Art Basel Miami

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As soon as I entered the Miami Convention center I searched for the media accreditation area. It was up an escalator on the second floor of section D. I had drafted my own press pass request letter with a nice Analog Artist Digital World letterhead. I was shocked when the young girl at the reception desk accepted my credentials and send me back to have my photo taken which was then printed out on a crispy new press pass. Blogs are slowly gaining ground as legitimate news media. Entering the convention floor, I had my bags checked by security. Terry, her friend Elayne and Bob had purchased tickets while I got my press pass so I tapped out a text message to Terry to find out if they were on the Convention floor yet. Actress Susan Serandon walked past me with an entourage. When I spotted Terry I told her about my star sighting and she quickly wandered off to gawk. I texted Brian Feldman to let him know I got my press pass. He had coached me on who to contact about getting the pass.

I wandered off in search of a spot to sketch. The narrow halls didn’t offer much room for me to sit myself without getting tripped on. Art covered every wall so it was hard to find a spot to sketch from without sitting in front of a painting. I finally found this grassy knoll of artificial grass. I set up my chair and sketched the people relaxing around me. The painting on the wall opposite wall was the work of Eddie Martinez done in mixed media. Figge von Rosen Gallery had a series of photos on the wall of Mexicans dressed in colorful traditional outfits. A couple next to me were discussing the Picasso’s and Magritte’s they had just seen. To my right there was some metalic silver looking fabric suspended on a stick. The stick would spin and the fabric would loft up, looking like a spinning pizza and then a UFO. This huge show often left me wondering, just what is art these days. Every woman wandering the halls looked like a fashion model. I have never seen so many beautiful people all gathered in one place in my life. Someone estimated the valve of all the artwork assembled in Art Basel at over three Billion dollars. If you looked at the value of all the women’s high heeled shoes walking Art Basel they might rival that value.

Macabre Vignettes #3/ Snow

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I got up in the middle of the night I woke and walked blindly to the bathroom, my bare feet slapping on the cold tiles. Not wanting to blind myself I didn’t bother turning on the light. Seated inside I stared at my wife’s white bathrobe hanging from a hook on the door. As I looked, half awake, I saw a dark form move in the crevice of the sleeve. A large dark spider slowly crawled out. Part of me wanted to pull the robe from the hook and stomp on it, but I was transfixed, the two or three inch spider was only a foot from my face. As I focused my eyes I saw a strange cylindrical web resembling a CD storage case, which ran up the sleeve. It had a strange consistency like it was made of small compartmentalized soap bubbles. The spider crawled around the outer edge and when it got to the top, the web collapsed in on itself and the spider moved around inside. I began to question what I was seeing, so I finally flipped on the light. The robe flashed a bright white and I had to close my eyes. There was nothing there, no web, no spider. Yet, it had been so real! I turned off the light and as my eyes adjusted to the dark again, I saw movement in the shadows a second time. The spider was even more tentative, but soon it was out again moving swiftly over its diaphanous web. It seemed to know I was watching . I didn’t bother switching on the light this time, I simply accepted this strange macabre waking dream. I returned to bed unable to sleep…

At Urban ReThink (625 East Central Boulevard), I crouched on the upper floor looking at the beautiful and grotesque sculptural puppet parts for Macabre Vignettes #3 / Snow. A soft babies head had its eyes sewn shut, a black bird perched menacingly inside a wooden box full of found mechanical objects. Below me Tamara Marke Lars, her husband and a third helper are struggling to hang a large birdlike puppet from a taught fly line. Tamara asks me if the line looks level from where I stand but I am indecisive. The space for now is disorganized, full of the bits and pieces that when assembled, will bring her unique vision to life. She is a master of the macabre and this unique show will most certainly fall outside any of your typical pedestrian Christmas offerings.
Tamara’s sister, Leah Marke, was in charge of bringing the six or so Voci dancers up to speed on how they will be staged as they interact with the giant puppets. She was a whirlwind, constantly on the move coaching and inspiring her fellow dancers. She spoke on her cell phone trying to help a dancer that was lost. Her eyelids glittered as she was giving turn by turn directions to the rehearsal. Afterward, she picked up two huge chicken feet and shouted out, “Look here, I gots me some darn big chicken feet.” Her affected southern accent caused me to laugh out loud. Turning to me, she finished with, “And you can quote me on that!” One of the dancers kept laughing with childish delight whenever Tamara would move a puppet she was working on. I shared her delight as I struggled to record the creative genius amongst the chaos. Tamara picked up the sickly looking blue child puppet from the rocking chair. In her warm, full arms the limp puppet looked like a frail cold Pieta.

I saw the Voci dancers rehearsing a dance that involved them wrapping themselves in fabric that hung from the ceiling. It took three puppeteers to move the large blue puppet. When they started grunting and playing boisterously the giant began to come alive. This show promises to be a surreal experience and I for one will not miss it.

Admission to Macabre Vignettes #3 is $20 cash at the door, at Urban ReThink which used to be the Urban Think bookstore.
Show times are:
December 10 at 8pm
December 11 at 8pm and 10pm
December 12 at 2pm and 8pm
*Doors open 30 mins prior to curtain

Friends of the Philharmonic Holiday Meeting

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Terry invited me to a lunchtime meeting of the Friends of the Philharmonic. The meeting was at the Interlachen Country Club (2245 Interlachen Court, Winter Park.) She informed me that there was going to be a White Elephant Holiday gift exchange that was rather fun.When I walked into the Country Club dining room, I was certain I was the youngest person in the room. I looked around for Terry but didn’t see her. After a text and second phone call, I saw her enter the room. She introduced me around and the pre-dinner chatter grew louder. Gretchen was kind enough to compliment me on the sketches that were used on the United Arts Report to the Community. Jenny Rudberger from the Philharmonic played violin the whole social hour walking around the room.

When everyone sat down to eat, Terry told me I could start my sketch. I sat on a couch at the front of the room and got to work. A waitress served me a salad, putting it on the coffee table in front of me. I ate the fruit but didn’t eat the whole salad since I wanted to keep making progress with the sketch. The lunch was some rather dry chicken and mashed potatoes with a distinct flavor of liquor. I grew agitated when I couldn’t find a watercolor palette and rag. Luckily I had a backup palette and Terry suggested I get some napkins from the men’s room.

When I finished the sketch, I joined Terry back at the main table. When the business meeting started up, it was announced that there are 181 members who are Friends of the Philharmonic. The treasurer recited a list of numbers all of which culminate in the fact that the Friends are solvent. Executive Director David Shillhammer announced that the Philharmonic would again join forces with Mad Cow Theater to keep Opera alive in Orlando. Frank McClain will direct La Boheme in April with a limited staged performance at the Bob Carr.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for, the White Elephant Gift Exchange. All the presents were neatly wrapped under a Christmas Tree at the front of the room. At each table people had to figure out who’s birthday was closest to December 1st. That person had to hand a rubber ball to the person to their left. The person with the ball could then pick a present from under the tree and unwrap it at the table. Once the present was unwrapped they would hand off the ball to the next person. That person could steal the first present if they wanted or pick a new gift from under the tree. Stealing was encouraged. At our table Dianne Souder unwrapped a small stuffed gorilla that made shrieking gorilla noises when it’s tummy was pressed. I didn’t feel like stealing it, so I picked a small heavy box from under the tree. I thought maybe it was a golden bar because of its weight, but it turned out to be glass coasters. Useful I suppose, I shoved it towards Terry. Terry got two large, tall oriental coffee mugs with symbols for peace and happyness transcribed on them. They were tasteful and nice. Most presents were tasteless and tacky like a door stop and a gator cup with a ceramic gator head inside the cup which would slowly appear as you sipped the coffee. You can probably tell that I kind of covet the gator cup which was picked by Nancy Phipps. Well maybe she will re-gift it next year.

The Two Man Gentlemen Band.

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The Two Man Gentleman Band performed at Redlight Redlight. Dina Peterson suggested I sketch these two, and I am glad she did. The bar and tables were packed. I searched for a seat to sketch from, but I couldn’t find a good view. I decided to sit on the floor right in front of the stage leaning against a metal pole. Being right at the performers feet gave me a forced perspective view of the performers.These two had a fun vaudeville type act. The music was fast paced and energetic harkening back to simpler times. An odd painting hung on the wall be hind the gentlemen of a person trying to swallow a whole pig.

When their set was over I found Dina who was ready to go. This was my second sketch of the evening, so I decided to walk out with her. It is rare for me to sketch at Redlight Redlight without trying at least one new beer. I usually pick a beer to taste based on how much I like the design of the label. I should take notes so that over time I can define and delicately refine my tastes. I don’t recommend that Rasputin beer however. It will sneak up on you with a wallop.

Land Sales Office

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My sister Pat Boehme took Terry and I to a Punta Gorda Historic Park. Terry wanted to go here because she learned that there was a large Eagles nest in one of the tall pine trees. I saw the huge eagles nest but there were no eagles inside. So, while Pat and Terry sat in lawn chairs waiting for the eagle to return, I wandered off and did this sketch of the Trabue Land Sales office which was built in 1886. This is the oldest building in Punta Gorda. The small tin roofed building now houses a gift shop with photography and jewelry for sale. The woman who cares for the shop is a member of the Audubon Society so she was aware of the eagles comings and goings.

When I finished my sketch, I wandered back over to where Terry and Pat were watching the nest. Pat’s son David was there now. Terry suggested that Pat, David and I make a sandwich run while she continued her vigil. We took Pat’s car to Publix to get Deli sandwiches. When we got back Terry was still seated, calmly watching the nest. Right after the first bite of my sandwich I saw an eagle fly over my head. I shouted and pointed, being less than subtle as a bird watcher. Terry had borrowed some binoculars from the gift shop and she watched the eagle land on the nest and rip into the fish he had in his talons. I wondered if he was thankful for his meal. I’m not sure I had felt humblingly thankful of my Moose Lodge meal. The eagle jumped out onto a branch and paused for a moment eying the small group of people picnicking under his tree. Then he spread his immense wings and gracefully took flight. He disappeared over a distant band of pine trees, gone as quickly as he had appeared.

Terry wanted to see him again. As she settled back into her lawn chair, I agreed with Pat that rain looked imminent. We dropped David off at his trailer and then went back to Pat’s home. On the drive back it did start to rain. Terry did not return to Pat’s home for many hours. She took shelter in the gift shop when it poured out. She had a long talk with the proprietress who was also a member of Audubon. Terry never saw the eagle again that day but she got advice on where she could see some wild Parrots so she followed that tip to another bay front park. She ended up seeing 7 wild parrots in some palm trees.

Punta Gorda Railroad Station

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After our Thanksgiving dinner, Pat drove us to Punta Gorda to see the sights. Our first stop was this Historic Punta Gorda Railroad station. The rear of the station is devoted to an antiques shop and the waiting areas up front house a Railroad museum. Terry and Pat shopped while I sketched. What caught my eye imediately were the separated “Whites” and “Colored” entrances to the station. An antiques dealer was telling Terry that in the 1970’s his school was one of the first in the area to allow full integration. When the building was restored, these signs were kept in place to remind museum goers of this regions recent history of segregation.

The building was first erected in 1928. The main purpose of the railway was to ship fish to Northern markets. It also functioned as a passenger train. This is the only station remaining built by the Atlantic Coast line that features the Spanish Mission style which would make more sense in California. In 1971 the depot was closed. In 1998 volunteers began to restore the building. In August of 2004 the building was badly damaged by hurricane Charlie, but it was once again restored. The depot is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

When my sketch was done, I went back to the antique shop to find Terry and Pat. Terry had been on a shopping spree. She had bought some antique plates, an Emerald colored ring for Pat and oddly a German Concertina or accordion. Now I can honestly say, momma’s got a squeeze box.

Thanksgiving at the Moose Lodge

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Terry and I drove south to Port Charlotte to have Thanksgiving with my sister Pat Boehme and Mike Napalitano. Rather than spend all day cooking, Mike bought tickets to have dinner at the Moose Lodge. We drove to Moose Lodge 2121. Above the entry “LOOM” was printed which stands for the Loyal Order Of the Moose. Mike explained that there is a hierarchy of these Lodges. Lowest in the pecking order are the Order of the Eagles. Apparently if you are an Eagle, you are slumming it. Next up the totem is the Order of the Moose which is middle class in nature. He said, “If you are an Elk, well you are a snob.” We got a table and a volunteer waitress quickly took our tickets. I believe the tickets cost $7. Only a Moose member could pay for drinks so Mike ordered us each a soda from the bar. As soon as I got back with Mike from the bar, the food arrived. Each plate had heaping portions of traditional Thanksgiving Turkey, stuffing, string beans, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The food was delicious although the meat was a bit too salty. The advantage to having dinner at the Lodge was that there was no temptation to have seconds. The amount of food was just enough. A waiter stopped by our table to pick up the plates saying, “Well you kids certainly cleaned your plates. When you get to be my age, everyone is a kid.”

In a corner of the room there were Moose antlers above a Coke machine. A small stuffed bird was perched on the antlers. There were several large bingo boards on the walls. You could tell they took bingo very seriously here. I think Terry and I were the youngest people in the room which was kind of refreshing. For desert we all had pumpkin pie and Terry ordered apple pie. When we finished I asked to be left behind to finish a sketch. An old couple sat down right in front of me and they anchored my sketch. They waited for the longest time for their food. I turns out their tickets had been put in the wrong pile and the waitress thought they had already been served. Their misfortune was my blessing since they modeled for me much longer than they otherwise would have.

I called my sister so she could pick me up once my sketch was finished. I sat on a bench in front of the Lodge waiting for her. Many people leaving the Lodge needed canes. One woman said, “Too much food in 24 hours, I am glad they had a take out box.”

Art Basel

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Tomorrow I leave for Art Basel in Miami. Art Basel is happening between December 2nd and 5th. Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art show in the United States. As the sister event of Switzerland’s Art Basel, the most prestigious art show worldwide for the past 41 years, Art Basel Miami Beach combines an international selection of top galleries with an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design. Exhibition sites are located in the city’s beautiful Art Deco District, within walking distance of the beach and many hotels.

I went to Art Basel last year and felt like I saw and experienced only a fraction of the art available. The world class art on display in the convention center alone is too much to digest in one day. I wandered in circles often finding myself back at the spot where I began. I am convinced a GPS is needed to navigate this endless maze of art. An iPhone Art Basel application is available and I hope it helps. This year I need to pace myself like a marathon runner while keeping my pen and sketchbook always ready. I need to keep my mind open and let the sketches flow. Last year I did this sketch of this huge sculpture by Thomas Housago. It is solidly built with rusting metal. The legs were made from quarter inch thick solid steel plates. The sculpture dominated the space at the base of a stairwell near the bookshop. An Andy Warhol look alike stood waiting for a friend. Two pigeons rested on a pipe high above and as I sketched them I realized they never moved. The pigeons were themselves a sculpture. The Rubell Family Collection was one of the many satellite exhibits that surrounded Art Basel. Let the festivities begin, I am back Miami!

Comedy Open Mic

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On the morning after Thanksgiving, Terry is breaking jokes but I don’t laugh because I am so caught up in trying to steel a wireless connection from my sister Pat’s neighbors. After an hour of trying I finally found a spot. I opened the front window and rested the computer on the window sill to get a signal. I would go outside but it is raining. This sketch is of a comedy open mic I went to at “The Other Bar” (18 Wall Street) downtown. Two or three of the comics were really funny that night others were painful to watch. The old man on stage, named Uncle Ralph, was really fun and the person at the bar turned out to be a comic as well. He studied the notes the whole time until he was called up to the stage. Actually most of the people in the bar were comics.

Katie Windish was with me this evening. A friend of hers named Kingsley Everett Bennett , is a comic and he introduced her to this event. He came to our table to let us know he might not get on stage. He was called up after all and he was very funny. He returned to our table after his set and gave me a hard time for not sketching him. I couldn’t resist sketching Uncle Ralph however. As the audience drank more, the hecklers grew louder. It was fun to see how abusive some comics had to be as they lost audience support. It takes some serious guts to be a stand up comic, especially if you aren’t funny. This was a fun evening that I would gladly sketch again.

Kaleigh Baker

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Dina Peterson suggested I come out to Tanqueray’s, (100 South Orange Avenue), late one evening to see Kaleigh Rose Baker perform along with the Absinthe Trio. I had seen her sing once before as Janis Joplin and she was amazing. The bar was smokey, tight, dark and the drinks flowed. Kaleigh has delivery that resonates deeply and then sours free. After each song she would take a drink from her cup resting in a stand beside her. She would toast the crowd. She had an edgy quality, always seeming a bit out of control as she sang with her eyes half open. Nathan Anderson performed on the sax beside her and his instrument wailed in lazy indifference. Halfway into the sketch my eyes began to water from the smoke. I closed them for the longest time swaying to the music and waiting for the stinging to pass. It didn’t help that every song expressed pain and longing.

I was introduced to a singer named “Cat, Cat, Cat” who was an actress from NYC planned to sing later in the evening. She had on a stylish fedora and she swayed to the music along with everyone else. After the first set I got to meet Kaleigh and the members of the band. I passed around my sketchbook to let them see what I was up to.

As the second set started up, it was time to go home.