with less stress. The amazing boxer girl is loved by so
many people and Kristen can not imagine a moment without her. Help the couple heal her so she can live
out the rest of her years in peace and pain free. A gofundme page was established to help raise funds. To date $775 was raised of the $900 goal.

The Taming of the Shrew

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Jeff Ferree suggested I stop in at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater to sketch the early stages of a set build. Jeff told me the inner structure was like a giant erector set and his description was spot on. A large crew of people had to work as a team to raise the large platform panels into place. It was like a good old fashioned barn raising. Wood planking was ready to be put down on the stage floor. Jeff showed me the blue prints for the set which would become a wild west town. The Scenic Designer is Kat Conley.

The show is a fresh take on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Set in the Wild West and directed by Orlando Shakes Artistic Director Jim Helsinger. “The sweet and amiable Bianca can have her pick of suitors, but only once
her sister, the much less charming Kate, is married off. Fortune-seeking
Petruchio rises to the challenge, but can he tame this fiery-tongued
shrew? Set in the tumultuous Wild West, Shakespeare’s unruly comedy
gallops onto the Margeson Theater stage in a lively, high-energy battle
of the sexes with a couple hell-bent on confusing and outsmarting each
other right up to the play’s unexpected conclusion.”

 Mark Your Calendar! The Taming of the Shrew
began September 11 and runs through October 6, 2013 at the John and
Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. Tickets, priced at
$17-$40, are on sale now at (407) 447-1700. On Thursday September 26 you can stay after the performance for an
informal moderated discussion with the cast and members of the artistic
team. On Sunday October 6th go to the prologue series which starts 30 minutes before the show. An actor will lead the audience through a discussion of the plot, themes and major characters in the production.

Loft 55 Gallery and Boutique

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Via Facebook, I got an invitation from Ashlie Lawson a partner and director of marketing at Loft 55 Gallery and Boutique (55 West Church Street, suite 114, Orlando, Florida) to paint live on Wednesday nights. For $10 artists can set up outside the gallery which is in the breezeway between Urban Flats and 7-11 in front of the fountain. All local artists are welcome to join the resident artists every Wednesday night to paint live. It is the perfect time, (7pm to 10pm) and day to take advantage of Wind Down
Wednesdays at Urban Flats which is a very crowded outdoor happy hour only a few steps away from the gallery. The live painting event is a great opportunity for artists to gain exposure and build up their presence in the arts community. If anything is sold, then the gallery gets a 20% commission for gallery efforts. If you bring another artist, the gallery offers commission discounts.

On Wednesday August 28th, I went to the gallery to sketch. Ashley referred to Loft 55 as a micro-gallery. Apparently these are all the rage in NYC and Chicago. The space is only about three feet deep, just enough room for you to stand back a little bit from each painting. It is all store front and the work is easily viewed without going inside. A large pyramid shaped fountain trickles in front of the entrance. I started sketching immediately and I waited patiently for the other artists to set up and start to work. Artists who painted that evening included Danny Rock, Leroy Santos, Robert Moore and Darrell Johnson. I spoke to Darrell for sometime about his art. He uses intricate ink line work and watercolor washes so we had much in common.

On display in the Gallery were paintings that revolved around the theme of autism. Artists were given three months to create a
painting of their meaning of autism. 100% of all sales went to The Academy of Autism. This sort of selfless giving sets Loft 55 apart as it makes a difference in the Orlando community. Since all the resident artists donated their artwork, Ashley showed her appreciation by inviting them for the judging and ceremony of the “Artist for Autism Challenge” on
August 29, 2013.  There were some appetizers and a few refreshments. All
art work was judged the night of the ceremony by three local
advocates of the Orlando Arts and Culture community, Barbara Hartley the Director at City Arts Factory, Ashlie Rolfe, Showcase Director at RAW Artist and Samuel Rivera  Owner and Curator of Loft 55 Gallery and Boutique. The first place piece was a collaboration between Travis Smith and Ralph Verano. The second place piece was by Peter Van Flores III. All of the art from the “Art for a Social Change Project” will be exhibited at the Academy for Autism once it leaves Loft 55.

Ashley is an artist herself and she was a constant whirlwind of activity as I sketched. She sold several paintings, spoke to every artist and was returning art to an artist from a previous exhibit.  She set up fans outside the gallery to keep the artists comfortable in the twilight heat. She was working on small square paintings that were abstractions of flowers against a light blue sky that worked together as a triptych. All the artists bring different sensibilities to the gallery. Beautiful women in high heels clomped past the gallery to the downtown clubs. Other less fashionable locals used the water fountain I was sitting next to, or tried to use the bathroom which was unfortunately locked.


Mark Your Calendar! If you would like to join Ashlie Lawson and her resident artists on any Wednesday night, contact her by email: info@Loft55galleryandboutique.com or by phone: 321-298-3806. Downtown is buzzing with creativity, be a part of the hip art scene.

Wind Down Wednesdays

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On August 21st I went downtown to go sketch a Yelp Happy Hour. Colleen (Blue) Burns is the Yelp community manager who organizes such events. These get-togethers are a great way to meet fellow Yelpers, those people whose write reviews about restaurants and just about any venue – for friendly conversation, lots of laughs and experience new local hangouts. The event was to take place at Eternal Tap (116 W Church St, Orlando, FL). As I walked down Church Street I couldn’t find and building numbers. I did however notice this large crowd of people gathered outside 55 West. This had to be a crowd of Yelpers.

I got busy sketching from a second story balcony.  An afternoon rain shower had just passed and the pavement was still sparkling wet. Drinks were available from under the green tent and loud music pulsed inside the establishment. I got to watch the social exchange as guys moved in to speak to women. The women were dressed to the 9’s but some of the guys felt it was fine to show up in blue jeans. I was in jeans myself but I was separate from the happy hour scene.

A policeman stood vigil at the Church Street circle waiting for drunken mischief.  It began to sprinkle and the gathering quickly darted inside. With the sketch done I peeked inside. This was Urban Flats (55 West Church Street Orlando FL) which is a chain restaurant. Lights flashed and the walls vibrated from the deep base in the music. Bars along Church Street were just starting to fill up. Eternal Tap must be further down Church Street, closer to the Amway Center. Pan handlers had moved into their positions for their daily take. Loft 55 Gallery and Boutique (55 West Church Street Suite 114 Orlando FL) was just a few steps away. I had met Ashlie Lawson, partner and director of marketing of this Micro-gallery just a few days before at the Solar Games open house. Mark Your Calendar! Every Wednesday artists gather outside the gallery to paint live and talk about art to passers by. Artists set up about 7pm and then paint late into the night. Hit a happy hour and then hang with some artists.

The Artist’s Survival Guide

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The Artist Survival Guide, organized by Brendan O’Connor, is an Urban ReThink Signature Series event recurring monthly. It aims to provide artists and the artistically curious with the building blocks needed for professional creative careers in Central Florida, and will culminate in a printed Artist’s Survival Guidebook after 12 months of programming. Artists art enthusiasts, and the artistically curious gathered to find out about the building blocks needed to be successful in Orlando and Central Florida.

The first installment was an introduction to the Arts in Central Florida. Panelists included:

Jessica Bryce Young the Arts and Culture Editor at the Orlando Weekly, Devin Dominguez the Director of Development at the Art and History Museums of Moorland, Flora Maria Garcia, President and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida, Donna Dowless, Official Ambassador of Love for the City of Orlando an accomplished local artist and art supporter, and Terry Olson, Director at Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs, at the Maitland.

Flora noted that the arts in Orlando, tend to be overshadowed by the theme park industry. Private funding isn’t as high as it is in similarly sized cities. The problem is that people in Orlando come from other states so when they invest in the arts they first consider their home state or city. People come and go from Orlando in a constant stream. Donna insisted artists need a stiff spine. If a creative idea is shot down, the artist should realize that “No” is just the first step. Keep asking and pitching ideas until “Yes” is the answer. Jessica noted that since Orlando is a smaller city, it is much easier for an individual artist to make a difference. Terry briefly spoke about a program that Cole NeSmith started that brought the arts to the streets of Orlando every day for a week. Devin restated something Andrew Spears had told her, that an artist needs to be creative daily. Donna pointed out that one thing most artists need, and some never find, is a “voice” that permeates all of their work.

The gallery scene in Orlando still is a mystery to me. Most paintings I see are on the walls of bars and restaurants. I’ve read of instances where patrons have censored and stolen art on restaurant walls. It amazes me that artists pay to exhibit their work at City Arts Factory. Donna said that the cost to exhibit art work used to be much higher.

Weekend Top 6 Picks

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Weekend Top 6 Picks

Saturday September 14, 2013

7am to 9am. Run. Party. ROCK! Free to watch. Lake Concord Park 95 Triplet Lake Drive Casselberry, FL. Rock n’ roll reigns supreme at the 2nd race of the Track Shack Running Series! The Autumn Rock n’ Run 5k features the high energy, live music runners and walkers love. Event proceeds benefit cultural arts organizations in Casselberry.

11am to 3pm. Galactic Encounter Day. $18 Saturday and Sunday. Orange County Regional History Center 65E. Central Blvd. Storm troopers and more! Star Wars Fangasm!

11:30am to 1:30pm. Rally In The Park To SAVE The Capen House. Winter Park’s Central Park, adjacent to the rose garden. They’ll be activities for the kids, speakers, music!



Sunday September 15, 2013

10am to Noon. SeaWorld protest!! We will gather in the grassy median at the entrance to SeaWorld SeaWorld Orlando 7007 SeaWorld Dr., Orlando, Fl. In the wild, Orcas live in large , intricate social groups and swim up to 100 miles a day in the open ocean. Orcas at SeaWorld are confined to enclosures that to them are like bathtubs, and these animals are unable to engage in most natural behaviors. Join ARFF in speaking out at this peaceful protest All signs and leaflets will be provided. Arffcentralfl@arff.org

4pm Southern Fried End of Summer Shake up. $10-$12 Mills 50 Venues, Wills Pub, Lil Indies, Peacock Room. Southern BBQ and live music.

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