Snap! print day sale.

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Snap! Space, (1013 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL) held a Snap! print day sale with limited editions, and or open edition prints from local and international artists selected by Snap!
Tables were set up throughout the space for artists.

Each participant had their own photos to showcase and have some type of take away envelope or packaging for buyers to walk away with. I decided to participate, and I sketched the other artists displaying their work as I sat at my table. Chris Tobar was seated at the table beside me with a large tiger print behind him. Chris is now the art director at the Orlando Weekly. It was nice to meet the other artists and see their work. Although it was a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon, I unfortunately didn’t sell a single print.

The Cameo vintage sign is burning bright again.

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A small black and white photo framed on the back wall of Snap! Orlando shows the historic Cameo Theater with its original signage. Building owner Jorge Boone applied to the Orlando City Counsel to have a replica of the original Cameo
sign put back on top of the building “to re-establish the identity of the
building and bring a sense of history and place to the area.” The
project is expected to cost around $29,000 and the city agreed to
Boone’s request for $14,000 through the facade program. The new
18-foot-long sign will use the same retro font as the original, and it
will be lit with more than 300 LED bulbs.

The Cameo Theater first opened opened on Christmas Day, 1940. It was a latecomer in Orlando’s movie theaters, and was located just a block west of the Vogue Theater. Open for only a few years (maybe less than five), the Cameo sat abandoned for years, save for an occasional booking by a evangelical group.

The building was remodeled and occupied for years by IBM. Since then it has had many occupants, and has often been vacant. The marquee still stands.

In October 2008, it was in use as a live performance space, but had closed by Summer of 2009. By early-2010, it had reopened and was available ‘For Rent’, and several groups had regular performances, primarily live music.

Today the Cameo Theater is home to Snap! Orlando, a hip gallery that is bringing cutting edge exhibits to Orlando. The owners, Patrick and Holly Kahn  also have expanded Snap into a gallery space in Miami and they seem to have finally created a gallery worthy of a top class city here in Orlando.  Nearly 1200 people came to
celebrate Snaps one year anniversary, and the lighting of the Cameo
sign on January 23, 2015. As Patrick said “Thank you to all of our partners, supporters, Snap! team members
and friends who joined us last night! Our deepest appreciation and love
to the exceptional Jorge Boone and Magdalena Dalsjo for reviving the
Cameo sign, and sponsoring the public art fence, created by Chris Scala. In 2015 Snap is planning a citywide event with pop-up art
exhibits, lectures with guest speakers, workshops, and other educational
and cultural events. Announcements soon.”

Analog Artist Digital World sketches are on display at West Elm.

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Nine original sketches from the Analog Artist Digital World archives are now on display at West Elm, 4010 Conroy Road, Orlando, FL. The store offers modern home decor and modern furniture. Here you’ll  find the bedding, furniture, room decor, and dinnerware you need to create a stylish contemporary home. The store is right near the Millenia Mall and Ikea, so if your shopping for Christmas, stop by and see some original art. Patrick Kahn from Snap Space curated the display. The work will be on display through the holidays and into the New Year.

I executed this sketch digitally since I felt it might be awkward to use watercolors in a store. I also chose to sit on my artist’s stool rather than on one of the comfy couches. Jason Moore is the store manager who hung the show. He recognizes the importance of social  media to spread the word about West Elm.  I had planned to sketch a Christmas light display on this day, but rain made me realize I needed to sketch inside. It seems any time I choose to sketch outside, the weather has other plans for me.

The store wasn’t particularly crowded on this evening right after rush hour. One couple however was diligently looking for a new piece of furniture for their home. When the sales lady asked, “So what sort of style furniture is in your home now?” “Our entire home is full of West Elm furnature.” was his response. While sketching the store I got a strong sense of the warm uniformity of every item in the store. The color of the sketches on display were bright notes that broke up that uniformity. I was happy to see one woman stand in front of the display for the longest time. It made me happy that the work could be seen in a real world, brick and mortar setting. However, I just came back from Art Basel in Miami where a Pablo Picasso plate worth $85,000 had been stolen. The plate was smell enough where it could be slipped into a hand bag. I realized the woman viewing my work was holding a shopping bag large enough to hold one of my framed originals. Luckily that thought did not cross her mind.

Real Estate Showcase Event at Snap! Space

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On April 23rd as my Retrospective Exhibit was still hanging as Snap! Space (1013 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL), a Real Estate Showcase Event was held in the gallery. Jim Lussier contacted me, saying, “As the Artist in residence, I think you should hang out with us and take a bow. Please bring Terry with you if she is free. We will have about 100 people in the space from all aspects of the Real Estate industry for a 2 hour Meet and Greet.

I have another idea I’d like to run past you. We want to collect everyone’s business cards and have a drawing for ….a piece of Thorspecken art? I thought one of two things – either identify a piece you already have that you would part with for $300, or create a small piece at our event, and award it “hot off the press.” Third idea – we will award a selected piece that we purchase from you for $300, or, at the winner’s option, we will contribute $300 if the winner wants to purchase a more expensive piece from the collection.

Maybe you have a better idea. We want you and Terry to come no matter what. Please call me when you have a couple of minutes. Thanks! We are very excited to be having our event surrounded by your work.”

I decided to go with the option of awarding a print done from the sketch done that night. The event did get rather crowded and the sketch was presented with a flourish. I made the print the next day and dropped it off at Snap. The exhibit was financially more successful than I expected.  Enough originals and prints were sold to cover the framing costs and there was a profit of about $8000. Having the frames has made it easier to showcase my work at other venues as well. I exhibited a series of paintings based on Emotions Dance rehearsals and sold over $2,000 worth of originals and prints. This is the type of collaboration I need to be doing more often. Snap founder, Patrick Kahn, arranged to exhibit my work is now on display at East End Market (3201 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL) through August.

Viet Garden

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Whenever I find myself with extra time before going to a theater or other event I often stop at Viet Garden (1237 East Colonial Drive, Orlando FL) for a bite. They serve the most delicious Pad Thai that I have ever tasted. The dish is prepared super quick and it is always super good. There are shrimp and peanut sauce soaked noodles along with light bits of chicken and seed sprouts. Once, I overpaid because the server and woman at the cash register had intercommunicated. The server ran out to the parking lot and caught me before I left. That kind of caring service is rare and it has made me a very loyal customer.

I am almost always alone and I am ushered to a window seat. Since I know what I love, I can usually immediately order. All of the walls in the restaurant are covered with beautiful murals depicting the Vietnamese landscape. Some of the sponge painting of the clouds could be refined, but over all, it is impressive. Mirrors help the room feel larger than it is.

I did this sketch on the evening of my Retrospective exhibit opening at Snap Space in the historic Cameo Theater (1013 East Colonial Drive, Orlando FL). I knew that at the opening I would be pulled in multiple directions with no time to sketch. I kind of regret that this important moment in my career wasn’t documented with a sketch. There are however plenty of photos to be found online. The opening was a whirlwind and it was wonderful to see so many friends and meet new people. A contingent of former Disney animators showed up. I probably hadn’t seen some of them in 10 years. Four original sketches sold almost immediately and that let me relax and enjoy the night. Other pieces kept selling, and when I wasn’t talking to patrons, I was signing books. Most important, I believe my work was introduced to people who hadn’t seen it before.

An Evening with Rebecca Rose ‘Sculpturings’

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On January 30th, Rebecca Rose gave a talk about her creative process at Snap (1013 East Colonial Drive, Orlando FL). Rebecca is a bit of a hoarder. She collects anything small and representational. She has entire drawers full of these tiny trinkets from a Lilliputian world. She used to be a painter, but an elective class in jewelry making changed that. In one assignment for class she re-imagined what a ring should look like. Her teacher was astonished and he asked her where her inspiration came from. She knew she was onto something.

She had to take a long hiatus from making jewelry however, because she didn’t have the necessary equipment.  She spent several years selling paintings until she could afford the needed furnace, molding equipment and other tools of the trade. A documentary was shot that shows every step of her creative process which is part art, science and alchemy. From the first sketch to the finished piece cast in pure silver, she spend endless hours devoted to her craft.

 ‘Sculpturings’ are beautifully created pieces redefined beyond
their traditional sense, each piece with unique form and story. The
pieces blend luxury with urban activism relevant to current social
issues. Rebecca sketches, assembles, carves, invests, kiln fires, and
casts her own work in her home studio. Rebecca’s work was exhibited at
Select Fair in Art Basel Miami, Beijing Museum of Contemporary Art, and
the Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco. Last year she was the Halstead
Grant winner. In March, he work will appear in two gallery shows: “In Dreams: A Tribute to the Films of David Lynch”, at the Spoke Art Gallery, in San Francisco, CA,  and “The Season of Spring”, at the Flower Pepper Gallery, Curated by Daniel Rolnik, in Pasadena, CA.

Her rings are both art and jewelry. Each comes in a specially prepared bell jar for display when not being worn. She often leaves a magnifying glass near the display case so people can truly appreciate the intricacy in her designs. She was recently commissioned to create a ring commemorating the Winter Olympics. The prices on the pieces on display in January and February were extremely affordable. Considering their popularity, those prices are sure to go up soon. It was such a pleasure to meet an artist who loves what she does and was willing to share every step of the process. I hope to visit her studio to sketch her in action someday soon.

Mark your Calendar! My work is now hanging on these walls and I hope you come out to the opening on March 21st from 7pm to 10pm at the Cameo Theater (1013 East Colonial Drive Orlando FL).

Snap!

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I stopped by Snap (Cameo Theater, 1013 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, Fl ) on the day before my retrospective exhibit went up. The gallery was open till 4pm. Emily Jordan and Diana Rodriguez were working as interns at the front desk. This was the last day that “Flight” was on display. As I sketched the last of the arts patrons explored the gallery. Three pieces of drywall proclaimed the gallery’s mission statement: Contemporary, Creative and Spontaneous. Patrick Kahn, the gallery’s founder had to step out.

Diana’s son, Josiah Portillo, stopped in and hung out for a while.  As he and Diana talked, he decided to water the potted orchid on the reception desk with his bottled water. He then headed out to hang with some friends in the park. Diana offered him some money in case he wanted a snack but he said he would be fine.

I discovered later from Holly Kahn, that the lamp on the reception desk was from her son Luke‘s room. Emily and Diana were chatting and getting to know each other. Emily is a photographer who takes society shots for a local magazine. Diana is an actress and avid supporter of the arts. When she discovered that Emily had never been to the Fringe, she excitedly explained what the Fringe is all about. Diana suddenly shrieked and stood up. A large puddle had mysteriously formed and was spreading across the table. They both quickly removed books, paper and art. The potted orchid was leaking. Diana put the potted plant on the floor as they mopped up the spill. “How much water did Josiah put in this plant?” Diana said. On the floor the plant was still gushing out water.

Disaster was averted since the angle of the table made the puddle flow away from the art and papers on the desk. Just when things returned to normal, Patrick came back and the women were free to go home. Diana told me about a dress rehearsal for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by Tennessee Williams, which I will be sketching next week. Patrick explained to me that she is one of the most active supporter of the arts that he knows.

Mark your calendar and come on out to the opening of my retrospective showing of sketches of Orlando on March 21st from 7pm to 10pm at the Cameo Theater (1013 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, Fl). The show will remain open through April 17th.

Changing of the Art

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A retrospective exhibit of the sketches I have done in Orlando will be opening on March 21st from 7pm to 10pm at Snap in the historic Cameo Theater (1013 E. Colonial Drive Orlando FL). I stopped by Snap on the final day of Flight, a group show of photographers and other artists. At 4pm the gallery closed and Patrick Kahn popped the first labels off the walls. He explained that this moment was always a bit sad, like the circus leaving town, but when the walls are bare again, his excitement builds. Its like when you open your sketchbook and are faces with a white page. There are so many possibilities.

The two interns, Emily Jordan, and Diana Rodriguez, who were at the front desk, left at 4pm and then Patrick’s wife Holly arrived with their two children, Luke and Juliet. Juliet saw my open sketchbook on the floor and she crouched down to look. “You drew that right now?” When I said “Yes”, she stood and shook my hand with enthusiasm. I was surprised by her adult politeness and respect. Holly had put on blue surgeons gloves and she flipped through the sketchbook to let her kids see. Their enthusiasm was the best affirmation that I’ve felt in a long time. They have grown up around art thanks to their parents. Holly told me that Patrick used to keep sketchbook journals as a child. He passed on this tradition to his children and apparently Luke has displayed some unique talent in his journal. No wonder the kids loved seeing my sketchbooks.

The large photos were quickly but delicately removed from the walls and packed away. Holly helped Patrick and Vince Santilli at every step while Luke and Juliet worked at their computers, but Luke became impatient. “Mom, when can we go!” he shouted. The question was repeated multiple times until Holly decided to recruit him to do some of the work. She gave him a drill and let him assist in removing some of the screws in the masonry. He climbed the ladder and she climbed up behind him to be sure he didn’t fall and to help with the heavy drill. This was serious “man’s work” and Luke  loved it.

When it came time for the kids to go home, Luke shouted out, “Dad, we are proud of you!” Holly, next to me raised her hand to her chest and sighed. “It’s moments like this when you realize it is all worth it.” she said. It was heart warming to see this family working together to make a dream become reality. The next day, my sketches would go up on these walls.