Extreme Perspective Art Show at Dandelion Communitea Cafe.

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Extreme Perspective Art Show at Dandelion Communitea Cafe (618 N Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL) Art is a show is all about an EXTREME perspective, either something grand, vast, expansive, large, or something tiny, cellular, small, minute or something from a perspective of enormous, like a very large collection of items or something extremely close up and uncomfortable or something from a unique and unusual perspective.

I submitted a framed original of a sketch I did at Fantasy Surf. At Fantasy Surf you can ride an artificial wave that never ends. Water is shot up over a plastic shaped wave and you can do tricks otherwise impossible in the ocean since you can hop down on the Past is surface to set up for spins o flips. The original piece of art is discounted since I didn’t add in the cost of the frame which was an up front cost for another show.

Theresa Touhey curated the show and when I arrived at the opening, she was seated at a table with

Natassia Dudack. Theresa reminded me about how her boyfriend spotted m in a Documentary about performance Artist Marina Abramovic. I flew into NYC on the final day of her extended performance of, The Artist is Present. Brian Feldman who was an Orlando performance artist at the time convinced me to sketch him sitting opposite Maria as they stared at each other. I got some decent sketches that day, but I still haven’t seen the documentary. 

I got to talk to artist Natassia Dudack, a bit at the opening. She had several delicate and well observed paintings of flowers in the show. Paintings on her cell phone portfolio hint at Buddhist themes to her work. One had a golden symbol for the “oohm” phrase uttered when meditating. She is also branching out to curate shows on her own. At the table in front of me, a family was out to show their support for Natassia. The mom was also an artist who does exquisite calligraphy brush paintings. The dad told me about his recent trip back to New Jersey where he went to his childhood home. The front door still had a carving that his dad had created over 45 years ago. Some art does last through the generations.

I joined Bethany Taylor Myers and her friends at a corner table for a while to catch up and laugh to a bit. Bethany has been friends with many artists in the room ever since she was 17 years old. It is reassuring to know that some friendships can stand the test of time.

Extreme Perspective will remain at Dandelion Communitea Cafe until September 3rd. Stop out to experience some local art.

2012 Carbon Flow Tour National Championships

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The 2012 Carbon Flow Tour National Championships were held at Fantasy Surf, (5151 Kyngs Health Ave Kissimmee) on August 10th and 11th. The best flow boarders in the world battled it out for a chance at the National Title. Carbon is a company that manufactures the actual flow boards. They had a display in the crowded spectators area. The man working the Carbon table talked to me about possibly transferring one of my sketches to a board. I told him I would be interested and gave him my card. Large bleachers were set up to handle the spectators while the three judges and the announcer sat front and center against the glass.

The FLOW Tour had divisions for
body boarders and flow boarders, men and women, boys and girls, amateur
and professional, young and old. For the past ten years, the FLOW Tour
has traveled to many of the 55+ Flow rider locations throughout the
United States and has inspired an
ever-expanding level of competition among body boarders and flow boarders
around the United States – and it all comes to a head on the FLOW Tour which consisted of 10 stops across 7 different
states. With a prize purse of over $27,000 dollars; it’s no surprise
hundreds of riders from across the country travel with the tour to make
their mark in the flow boarding community.

Competitions required a minimum prize purse of $2500 as well as the
all-important point system. There were 10 events including the National
Championships. Each competitor’s best 6 results, including the
championships, were added together to bestow the 2012 season
champions in their respective divisions.

I found a seat at a table and decided this was to be my best sketch vantage point. Spectators and competitors would often stand obstructing my view of the judges but I would patiently wait for my moment to strike. The Judges were Matti Griffin, Robert Pals and Patrick Boyce. One competitor entered the competition having never been on a flow board. He wiped out again and again much the the amusement of the judges and spectators. Of course most competitors were doing a series of advanced tricks. The air was thick with the sharp smell of chlorine. Since I was nursing a cold, I decided to leave as soon as I finished my sketch to spare my lungs.

Fantasy Surf

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Fantasy Surf, (5151 Kyngs Heath Road Kissimmee, FL 34746), has the ultimate indoor wave. Referred to as “flow boarding”, a super strong stream of water rushes up a smooth blue embankment allowing experienced surfers an endless wave. I went to the facility to talk to Adam Mulls about sketching the National Championships. The place was constantly full of participants and spectators. It is located right behind a hotel which supplies many of the younger newbies who crash and burn when they try to stand. Falling, you are pushed up and over the top of the wave by the force of the water flow. Eager parents recorded the carnage on iPads and cell phones.

A blond haired teen mounted a water proof camera to the glass with a suction cup. She stretched like an Olympic swimmer and then took video of herself riding the wave. She was able to flip her board and negotiate every inch of the wave. An even younger boy was doing tricks effortlessly.  They now have trampoline jumping as an Olympic sport. Flow boarding would be an awesome Olympic event to watch. Adam stood at the top of the wave acting as the life guard. He rode the wave once, showing some mad skills.

 Fantasy Surf is hosting the 2012 Carbon US Flow Tour National Championships
during the weekend of August 10-12th. The public is encouraged to take part as spectators
as the best flow boarders in the world battle it out for a chance at the
National Title.  If you are a FLOW Tour competitor or follower, looking for event lodging, please visit fantasyworldresort.com to book reservations for a 2 bed room condo and full amenities and sleep 6 people. When booking online use the PROM CODE: FLOW to receive a special $99.00 per night rate. Click here for the competition entry form and waiver.

Complimentary rider practice begins August 10th from 3:00pm- 9:00pm. Bleachers will be set up for spectators and the lounge will be reserved for contestants only. Outside, tents will be lined up with skateboarding, merchandise and food vendors. The competition should offer an awesome weekend sketch opportunity.