Sustainability Mural.

Posted on by Thor

LeAnn Siefferman invited three artists to collaborate on a sustainability mural for the City of Orlando and Green Build Media on January 9, 2017. I was a participating artist along with Gladiola Sotomayor, Halsi and Charles Mighty. At our first mural meeting at Henao Contemporary Center, we each talked about our ideas about sustainability and how they might be visualized in the mural. We each created a few rough sketches on the spot, which acted as inspiration for the final mural concept. A second meeting I couldn’t attend, but Gladiola and Halsi worked on a more refined concept. I was sent that concept and layered my own ideas on top. Working in LeAnn’s garage, Gladiola and Halsi blew up the development sketch across four large boards. The next day I added my contributions using large Sharpies. 

On the morning of the sustainability conference in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the panels were set up and ready to paint. Large drop cloths were taped down to protect the carpeting. We spent the entire day adding color with house paints and layering on more details under the watchful eyes of conference attendees. There was free coffee all day, which kept me wired. Most of my contributions consisted of showing Lake Eola, the skyline, and the “Patriot Garden” house in College Park. 

As the mural was being painted, LeAnn spoke to conference attendees about how the mural depicted sustainability. Sustainability is not just about making decisions today that prevent negative impacts tomorrow, but about making decisions that improve our tomorrows as well. Sustainability calls for love, respect and justice for the natural environment, for our communities and neighbors, and for ourselves and our families. She said each of you embodied these qualities in your work and in your personal statement, and expressed sincere desire to connect with and improve your community through the arts.

The
mission of Green Build Mediais to effect meaningful, positive change for a better world. As
advocates for sustainability, they provide mind-expanding information
that catalyzes and inspires commitment to sustainable living. Hopefully, the mural helped promote that idea.

Not a Photo at Henao Contemporary Center.

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On December 9th, I went to “Not a Photo” at Henao Contemporary Center 5601 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32810 on exhibit was a collection of hyper
realistic and photo realistic works from today’s contemporary masters, including David Eichenberg, Matthew Cornell. Exhibit runs through January 7th, 2017.

Matthew Cornell gave a walk through of his paintings which were of all of his childhood homes. He traveled across the country with his wife to find all the places his family lived. One painting, titled Lascaux, showed the stark facade of a home at dusk illuminated by a street lamp. On either side of that  painting were panels that had crayon drawings of dinosaurs. In a video documentary, the story became clear. When he visited this child hood home, the owner offered to show him around inside. In the basement Mathew discovered the drawings from his childhood on the walls. He recognized his own mark making. On the staircase was his name and the names of his siblings. The present owner Could have painted over these child hood drawings, but he felt a need to preserve them.

On the invitation, Matthew had promised cake. Sure enough, he put a bright orange cake on a sculpture stand. It blended in with the photo real theme of the show with perfection. Most people assumed it was art. I wondered if it would eve be consumed. I had to move when a movie screen was lowered to show Matthew’s artumentary. Some people sat down to talk art with me, so I had to keep the sketch fast and abbreviated. The temptation to try and aspire for photo realism had to be resisted. There just wasn’t in our time. Life keeps interrupting long periods of patient mark making.

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.