Viral History and Human Behavior

Posted on by Thor

People have always responded the same way to plagues and pandemics. When faced by the tragic forces of nature most people stand by and watch. With an earthquake or hurricane maybe 10% of the people do the right thing and help. Another proponent do the opposite they actively impede recovery. Most people however wait to be told what to do. They are the frog in the slowly boiling pot of water. Rather than panic or gear into recovery mode, they mellow out and pretend nothing is happening.

When the twin towers were hit, most people didn’t immediately run to the stairwells. They sat back down and waited to be told what to do. Many who waited died. Today we are still experiencing a 9/11 worth of death every week from COVID and most have mellowed out, pretending nothing is happening. Those who wear masks and social distance are treated with suspicion. They break the illusion promoted by top officials that the pandemic is over.

During the Black Death of the 1830s, the rich stole from the poor and vulnerable and scapegoated people of other socioeconomic classes, along with the sick and disabled. Families abandoned the dead. In general hatred of “others” took hold. Those with money believed themselves to be safe from infection. Leadership in general denied the reality of what was happening. In Europe. the Jews were blamed for purposefully infecting Christians. Doctors advised patients that “the best way to protect against disease, causing bad air, was to expose oneself to more bad air.” Rumors and misinformation flourished.

The 1889 Russian Flu was known for a post-acute stage that caused “nervous disorders” including depression that lasted years. In 1893, Edvard Munch, still suffering post-flu, painted The Scream.

Austrian artist Egon Schiele died October 31, 1918 from the Spanish Flu. His wife, Edith Schiele who was 6 months pregnant died two days earlier.

As bodies piles up in 1918 officials insisted there was no cause for alarm. Propaganda fueled by the WW I war effort had little regard for a statements truth or falsehood. Citizens were considered the mental equivalent of children. The president at the time, Woodrow Wilson never made a statement about the virus.Woodrow Wilson had a bad bout of the Spanish Flu and later suffered a stroke which parallelized his left side and caused brain fog. His inability to focus kept him from promoting his peace treaty at Versailles.

By ignoring the unfolding tragedy terror settled into the populace. As the director of public health in Chicago said, “It is our job to keep people from fear. Worry kills more than the disease.” A war drive parade was held in Chicago despite warnings and there was a huge surge of 8,000 deaths that followed. Mass graves had to be dug. San Francisco on the other hand promoted the use of masks and the weathered the influenza outbreak much better with 1,857 deaths.

Pre-Pandemic: Dickson Azalia Park

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Prior to the Pandemic I was doing a series of sketches of Orlando’s Significant Trees. This was the final series f sketches I was doing before the sate wide lock down. Dickson Azalea Park (100 Rose Garden Drive) is a rare gem in Orlando. Of note in this scene are the Long Leaf Pine trees which are about 100 years old. They are extremely tall because they had to compete for light against the Oak trees which grow along the upper edge of the ravine.

The paths in this park follow a stream and the entire park is sunk because of erosion, sort of like a mini grand canyon only less orange. I have become infatuated with the pattern that tree branches make against the sky. Working with the complexity of natural forms I also have an excuse to just play with the paint, sometimes just splattering the page for pattern.

I have just 3 of these locations yet to visit, but I stopped after the stay at home order. I have no need to have my work labeled #floridamoron because I risk my life for the sake of any one painting. Instead, I stay in and paint the nightmare that is modern politics that first didn’t recognize the problem and then does as little as possible to resolve it.

On March 3, 2020 the day this sketch was done, California Governor Gavin Newsom released millions of N-95 face masks to be used in low emergency health settings. That state was mobilizing every level of government to address the impending threat of the virus. On March 3, the third case of Covid-19 was diagnosed in Florida. One was a 29-year-old Hillsborough County woman who had recently traveled
to Italy and the second was a 63-year-old Manatee County man who had
contact with someone who tested positive. The third patient, was a 22-year-old California woman, who was the sister of the
29-year-old Hillsborough County woman who was diagnosed after traveling
to Italy. On this day the Florida Department of Health first set up a Covid-19 hotline. On the day after this sketch was done Florida Governor Ron DeSantis informed Orlando residents, “that the risk of contracting the coronavirus is low for Floridians.” He was clearly WRONG, and should have been preparing for what was to come.

A few people have complained about my dark pandemic illustration series, so periodically I will just post a pretty tree for contrast with the harsh realities we face. There is good reason to someday, somehow return to a new normal. But this can not happen until our country gets serious about testing and tracing to isolate those that are infected. People are protesting the stay at home orders, but they are risking their own lives and the lives of others because anyone carrying a picket sign could be infected.

Today over 27,000 people are infected in Florida and 800 have died. The numbers don’t begin to hint at the precious lives lost and the creative potential of every person who died needlessly. One of my favorite artists, Egon Schile died in the pandemic of 1918. Who knows what he might have created had he survived.

Pandemic Dining Expererince

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FusionFest hosted a Diversitastic Dining Experience at Veggie Garden (1216 E. Colonial Drive, Suite 11 Orlando, FL 32803)

which offers Vietnamese food. You’ll receive a full meal, chef talk about the food and eating customs, entertainment, presentation about the culture and more.
Each month FusionFest will offer patrons a chance to immerse themselves into exploring the tastes, sights, sounds and mindsets of another part of the world.
Each experience is approximately $50 all included.

Earlier this day the World Health Organization had announced that the Covid-19 virus was a pandemic and to avoid the spread of the disease we should  practice social distancing.When I arrived I just kept thinking that crowding together on a deck next to Colonial Drive might not be a great idea. Until Pam arrived I sat a a distance of a bout 20 feet away on a cement bench in the courtyard. The DJ was busy adjusting lights and rubbing his nose with his hand. The music was LOUD to blast away and threat the virus might have had.

The tables were about half as wide as any other table I ever sat at. My knees almost touched the person across from me and when I leaned over my plate and blew on my soup, I just about butted heads with the person across from me. This was not the 6 foot distance that the World Health Organization had advised. Regardless the food was delicious, being cooked by a Buddhist monk.

The appetizers to begin consisted of Bò Bía (Summer Rolls) consisted of rice paper, sauteed carrot, jicama, tofu, fresh lettuce, herbs, peanut sauce. Also offered were crispy Chả Giò (Spring Rolls) which had crispy deep fried roll with shredded vegetables, mung bean, tofu, plum sauce. The main meal was served inside buffet style. That meant I would have to use the serving utensils everyone in the crowd was using, a fine way to transmit a virus hand to hand. There was some hand sanitizer on a counter and I squirted some on my hands after getting my servings. A main dish was, Mì/ Hủ Tiếu Xào which consisted of Sauteed noodle, Soy protein Ham, Tofu and Vegetables. Another dish was Cơm Chiên Thập Cẩm which was Fried rice with mixed vegetables. Everything was vegan.

Terry Olson introduced the evening and a couple performed music which was oddly Italian in theme. Italy has experienced 15,000 cases of the virus as of March 13. 2020. World wide as of March 13, 2020 there have been 200 deaths in Italy as of March 14, 2020 and 5,429 deaths world wide due to Covid-19. Those numbers will be exponentially higher by the time you read this. At my table someone reached out to shake my hand and I offered an elbow bump. It became a joke, but that is how we all greeted each other. The gentleman next to me had just flown back to Orlando From California. He practiced the only social distancing that evening by covering his nose and mouth with a bandanna while he was in the serving area. I respected him for that.



The most impactful and emotional moment of the evening came when Cindy Pham told her story of escaping from Vietnam as a child. She had to travel in a small sail boat and was sea sick for the entire voyage. When in America she had to start life over, not knowing the language. A family in Colorado took her in and she worked her way through college becoming an electrical engineer. She visited Orlando and loved the weather which reminded her of Vietnam. She volunteered at a Buddhist temple and now volunteers at Veggie Garden. The chef came out and spoke for a bit but she knew no English. Cindy translated.



The piano player also performed on a string instrument, walking among the crowd and offering some people the microphone for karaoke. Ugh, three separate people sang into that mic without it being cleaned or disinfected between performances. No one seems to be taking the warnings from the World Heath Organization seriously.  Egon Schiele, one of my favorite artists died at the age of 25 from the epidemic of 1918 right after the First World War. I always wonder what amazing things he might have created had he lived longer.

On a more positive note, the food was delicious and the performances were a delight.

Nude Nite Orlando

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Celebrating its 15th year, Nude Nite is a body-themed immersive
pop-up art experience. This talked-about art party, is held in a
20,000 warehouse with over 200 of the best nude artworks for sale
from artists around the country. The event features burlesque stage shows, world
class body painting, interactive installations, performance artists,
acrobats, stilt walkers, aerialists and a cast of painted characters
creating a stunning canvas for Insta-worthy photos. Nude Nite is a
multi-sensory art encounter that leaves you feeling hot with what
you’ve got.

Nude Nite has 3 full cocktail bars, gourmet food for
purchase and DJ music to ignite the vibe. Nude Nite is created with
conscious intention. It is female owned and operated, maintains a gender
equal model ratio meaning for every female there is a male. Nude Nite
models are all sizes, colors and genders. The event utilizes sustainable
products wherever possible.

For me the evening is always an inspiring and awesome sketching opportunity. Immediately when I entered I was attracted to this  antique tub with a woman in it. The tableau was set up by body painter Nix Herrera. He said he had essentially used everything from his outdoor patio to set up the scene. The woman sat submerged in water at first in which floated ferns and flowers. When she stood, she would entice people to come closer like a siren. On her belly and legs were written phrases. I didn’t lean in to read them all and the only ones I put in the sketch was the surprising phrase, “You slut.” On her head was a miniature model of the greenhouse enclosure they were in. Behind her stood a stoic and still couple in masks. On the woman’s head was a crown which looked like a model of a cathedral spire wrapped in fabric. When people were not around I heard her giggle occasionally and touch her hand to her lips which never moved. Later when she looked over my shoulder at the sketch, she spoke and I finally realized that her lips were part of the mask. When posing she tended to curl her toes, which made me wonder if she was uncomfortable or cold. There was a space heater beside her. I also wondered about the temperature of the water in the tub. It is strange what you think about while you sketch.

While sketching, I was joined by local artist Erin Colleen who also had a sketchbook. I am very familiar with Erin’s work because of Facebook and was happy to meet her in person. Strange but because of social media I already thought I knew her, or at least her art. I am an antisocial machine when sketching but I did ask her a few questions. She used to work at Madam Tossauds wax museum painting the skin tones for the figures. She hopes to work with animatronics next which would be a pretty sweet gig. I bumped into her a second time while I was considering sketching Mandi Ilene Schiff who was body painting a golden man with a buddha on his chest.

In the center of the room was a peace and tranquility zone with a woman posed in a cross legged pose with a radiating golden crown. From a distance Erin noticed a photo in the exhibit of a woman covered in honey. She said that the photo was of the woman in the golden crown. I looked back and forth and the resemblance was amazing. I am a doubting Thomas however, so I had to walk up to the model and ask if it was indeed her. It was. Of course an artist who could paint wax figures of celebrities, making them come alive, could pick out a portrait from a distance. Erin is also a portrait painter. I was amazed and tickled. The photo as it turns out was by Mandi who had shot her model from a past body painting session. Photos are the only way to immortalize the art she creates.

I never did do a second sketch, I was satisfied with this one. Of all the art on display, I was most impressed by a painted drawing done by artist Broni Likomanov from Studio City California. Titled Nude 4 it had bold charcoal strokes and acrylic paint that created a vibrant Egon Schiele inspired pose. Everything about the piece was inspiring. If I had $500 in my pocket I would have walked out with it. This was a fun night full of surprises.

Tonight February 15, 2020 is the last evening for Nude Nite.

Admission is $35 and tickets can be purchased at the door. The event will not sell out.

There are cash machines on property if needed.

The industrial warehouse is on the site at the Central Florida Fairgrounds

4603 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32808

Open to the public. Because of nudity, the show is 21+ ID required.

Self Parking is abundant and complimentary.

Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Cell phone cameras are encouraged. DSLR cameras and video is not allowed.

Stage Shows begin at 9pm, 10pm and 11pm. Entertainment on the floor is ongoing throughout event.