Miami Beach State of Emergency

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Miami Beach declared a state of emergency due to Spring Break. The South Beach Entertainment District has had wall-to-wall people (most without masks) over blocks and blocks. More than 1000 people have been arrested so far due to fight breaking out on Ocean Drive. About 80 guns have been seized. But the true danger comes from so many people gathering without masks or any social distancing.

The B.1.1.7 variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading in Florida and it is more contagious than the original virus an much more lethal. After instating an 8pm curfew, police officers in bulletproof vests released pepper spray balls to break up the part.

Miami’s tourism arm just spent $5 million on its biggest national advertising campaign in 20 years, seeking a rebound after billions of dollars were lost to the pandemic. Flights to Miami are as cheap as $65. What resulted got was chaos and a surefire superspreader.

March 20, 2021, the Miami Beach City Commission declared the 8 p.m. curfew would be in effect through April 13,2021.
“The goal here is to really contain the overwhelming crowd of visitors, and the potential for violence disruption and damage to and damage to property, whether intentional or not,” city manager Raul Aguila said. The attempted crackdown comes as Florida has thrown open its doors to tourists after a year of coronavirus lock downs and restrictions around the country. Florida Governor Ron DeathSantis has bragged that the state is an “oasis of freedom” during the pandemic.
The Clevelander South Beach, one of Miami Beach’s most iconic hotels, announced March 19, 2021 it would temporarily halt its food and beverage operations because of safety concerns for its employees and patrons. Staff is being paid through the lock down. “Recently, we have grown increasingly concerned with the safety of our dedicated employees and valued customers and the ability of the City to maintain a safe environment in the surrounding area,” the hotel said in a message on its website and on social media. “Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close the food and beverage operations” until at least March 24, 2021.

Winter Party Festival Covid-19 Infections

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The Winter Party Festival took place in Miami Beach March 4 – 10, 2020. More than 10,000 men gathered to party for the week despite the Center for Disease Control’s recommendation at that time that gatherings should be limited to no more than 250 people. Now, two people have died, and at least 38 others have
tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Once the party was over, people
flew home to all corners of the country, possibly spreading the virus far and
wide. Some people chose not to attend the event although event
organizers were not offering them refunds. Precautions at the Winter Party included “educational posters”
that were posted at venues and 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizer placed throughout.

On March 1, 2020, Florida became the third state in the United States with a documented Covid-19 case.
On March 9, 2020, Donald Trump tweeted that the Fake News Media and the
Democratic Party were inflaming the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond
what the facts would
warrant.  Governor Ron DeSantis was dragging his feet about closing Florida beaches as spring breakers descended on the state. The Mayor of Miami had already contracted the virus. A week after the festival was over, Miami Beach announced they were finally closing the beaches.

On March 15, a Boston doctor who had attended the Winter Party tested positive for the virus after returning home. Thousands of e-mails were sent out to attendees to let people know of the spread of the virus. It is impossible to prove that the people infected caught the virus at the festival. With the long incubation period, they might have caught it on the plane or elsewhere, but were most certainly contagious carriers at party time.

Israel Carrera, a 40 year old from North Miami, was the first to die of the virus after attending the Winter Party. The second was Ron Rich, a 65 year old volunteer who did not attend the main party which counted 3,000 in attendance.

Davie Police Chief, Dale Engle, was placed on administrative leave
after officers at his Florida station filed a union complaint alleging
that he dismissed their concerns about Covid-19 protection measures
and that he blamed the Covid-19 fatality of a Broward County Deputy Sheriff, Shannon Bennett, on his sexuality. He claimed that Bennett died because he was a “homosexual who attended homosexual events.” The National Fraternal Order of Police tweeted that, if Engle’s “disgusting” alleged remarks are true, he should be fired.

On March 4, 2020, I was at a press event at the Rep Theater about the future onePULSE Memorial and Museum. It wasn’t an overly crowded event, but I was still going to theaters and sketching. On March 10, 2020, I was sketching at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s sold-out 12th Annual John R. Hamilton Mock Trial. I therefore can confirm that public events were still being staged in the Sunshine State. Though concerned, I felt it was impotent to keep documenting the arts. Information about the virus and circumstances were changing rapidly by the hour at the time. Hindsight might make it easy to judge, but I was still sketching in crowds despite concerns and the conflicting information from officials.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, Trump used a prime-time oval office address to announce a ban on travel for non-Americans from most of Europe. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finally instated stricter social distancing on March 12, 2020, which was two days after the Winter Party Festival was over.

It is unknown exactly how many people might have contracted the Covid-19 virus at the Winter Party Festival. Rea Carey, the Executive Director of the LGBT Task Force, which organized the Festival said on Instagram, “I am deeply saddened by the death of Israel Carrera. I
extend my care and condolences to his loved ones, his friends and
family. He was so clearly loved by many. The particular cruelty of this
virus, this pandemic, is our inability to be together in grief, to hold
each other and to care for each other. We hold Israel and everyone being
affected by COVID-19 in our hearts.”

Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article241133076.html#storylink=cpy

Congress Hotel

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I believe this is the last sketch I have from the Art Deco Weekend in Miami Beach Florida. Pam and I joined a sketch tour and the Congress Hotel was the first stop. Across the street from the hotel was a wall of tents with merchandise and since the street was blocked to cars, people were walking up and down the street. It was crowded.

The Congress Hotel, (1036 Ocean Drive Miami Beach FL) was built in 1935 designed by Architect Henry Hohauser. The bold round shapes of the Congress Hotel’s lettering evoke a machine-age aesthetic. The hotel’s architecture, like many in the neighborhood, combines Art
Deco’s vertical emphasis, in its ascending central fin, with streamlined
horizontal features, such as the projecting “eyebrows” and corner
ribbon windows.

Though some artists did park themselves on a curb across the street, it seemed the best view was found by sitting  right on the street. While working on the sketch, one of the vendors from the tent behind us walked up not to admire the sketches we were working on, but to ask us to move, since people were looking over our shoulders apparently rather than looking at his tent. He reminded is that he spent $1000 to set up his tent at the Art Deco Festival. We were no where near his tent and certainly not blocking foot traffic, but I shuffled up a foot or two basically sitting on the yellow center lines on the street. This forced is up close and personal with the building facade. We had one hour to work. Frederico Giraldo, a Miami Urban Sketcher sat with us and created a bold rendition of the building. Before we were done, the tent merchant returned but this time praised what we had put on he page.

Captain Barry’s Art Deco Adventure

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Once my Art Deco Weekend demos and sketch walks were finished, I decided to join a group of artists on a sketch walk along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. The first stop n this sketch walk was the Versace Mansion. I had sketched the mansion twice already, once in my sketchbook on the first day, and once on a large sea grape leaf for one of my demos. Instead of once again drawing the mansion, I decided instead to sketch the artists perched curbside working on their sketches.

Captain Barry came from Virginia to join us documenting the festival. He attended my leaf sketching demo and he finished a sketch of the mansion on a leaf as well. We hung his leaf in the Urban Sketchers tent and someone wanted to buy it but we were not sure if he wanted to sell it. He is the most enthusiastic artist I have met. He appreciates the talents of all the artists around him and he loves getting up close to the action when he sketches. In my sketch he is leaning up against the New Times paper dispenser.

After I had blocked out the composition of this sketch, a woman walked up to Captain Barry and she leaned over him chatting. She stood there for the next hour or so apparently telling Barry every detail of her home renovation saga. Barry was in the awkward position of not seeming rude, but still having to finish his sketch. I was proud of him for keeping his focus and keeping his hand moving while still nodding occasionally to let the woman know he was still listening.

In Virginia, Captain Barry runs Back Bay Cruises which offers hands on Eco-Expeditions. He sets sail on the Chinoteague, on a flat deck pontoon boat that becomes a floating classroom and research vessel offering hands on aquatic lessons. Participants get off the bots at one point on the sand bars to dig   in the mud for sea creatures. The cruise continues with crab pots and for those that are brave enough, learning how to hold a crab without getting pinched. They then navigate to shell island for shell collecting and then the illusive hunt for jellyfish. The adventure used all the senses, hearing, touch, taste and smells. Should you find yourself in the neighborhood be sure to contact Captain Barry.

Beach Patrol Miami Beach

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Pam and I went on a sketch walk with
Gaston McKenzie of the Tampa Urban Sketchers group at Art Deco Weekend in Miami Beach. The Beach Patrol Headquarters were built in 1936 by Robert Taylor.  Backside of the building is a prime example of Tropical or Nautical Deco, a style that mimics the lines of 1920s era ocean liners with port holes and ships railings. It would make sense to see people lounging on the top deck.

The MiMo (Miami Modern) facade along Ocean Drive fronts the Oceanfront Auditorium which is home to the Miami Design Preservation League’s Art Deco Welcome Center, designed by Leonard Glasser in 1954. In the center is a nautical flagpole flying the flags of the U.S. and Miami Beach. Inside are public bathrooms and concessions for visitors. The Urban Sketcher’s tent was just a block away, so this became home base any time I needed to rest. A woman rushed into the men’s room one time screaming as she rushed towards a stall. Maybe she was rushing to get her son, or maybe she just had to go, but staff forced her to leave. It seems Miami beach would be the perfect place for unisex bathrooms.

It started to rain towards the end of the sketch so Pam and I ran for cover where many of the other sketchers were huddled under a sea Grape Tree. The large leaves of this tree offer good cover since the leaves are so large acting like mini umbrellas.

Art Deco Weekend VIP Reception

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Art Deco Weekend is held in Miami Beach each year. Art Deco Weekend was created nearly 43 years ago by the Miami Design
Preservation League (MDPL) to showcase the beautiful Art Deco buildings
of South Beach, saving it for future generations. MDPL’s early work was
the catalyst that created the vibrant, world-class city we live in
today.

This year, Orlando Urban Sketchers, Tampa Urban Sketchers and Miami Urban Sketchers were invited to offer sketch tours and demonstrations during the festival. Day 1 was problematic. It rained much of the morning as we tried to set up the tent. Tensions were high and sketch equipment got muddy. The Florida Urban Sketchers had a tent where guests could try their hand using watercolors and it became mission central for  sketch tours.

Pam Schwartz prepared historical information cards abut each of the Art Deco buildings that were being visited on the sketch walks. She teamed up with James Richards on the first sketch walk and was the historical tour guide before artists sketched the scenes. Day 1 there were two sketch walks and three demonstrations. I gave a demonstration sketching the Versace mansion using as my canvas the large Grape Leaves that are so prevalent beach side in Miami Beach. This turned out to be a fun experiment and others grabbed leaves to try sketching themselves. The leaves are thick and leathery and I was told they can be sent as post cards through the mail. I may try to mail one of the sketches back to Orlando.

In the evening there was a VIP reception for board members. It was insanely windy. Women’s hair and palm tree fronds blew horizontal. Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra performed on stage. The wind blew into the microphones creating extra sound effects. The dancers were all amazing. That is because they were mostly a local dance group. We had several drink tickets and Pam ordered several sangrias. I usually like sangria but this stuff was pure alcohol or rocket fuel. I could not down my drink.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for January 18 and 19, 2020

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Saturday January 18, 2020

10am to 6pm Art Deco Weekend 1001 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Fl 33139. Free. A free community cultural festival with more than 85 events during “the best 3 days on Ocean Drive” each year. Come sketch with us! For those who enjoy sketching or would like to learn how. All skill levels are welcome! We
are thrilled to include for the first time the Urban Sketchers in our
Art Deco Weekend program with a series of Sketchwalks, urban sketching
demonstrations and “drink and draw” events. Join
us as we draw the architectural gems of the Miami Beach Historic Art
Deco District and the essence of the 1920s Art Deco Weekend Festival
Events.

Instagram: @urbansketchers @urbansketchersorlando @uskmiami

10am to 4pm Free. Camellia Show. Orlando Garden Club Clubhouse at Loch Haven Park 710 E. Rollins St., Orlando, FL (between Advent Health and US 17).

7am – 10 a.m. Enter camellia blooms (ANYONE)!  Volunteers available to assist with registration. (Location: Orlando Garden Club)

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Camellias plants for sale.  (Location: Clubhouse Area)

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Camellia 101 Class – Robert Bowden, director of the City of Orlando’s Harry P. Leu Gardens (Locations: in Clubhouse Library)

1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Camellia Show is officially OPEN to the public.  See thousands of competition blooms up close! (Location: Orlando Garden Club

4 p.m. Camellia Show closes

6pm to 9pm Free. Chair-ity Auction. Wayne G Sanborn Activity Center, 815 S Alabama Ave, DeLand, FL 32724. Bid on one-of-a-kind chairs creatively altered by local artists to
benefit the Art in Public Places Program. Join us for music, silent
auction, beer and wine tastings, food and fun! Tickets can be purchased at City Hall/ 3rd Floor or online.  For more information call 386/626-7112

Sunday January 19, 2020

10am to 5pm $18 to $21. Otronicon Interactive Tech Expo. Orlando Science Center 777 E. Princeton St. Orlando, Florida 32803. Otronicon is a celebration of the intersection between science and
technology and shines a light on innovative technology being developed
in Central Florida. Otronicon highlights resources available through a
collaboration between educational institutions, the tech and
manufacturing communities and their impact on our lives and their
potential to drive the future, individually, regionally and globally.

10am to 4pm Free. Lake Eola Farmers Market. Lake Eola Park 512 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801.  Local produce and goods. A great start to the morning downtown.

1pm to 3pm $9 FREE for Enzian Members! Film Slam. Enzian Theater, 1300 Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751. Central Florida Film Slam (CFFS) is a program designed to provide
filmmakers in the Central Florida region an opportunity to showcase
their work on the big screen at Enzian Theater! Held six times a year, the Central Florida Film Slam is an unrated,
independent film showcase and competition open to all regional
filmmakers and students.

Miami Beach Art Deco Festival

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Art Deco Weekend is the longest running free community cultural festival in Miami Beach with over 85 unique events. I will be going to sketch live music, the Art Deco marketplace, the antique promenade, the classic car show, the free dance classes, the Woman’s Suffrage Centennial Parade, the Art Deco Dog Walk along with special exhibitions and other unexpected pop up events.

I will be giving 2 sketch demos where I will sketch on the large leathery round leaves that can be found in the beach front park. The leaves are so strong that they can be sent through the mail as post cards and I want to try sending an Art Deco post card back to my studio through old fashioned mail.

Street performances can pop up at any time so the sketch opportunities are endless. I will have fun sharing what I love to do sprinkled in with some of the vibrant local history that makes this area so exciting.

Kick off the New Year at the Miami Beach Art Deco Festival 2020

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Sketch With Us at the Miami Beach ART DECO Historic District to capture the essence of the 1920 Era into your sketchbook!

Urban Sketchers Florida regional is announcing the 2020 Art Deco Weekend Sketchwalk event to take place in Miami Beach, Florida on the weekend of January 17th to the 19th, 2020.

Led by an enthusiastic USk Florida regional team and urban sketchers instructors of the know, our sketchers guests will be walking along rows of Art Deco architecture gems at the Historic District streets to capture in their sketchbooks the flavor and essence of the Art Deco era and the Retro Lifestyle of the 1920 – 1930s.

In the three-day program, the USk FL Regional team will lead five sketchwalks and eighth urban sketching demos. Leading  the Art Deco Urban Sketchers event are volunteers from three Urban Sketchers Florida chapters; USk Miami, USk Orlando, and USk Tampa.

Our primary leading instructors are; James Richards, Thomas Thorspecken, Gaston McKenzie and Greg Bryla, together with instructors members of the FL USk chapters.

Find Sketchwalks schedule and Demos information here. 

The event is Free of charge to all participants. All skill levels are welcome. Registration is required.

Where to Stay: Suggested hotels accommodation in the Miami Beach, Historic district. 

It is the 43rd Art Deco Weekend annual festival run by the Miami Design Preservation League who invited Urban Sketchers into their official program.

 This upcoming year’s theme is SHEROES: Women Who Made a Difference. Celebrating a 100 years anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. The festive event will incorporate the Art Deco and Retro lifestyle of people, music, food and street entertainment, Jazz Age Stage, Suffragette’s Parade, Health and Wellness programs, Lummus Park exhibition and other events that are all great sketch opportunities! More information about the 2020 ART DECO WEEKEND can be found here. 
Urban Sketchers or associates who are seeking to volunteer at this event are welcome to apply here: uskorlando@gmail.com

Art Basel is a yearly crucible to experience the art market.

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Once a year, Terry and I drive down to Miami Beach to experience Art Basel. Art Basel draws tens of thousands of visitors, collectors, gallerists,
artists, curators, and other art enthusiasts from across the globe,
all coming to experience the highest quality of Modern and contemporary
art. Terry and I stay with friends Elaine Pasekoff and Derek Hewitt. Elaine and Derek purchased three apartments in the same Miami Beach building, and they decorated them with themes from their world travels together. I believe this is the Africa suite. There is also a Paris themed suite. All of the floors were resurfaced and the kitchen was opened up by removing part of a wall to create a corner counter. The amount of work that went into these units is amazing, especially since Terry and I have had color swatches on our living room walls for the past decade.

The drive to Miami beach is a long one and we had to drive through torrential rain and the infuriating impatient Miami traffic around rush hour. By the time we arrived, we just wanted to relax. Elaine always has the Miami Herald, which is a good place to research which Art exhibits were generating some buzz. It is also fun to read about which celebrities were in town for the exclusive all night parties. Elaine and Derek know where all the best local restaurants are, so we eat out when we are there. The apartment is just a few blocks from the beach, so walking down to the beach as the sun sets is always an appealing way to end the day.