Chris Fioravantti – Analog Artist Digital World

When I was jumping between Air B&Bs, I kept my bicycle in the back of my Prius. When I was staying in Azalea Park, I went for a bike ride every morning on the Little Econ Trail as a way to start each day. The Little Econ trail is really nice and winds along waterways for miles. Each morning I would see the same man doing tai chi and I would often pass others I had seen on previous bike rides.

While riding on this trail I met James Chonody who is an artist who sets up in one of the picnic shelters as he paints a picture in acrylics and shows off a whole bunch of his paintings. I stopped to sketch him once and we had a pleasant chat. We have been friends ever since.

This area of construction caught my eye. The machinery isn’t right on the trail but in a clearing. I suspect that paring is being improved in the area. There are tennis courts nearby and multiple bathrooms along the river. Perhaps more parking was needed near this trailhead. This isn’t a beautiful scene but it shows that the trail is a work in progress.

In the distance I heard two guys talking about their cars and all the work they put into them. That conversation is what leads me to think this area is for parking the metal machines that dominate the roadways. A local artist and podcaster named Chris Fioravantti used to promote the idea of safe roadways for bicyclists. He was hit by a car in June of 2021 and died. Killer Roads.

I always seen to be attracted to sketching mans need to alter and rip away natures beauty.

Boris Douglas Garbe and Marla E. Smith were live at Maxine’s on Shine (337 North Shine Avenue Orlando FL). Boris and Marla joined forces to host a syndicated talk show called Kiss My Art, and this was a live taping of that show. Their guest for the evening was Chris Fioravantti. Chris was sporting a signature jacket that was given to him by commissioner Patty Sheehan. It was covered with day of the dead skulls. Before taking to the stage he vogued in it for admirers in the audience. Chris is a podcaster himself so he is used to conducting interviews with local guests.

Boris and Marla sat on opposite sides of Chris and each asked him questions in turn. Boris confided that he had experienced bullying as a kid so he was interested in a traumatic story from Chris’s past. Chris related that he kept to himself in school. On a trip on his bike he noticed several kids bullying a gay fellow student. He knew of him but they were not particularly close. He decided he had to act so he shouted out for the bullies to stop. When they didn’t he hopped off his bike and got into the middle of the fight. He started getting blows to his head and had to close his eyes. When he opened his eyes, he was on thee ground and he found that the kid he had come to help, had joined the bullies in hitting and kicking him while he was down. In hind sight he didn’t blame the kid. It was his way to survive the incident.

Chris also found out later in life that he was adopted. His adopted family was in the audience and there were some ties between the father who abandoned him and his adopted family which made his telling of this story all the more brave. Today Chris works as a Dog groomer which he loves, but someday he hopes that the podcasts he creates can lift him up so he can live a financially stable existence. After the interview was over, I found a card on my table that announced that The Experience will be coming this February.

As Chris stated, “At my core I am an artist. I play the guitar, the ukulele, and the
piano. At one point I studied audio engineering, but podcasting is my
true passion. When I was approached by Kyle Eagle and Boris Garbe in
late 2018 to start my own podcast I jumped at the chance!!!” So, be sure to put, The Experience on your radar. It is now on mine.