What’s Up Downtown for the Holidays.

Posted on by Thor

The Downtown Development Board invited people to attend the annual What’s Up Downtown  free holiday event held at the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola.   Held at lunch time, downtown workers were encouraged to pack up a lunch and experience song and dance performances by the Russian Ballet, Mad Cow Theatre,
Docs and Dellas, Dr. Phillips Center Premier Performance Ensemble,
Howard Middle School Jazz Band and Howard Middle School Show Choir. I decided to sketch the choir whose choreography involved lots of exuberant hand motions. 

Artist German Lemus had an easel set up and was doing a painting of the event. It is encouraging that I wasn’t the only artist documenting the occasion.  His painting involved bold acrylic brush strokes.  An office worker in front of me was having a cup of soup.  Some of the young singers were flat and a few wrong notes were blatted out, but seeing so many kids exited to be on stage was heart warming enough.  It was overcast and downright cold, but my tablet manages to help warm my hands.  

German Lemus at Artlando.

Posted on by Thor

Artlando is coming to Lock Haven Park in Orlando on October 1, 2016. They are looking are looking for innovative, interesting, talented visual and performing artists to take part in this all day event.

SPACE COST $125

WHAT YOU GET:

• 10’x10’ space for you to set up your tent, table and art!

• All the art you sell is commission free! You keep 100% of your profits!

• Entry into our competition (if you create on-site).

WHAT’S THE COMPETITION?

ARTLando is an immersive experience for our attendees where they can see art being created.

• We want you creating your art LIVE! Bring your paint, canvas and anything else you need to create your art.

• All artists that paint/create during the event will be judged and
booth fees will be used exclusively in production of the event and to
award $3000 in cash prizes to artists who place in the competition.

Winners will be chosen from a combination of judges panel and popular votes!

SUBMISSIONS DUE BY: AUGUST 31ST

At the 2015 Artlando I had to stop and watch as German Lemus painted y brand new Scion live on the lawn. He was getting close to be done when I arrived, so I sketched frantically, afraid he might put the spray can down and walk away. The car’s surfs was richly textured making a bold statement. I don’t know who drives it around today.

I participated in the first Artlando, but it rained all day long. I am debating about giving it a try again this year.

Drip Art Nights

Posted on by Thor

I went to DRIP (8747 International Dr #102, Orlando, FL 32819) to sketch their local Art Night.   The event features Visual Artists, Performance Artists, Burlesque troupes, Body Painters, Dancers, Belly Dancers, and Art Installations. It is an all ages event.

Set-up for artists began at 6:30 and the doors opened to the public at 8
PM. Artists brought in tables, walls and other ways to display their
art. I decided to sketch artist German Lemus as he worked on a painting. of course painting at a crowded event like this means having to break away from the creative process quite often to answer questions of prospective clients.

As always the DRIP art night was action packed with plenty of dance and music. The usual DRIP performance is no longer staged on Art Nights, which means the main performance space can be opened up to artist vendors. Mark Your Calendar! The next DRIP Local Art Night is September 22.

Grand Opening Party and Benefit features the work of Josh Garrick.

Posted on by Thor

The new Henao Contemporary Center, 5601 Edgewater Dr Orlando, FL, held a Grand Opening party where one hundred people were the first to see the history making, Timeless exhibition by Josh Garrick. For the first time, after touring some of
the worlds best museums, with 9 museums purchasing works for their
permanent collections, Josh Garrick’s TIMELESS, history making exhibit,
is now for sale to the public. Part of Josh
Garrick’s magic comes in part from taking something classic and
modernizing it with his use of lasered aluminum as photographic
substrate. The new, cutting edge process is believed to be the first
that will hold an image indefinitely. Timeless therefore a truly fitting
exhibit title.

 This was the firs time I had seen so many of his photos in one place. The result is a museum quality show. The new gallery is located in an unexpected location across the street from a used car dealership. d parked my car behind a used tire store.  A large search high lit up the sky and this black tie affair brought out some of Orlando’s most beautiful socialites. I decided to settle myself near the pianist for the evening, Joshua Glenn Wilson.An iPad on a music stank held the sheet music, therefor it seemed appropriate to sketch on a table to sketch on a tablet.

Outside, a car was parked on the sidewalk, and artist German Lemus was busy doing a custom paint job. The hood had a large lions head painted in spray paint and he follow up with layers of brush strokes to create a rich colorful textured surface. I considered sketching German at work but I had sketched him just the week before at Artlando where he was painting a Scion. Besides the Live music, there was champagne, wine, and signature cocktails, as well as a menu designed by the benevolent people of 4Rivers. A print to my let sold almost immediately.

Proceeds from the evening would help the Ronald McDonald House of Central Florida in their effort to build their new House. A resident of the Ronald McDonald House outlined the events in her life that lead to her being in need and she praised the Ronald me Donald House for being her safety net and helping her get back on her feet.

Jose Henao is the man who has established The Henao Contemporary Center. Josh Garrick praised Jose’s commitment and dedication to art. Jose has a respect for artists which, rare to find in Orlando. I hope, therefore, to report on this galleries continued success. Josh Garrik’s Timeless, will be on exhibit through January 15th, 2016.

Mark your calendar. On December
4, 2015, The gallery will be holding a fundraiser event featuring
Steven Assael, the New York artist hailed by The Art Newspaper as “the
foremost figurative painter of his generation”. On this day the artist will
perform a life drawing demonstration in the Henao Contemporary Center. Patrons can drink wine and watch one of this generations greatest
artists bring skill and creativity to life. Tickets are only $15.