FAVO Blackmore Studio

Posted on January 21, 2020February 6, 2022 by Thor

Set in a former motel, Faith Arts Village Orlando (FAVO) at 221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32801 features 36 Studios of amazing original art. On the first Friday of each month the artists open their studios to the public for an open house. I stop out periodically to see what is new in the Orlando visual arts scene.

On this trip I was so pleased to find that Kathy and Eric Blackmore had a studio set up. Kathy uses the space as a classroom for her private art lessons with young students. She is a children’s book illustrator and creates gorgeous delicate watercolor paintings for the books. She began this career when I worked with her at Full Sail University. Her husband Eric is a wildlife and environmental photographer and some of his landscapes were on the studio walls. He is also an amazing woodworker who creates custom furniture. Because of this the small studio space is magnificently designed with storage spaces and modular shelving and table tops that can be folded into place.

It is a sweet little set up and it must bustle when Kathy’s students are busy creating. Eric is also a professor and each year he escorts students to exotic locations around the world. He and Kathy therefor get to explore and be inspired by someplace new each year. While Pam and Eric talked, I scribbled as fast as I could to document and memorialize the studio. We explored the rest of the studios, but spent most of our time in the Blackmore studio which exemplifies what is great about FAVO.

Orlando Arts Collecive

Posted on September 18, 2019February 7, 2022 by Thor

The Orlando Arts Collective is a diverse group of artists who enjoy supporting, sharing, communicating, and collaborating with other fellow artists. OAC members are painters, sculptors, photographers, and mixed-media artists.

Members conduct workshops, run critique seminars, curate art shows, participate in other community shows and events, and go on art related field trips together. The group encourages members to participate in art activities, shows and other groups throughout the community, and to share their experiences. Having adventures is one of the hallmarks of the OAC.

They are an IRS-501(c) 3 not-for-profit group, which allows them to conduct classes and work with charities. This also means they have a Board of Directors and annual dues. Even though they have a board they are not a board-centered group. All decisions are determined by a majority of their members. The annual membership is $30.00, which helps to pay for group shows, classes, and guest speakers. Extra fees may be required for participation in gallery shows. The members have shown and participated in various art venues in and around Orlando, such as City Arts Orlando, Mega Con, Third Thursdays, Dandelion Cafe, Pom Poms, and FAVO.

The Orlando Art Collective meets on the second Thursday of each month between 6:30-8:30 pm.

I stopped in to a meeting and sketched while members were learning new techniques in a printing workshop. Everything was provided and there were some unique results. At the end of the table one artist apologized because he had evicted me from a painting workshop at the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens one year because I was sketching as I listened. I laughed and said there were no hard feelings.

Also on the table were ceramic tile hearts which were for a mural that is now up on the side of Lamp Shade Fair which is a 65-year-old business on 1336 N. Mills Avenue, Orlando, Fl. The ceramic hearts were created by artists from around the world and will be arranged into a rainbow coming from the open hand of a Banksy-inspired silhouette of a young girl blowing a kiss.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for July 6 and 7, 2019

Posted on July 5, 2019February 7, 2022 by Thor

Saturday July 6, 2019

5pm to 9pm Free. Faith Arts Village (FAVO) First Friday Art Show. Faith Arts Village Orlando 221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida. 36 Studios of original art in a former motel.

9pm to 11:30pm No Cover but get a drink or food. Live Jazz. White Wolf Cafe 1829 N Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32804.

11pm to 1am No cover. Fresh produce with mango beats presented by Family Gang. Debbie’s Bar 1436 State Road 436, Casselberry, Florida 32707. Howell Branch and Semoran Blvd.

its going to be the best Friday of your life. the best drink specials
ever and mango beats on the ones and twos. free entry come get your
drink on
Drink Specials:
$2 Mango Jello Shots
$3 Fireball
$3 Blue Raspberry (UV Vodka Shots)
$3 Grape (UV Vodka Shots)
$4 Lemon Drops
$5 Chocolate Cake Shots
$5 Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot
$12. Domestic Buckets
Mango Beats Spinning the best Hiphop, EDM, Classic Rock, Local Ozone and Familygang Tunes all night.

Sunday July 7, 2019

10am to 4pm Free. Lake Eola Farmers Market. Lake Eola Park, Orlando, FL 32801.

Noon to 3pm Donation based. Music at the Casa. Bryan Hayes (NEW to Casa Feliz!) Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Members
of the public are invited to visit the historic home museum to listen to live music and take a tour of our
historic home museum and the James Gamble Rogers II Studio by trained
docents.

10opm to midnight. Free but get a coffee. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out and laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Faith Arts Village Orlando

Posted on September 26, 2018February 7, 2022 by Thor

On the first Friday of each month, a former motel (221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32801) comes alive as a vibrant open studio for local Orlando Artists. The Park Lake Presbyterian Church across the street purchased the motel and has been converting it into active artists studios. Faith Arts Village or FAVO is a good place to check out what is happening locally in the visual arts.

As I was doing this sketch, a local band was performing in the parking lot. hey were singing the opening song from a Muppet movie called the rainbow connection. Almost everywhere I sketch in Orlando there is a rainbow to be seen. In this case a large rainbow heart decorated the entry to a studio that had flower headed mannequins. I had a commission on my mind that involved a small antique carousel. I ultimately called the piece “The Rainbow Connection” and put in prints of all rainbow themed decorations I had sketching since the Pulse Massacre.

The next FAVO showcase is October 5, 2018 starting at 5pm. I always find something unexpected and inspiring.

FAVO Every First Friday

Posted on September 19, 2018February 7, 2022 by Thor

On this evening, I installed the 49 portraits of the victims of the Pulse massacre at Falcon Bar. I then had to drop some art at Faith Arts Village Orlando (FAVO), 221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32801 and I decided to stay to get a sketch. FAVO is an old motel on Colonial Drive that has been converted into 36 artist studios. On the first Friday of each month the studios are open to the public. It is an opportunity to window shop for some amazing original art.

Some artists set up tables in the parking lot as well. There is also a food truck or two and tables to sit and eat. There is also music. This month, Cindy Barr (on guitar), Jim Hull (on the Bodhran) and Sharon Harlimer (on violin) played under a tent. They performed Irish folk tunes and other selections. A banner had been printed up and hung on the chain link fence that said, “FAVO Cares” to honor those who lost their lives at Pulse.

Milk Carton Superstars at FAVO

Posted on August 13, 2018February 7, 2022 by Thor

Faith Arts Village (221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida) hosts an art studio open house every first Friday of the month. They describe the art motel’s mission s follows: “In life and in extreme death we love. We at FAVO love all and celebrate life and community. Every
month we offer this art show to bring people together. We don’t care
who you are or what you believe in (or don’t believe in). Celebrate an evening of just being creative with local creative people.”

The event allows patrons to browse through 36 artist studios, vendors, , live musical talent, food trucks and more. Bethany Taylor Myers has a studio in which she showcases work from a different artist each month. Her husband is the drummer and lead vocalist for a band called the Milk Carton Superstars. They performed in the former motel room now being used as a gallery. They were lit from below and small fans blew their hair upwards giving the illusion that they were falling.

FAVO and Park Lake Presbyterian Church work hand in hand supporting all the Orlando communities. The next FAVO evening is August 3rd. The evening gets started after 5pm as the sun sets.

Faith Arts Village Orlando (FAVO)

Posted on August 31, 2017February 7, 2022 by Thor

I went to Faith Arts Village Orlando (221 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32801). FAVO happens on the first Friday of each month. I like to sketch the event because the dusk light is a challenge to capture. There is usually an outdoor musical act that performs in the parking lot where tables are set up for patrons who order food from several food trucks.

Gallery 251 presented artist, Nadya Nickels, a young multimedia artist based in the Orlando, FL area. Before school, Nadya was an
illustrator for Afropunk.com since then she’s started painting murals in
Orlando and began working with digital media and design. Recently she graduated with
a bachelor of digital arts and design.

Her work mostly
centers around people and mainly painted portraits. Her preferred
medium is watercolor as it requires the painter to have control over the
paint, but also a willingness to adapt and go with the flow of
watercolor.

“I’ve been developing my craft and working in my field for the past five
years as a freelancer. Initially, I started my career in high school by
building my brand “eclectic weirdo.” I created a series of
illustrations; To highlight diversity, show that we are all
multidimensional and shouldn’t limit ourselves to stereotypes. This
concept was picked up by Afropunk. I then began creating weekly
illustrations for their online magazine. I am now a studio artist for
Full Sail’s game design department. My strongest quality is my
empathetic nature, and this translates into my work. I strongly admire
activists and people who inspire others. There’s a ton of work that needs to
be done in this world, and I feel the best way I can contribute is
through design.”

-Nadya Nickels

FAVO post modern roadside ceremony.

Posted on April 8, 2017February 7, 2022 by Thor

FAVO is a former roadside motel that is now being uses in part as artist studios. Once a month on Friday the studios are opened to the public for an art stroll.

In August, one of the studios was opened up as a performance space. The audience sat on church pews lined up on the right wall. A synthetic green grass carpet was on the floor. A plastic or fiberglass basin stool table like on the grass. Chunks of road asphalt were strewn in the basin. Many of the chunks has the road’s yellow center-line on them. Clumps of grass grew between the chunks of asphalt. The scene was illuminated by a large telephone pole street lamp.

Two young women wearing white and black evening gowns and lace head shawls performed a long elaborate chant. If there were words uttered they must have been in Greek. At times they knelt in the grass and bowed their heads.

From a small card in motel room window I discovered that the ceremony had something to do with the motels beginnings as an example of roadside modernism. Originally built as the Davis Park Motel in 1957, it is an example of Googie style architecture. Googie was the name of a coffee shop in Los Angeles designed by John Lautner. These designs have an element of cartoon futurism, as in the Jetsons mixed with mid century modernism.

Frankly I didn’t understand what the ceremony was about, but perhaps that was the point.

The Monthly FAVO Art Market

Posted on July 27, 2016February 7, 2022 by Thor

While at the monthly FAVO art market, artist Denisse Berlingeri was nice enough to compliment the sketches that Imdo day to day. I ultimately decided to sketch in her studio since she appreciates my work. Her work is bold and colorful with plenty of primary colors. I caught a patron in a very fancy hat as she admired the work.

Denisse was born and
raised in Orocovis, Puerto Rico and is an award winning fashion designer and artist. Known locally for her ceramic sculptures,
paintings and mosaic art. Her work has been exhibited throughout the USA
and Puerto Rico. Her artwork is very much a reflection of her
personality, coming from a small town and a large family, inspired by
nature and her roots. Her technique has evolved as a result of
experimentation and her extraordinary talent and sensitivity of design.
She has focused her work on the combination of bright colors with rich
texture surfaces, incorporating glass mosaic and other materials into
it, creating a unique effect that has gave her unlimited possibilities
for exploring, the result has been an intriguing expression of her love
and passion for what she does.