The Global Peace Film Festival Opening Night Party

Posted on by Thor

On September 18, 2018 the Global Peace Film Festival opened here in Orlando. On that evening there was a screening of the film, “Every Act of Life” which profiles the world renowned playwright, Terrance McNally‘s pioneering five decade career in theater focusing on the struggle for LGBT rights and his pursuit of love and inspiration at every age. The festival is in its 16th year. In these times of deep division, the festival focuses on our resources which are just an arm’s length away in our family, neighbors, friends and throughout our communities. All week films are being shown in venues at Rollins College, The Winter Park Public Library, The Center, Valencia College, and Downtown Orlando.

Pam Schwartz and I got a table with a view at the Enzian Theater on opening night. The film had not let out yet, so the Eden Bar was half full. Then the theater doors opened and the festival goers filled the bar. There were light bites and the room was suddenly a buzz with activity. At a table in front of us, photographer Peter Morey was having a discussion with Jim Lussier. Peter spent ten years shooting photos of Nelson Mandela and an exhibit of these photos is opening on tonight, September 20, 2018 at City Arts Factory. 2018 marks the 100 year anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. Photos in the exhibit feature Mandela’s inauguration, meetings with dignitaries, and even shots of Nelson at home with his family.

I intend to get to a screening of “Uprising: Pulse to Parkland”  by local film maker Vicki Nantz. The film is about two Florida communities united by grief and anger from deadly mass shootings. It is about the national uprising against the gun industry and the politicians who profit from gun violence in America. That screening is on Friday September 21, 2018 at 6pm in the Bush Auditorium at Rollins College.

Check the online Film Festival Schedule to find other amazing thought provoking films.

Real Estate Showcase Event at Snap! Space

Posted on by Thor

On April 23rd as my Retrospective Exhibit was still hanging as Snap! Space (1013 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL), a Real Estate Showcase Event was held in the gallery. Jim Lussier contacted me, saying, “As the Artist in residence, I think you should hang out with us and take a bow. Please bring Terry with you if she is free. We will have about 100 people in the space from all aspects of the Real Estate industry for a 2 hour Meet and Greet.

I have another idea I’d like to run past you. We want to collect everyone’s business cards and have a drawing for ….a piece of Thorspecken art? I thought one of two things – either identify a piece you already have that you would part with for $300, or create a small piece at our event, and award it “hot off the press.” Third idea – we will award a selected piece that we purchase from you for $300, or, at the winner’s option, we will contribute $300 if the winner wants to purchase a more expensive piece from the collection.

Maybe you have a better idea. We want you and Terry to come no matter what. Please call me when you have a couple of minutes. Thanks! We are very excited to be having our event surrounded by your work.”

I decided to go with the option of awarding a print done from the sketch done that night. The event did get rather crowded and the sketch was presented with a flourish. I made the print the next day and dropped it off at Snap. The exhibit was financially more successful than I expected.  Enough originals and prints were sold to cover the framing costs and there was a profit of about $8000. Having the frames has made it easier to showcase my work at other venues as well. I exhibited a series of paintings based on Emotions Dance rehearsals and sold over $2,000 worth of originals and prints. This is the type of collaboration I need to be doing more often. Snap founder, Patrick Kahn, arranged to exhibit my work is now on display at East End Market (3201 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL) through August.