Before Pixels

Posted on by Thor

Third Thursdays, now marketed as, Art, Tech Biz is an opportunity for visitors to converge downtown and celebrate art, food, technology, and business. Along the way,
people partake in an evening of sights, sounds, food, shopping, and cosmopolitan living. At the time of this sketch, I had two sketches on display at City Arts Factory, but in order to get a sketch done, I walked two blocks over to The Gallery at Avalon Island (now City Arts) to sketch the musicians performing for the evening.

The monthly Third Thursdays event includes, the Gallery Hop, hosted by the Downtown Arts District featuring numerous
galleries and non-traditional art venues that spotlight the best of
established and emerging Orlando-based artists, in tandem with nationally
and internationally acclaimed artists.

The 3rd Thu Biz
Networking events are hosted by the Downtown Orlando Partnership and
allow attendees to experience some of downtown’s fine establishments
while making great local business connections.

The Orlando Tech
Meetup offers tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs the chance to
socialize and hear five different technology groups present live product
demos.

This sketch done at The Gallery at Avalon Island was of the musicians for the night, Before Pixels.  Much has happened since this sketch was done, the historic Rogers Kiene Building (39 Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL) that was home to the Gallery at Avalon Island was donated to the city. Thus Avalon Island Art Gallery was shuttered. City Arts Factory moved from its location on Orange Avenue two blocks away to the Rogers Kiene Building and is now called CityArts Orlando. The end result is of course much less exhibition space as the visual arts scene shrinks in Orlando.

Art Critique

Posted on by Thor

An art critique was held at the Gallery at Avalon Island (39 South Magnolia Avenue Orlando FL). Each artist would bring a sample of work to discuss. It is best if the artist has a specific question that can be posed to the group. This artist hand paints electric guitars and other instruments.

The building was donated to the City of Orlando and is now known as the Rogers Kliene Building which is now part of
the Downtown Arts District. It is a contemporary art space that
displays work by emerging and established artists. The gallery is
located in the historic Queen Anne style Rogers Kliene building. It was
built in 1886, and is the oldest operational building in Orlando.

I had two painting on exhibit in what I believe was the last exhibit at City Arts Factory which will be moving into the Rogers Kliene Building. This means that the art scene in downtown Orlando has collapsed and substantially shrunk. The Rogers Kliene Building has 1.5 rooms as exhibition space as opposed to the 6 or so gallery rooms in City Arts Factory. Avalon Island curator Patrick Greene was planning to leave Orlando when Avalon Island closed, but was hired on at Laughing Samurai marketing.

Rogers Building Celebration.

Posted on by Thor

I was hired to document a celebration at Avalon Island Gallery for Mr. Ford Kiene, chairman of City Beverages, who just donated the historic Rogers building to the City of Orlando under
the condition it be used for the arts for the next 20 years. I worked a bit larger that I usually do in an 18 by 24 inch sketch pad. Earlier in the day I purchased a frame and cut a white mat on which people could share their thoughts and well wishes for Mr. Kiene. At the end of the evening, I framed this sketch in the mat and it was presented to him as thanks.

This celebration was well attended which made the sketch a challenge. When Mayor Buddy Dyer took to the podium, I was faced with a wall of backs. I stood on tip toe to get the sketch of him and Mr. Ford at the microphone. The mayor pointed out that it is rare for the city to receive such a donation. Built in 1886 by Englishman Gordon Rogers and investors, the iconic green tin sided building,
which sits at the corner of Magnolia and Pine, will officially be
renamed  the Rogers Kiene Building. When Mr. Kiene took to the microphone, he described the painstaking work that went into preserving the 1886 floor boards.

The building is now managed by the Downtown Arts District (DAD) but their management agreement only runs through June 30, 2018. Barbara Hartley, the DAD executive director said that the building will remain a hub for the arts. Patrick Greene, who oversees the gallery, hosts monthly cutting edge music sessions in the venue between the hanging of art shows. This, “Inbetween Series” brings experimental contemporary music to downtown. It is unclear if the venue will keep producing such edgy programs after June. I have sketched so often in this venue over the years, that I could easily compile a retrospective book that documents the arts events held here. Just sketching every day, I have seen far too many arts venues fall to the wayside. Hopefully the building will continue to further our city’s efforts to expand our arts and culture scene.