Michael A. Mennello died from COVID-19

Posted on by Thor

Michael A. Mennello who co-foundered  the Loch Haven Park art museum that bears his name, died December 18, 2020  after a brief COVID-19 related illness. He was 87.

I once had the honor to sketch Michael in his home, Casa Bianca. I was working on a mural for the Mennello Museum of American Art and sketched people from life to be added to the wall. Michael wanted to be included in the mural  so he invited me to sketch him at home.

The visit was thrilling. He has such an amazing collection of Ash Can era paintings that were right in line with my love of art being used to capture everyday life.

In Orlando, Michael and his wife Marilyn whom he met in Winter Park, established the Mennello Museum in 1998 after donating 35 paintings by folk artist Earl Cunningham to the city. Marilyn died in 2006 leaving him bereft. A gold statue of her is in the Mennello Museum collection.

As I did this sketch Michael told me about a lavish holiday party that is hosed in his home each year. He suggested I should go to the event to do a sketch. There is a balcony overlooking the room where I could sit to look down and sketch the lavish spread. Unfortunately I never did that sketch. This year’s party was canceled due to COVID-19. Life is short but art endures. I was honored to have me Michael and to have seen his amazing art collection first hand. In 2018 Michael donated additional paintings and sculptures, valued at $8.75 million, to the Mennello Museum of Art.

The Mennello Museum of American Art is slated for a 20 million dollar a 40,000 square-foot expansion by architects Brooks + Scarpa & KMF. Michael Mennello said in 2019, “My late wife, Marilyn, and I opened the museum in November 1998. We were avid art collectors who had a dream to create an intimate cultural gem. Never in a million years did I dream I would be alive to see our museum become a global destination for world-class American Art for all to enjoy.” I am sure construction was delayed due to COVID-19 and unfortunately Michael didn’t live to see it open. Ars longa, vita brevis. His legacy of sharing art will outlive us all.

Artlando in Lock Haven Park.

Posted on by Thor

In 2016 I was asked to participate in Artlando at Loch Haven Park (900 E Princeton St, Orlando, Florida). Over 80 artists cover the lawn with their displays, selling and creating art. Art created on-site was to be entered into a competition with thousands of dollars offered as awards. 100% of revenue from art sales went directly to the artists. I set up my tent the night before. The next day I had to teach classes all day, so I asked Bonnie Sprung to help man the tent for the duration of the event. She did a great job selling quite a few t-shirts. She offered her own art as well which gave some variety to the work offered. I am starting to realize that small ticket items are the only things that move at an outdoor festival like this.

There was a Toyota ‘paint by numbers’ exhibit which asked the community to paint in a mural by local artists, which covered an entire Toyota with art. Local artists also painted Juice Bike racks to be used at Juice Bike locations, which is a way to display art year-round in Orlando. I haven’t seen these painted bike racks yet, if you spot one, please let me know.

The outdoor performing arts stage featured
Orlando’s most prominent performing arts organizations showcased throughout the day and into the night. From Orlando Ballet to Orlando Fringe, programming transitions from kid-friendly in the morning, to general audience in the afternoon, and acts for mature audiences in the evening at Artlando After Dark.

As the host sponsor, the Orlando Museum of Art is an integral part of Artlando. The museum provided an air conditioned environment and housed exhibits from participating galleries.When I got to the park late in the afternoon, it immediately started to rain. Loud speakers announced that a strong storm was heading to Central Florida and that there would be high winds and tons of lightning. We were all warned to get off the lawn. When there was a lull in the downpour, I packed up my tent early. Just as I loaded it into the car, it started to pour again. I returned to Loch Haven Park later that night to pick up my empty tent. Many tents had been mangled in the high winds and looked like umbrellas that had been turned inside out and put in a blender. Oddly my old tent sat serenely alone among the carnage as if a cyclone had decided to stop and spin around it, hitting everything else in its path.

Mark your calendar, Artlando will return to Loch Haven Park on September 30, 2017 from 11 AM to 11 PM.

Francophile: All Things French

Posted on by Thor

First Thursdays at the Orlando Museum of Art is Orlando’s original art party. From 6 – 9 pm on the first Thursday of each month, OMA showcases a new theme with works by local artists, live music, cash bars serving wine, beer and soft drinks, and café offerings from area restaurants. June’s theme was organized by Anna McCambridge-Thomas who set the stage for all things french. Artists captured what they love about the French or France itself from food, film, wine, literature, perfume, music, art and architecture, fashion, the people to the personality of the country.

When I arrived, Anna welcomed me warmly and showed me around as people were setting up. In the back gallery, Maitre Parfumeur Christian Louis was setting up. He had been flown in from France and didn’t know any English. A beautiful French woman acted as interpreter. In the theater, Emotions Dance was going to perform Four Seasons, Poet Logan Anderson was going to read and models from Le Salon Zizou strutted lavish fashion.

I settled into the front gallery where artists displayed paintings with a French Theme. Artist Bernard Martin set up a small easel. He had a pink dress with him as well and I heard he might have a gorgeous model.  The model never showed, so he had to work from a photo. He was working on a loose spontaneous watercolor. I stood behind him for sometime admiring his lush and highly used pallet. Behind him were his loose impressionistic oil paintings. One was titled Moulin Rouge, another, Cabaret and The Vase. They all featured nude or semi nude women in bold impasto against a dark background.

The sculptor was Steve Piscitelli. The two sculptures he was working on were close to being finished. This made sense since so many people stopped to talk to him which meant he didn’t hare time to concentrate. He added red slippers to the ballet dancer and the red clay acted as blood and intestines for the sculpture of a Bull, much to the delight of a young boy. In the middle of the room there was a crown mounted under Plexiglas made of pearls, a large coin and gems. It was titled, The Princess Kameryn Renee Parker.  Later I saw a young girl walking around wearing the crown. She must have been the artist’s niece or daughter.

Tonight, July 5th, First Thursdays will feature work from OMA members. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members and includes access to the OMA’s featured exhibitions. Parking is free
at Orlando Loch Haven Park and overflow parking is available at the
Orlando Science Center’s parking garage for $5 per vehicle.