I went to the OMA last night for “First Thursdays”. Every first Thursday of each month the museum hosts art created by local artists for one night. The evening usually has live music, food and booze. The cost to get in is $10. Food and booze are extra. I thought Terry might want to go but she wasn’t picking up her cell phone. When I got to the museum I decided to sit on the edge of a fountain and sketch the entry. I liked watching the various individuals waiting for dates and the warm welcomes when people are reunited. Like myself many people were on there cell phones trying to figure out why they were left waiting. The event only lasted till 9PM so by the time I finished sketching I discovered that there was only 15 minutes left to go before the museum closed. I had totally lost track of time.
The exhibit fit neatly into a small room right off the lobby. One artist had really nice resin sculptures of a dragon and werewolf. Another artists acrylic paintings of movie characters were really fun and quirky. I should have taken cards.
Brian Feldman of “txt” fame was also exhibiting himself as a performance piece. Brian stood with his back against a wall being filmed by a video camera which projected a large image of his face on the wall beside him. Brian was practicing method acting by trying to make himself cry. His face was contorted in a harsh grimace but I didn’t notice any tears. Either he was cryed out or he was unable to tap his inner sorrow in such a loud party atmosphere. I unfortunately didn’t have time to get a decent sketch of him, but once again he held my attention far longer than any painting or sculpture in the room. His performance reminded of a short story entitled “The Hunger Artist” by Franz Kafka, it has a surreal disturbing quality, that I liked. Bravo!
Civil War Fashion
Terry and I went to the civil war fashion show at the Orlando Regional History Center. The show was staged in a beautiful old court room. Featured were clothing worn by men, women and children from both the North and South, free and enslaved. A local radio personality, Downtown Billy Brown, and the History Centers Mike Brown hosted the show. There self deprecating humor set the stage for a lively and entertaining event. The entire crowd gasped when a woman came out in her many layers of undergarments. They were equally shocked when a young girl came out with her entire neck exposed indicating she was old enough for marriage. The saying above the judges bench reads: Equal and exact justice to all men. This seems a reminder that woman would not have equal rights under the law for another 60 years or so.
After the show I talked with some of the reenactors and decided I would go to the next reenactment and embed myself with the 2nd Florida Volunteer Infantry Company E, The Hammock Guards, lead by Captain Clay Kearney, to sketch the battle as a Civil War Correspondent. I have about 3 weeks to fashion an 1860s civilian outfit from Goodwill clothing. I may actually go to this first battle as a 21st century civilian, since shopping for clothing is always a painful and exhausting experience. I will see what can be sketched from a spectators vantage point.
College Park Publix
I will start this post with a comment from former Orlando resident Cherie from Dorchester, MA.
“Publix No. 19, you live forever in my heart. When I lived downtown, we drove to your lot just to see the giant fin. We called you Happy Publix. Just seeing you made us smile. When I lived down the road, I was a lucky girl. The staff always seemed friendlier than other markets. They had theme days and dressed as cowboys and such. Sometimes they just wore shirts that said “No. 19.” So cool. After Skycraft, it is my second favorite landmark in Orlando. I’d forgo the wide aisles and expanded hummus selection of new supermarkets just to see that neon fin again…”
I pulled into this Publix parking lot when I got lost once looking for the Kerouac house in College Park. I just wanted to use the lot to turn around but the 1950s neon caught my eye and I knew I would have to go back. The original store was closed in 1998 after being open for business for 32 years. Plans were hatched to build a newer more contemporary market, but College Park residents wouldn’t stand for it. The architects had to remodel the store and this 1950 retro look is the result. The Photo Mart scene in the Steve Martin movie “Parenthood” was shot in the parking lot of the original store.
Digital Seance
I returned to the Kerouac house to see a second performance of txt. I realized after my first sketch that the performance wasn’t so much about the man reading the text messages, Brian Feldman, but it was about the uninhibited comments that came from the audience who remained anonymous writing the script on there iPhones and PDAs. This time I sat in the far back corner of the living room so I could sketch as much of the audience as I could. The performance was again peppered with sexual innuendo and some paranoia. This time Brian was asked to do more physical actions such as jumping jacks. One unexpected incident occurred when he said, “Get me a cup of water, I am parched, this isn’t in the script I really need a cup of water”. Kim darted into the kitchen to get a cup of water. After the performance Brian indicated that the call for water was just another text message. I found myself laughing louder than ever at this performance. The uninhibited mind is a strange and quirky beast. I was fascinated by the glow of the PDAs through red thumbs and fingers. The small room crowded with people again made the reading feel like a digital seance.
Confessions of a critic
Wall Street Journal theater critic Terry Teachout gave a talk on what he feels a theater critics roll is in society. He told a story of how he met a critic once over a drink and when he asked his fellow critic what he was up to next, the critic perked up and said with glee that he was about to pan a play. He explained that to many critics go into a production with a review already set in there mind. He feels that to many critics are not competent enough to right reviews. The first 15 minutes of any play always have the audiences full attention. At that 15 minute mark the play ether continues to grab the audience or they are lost. He always goes into a play wanting to write a good review.
Terry confessed that his first love was music, but at a painful point in his life he had to admit that he did not have a creative spirit. He found he was a better writer than a musician. Therefor he always approaches a theater review with a bit of reverence, respecting the very act of putting on a show. He explained that theater is as vibrant as ever, but in these uncertain economic times it is important that people go to the shows. The very future of theater depends on it.
The Stable
Terry’s weekend horse riding lessons continue. She started going to a new stable since it is closer to home and the lessons are cheaper. Terry’s new trainer, Stacy, is offering advice on every aspect of riding. The last trainer Terry had at the previous stable only shouted out “More legs, more legs!” Terry was never sure what he meant by that. The main thing I notice about this new stable is that there are no flies. Nothing makes sketching harder than having flies buzzing in your ears. I also like that this stable looks more like a traditional barn. There are 4H trophies and pictures everywhere that indicate that raising and riding horses has been in the family for a long time.
txt
txt was a performance by Brian Feldman at the Jack Kerouac house in College Park. The premise of the performance piece was that the audience would text the script to Brian as he performed by reading his iPhone. A small stage was set up in front of the fireplace in the living room and 2 lamps were placed on either side of the stage as foot lights.
The performance felt more like a digital seance rather than a simple reading. All thumbs and index fingers were busy typing as Brian started to read a strange disjointed mix of ideas. His reading was peppered with sexually explicit language that even comedian George Carlin might be embarrassed by. I began to think I was in the room with a mix of lunatics rather than a quaintly bohemian audience. That guy in the back row looked like he was having way to much fun as he typed his entries. He must have been the one who typed over and over that fingers are people.
At one point Brian glanced at a message and turned to look at a picture of Jack Kerouac on the wall behind him. He then recited, “That Jack Kerouac is a hunk, I’d do him”. Had a woman in the audience really typed that? Could the guy giggling to himself in the back row have typed that? I found myself laughing uncontrollably at the absurdity of many of the texts being transmitted.
The young couple in the sketch had to share an iPhone. First she would text and then she would hand it off so he could text. My wife, Terry, said than none of her texts had been recited. That caused me to think afterward that perhaps like a seance not everything was as it seemed. Regardless I was certainly entertained.
Post Script: A number of participants informed me that without a doubt all texts were strictly written by audience. Texting seems to unlock inhibitions, it offers a chance to write things that would never be said under normal circumstances. txt was a Mad Lib with an emphasis on Mad.
Emperors New Groove
For the last class of the month in 2D Animation, the students get to choose a film to watch from a selection of about 10 animated feature films. This month they chose to see “The Emperors New Groove”. I did some drawings in that film of the character Pacha and Kuzco. The Florida studios contribution to that film was just to assist the California studio on scenes that needed an army of extra hands to get the film finished.
Some students watch the film intently while others are trying to finish the final drawings in one of there assignments which is a flip book. The students in this class did some really amazing work over the course of the month.
Infusion Tea Reading
Infusion Tea on Edgewater Drive featured another reading by Kerouac House resident artist Michael Hawley. This was Michael’s last evening in Orlando. The next day he would have to pack and fly a plane back to NYC. He said he felt a bit sad to leave but he was grateful for the time he had been given to write without interruption. The evening was hosted by Naomi Butterfield. Besides Michael 5 other authors recited poetry and excerpts from works in progress. I was very impressed by the reading from the author who is seated to the far left in the sketch, her name is Stacy Barton. She read chapter 6 from her first novel which is about a young female art student who was essentially date raped. This young artist while sketching is approached by the child of a midwife who is so forward that she reaches out and places her hand on the artists belly and coos to the child inside. This haunting and tender image remains one that leaves me wanting to know more. I again find myself thrilled and inspired by all the talent in the room.
Fat Tuesday
David, the executive director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, hosted a Fat Tuesday party at his home. The Friends of the Philharmonic and members of the Board of Directors were in attendance. David decorated his home by perching glittery bowler hats in unexpected places and hanging beads from chandeliers and furniture. David barbecued a huge slab of brisket and guests each bought a side dish. While doing the sketch I met a woman who worked as one of three graphic designers for Tupperware many years ago. Today she says Tupperware employs 35 graphic designers. This is one good thing about sketching at a party, people interested in art will introduce themselves to you. The sketch was started after dinner. When I began the room was packed. However in Orlando guests do not tend to linger at a party, they want to rush home. The fellow in the black pin striped suit was in costume as a gangster, his wife had a wonderful flapper outfit on but she never entered the room while I sketched.