Flash Mob!

Posted on by Thor

Terry decided to join me on a trip to the Mall at Millenia to experience and dance along with the Flash Mob. When we arrived after having a nice dinner at Crave, she insisted on walking from the parking lot, through Needless Markup. The Fresh mob was going to happen in the heart of the mall, a circular central area known as the Grand Court. I circled around on the upper level till I decided on this spot as the best vantage point to sketch from. My instinct was correct since the performance was staged facing in this direction. I started sketching the space and people wandering the sidelines, while Terry wandered off to shop.

When everybody assembled, Linda Elchak, the choreographer, stood on one of the cushioned couches and she shouted for everyone to find their personal space. My own personal space got a bit crowded when a couple set up chairs right beside me and then ignored what was gong on and yacked the whole time. Luckily once the music was fired up their conversation was drowned out. In the center of the court an acapella singing group began to perform. Then from the sidelines a crowd of people filled the circular space. The music shouted out, “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.” I spotted Terry. She had joined the crowd and was picking on the dance moves fast.

Everyone raised their hands in the at and shouted out. “I had the time of my life!”People were jumping in place doing jumping jacks and executing a wave from east to west. The entire court was set up like a giant compass and people in separate quadrants often had their own moves to work on. After the performance was over, Linda shouted down to a young woman who had given a particularly expressive and emotional performance. “You! Can I talk to you after?” Who knows, perhaps a star was discovered.

The Flash Mob is happening today at 2pm in the Mall at Millenia. I plan to just enjoy the experience and leave the video cameras to document this high energy historic event. Come on out! You’ll have the time of your life!

Flash Mob Rehearsal

Posted on by Thor

Thanks to Facebook I found out that there was going to be a flash mob event right here in Orlando. If you are unfamiliar with Flash Mobs, it basically has people spontaneously break into dance in a public place. There were going to be a few rehearsals for the core group of dancers on the week leading up to the event. I contacted Nao Dance Collective choreographer, Linda Elchak, for details and she invited me to Studio K (12211 Regency Village Drive) to sketch the dancers rehearsing. On the day I went to sketch it was pouring outside. The drive down to the dance studio was treacherous. It was like driving through a waterfall for half an hour. When my truck hit a deep puddle the steering wheel would jerk right, due to the sudden friction. Bright blinding flashes of lightning illuminated the windshield and the wipers could not keep up. High winds kept buffeting the truck. I drove more by instinct rather than sight. My cell phone lit up and I glanced at a text from Terry, “Waiting for the storm to blow over, hope you are safe inside too.” The truck hit a deep puddle and I dropped the phone, grabbing the steering wheel to correct.

The dance studio was out in the middle of nowhere down by Disney. I drove till the street ended with some barricades and then I back tracked. I lucked upon the dance studio, which was a warm inviting beacon in the storm. Stepping out of the truck I was sure my tiny portable umbrella would catch a lightning bolt. I ran to the dance studio and stepped inside shaking off the damp and cold. Linda welcomed me immediately and I felt at home. Dancer, Michael Sloan who I have sketched before with DRIP Dance company, also shook my hand. In the dance studio lobby, maybe 30 or so dancers were gathered. I imagined some might have come from the theme parks and some people just answered the call to dance just this once in a public place. Inside the dance studio a ballroom dance lesson was just finishing up. I suddenly realized I would need my stool so I dashed back out into the rain to get it. When I got back the core group was inside assembling for the dance.

A techno version of “The Sun will come out Tomorrow” began to play and the dancers elegantly raised one arm then another as their walked to their marks. An announcer said, “welcome to Orlando.” The dance moves were energetic and aerobic. All the moves were straight forward and simple so many people could follow the dance when it gained mass. I followed the movements of the dancer in the green shirt. She didn’t just follow the movements, she managed to give meaning to each move and had that extra elusive spark of energy. I saw Linda acknowledge her and soon Linda was shouting at the top of her lungs, “Come on people! Work it! Show me what you got!” The dancers were jumping up and down in place with their hands in the air as the music switched DJ style to “Let the Sun Shine In!” Now everyone was moving with high energy, clapping high, clapping low. I was tapping my feet to the beat fully enjoying the performance, a fantastic energy to sketch too. By the end everyone was flush as they mingled and once again melted into the side lines.

When the heat and bustle of the rehearsal was over, I bundled up and went back outside to the real world to face the storm. There is one more rehearsal tonight at 9 pm at the Mall at Millenia . The Flash Mob is happening tomorrow January 29th at noon in the Mall at Millenia (4200 Conroy Road). I’ll be there sketching and who knows, I might just bust a move.

Artist or Anarchist?

Posted on by Thor

It had been a great day. I had done two sketches one of which was at “A Gift for Teaching” learning all about this groups amazing charitable work from Audrey. My wife had invited me to another event called “The Art of Fashion” at Neiman Markus in the Millenia Mall. I really don’t like going to the mall, the place makes me uncomfortable but I decided to be a good sport and go. Besides the word Art was in the title so it must have some artistic merit. Terry and I met outside and walked in together. She was all a flutter checking out the event Tee Shirts and jumping from rack to rack.
There were tables from local restaurants offering small food samples, all of which were delicious. We got some Blue Matini’s made with Van Gogh Rum. I started to wonder if Van Gogh would have liked this event. We shared a cupcake and had a photographic flip book animation made which is quite humerus. Tall slender models strutted around among the racks of designer clothing. Other women looked like they had far to much plastic surgery.
Terry wanted to do some shopping so she left me to do a sketch. While I was sketching a woman named Kelly, who runs Nude Nite in Orlando and Tampa introduced herself. She described her event and I can’t wait to go there to do a sketch for the blog. A mother asked if I could show her daughter the drawing. The little girl asked “Are you going to color the drawing?” I promised her “Yes, of course”.
Then things got surreal. A woman dressed all in black walked up to me and said I really shouldn’t sketch the lady having her make up done due to privacy issues. I pointed out that the woman I sketched had already left and I was drawing the make up artist. I pointed out how the blouse and hair style were different and continued to work. The woman left. I started to draw faster. Later Terry found me and wanted to see if I had finished. The line work was done and I just needed to add a few washes of color.
Then another woman in black showed up with a young security guard, and said I would have to stop sketching or I would be escorted out of the building. I asked why and she said it was store policy. I was sure the store policy didn’t say anything about sketching. I was told I could not name the store or post the drawing I did because Neiman Markus needs to control how their store is portrayed. I do not feel I portrayed the store in a bad light with my sketch. You be the judge. The managers actions however are another story. Rather than make a scene, I put my sketchbook away knowing the sketch was already done. I found this display of authority funny and besides I have no real desire to return to do more drawings. Terry however was fuming. She had bought hundreds of dollars worth of perfume and other items and decided to take them all back. We went from register to register voiding out all the transactions and telling the stunned store employees about the policy.
On the drive home my anger started to build deep in my chest. I had never been stopped from sketching before and yet this week I was stopped twice, once at Lake Eola and now at a Mall of all places. Orlando is starting to feel like a different country. The next morning Terry showed me her Neiman Markus credit card and with a flourish she cut it in half.

Cheesecake Factory

Posted on by Thor


Our guests decided they wanted to once again go shopping, so we went to the Millenia Mall first for lunch and then shopping. We decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory but the place was packed. The wait would be 45 minutes, so I took the buzzer and we all split up to go shopping with the idea that I would call everyone when the buzzer when off. Terry took me to the Gap and I got 2 pairs of long pants, which I must admit I need since my jeans have developed a hole in the right knee. The buzzer went off and we all met at Cheesecake Factory. We were offered a table outside. Terry asked if there was smoking outside and was told we would be in the back so we would be away from any smoke.
As we went over our menus, an older man at the table next to us, took out a cigar and lit up. Terry and Elayne noticed immediately. Elayne caught a waitresses attention by shouting out “Yoo Hoo Waitress!” What followed were fruitless arguments with waiters, waitresses and a manager about moving our group to another table or asking the man to put out the cigar. There is no law in Florida against smoking in a restaurant outdoor cafe area. We were told that we would go back on the waiting list, which we knew would mean another 45 minute wait. Terry let the manager know that in today’s economy it would not pay to treat costumers like cattle. We argued among ourselves when the staff left. Should we just walk or put up with the inconvenience. We decided to stick it out and started reading the menus. Since the waiter was taking his time coming back, I decided to start a sketch of the guy with the cigar. I got 3 lines down when Terry stood up and said lets go. I was furious, because I never stop a sketch once it is started. You can see the guys nose and glasses hidden among all the detail of this sketch, which I did after we had eaten at Brio Tuscan Grill across the way. Our waiter at Brio Tuscan was funny and charming. We were glad we had made the move.