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.

Science Center Talk about OSIRUS-Rex.

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At Live from Orlando, It’s Science Night Live! Out of this World Space Edition! at the Orlando Science Center, (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803), Dr. Campins spoke about OSIRIS-REx, is an exploratory spacecraft which will intersect with asteroid Bennu to collect surface dust to be returned to Earth for analysis. He showed slides of the spacecraft’s sterile construction. The craft has been in it’s Outbound Cruise Phase since Sept. 8, 2016. Bennu is about 600 feet in diameter which means it rotates slow enough so that surface dust should be still intact..

It Completed Earth-Trojan Asteroid Search around the L4 Earth-sun Lagrange Point on Feb. 20, 2017.  Although no new Earth Trojans were discovered,
the spacecraft’s camera operated flawlessly and demonstrated that it
could image objects two magnitudes dimmer than originally expected.

Completed six-month instrument calibrations in March 2017.

Live from Orlando, It’s Science Night Live! Out of this World Space Edition!

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At Live from Orlando, It’s Science Night Live! Out of this World Space Edition, held at at Orlando Science Center, (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803.) Dr. Campins spoke to guests at Science on a Sphere (the floating orb on Level 4) for about an hour before his official presentation talking about the OSIRUs-REx mission one-on-one with people. This mission sending a satellite to intercept an  asteroid approaching to Earth. When the craft gets close enough an arm will extend and and slap the  asteroid will raise particles which will then be Earth. The composition should give hints about the earliest history the solar system.

Dr. Campins instrumental in bringing the project to reality. target asteroid is named Bennu which is a B-type asteroid with a 500 meter
diameter. It completes an orbit around the Sun every 1.2
years and every 6 years comes very close to Earth.
These close encounters give Bennu a high probability of impacting Earth
in the late 22nd century. Bennu’s size, primitive composition, and
potentially hazardous orbit make it one of the most fascinating and
accessible Near-Earth Objects and the ideal OSIRIS-REx target asteroid.

A tall woman made hand shadow puppets on the globe as people asked questions mission.

Hearts at the Science Center

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After the horrible loss of life at Pulse, the Orlando Science Center started a community art project in which guests created origami hearts in each of the colors of the rainbow. These hearts were then assembled an hung on strings. There had to be thousands of hearts. The plan was to hang all these hearts in the glass encased walkway between the garage and the Science Center. The strings of hearts were arranged and hung from pvc which was then hung in the walkway rafters. The final result was a spectacular rainbow of hearts leading to the Science Center entrance.

On this day museum staff were taping hearts to strings on their lunch break. Many hands made for small work with plenty of socializing. Clearly this break room is also used for birthday celebrations. I believe it is one of the science classrooms.

Drip Drop Splash at the Orlando Science Center.

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I went in to sketch the new Kids Town as it was being constructed once a week this past October. Drip Drop Splash has three illuminated water columns with hand cranks. When the cranks are turned by kids the water rises up and trickles down a series of blue kite shaped shingles. The water empties into a clear bowl and then rains down into a round pool below. It is possible to crawl under this pool reception and stand up in a donuts hole opening in the middle. Standing the r it is possible to be surounded by rain, yet remain perfectly dry.

Water cascade down from this center pool down three ramps which each have a maze of mind bending inventions. Kids can plumb and divert the water or build a series of dams. Each Rube Goldberg contraption teaches the kids how to harness and use the power of water.

At this point in the construction plumbing was still being worked out. Workers joked with each other calling each other “Cuz”. Walls were being painted and things fell together quickly. Kids Town is now open at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) and trust me, the kids love it.

The da Vinci Robot at Otronicon.

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The Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) hosts Otronicon each year. Otronicon is a celebration of interactive technology that takes place
each January at the Orlando Science Center. It offers a glimpse into the
future and a demonstration of how interactive technology will impact how
we work, learn and play. At Otronicon, guests walk on the cutting edge
through state of the art video games, digital media, digital art, and
workshops – not to mention military and medical simulators typically not
available to the public.

The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical system made by the American company Intuitive Surgical. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000, it is designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach, and is controlled by a surgeon from a console. The system is commonly used for prostatectomies, and increasingly for cardiac valve repair and gynecologic surgical procedures like hysterectomies. According to the manufacturer, the da Vinci System is called “da Vinci” in part because Leonardo da Vinci’s “study of human anatomy eventually led to the design of the first known robot in history.”

 If you have a passion for technology, simulators, and video games in general, mark your calendars for the most interactive technology expo in Central Florida – Otronicon. This event takes the world of video games and simulation, and transforms them into in-depth immersive experiences.

There will also be classes in video game creation, as well as exclusive peeks at simulators created by experts in the field. This is the one weekend when the Orlando Science Center leaves its doors open for extended evening hours, so be sure to plan on experiencing all of the interactive fun at Otronicon.

Otronicon will run from January 13th to 16th, 2017. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (All Ages)
Tickets are available online.

Climb Time Construction

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I returned to the Orlando Science Center, (777 East Princeton Street Orlando Fl 32803) to sketch the continuing construction on the Climb Time area of the New Kids Town. I was amazed at how much the structure had progressed in just one week. I was committed to doing one sketch a week, but felt that a sketch a day would have been needed to get a full time lapse effect of the constructions evolution.

The hard hat was still needed since there was overhead wall work and construction still going on. The construction foreman kept an eye on me to be sure I was safe and not in the way. Mostly the structure was complete with just a few tweaks needed to be sure it was study and ready for the endless stress of children at play.

Each green pillar was very heavy and required three workman to maneuver it into place. All that remained now was a few protective screens that needed to be secured.

This series of sketches was commissioned as possible gifts for people who donated money for this 5 million dollar expansion to the museum. For me it was fun to see how the construction. Site changed week to week. Workers got used to my presence and they liked to glance over my shoulder to see if they had been captured. When they recognized a coworker they would rib him, saying that the reason he made it into the sketch was because he was standing around and doing nothing. Every worker however was constantly in motion. Progress was insanely fast.