Drip Drop Splash Construction

Posted on by Thor

I was fascinated by the construction of Drip Drop Splash happening at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). Hydraulics has to be adjusted and everything perfectly balanced. One of the water columns required plenty of tweaking. In the end water would fill the pools and the columns would become the source for a cascade of water falling from above. If one element leaked things could get wet and messy, however the whole contraption was planted on a cement pool which had drainage just in case. Construction workers got used to me being on site and once in a while they would glance over my shoulder.

A group was given a tour to  show them the progress of construction. The area in the background of this sketch is the Toddlers Corner. Every worker had a task to complete and the place took  shape incredibly fast. Part of me wished that I had come in daily to watch the progress but I had to balance this assignment with other events happening in town. I am posting this sketch in preparation for an exhibit of my painting that will open at the Science Center on August 16, 2018.

Harriet Lake’s Kidstown Theatre

Posted on by Thor

Harriet Lake is one of Orlando’s greatest patrons of the arts. Harriet’s Kidstown Theatre is located just past Drip Drop Splash in the Orlando science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). A quaint little stage is littered with props like a hard hat, and tutus. The backdrop kept changing, I opted to sketch a playful view of the Lake Eola Fountain. It doesn’t take much to fire the imagination in a young mind. Kids are already gifted actors. A dad sat in the audience sporting his foam statue of liberty crown. The bean bag chairs helped keep the audience active.

I am assembling 30 paintings for an exhibition I am mounting at the Orlando Science Center opening August 16th, 2018. I like to include links in the labels that link back to the articles that appeared on Analog Artist Digital World. This quaint little sketch somehow slipped through the cracks, so I am publishing it now.

In some ways, the kids were just playing on the stage with no well defined story line. However some of the best theater happens when the actors relax and are playful on stage. Lets put on a show! After writing this post, I learned that Harriet Lake died July 10, 2018 at the age of 96. She will be deeply missed by the Central Florida arts community.

Drip Drop Splash at the Orlando Science Center.

Posted on by Thor

I went in to sketch the new Kids Town as it was being constructed once a week this past October. Drip Drop Splash has three illuminated water columns with hand cranks. When the cranks are turned by kids the water rises up and trickles down a series of blue kite shaped shingles. The water empties into a clear bowl and then rains down into a round pool below. It is possible to crawl under this pool reception and stand up in a donuts hole opening in the middle. Standing the r it is possible to be surounded by rain, yet remain perfectly dry.

Water cascade down from this center pool down three ramps which each have a maze of mind bending inventions. Kids can plumb and divert the water or build a series of dams. Each Rube Goldberg contraption teaches the kids how to harness and use the power of water.

At this point in the construction plumbing was still being worked out. Workers joked with each other calling each other “Cuz”. Walls were being painted and things fell together quickly. Kids Town is now open at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) and trust me, the kids love it.