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.

Dinos In Lights!

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Stan the T-Rex and his fossil friends in DinoDigs have been outfitted with Christmas lights that change color in synchronization with music as they show off their twinkling talent in a festive display of music and light  at the Orlando Science Center (777 E. Princeton St. Orlando, FL 32803).

Dinos In Lights will be the Science Center’s feature attraction over the holidays. The show lasts about 5 minutes which of course made catching a sketch a slight of hand challenge. Three separate dinosaurs were outlined in colorful Christmas lights and when the music started the lights blinked and changed color. One song, Sleigh Ride by Arthur Fidler, featured the sound of a whip. Whenever the whip cracked the ceiling ice-cycle lights would flash white and bright. AS a grand finale snow was pumped into the space. This was my first time experiencing Dino In Lights and it was a blast to sketch.

WHEN:

Shows begin every 30 minutes between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily from November 23, 2020 – January 7, 2020.

WHERE:

Orlando Science Center 777 E. Princeton St. Orlando, FL 32803

COST:

Dinos In Lights is included with daily general admission to Orlando Science Center, which is free for members, $21 for adults, $19 for seniors and students, and $15 for youth (ages 2 – 11).

Parking is available for $5 per vehicle in the Orlando Science Center parking garage.

INFO:

For more information, please call 407.514.2000 or visit https://www.osc.org/holidays/

Otronicon at the Orlando Science Center

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Otronicon just opened at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). The Orlando Science Center’s favorite interactive tech expo is back and better than ever. You can see Synthestruct’s audiovisual performance Viscerality, participate in workshops and hear from industry professionals. Plus, gaming competitions and a hair-raising Tesla Coil show!

I decided to sketch on my tablet since it is a bit high tech. I figure that was my way to blend in to the tech event. I walked the multiple floors of the exhibits and finally decided to sketch this slinky roller coaster exhibit. The nose of the pup was a photo opportunity with a small red platform that said, step up to be tall, sit down to be small. Parents loved to take photos of their kid on that red platform.

The body of the slinky dog was set up like roller coaster cars. People could get in and then they were handed headsets. They were shown an interactive video that showed the slinky as it roared down the roller coaster tracks. The video people were seeing was also broadcast on a TV up near the pups head, so I could keep track of what the people were experiencing as I sketched. A line formed and people came and went quite often.

To my left was an exhibit for Polytechnic University. Their slogan is, “Imagine what you can accomplish.” Lori M. Huertas spoke to me about possibly stopping by the campus to show students how I use my iPad as a sketchbook. One woman was fascinated by my sketching and she asked me about the program I was using. Her son loves to draw and he already has an iPad. She said that finding me was the one thing that truly inspired her about the event and she plans to get the drawing program for her son. I just hope she realizes that the program wasn’t doing the drawing, I was.

Much of Otronicon is about kids who love to play video games. As soon as I entered I could see crowds of kids competing in their virtual worlds. They shouted their annoyance when they died. I am hoping to meet and help inspire kids to transition from being video game consumers to becoming creators.

Otronicon is at the Science Center through Monday, January 21, 2019. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. General admission to Otronicon is free
for Orlando Science Center members, $20.95 for adults, $18.95 for
seniors and students, and $14.95 for youth (ages 3 – 11). Purchase
tickets
here.

Climb Time Construction in Kidstown

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I returned a second time to sketch the construction of the Kidstown, Isaac’s Family Climb time at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). Protective screens had been added to keep kids from any attempted jumps from up high. It looked like a complicated maze and I am too tall to walk through any of the corridors without hunching over. At this point I believe the play area was close to being finished. I was impressed with how the structure filled the room. Construction  workers were still using ladders and the lift to get up high rather than crawling inside the structure itself.

Foam had been taped around one of the support beams. Perhaps the lift had been banging up against it in the commotion of construction. This was a chance for me to stretch my perspective muscles as I tried to fit the entire structure into the sketch. At the grand opening of Kidstown, I saw the kids climbing inside this structure for the first time. It is very popular with the kids.

This $5 million project opened to the general public in late October
2016. It signals the completion of the first phase of the $30 million
Unlock Science Campaign, a multi-year/multi-phase effort to renovate all
the exhibits and expand resources at the Science Center.

Explore It at the Orlando Science Center

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Explore It at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) allows children to build their own roller coaster. Loop de loops and bridges can be plugged together to create a dynamic gravity fed coaster. Kids have to really reach high after climbing several steps to get the red ball high enough for the launch. A dad decided to “help” his son build a coaster. It was clear the dad was more interested in the new design than his son.

The other device uses vacuum suction to inhale colorful bolts of fabric. The fabric snakes through transparent tubes and then is launched into the air where it floats down to the kids who catch them below. There was a constant line of kids waiting to feed the machine and then shrieks of laughter as they ran around trying to catch the fabric as it gently parachuted to the ground.Part play and part learning, Kidstown delights the youngest of visitors. Dads and moms get to play as well.

These sketched are going live because I am assembling art for a retrospective exhibit of my work at the Orlando Science Center which will open August 17, 2018. Each painting in the show will ave a label that links back to the article on Analog Artist Digital World. I am discovering that some of these paintings had not been shared before.

Drip Drop Splash Construction

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I was fascinated by the construction of Drip Drop Splash happening at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). Hydraulics has to be adjusted and everything perfectly balanced. One of the water columns required plenty of tweaking. In the end water would fill the pools and the columns would become the source for a cascade of water falling from above. If one element leaked things could get wet and messy, however the whole contraption was planted on a cement pool which had drainage just in case. Construction workers got used to me being on site and once in a while they would glance over my shoulder.

A group was given a tour to  show them the progress of construction. The area in the background of this sketch is the Toddlers Corner. Every worker had a task to complete and the place took  shape incredibly fast. Part of me wished that I had come in daily to watch the progress but I had to balance this assignment with other events happening in town. I am posting this sketch in preparation for an exhibit of my painting that will open at the Science Center on August 16, 2018.

Harriet Lake’s Kidstown Theatre

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Harriet Lake is one of Orlando’s greatest patrons of the arts. Harriet’s Kidstown Theatre is located just past Drip Drop Splash in the Orlando science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). A quaint little stage is littered with props like a hard hat, and tutus. The backdrop kept changing, I opted to sketch a playful view of the Lake Eola Fountain. It doesn’t take much to fire the imagination in a young mind. Kids are already gifted actors. A dad sat in the audience sporting his foam statue of liberty crown. The bean bag chairs helped keep the audience active.

I am assembling 30 paintings for an exhibition I am mounting at the Orlando Science Center opening August 16th, 2018. I like to include links in the labels that link back to the articles that appeared on Analog Artist Digital World. This quaint little sketch somehow slipped through the cracks, so I am publishing it now.

In some ways, the kids were just playing on the stage with no well defined story line. However some of the best theater happens when the actors relax and are playful on stage. Lets put on a show! After writing this post, I learned that Harriet Lake died July 10, 2018 at the age of 96. She will be deeply missed by the Central Florida arts community.

Buddy Dyer and Scott Maxwell ride into the Danger Zone.

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Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer previewed the new immersive Flight Lab, while Challenging Orlando Sentinel’s Scott Maxwell in a Virtual Contest to be Top Gun at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). The Mayor and Sentinel Columnist continued their decades-long video game rivalry. Since 2006, they have competed for dominance at
the annual Otronicon. From Halo shootouts to Dance Dance Revolution,
these two combatants have given their all in a bid for techno supremacy.
The competition came days before the 13th annual Otronicon Tech Expo.

The high tech Flight Lab is located on the top floor of the Science Center in the Dino Digs area. I arrived a bit early to sketch the room, waiting for the contestants to arrive. One of the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality technology experts in the room noticed my John Henry crew jacket and he asked if I had worked at Disney. He had worked for 10 years at Universal so we shared a few war stories. He lamented that CAD technology has produced a generation of tech architects and artists who are content use homogeneous stock imagery. The life in hand crafted sketching is quickly becoming a lost art. Now that I am looking for work, it seems like Tech is all that exists in this Digital World.

The contestants were given a chance to try out the technology before their flight. They both put on Virtual Reality headsets which allowed them to look around their cockpits. “Maverick” (Dyer) glanced out his cockpit window to see “Ice Man” (Maxwell). They both took off the flight deck of the carrier and took to the sky. Each jet required a pilot and co-pilot so the tech experts helped in the co-pilot seats. With the test flights out of the way the pilots prepared for their head to head flights. Maverick got off the flight deck first with Ice Man flying in formation behind. This was not a dog fight but a simple test of speed and agility. Buddy Dyer took the title of “Top Gun.”

Flight Lab will be premiering at this year’s Otronicon. This new permanent exhibit uses real-world mission scenarios to teach standards-based concepts and to develop critical communication, decision-making, team building, and collaborative skills. Flight Lab is an immersive experience with 13 flight simulator stations to accommodate both a pilot and co-pilot. Oculus Rift head-mounted display units take participants right into the danger zone as they learn how to fly, navigate, communicate, and work as a team. Funding for the exhibit is provided by the Office of Naval Research.

Otronicon connects visitors with the creative professionals and technology that are turning Central Florida into a hub for innovation. It is a celebration of our community’s technology leaders, including the latest from Lockheed Martin, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida Hospital for Children, University of Central Florida as well as a cross section of our region’s top indie game developers and so much more. The 13th Annual

Otronicon is January 12-15, 2018. The hours are 10 AM to 5 PM each day. Tickets are available online.

Adult ($20.95)
Senior ($18.95)
Student ($18.95)
Youth ($14.95)
Two and Under ($0.00)

Science of Wine at the Science Center.

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I went with Pam Schwartz to the Orlando Science Center, (777 E. Princeton St. Orlando, FL 32803) for Science of Wine.  The event allowed patrons to experience the science behind the taste and body of some very full bodied wines. We became the sommelier and scientist at one of Orlando’s most unique wine and food events. It was an evening of wining, dining and learning.

As I sketched, Pam wandered to sample some of the food and drink. She brought back the best samples for me to try as well, as I worked. I immediately focused on the musicians who were mostly ignored standing in front of  articulated dinosaur bones.

Samples were available from more than 150 wines from the world’s major regions. The hand-selected pairings were provided by local dining spots like Norman’s, Black Rooster Taqueria, Shin Jung Korean BBQ and Tapa Toro. 

Pam and I decided to participate in the wine-themed canvas painting. About 20 tiny easels were set up with wine glasses already drawn on the canvases.There was a selection of just green, red and black paints. I joked that it was impossible to work under such crude conditions. I decided to paint the couple seated opposite us as they worked on their canvases. The canvas had two cups, two faces and lots of angles. It wasn’t my best work. One of the people working the event said, “You must be an artist.” “Not really.” I said. “I just sketch stuff.”

The Science of Wine raised critical funds to provide operating
support for educational programs and opportunities for science learners
of all ages to experience the fun and discovery of Orlando Science
Center. The Orlando Science Center just won first place as Orlando’s Best Museum in the Orlando Weekly reader’s poll. After my first cup of wine, I loved the place.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for April 29th and 30th.

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Saturday April 29, 2017 

7pm to 10pm $125 7th Annual Science of Wine. Orlando Science Center (777 E. Princeton St. Orlando, FL 32803.) Uncork your inner sommelier and scientist at one of Orlando’s most unique wine and food events. Science of Wine, presented by Southern Glazer’s Wines and Spirits, allows you to experience the science behind the taste and body of your favorite wines. Dine on hand-selected pairings provided by some of Orlando’s best restaurants. Ready your mind and palate for a night of wining, dining and learning.

The Science of Wine raises critical funds to provide operating support for educational programs and opportunities for science learners of all ages to experience the fun and discovery of Orlando Science Center.

Sample more than 150 wines from the world’s major regions and dishes from more than 20 Orlando-area culinary partners

Learn how to taste like a pro with Julie Pepi at Science of Wine Idol (Less than 20 seats remaining!) Become an expert on perfect pairing at the Swine and Sons Provisions cooking demo- Limited seating available

Learn to create healthy, wine-inspired desserts with Kristine Thomas

Participate in live entertainment like creating a wine-themed canvas painting and cigar rolling

Bid in our silent auction to support the mission of Orlando Science Center–to inspire science learning for life

7pm to 9pm $7 per class. Dance Orlando Festival 2017. ME Theatre (Marshall Ellis Theatre) 1300 La Quinta Drive #3, Orlando, Florida 32809. A festival to showcase the versatility of dance as an art form ORLANDO, Fla.

The ME Dance company will present its 2nd I Dance Orlando Festival, Orlando’s first arts festival to solely explore the art of dance to its richest extent. Registration for the dance festival has opened for all local and regional dance schools and companies interested in participating.

The event will take place April 29 and 30, 2017 at the state-of-the-art ME Theatre, which is specially equipped for dance performances of all kinds. I Dance Orlando Festival was introduced to bring together the local community of dancers,choreographers, performers, educators and students in a cooperative manner that will allow them to perform new works and also inspire and educate the public through dance.

The festival aspires to create an environment for students and artists to cultivate their talent and artistry to its fullest potential, all while strengthening public appreciation and support for this unique and vast art form.

“The I Dance Orlando Festival is designed to offer a supportive, non-judgmental atmosphere aimed at cultivating a creative exchange of ideas,” says Marshall Ellis, founder and artistic director of ME Dance and concept designer for the festival. “The festival will encourage artists to explore new grounds, offer a creative outlet, and also provide both local artists and the public the opportunity to experience dance in a new way.”Throughout the festival, the ME Dance School will host open, drop-in classes (no registration needed) for the general public for the deeply discounted price of only $7 per class.

7pm to 10pm SAFE Words Slam FINALS! Henao Contemporary Center 5601 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, Florida 32810. This event will determine a team of 4 poets that will represent Orlando at the 2017 National Poetry Slam in Denver, CO.

Sunday April 30, 2017.

Noon to 1pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola near red gazibo.

Noon to 3pm Donation. Music at the Casa. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Harpist Catherine Way.

10pm to midnight Free but get a coffee.  Solo Acoustic Spoken Word. Natura Coffee & Tea, 12078 Collegiate Way, Orlando, FL, United States. Every Sunday.