IDignity Orientation

Posted on by Thor

I went to an IDignity event at The Salvation Army Gym (440 W. Colonial Dr.,

Orlando, FL 32804) which is near the construction for the new Creative Village. These events happen every Third Thursday of each month. Volunteers had to arrive by 7am. I tried to get there at that time, but the parking lots were full so I parked several blocks away in Parramore and walked.

There was a line outside the Salvation Army of people waiting to get in to obtain identification. On man had set up outside at 4am to be ready when the doors opened. He would be the first to go through the process of getting his ID. Service is first-come, first-served.

I asked a volunteer where to find the volunteer entrance. Ben Jimenez the creative media specialist, was my point person, helping me get oriented. Michael Dippy, the Executive Director, shook my hand and thanked me for helping tell their story. When I arrived inside, volunteers were getting their orientation. Many volunteers had returned time and time again and others were new to the process. A blue curtain separated the gym into two halves. In the first area, volunteers greet patrons, giving them a numbered card that is the patron’s guide through the event. Danielle Landaal, the program manager, explained how the day would proceed with people first entering at 8:30am to 11am. Intake would end when maximum capacity was reached.

Put simply, IDignity restores dignity and hope by providing identification. It was created to help the disadvantaged in Central Florida
through the complex steps of getting personal identification. Documents
like birth certificates, Florida ID cards, and Social Security cards
are essential for anyone to fully take part in society.

Every person’s story is unique. I was told about a man who was visiting Orlando as a tourist and he was robbed. He was stranded here living for a time at the airport unable to fly home. Getting his identity back meant he could get his life back. An ID the basic building block needed to get any job, a place to live and to become a contributing member of society.

After this orientation meeting, the volunteers splintered off into smaller groups. Some volunteers would be helping patrons at the intake station.  People could obtain a birth certificate on site, get a Florida ID or driver’s License on site, get assistance from Social Security or the Department of Veterans affairs, get legal counsel or ask about health advice. What is amazing is that all these social services have agreed to come together under one roof once a month, thus simplifying the process.

The room was a buzz and the doors opened allowing the first people in for assistance…

The Dishwasher.

Posted on by Thor

Brian Feldman’s first-ever job was as an actor with Orlando
Shakespeare Theater. His second was as a dishwasher at a fast-food restaurant
chain in Winter Springs.

Award-winning performance artist Brian Feldman brought his
one-of-a-kind “Dishwasher” performance back to Orange County.

This performance, which I sketched, was at Flying Horse Editions (500 W. Livingston Street,

Orlando, FL 32801)

at the downtown UCF Center of Emerging Media building across from the future site of the Creative Village. 

Brian hand-washed the dirty dishes in the print shop’s sink
using the hottest water he could endure. A friend of Brian stood behind him to keep a close eye on his dish washing techniques. 

Once completed, he was given
a monologue by Sarah Segal which he cold read on the spot for the small audience gathered at the print shop.
Finally, Brian asked a simple question of the audience: “Am I a better actor or
dishwasher?” After receiving the answer, he posted the verdict on social media. His friends were rather harsh on his performance saying be was a better dishwasher, but everyone else in the audience decided he was a better actor. 

Angel Jones in Blue Box Number 3.

Posted on by Thor

27 Blue Boxes are painted on sidewalks in Downtown Orlando. These
boxes are for panhandlers and buskers. Back when they were painted, they were referred to as beggars boxes. Panhandling is possible only during
day light hours. Although set up for panhandlers, police often insist
street performers must use the blue boxes. If you loiter on the sidewalk, you are suspect. Performing outside the boxes
can result in 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. I have started a series of 27 sketches in which performers utilize
these Blue Boxes. These Boxes represent the only places downtown where
theoretically there is complete freedom of expression.

Angel Jones is a Fashion designer, stylist, model, writer, and artist from Melbourne Florida. Angel has spearheaded a Facebook group called, “Artists Unite! A group formed to protect all artists and our freedom” This page unites artists from around the state as cities like Winter Park and Saint Augustine create unconstitutional laws limiting freedom of expression. Orlando doesn’t have an ordinance specifically banning artistic freedom of expression, but the police do not see the difference between creative expression and panhandling. 

Finding these blue boxes is a bit of a treasury hunt. I arrived at the intersection of Amelia and Hughey and found a complex jumble of spray painted marks. Surveyors are marking up the sidewalks probably to keep track of electrical and plumbing lines. A block a way the “Creative Village” is now a desert of sand and dirt. Sidewalks and pavement are all being ripped up for whatever is to come. There are several Blue Boxes in this construction zone which may no longer exist. 

Angel was a bright splash of color on an otherwise drab and grey downtown street corner. She created handmade Victorian cupcake dress herself with countless hours spent sewing the brightly patterned fabrics. Her wig was bright pink an her necklace had every color of the rainbow. Angel’s Insanity and Bazaar Bazaar the clothing line, features her unique handmade creations. She chatted about her army brat upbringing and leaving home at the age of 15. Although considered the black sheep by her family, she clearly made the right choice to pursue an art inspired life. At protests she is the most exuberant champion for artistic freedom of expression.. She is a dynamic force who you definitely want on your side.

Students from Orlando Tech were the most common pedestrians. They would often stop to chat with Angel to find out what we were up to. A father and daughter on bike stopped to watch me sketch for bit. She is an artist and wanted to know how I sketch so fast. My advice was to loosen up and accept the imperfections. A sketch by definition is incomplete. A bright pink Lynx bus rushed by accentuating the pinks in Angel’s hair and dress for a moment. 

I never saw a police patrol car.  The police station is several blocks to the south of this Blue Box. Angel didn’t have an open case, or tip jar and if she did, I doubt any bills would have been dropped in. Once again the blue box was far removed from businesses where executives in suits might wander out during their lunch hour. They were safe from the threat of art. If you know someone who might want to join the Blue Box Initiative, send them to the group page which is where these sketch sessions are scheduled once a week.

The Creative Village

Posted on by Thor

The old Amway Arena was imploded at 7am several weeks ago. I didn’t get up that early to see the devastation, but a week later, I drove past the site as I was weaving my way through side roads to avoid a back up on Colonial Drive. A large banner declared the wreckage to be the “Creative Village” and I had to sketch the ironic sight. The wind caused sheet metal to flap sounding a bit like thunder. Clouds of dust rose and danced among the exposed beams. The four corner structures remained intact with dark red interior stairwells looking like bloody eviscerated flesh.

I enjoyed the Orlando Magic games I saw in this arena. I never understood why an extra large arena had to be built to house a basketball court. But what is done is done. According to a site online, The Creative Village will be a magnet for knowledge workers to live, work, learn and play – a place where high-tech, digital media and creative industry companies integrate with residential, retail, and academia in a neighborhood that is connected to the surrounding community and plugged in globally. Innovative in its architecture, thoughtfully mixing living and working spaces, the Village will be designed to enhance the lifestyle of creative people and become a supportive, business-friendly environment in which digital media and related companies can thrive. Hopefully the Creative Village will live up to its name, but for now, it looks like a war zone.

I had a wrapper from some peanut butter Girl Scout cookies in my art bag. Half way into the sketch, an ant bit my leg. I slapped it off and looked around to be sure I wasn’t sitting on a fire ant mound. I noticed ants swarming around my bag. I pulled out the wrapper which was now covered in ants and I disposed of it. Slowly the ants dispersed but some still chose to bite me occasionally.

Citrus Floats

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I spent an afternoon searching for the spot where volunteers rubber band thousands of citrus fruits onto wire meshes to create the floats for what was formerly the Citrus Bowl Parade. The new name of the parade is the “Fresh from Florida Parade.” I heard volunteers would be working feverishly at the old Amway Arena. I went there assuming the floats would be inside the Arena. I was surprised to see that the Arena was surrounded by chain link fencing and it is considered a construction site. lt turns out the Arena is being demolished to make way for a Creative Village. The interior is now being demolished, and the building is slated to be rigged with explosives and will implode in March of 2012. I walked around the fenced in Arena. A security guard in the parking lot asked if I was going to the game. “No.” I replied. “I’m looking for volunteers working of floats.” He directed me to the opposite side of the Arena. A huge crowd was gathered in a line going through a security check point. They were being scanned for explosives by the Department of Homeland Security and local police. “This is a rather big fuss for a few floats.” I thought. This turned out to be parking for the college football game happening at the Citrus Bowl. People had to go through security before getting on a bus to the Bowl Game.

I hiked down to the new Amway Center searching for floats as well. No luck. I visited Terry at her downtown office and she located a press release online. It turned out the floats would be at the Amway Arena the next day. At least I got plenty of exercise. So the next day, I hiked to the Arena and I could see the bright orange and yellow citrus peaking through the foliage around the parking lot from a block away. I settled under a shady oak and sketched. I had expected more floats. Volunteers were still securing fruit to the wire mesh with rubber bands but the floats looked pretty complete. The construction had occurred for two days at the Convention Center. They were then driven to the Arena for final touch up before the parade the next day. I wondered what roads they must have driven. Did they scream up I-4 at 55 miles per hour? Wouldn’t the citrus bounce off causing a catastrophic citrus pile up? More than likely they took side roads creating a minor traffic back up.

As I was finishing up the sketch, someone drove away in a golf cart to get dinner for the volunteers. The sun blazed warmer as it moved towards the horizon making the oranges even more orange as the shadows lengthened.