Accidental Historian

Posted on by Thor

I was sent to several locations in Orlando to sketch scenes that had been photographed back in the 1920s. In this scene Many trees had been added over the years and the old bandshell was replaced by the now rainbow colored Disney Amphitheater. The original bandshell in the historic photo was designed by Frank Loyd Wright’s secretary, Isabella Roberts who was an architect in her own right.  She also designed several buildings in  the Orlando area. I found it fascinating that many of the same shadows cut across the scene, 100 years later.

This is the Sperry Fountain which is actually the second fountain on this site. Having sketched this from life and comparing it to the original, I can say it is a fairly close replica. The duck on top of the fountain has a slightly different pose in the original sculpture, and today the green patina  had some purple paint stains perhaps from pride day.  The original is now
located in Greenwood Cemetery. The fountain is made of wrought iron and
has a duck base and water flows from the duck’s beaks and an acanthus leaf.

In 1883, wealthy Orlando resident Jacob Summerlin the owner of the Summerlin Hotel,
the first City Council president, and financial lender for the
construction of Orlando’s courthouse in the 1870s—donated a large tract
of land to establish a park in Orlando. In 1883, Summerlin came to a
city council meeting and offered the land around the lake on the
condition that it be beautified and turned into a park. He also required
that the city plant trees and put a “driveway” around the lake. To ensure that the city followed through with the stipulations of the
donation, Summerlin put reverter clauses in the contract to allow his
heirs to reclaim the property if the city failed in its obligations. Several years later, his sons threatened to exercise the reverter
clause if the city did not make good on its promise. Today, the park is
still maintained according to his requirement that it be kept
beautiful.

These sketches were done as part of Accidental Historian at the Orange County Regional History Center (65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801). The premise of the show is that any one today might be a historian without even realizing it. That could certainly
true of many bloggers, urban sketchers, photographers, and more. In this
engaging exhibition, created at the History Center, patrons can learn how
individuals who are absorbed in documenting the world of today
accidentally become some of Central Florida’s finest historians for the
future. The show offers a glimpse into some of the museum’s favorite collections that were
created for the now, more than 100 years ago. Put it on your calendar, The Accidental Historian runs from September 21, 2019 to January 19, 2020. Work from Orlando Urban Sketchers will be on display along with historic and contemporary photos and journals.

The Accidental Historian

Posted on by Thor

The Orange County Regional History Center (65 E. Central Blvd. Orlando, Florida 32801) is creating an exhibit that will run from September 21, 2019 through January 19, 2020 called The Accidental Historian. The premise is that every day citizens could be historians without even realizing it! That’s certainly true of many bloggers, urban sketchers, photographers, and more. In this engaging exhibition, patrons can learn how individuals who are absorbed in documenting the world of today accidentally become some of Central Florida’s finest historians for the future. Catch a glimpse into some of the museum’s favorite collections that were created for the now – more than 100 years ago.

I was  invited to contribute to this exhibit. The above sketch was done in front of the History Center in the exact spot a historical photo was shot back in the 1920s.  It was fascinating to see what has changed and what has not changed. The 55 West building is certainly new but many of the buildings on this street look exactly the way they did 100 years ago. If you go to the History Center web site you will see that this sketch was married to the old photo from the past creating a unique split screen view of this intersection at two separate points on the timeline. A larger than life framed version of this split screen is being created so that people who go to the exhibit can walk inside my sketch for a family photo opportunity. Anyone on the black and white photo side will be shown in black and white and anyone on my sketch side off the scene will be in vibrant color. I cant wait to see how this turn out in practice.

Besides my contributions to the show, other members of Orlando Urban Sketchers will have their work on display since the artists of today will be each leaving behind a unique view of what it is like to live in Orlando. So put September 21, 2019 on your calendar and come to see the history being recorded in unique ways every day right here in Orlando.

First Thursdays at OMA

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Noga Grossman arranged for Orlando Urban Sketchers to have a table for First Thursdays at the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA). As part of  our presentation, I agreed to do a sketch on my iPad, which was connected to one of the large screen TVs above our table. With that arrangement people could see my sketch progress in real time. Getting the connections right was a challenge, so we arranged to get things ironed out the week before. My possible sketch opportunities were limited to my view from the table since I was tethered to the screen. Pam helped me with a new wireless connection that worked great, which might mean sketching from anywhere in a venue without worrying about wires. It is a brave new world.

The Orlando Urban Sketcher’s table was adorned with a roll of paper, allowing anyone the chance to add to a sketch that developed over the course of the event. It was a popular spot for artists to come and relax with a sketch. Each Orlando Urban Sketcher was asked to bring in a sketchbook. My sketchbook had sketches of the strip in Las Vegas from a recent trip. What is great about having Urban Sketchers exploring an event is that each artist has their unique way of seeing and interpreting  the scene.

The theme for this First Thursday event was Art and Architecture. This show is a discovery into how art informs the built environment.
Artists were encouraged to submit all types of media, from photography
to 3D models, to showcase the beauty found in the built world. First Thursday is an opportunity for patrons to discover local artists, listen to live music, and mingle with an eclectic mix of people. There are cash bars serving wine, beer, soft drinks, and water, and cafe offerings from area restaurants. 

A giant pink sculpture by Carlos Betancourt dominated the back gallery area, while The Smoking Jackets performed live near the Chihuly sculpture in the atrium. Trevor Fraser was telling me a story of a reporter asking Chihuly what the hardest lesson was that he had learned as an artist. The two were walking through the artist’s glass-making workshop and an apprentice was finishing up a gorgeous piece of glass. Chihuly took it from him and threw it violently against the wall. It shattered into thousands of pieces. “Nothing lasts,” he said.

The next First Thurday is June 6, 2019. The theme for the evening will be Indigenous Futurism, which will will focus on the indigenous and tribal origins of art. From Africa,
Australia, North, South and Central America, and beyond. They
will explore the influence and fusion of tribal art from the past and
into the future. Admission is $15.

Dragon Parade and Lunar New Year Festival

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The eighth annual Dragon Parade and Lunar New Year Festival was held in the Mills 50 area. Lunar New Year events are based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which
calculates both the motions of Earth around the sun, and the moon
around the Earth.

The parade assembled near Track Shack on Mills Avenue and then went down Thornton Avenue ending at the parking lot behind The Cameo Theater, home of Snap Gallery on Colonial Drive. I was teaching an Urban Sketching class at Crealde School of Art on that morning and considered taking my students to the festivities to sketch, but the timing was off. By the time we would have arrived from class, the parade would have been over. Instead I had my student sketch in Panera’s which is a much calmer setting.

Immediately after class I drove over to the parade. A large red an yellow balloon arch marked the entry to the event. Food and merchandiser tents were lined up in the parking lot and the place was packed. On the main stage a drum chore was setting the tone. I finally decided I had to sketch the arch and the tent where the dragon heads were stored.

Orlando Urban Sketchers had decided to come to parade as well to sketch but I didn’t see anyone at first. After I sat and started sketching I was approached by a sketcher who wanted to watch as I sketched. I explained my thought process a bit as I set up the composition. Once she started sketching as I well I got lost in my process.

For the longest time this seemed like a boring sketch location, but then a group of youths in red tee shirts started getting dressed in bright yellow pants. It turned out I was watching two dragon dancers getting ready to perform. Once the head was put on the dragon came alive and a large crowd gathered all around me. The dragon was rather silly often falling down and always getting in the face of small children. One little Chinese girl was mesmerized and she followed the yellow dragon around grinning the whole time. The dragon looked at the sketch in my lap and so I lifted it up so she could see it right side up. She nodded her head with delight.

This is the year of the pig. I didn’t see any pigs at the festivities but Pam brought out Darcy, her new puppy. The dragon was curious about Darcy and danced in front of the her. The puppies eyes bugged out in amazement. She tried to hide behind Pam’s legs and when the dragon once again approached she darted away as fast and as far as she could. Since she was on a leash she didn’t get to far. For her first social outing Darcy got very over stimulated.

It turned out the Urban Sketchers were at the event. They were apparently gathered in the shade behind the main stage. They had their sketch throw down photo op, but I was still in the midst of my one and only sketch surrounded by dragons, so I didn’t get over to where they met. I made the mistake of wearing a black tee shirt to an event in a black
tar parking lot in the insanely hot Florida sun, but I survived. The dragon parade is definitely a great sketch opportunity and I am glad I made it. After the sketch was done I ordered some Pad Thai and Pam and I watched a yo-yo choreographer doing some major moves to rap music. It might sound strange but it was fun to watch.

Yellow Dog Eats

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Orlando Urban Sketches held a sketch crawl at Yellow Dog Eats (1236 Hempel Ave, Windermere, FL 34786). Artists were scattered around the outdoor seating are taking in the vibe with their sketches. There were chickens running around the parking lot out back, and an old red VW van offered a private dining area for a few guests. The restaurant has branched out to New Smirna Beach.

The menu features great local BBQ and pulled pork sandwiches. Sandwiches have names like, Florida Cracker, What the Fig, White Trash and The Rufus. There are tacos, nachos and salads as well, and even some signature vegan options. It can be a bit intimidating to order at first. There was a crowded line to order but the staff kept that line moving.

What I love is the rustic atmosphere with wooden picnic tables and cement garden tables outside. There is a stage area so local bands must play there on some nights. The outdoor seating area is also dog friendly. A black lab was curled up under on families table. The menu has paw prints all over it.

When our group finished our sketches, we gathered together in the back table to throw down and compare sketched. I am always fascinated to see what other artists choose to focus on. If you ever want to go out for an informal dinner with your family and pup, this is a great local option for some very large BBQ sandwiches.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for June 30th and July 1st

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Saturday June 30, 2018

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. Parramore Farmers Market. The east side of the Orlando City Stadium, across from City View. Purchase quality, fresh and healthy food grown in your own
neighborhood by local farmers, including Fleet Farming, Growing Orlando,
and other community growers.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. Fashion, Food and Architecture – Urban Sketching On Location. The Mall at Millenia 4200 Conroy Rd, Orlando, Florida 32839. This is the Orlando Urban Sketchers June sketch-out gathering. We Sketch on location, from observation, capturing time and places into our sketchbooks.

 In this session our goal is to combine small stories of trendy
fashion as showcased at the store fronts and by the shoppers passing by, to
capture the colorful food vendors and activity, all in the
context of the modern architectural design of the Mall at the Millenia
as a background.

This is a great place to go vignettes sketching, focusing on small composed scenes!

It is an indoor sketch out as we try to avoid the Florida summer’s high temperatures.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free. Brewery Tour. Orlando Brewing, 1301 Atlanta Ave, Orlando, FL.

Sunday July 1, 2018

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuition $275. Crealde Urban Sketching Class. Class two of six.

Instructor: Thomas Thorspecken

Location: Main Everest Campus, 600 St Andrews Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32792

Duration: 6 Weeks

Learn
to sketch from subject to the environment. Classroom sessions will
focus on sketching clothed models and progress towards sketching the
model and classroom environment. Learn how to incorporate storytelling
into your sketches in our location sessions. These trips to local venues
will challenge you to use your sketchbook the way a photojournalist
uses a camera. The six-week goal is to produce finished sketches using
pencil, pen, and watercolor within two hours. Skill level: Intermediate.

10 a.m. to Noon. Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness. A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free. Market2Park. Shady Park Hannibal Square New England and Pennsylvania Ave. Small outdoor Farmer’s Market.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for March 17th and 18th 2018.

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Saturday March 17, 2018

10 AM to 1 PM – Free. Sketchbook Project at the Park. Winter Park Station, Amtrak/Sun Rail Station, 148 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789. With #Connection being the theme of the Orlando Urban Sketchers #SketchbookProject, they will take it to the Winter Park 59th Sidewalk Art festival – http://www.wpsaf.org/ where they’ll document in sketches the connection between people, art, and the festival spirit on location, from observation! If you wish to be part of this project or just wish to sketch on location please join them at 10:00am. Sketching into the project sketchbook pages is not mandatory.

Will meet at the Sunrail train station at 10:00 am. After the
traditional meet and greet, they’ll disperse to points of interest
around the park as a group or as individuals to begin sketching. Will meet back near the Sunrail station at 1:00 pm for the Sketchbooks Throw down ceremony. To those who wish to participate in the project on location:

How this will work: The sketchbook we’ve received from the project
organizers will be disassembled and reassembled. Each participating
sketcher will receive one page- 7 x 10inch- with potential of 4
sketching pages (front and back folded in half).

You can pick up a
page from Margaret Gibson on location at the event or use your own
paper, keep within the dimensions of 7 x 10 inch and keep in mind the
paper will be folded in half.

If you cannot attend our sketch
outing on Mar. 17th and still are interested in contributing your sketch
to the project please contact Margaret Gibson for additional details,
and as indicated here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/USkOrlando/permalink/755567521299156/

Submitting our collaborated sketching work to the worldwide collection at the #BrooklynArtLibrary
will greatly define us urban sketchers artists and the global art
movement we represent and are part of! We are proud to take part in
this project!

www.sketchbookproject.com

What to bring:

Your own sketching/drawing/painting supply

Your sketchbook or painting paper to sketch more

Sitting stool

Hat and drinking water

A friend or family member and anyone who likes to sketch

All skills are welcome!

11 AM to 11 PM –  Free. 3rd Annual Crooked Can Celtic Festival. Crooked Can Brewing Company 426 W Plant St, Winter Garden, Florida 34787. The biggest party of the year is coming back to the Crooked Can Brewing Company for its THIRD YEAR! Join them for Three Days of Live Celtic Music, Irish Dancers, Local Vendors, Delicious Eats and so much more. Oh, let’s not forget about the Crooked Can Brews!!

4 PM to 8 PM -Free. Cruisin’ Downtown DeLand Car Show! East Indiana Ave Downtown DeLand, Deland FL.  Classic cars and rods. Live DJ, giveaways, shopping and dining. Fun for the family! Every 3rd Saturday night!

Sunday March 18, 2018

 9 AM to 5 PM – Free. Friday Saturday and Sunday The 59th Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. Central Park in Winter Park. The
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is one of the nation’s oldest,
largest and most prestigious outdoor art festivals. Over 1,100 artists from around the
world applied for this year’s Festival. An independent panel of three
judges selected the 225 artists exhibiting their works. The Festival
consistently ranks as one of the top juried fine-art festivals in the
country. Recent accolades include the #4 ranking in Art Fair Calendar’s
“2016 Best Art Fairs” and Art Fair Source Book’s listing in their “Top
10 Fine Art Shows, 2016”. The Festival is also listed in Sunshine Artist
Magazine’s “Top 100”. 

The Festival features a wide variety of fine arts and crafts
in the following categories: clay, digital art, drawings and pastels,
fiber, glass, graphics & printmaking, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed
media 2D, mixed media 3D, painting, photography, sculpture, watercolor
and wood as well as our Emerging Artists. Artists complete for 63 awards totaling $72,500. 

Girls and boys can create their own artwork at the Children’s
Workshop Village. Easel painting is very popular, and local art centers
and museums feature a variety of fun, hands-on art activities for
children. Admission is free and participants may take home their
artistic creations. The Children’s Workshop Village hours are 10 a.m. – 4
p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Easel painting is from 10 a.m. – 3
p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

1PM to 8 PM – Free. Will’s A Faire Spring Market. Will’s Pub 1042 N Mills Ave, Orlando, Florida 32803. Will’s A Faire, the one day retro, vintage, local and handmade market is back at Will’s Pub on March 18th for Spring 2018. Will’s A Faire is the Biggest Outdoor/Indoor vendor market in Orlando, with 50 to 75 Vendors, Live Music a la Southern Fried Sunday, Craft Cocktails, Craft Sodas and Craft Brews from Will’s Pub and lil indies, Food Trucks andFree Fun for the Entire Family! Bands, Food Trucks and Specific Vendors: TBA! The Market runs from 1pm until 8:30pm.

3 PM to 5 PM – Free. Lutheran Cantata Choir and Chamber Ensemble. Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church (2021 West SR 426 Oviedo FL. Lutheran Cantata Choir and Chamber Ensemble. A Voice from Heaven – Claire Hodge, Director. Reception for the audience after the concert.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for February 10th and 11th.

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Saturday February 10, 2018

10:30 AM to 230 PM. Free to sketch, $8.00 to watch the 1950s movie Born Yesterday. Sketching at the Enzian.  Enzian Theater 1300 S Orlando Ave, Maitland, Florida 32751.

Orlando Urban Sketchers is sketching the Saturday Matinee Classics at the Enzian, and we will be
there to capture in sketches a time, an era and a space. Surrounded by
weeping oaks, a bubbling fountain, and a beautiful courtyard, Enzian is a
unique cinema-going experience, a dine-in theater packed with old-time
charm we wish to document into our sketchbooks.
We plan on sketching in the Eden-Bar garden outside the theater at 10:30 am first.

At 12:00 pm the 1950’s film Born Yesterday will be featured inside the
theater. We plan on moving indoors as soon as doors open to sketch the
theater interior where we can also grab lunch bites and watch the movie.

At 2:00pm we’ll meet back at Eden Bar garden for our traditional Sketchbooks-throw down ceremony.

Watching the film is not mandatory. Sketching can be kept going
outdoors to capture the moviegoers, the Eden Bar crowd, and Enzian’s
garden views.
There’s an $8.00 general admission for those who
wish to watch the film. Tickets can be purchased at the box-office or
online (recommended) @ https://enzian.secure.force.com/ticket/#sections_a0F3600000EZIELEAS All skills are welcome. Bring your sketchbook and sketching supply of your choice.
Invite your friends and family and anyone who likes to sketch, or to spend a quality morning at the Enzian!

11 AM to 4 PM Donations. Paws in the Park.  Lake Eola Park 512 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801, pet lovers from all over Central Florida will gather at beautiful
Lake Eola to support Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando’s mission to
educate, shelter, place, and heal pets and their families with
compassionate, responsible care.

This community wide fundraising event provides support for
the more than 8,000 homeless pets who will be cared for at our two
shelters this year. 


Schedule of Events

Stage Schedule

11am – Welcome and Memorial Bubble Release hosted by The Pet Loss Center

11:15am – Walk Start led by Commissioner Patty Sheehan and The Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band & Color Guard

12pm – Fundraising Awards

12:15pm – Best in Show Contest with Celebrity Judges

1:15pm – Dog & Owner Look-a-Like Contest

2:15pm – Best Dog Trick Contest

3:15pm – Sit & Stay Contest

3:30pm – Raffle Winners Announced

Ongoing throughout the day

Splash Dogs Dock Diving

Disney Kids and Family Zone

Canine Sports Arena

Lucky Dogs Lure Course

Food Trucks

Vendors

Beer Garden featuring Tito’s Vodka, beer from City Beverage and Barefoot Wines


Sign up, form a team and invite your friends and family to join us
for a day filled with fun for everyone including, of course, your pets! Register and raise $75 or more and on event day, you’ll receive a commemorative event t-shirt and a Pet Alliance dog bandana.

Top Fundraising Prize:

Four-Two Day Park Hopper passes to Walt Disney World

Additional top fundraising prizes include:

Trophies

Medals

Gift Baskets

Chefs Table for 8 at Earls at Mall at Millenia (includes appetizers, main course, dessert, cocktails, beer and wine).

Noon to 5 PM Free. Mennello Museum Indie folk Festival. The Mennello Museum of American Art, 900 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803.

The Indie-Folkfest presented
by PLR Florida will  bring the community together again
and showcase local, national and regional art, music and culinary
talent.  The family-and pet-friendly event promises to be the biggest yet!

 This past February,
we welcomed nearly 5,000 guests to the museum grounds for
Indie-Folkfest 2017.  Guests enjoyed beautiful weather, local music,
food, beverages and art.

This annual free event serves as a gift from the Museum’s
City-Appointed Board of Trustees in an effort to promote local art and
community. A portion of all proceeds benefit the Mennello Museum of
American Art’s education and family-friendly programs.

Sunday February 11, 2018.

10 AM to Noon Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

1 PM to 3 PM Free. Hidden Medicine Class with John Two-Hawks. Christ Church Unity Orlando 771 W Holden Ave, Orlando, Florida 32839. Grammy® nominated recording artist and author John Two-Hawks is a
victim and a survivor of child abuse. It has taken him 30 years to
arrive at the place in his life where he could finally tell his story.
His new book and CD is a revealing window into the inner sanctum of
John’s very personal life journey from severe child abuse to victorious
triumph, and how the sacred ways of indigenous wisdom revealed a
profound truth hidden within. John wrote the book and music with the
hope that it would help others to bravely blaze a path through their
heart to find their own Hidden Medicine. In this class/workshop, John
Two-Hawks will share his inspirational insights about how to be fully
liberated from hurt and empowered by what we find within. There are
three phases of that journey, and the third is often not realized. John
will share the pathway of all three, with an emphasis on how to take
that final step. An enlightening and uplifting experience for all.
* learn how your experiences can be your vehicle to transform
* feel empowered through deep acceptance and Native wisdom
* learn to rise above past trauma and experience joy

1 PM to 4 PM $5 Film Slam. Enzian Theater, South Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL. Film Slam continues to be a popular outlet for indie and student filmmakers throughout the State of Florida.
Film Slam will usually be held on the second Sunday of each month at 1PM at Enzian.
This month we’ve booked the craziest Film Slam line up of the year.
Experimental
Films, Puppet Films, Art Films, Bartenders throwing bottles, Gangsters,
a Music Video….this has to be the most amazingly eclectic line we’ve
had for all of 2012.
Program starts at 1pm sharp.  Q and A with the filmmakers to follow screening. 

Art Deco Weekend at Miami South Beach.

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Art Deco Weekend at Miami South Beach.

The second sketch opportunity of our sketch crawl moved several blocks north. I became fascinated by two trees that were blown over at an angle. The two trunks spiraled around each other like a DNA helix giving the trees the appearance of being one. Most of the sketchers sketched more art deco hotels on Ocean Boulevard. From my vantage point sketching the tree, I could see several sketchers in the distance as they worked. We only had about an hour to sketch so I wanted to pay attention so I could finish about the same time as everyone else. Knowing me, I might get lost in the process and just keep working as everyone else packed up to leave.

I noticed the artists starting to gather and put their sketchbooks on the ground so everyone could see what had been sketched. There was some amazing talent in this group of  artists from Orlando Urban Sketchers and Miami Urban Sketchers. We walked towards a light in the ocean side park so photos could be taken of us as a group. We all held up one sketch along with the Orlando and Miami Urban Sketcher’s logos.

More than a dozen of us went to, Naked Taco, a local Mexican restaurant to chat and share stories about the experience. The server started up all off with free shots. Pam Schwartz and I split a queso dinero which feature crispy grilled chihuahua and manchengo cheese. This wasn’t what I expected being crispy chunks of cheese instead of creamy melted queso. I ordered a naked maarguarita. The margaritas were expensive and the servings small. My dish has hot peppers on top which made me spit out my first bite. Once I dissected the Dish and removed the offending peppers, the dish was fine. In Miami beach, a 20% tip is written in to the bill.

Artists were gathered from around the world. The couple next to me was from Puerto Rico, other artists were from were from Columbia, Argentina, Guiana, Vietnam, China, Israel and a gentleman from Virginia happened to be in Miami so he joined us as well. He had to  be the most enthusiastic artist I  have ever met, It is always fun to meet new artists exploring someplace new.

Art Deco Urban Sketch Weekend in Miami.

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The Orlando and Miami branches of Urban Sketchers collaborated to host a sketch crawl at Miami’s 41st Annual Art Deco Weekend on January 21st to the 14th. It is a long drive to Miami and when Pam Schwartz and I arrived, the sketchers were already finishing up a sketch of a beach side life guards station. Pam and I went down to the beach to dip our toes in the ocean.

When the gathering of several dozen artists moved to a new location, we joined them. I sat down to sketch the Edison and Breakwater Hotels. A vintage orange and white car was parked in front of the hotels. As the sun set, the Art Deco hotels lit up, creating an amazing bright contrast to the dark ultramarine sky.

Pam and I were seated next to a small courtyard where a pink ribbon was tied across the top of a staircase. It turns out we were at the event’s ribbon cutting. South Beach’s mayor came out to cut the ribbon to officially open the Art Deco Weekend. A man started taking to Pam saying that I would sketch so much better if I was high. He opened his palm and offered her some marijuana buds. She declined.

The crowd gathering for the Mayor got in the way of my seeing the scene I was sketching. I patiently looked between people and around butts to draw what I could see at any given moment. The Mayor invited the artist who painted the poster for the Art Deco weekend to the stage. The mayor in a three piece suit, announced the artist saying, “This is how an artist dresses for an event like this.” He got a few laughs from the crowd. The artist, Michael Young from Kansas City, was in khaki shorts and a t-shirt.