Mystery Sketch Theater at Falcon Bar.

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Mystery Sketch Theater is a live figure drawing session that
takes place once a month, on the first Thursday of the month at an
awesome artsy bar and gallery called The Falcon (819 E. Washington
Street, Orlando, FL 32801). The cost is just $5 which goes to the model. The models are superheroes, burlesque performers, retro housewives, belly dancers, drag queens! It’s a hoot! About a dozen artists will show to sketch quick one minute poses to start and gradually work up to longer 20 minute poses. I like to sketch the artists at work as well as the model. One artist brought in his dog, and they sketched from their spot on the floor.

The next Mystery Sketch Theater Presents, Sunny Cummings. She is a yoga instructor so expect to see some super human flexibility.

We provide you the most ravishing, exotic and fascinating models our
fair city and beyond can provide. Elaborate costumes, fabulous makeup,
and amazing personalities. On that note…if you have a pair of fishnets
or a sequined bra, you might want to contact us for modeling
opportunities. We’ll pamper and worship you.

Artists of all
skill levels and occupations are welcome to come. Even non-artists who
just want to hang out, get their geek on and have a good time with good
people are more than welcome too. Artists are asked to pay a small fee
of $5 for the evening to help cover costs for running the event. Oh, did
I mention we have contests? Silly! Ridiculous contests! With prizes!

First Thursday of the month, every month from 8-10 PM! Come early to
get a great seat and snag a drawing table before they’re all spoken for!

Inspiration for the World Mural Pulse Orlando.

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I went to The Falcon (819 E Washington St, Orlando, Florida) to meet International Mural Artist Michael Pilato and learn about ways to be involved in the new large-scale Pulse Orlando Mural being created in honor of the 49 souls.

Michael’s talent for painting and passion for transforming the grief-experience into a creation of beauty, inspiration and healing has now led him to Orlando. He gave a brief presentation about his (and his painting partner Yuriy Karabash) unique murals Titled Inspiration soon to be a global movement. Michael explained the creative process in which our entire community will be involved. Local artists of all styles are needed!

Michael’s deep desire to connect with human spirit inspires his murals to transform beyond his own brush. The entire Orlando community is invited and encouraged to participate in the creation of what will be the largest public art display of Remembrance, Healing, Acceptance, Beauty and LOVE, yet!!

All who are wanting to be a part of this endeavor are encouraged to attend. No idea, paintbrush, pencil, crayon or hand print is too small…

This is your art.
This is our voice.
This is Orlando’s mural.

Michael was at my 49 portraits event. He was inspired by the varieties of styles seen that night. the Orlando more is still in a state of flux but there is huge support to make this project a reality. H will like take the form of many murals which can also be experienced interactively. If a cell phone is pointed at the mural, software will cause a square to pop up over certain faces on the wall. Interactive media then will tell more of a person’s story. Amazingly, when I entered the Falcon,  Michael asked me to be on the board for this project.

There are many layer of meaning behind Michael’s murals. He got choked up a he spoke about his daughter, who he was very close to. She died unexpected at the tender age of 19. After her death, a red tailed hawk visited Michael, and he painted the hawk for her in murals. She appears in several places in recent murals, as a flower, and her childhood picture appear behind another larger portrait. A tattoo of d falcon on Michael’s wrist remind him of his daughter as he paints. Grief is transformed it beauty. The Orlando mural faces the monumental task of transforming hate into love. I will help in any way I can with this project while continuing my every day sketches try it to understand I tragedy. It is important to note that artists who assist with the mural will be paid. Michael is searching for various styles an each artist is given a panel, or panels to work on in the air conditioned comfort of their own studios. The ideas are still taking form.

Three little girls at the meeting handed out paper hearts with crayon rainbows on them.

The Falcon and Gallery is a haven for local artists.

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The Falcon Bar and Gallery (819 E Washington St, Orlando, FL) always has local art to see. The shows usually have a theme. There was recently a Bill Murry themed show and I sketched a local actress and dancer for a show titled Porn. I went to the first social media Round table hosted by Mark Baratelli at IZEA and Melissa Marie, the Falcons owner was there. As a local business owner, she realized early on that social media is the way to promote business. Her bartenders are encouraged to use Snap Chat to share happenings at the bar with friends. I didn’t even realize snap chat existed. Social Media keeps changing so fast, I need to keep up.

Mondays at the Falcon is for the men. Tuesdays are for locals, there is trivia, Uberbahn, open mics and DJs on most days of the week. On Sunday nights at 9pm there are the “Fear the Walking Dead” watch parties. You have to love a bar that caters to zombie loving patrons like myself.  If there is a zombie apocolipse, I’ll be ready with a sharp sword and a sketchbook. Once a month, Mystery Sketch Theater, now hosted by Plinio Pinto, is a great way to loosen up and sketch cos-play models for $5. If you are a voyeur like me, the Falcon will satiate that guilty pleasure and your thirst. Now that I’m hosting Orlando Drink and Draw (ODD) on the first Monday of each month, I need to find out if the Falcon will host the growing band of vagabond artists one month.

Mark your calendar! The next event at the Falcon is DJ Lavidicus on Sunday September 11th starting at 9pm. Come out to hear the very best in Industrial, Goth, EBM, Synthpop and Darkwave. Everyone knows where they were on September 11th of 2009. If you drink enough this night, you might not remember as clearly. Never a cover, always a good time! (21+) If you check my AADW calendar, you will always find Falcon events in the mix.

Mystery Sketch Theater at Falcon Bar is always a great sketch opportunity.

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Every month, Mystery Sketch Theater offers clothed models for artists to draw at The Falcon (819 E Washington Street, Suite 2, Orlando, Florida). The model in March was Brooke White. She started the evening dressed as a bear and came out of hibernation during the course of the evening. She must have been hot under all those layers but that didn’t keep her from taking killer poses all evening long. Standing on one foot in an action pose is almost masochistic. All artists are a bit sadistic when they insist that people stand still. Plinio Pinto now runs Mystery Sketch Theater after Kristen Pauline had to abandon the post because of work conflicts. It makes me happy that so many artists come together each month to sketch. I’m surprised that I only knew a couple of them. Perhaps Orlando isn’t such a small town after all.

By the end of the night, Brooke was posing in just her stripped PJs. Several Angry Orchards meant my line work was nice and loose by the end of the night. Art on display was by local artists all depicting their version of actor, comedian Bill Murray.  I believe the tooth shaped painting I included in the sketch was based on Little Shop of Horrors in which Bill played the part of masochistic dentist patient.

Mark your calendar! The next Mystery Sketch Theater is on September 3, 2015 at The Falcon (819 E Washington Street, Suite 2, Orlando, Florida). The sketching begins at 8pm. Be sure to get a drink or two to thank Falcon Bar for being the new home base for artists who love to draw.

Purple Pride immediately siezes Orlando.

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I was going to Falcon Bar (819 E Washington St, Orlando, FL) or Mystery Sketch Theater which has a cos-play model taking poses for artists once a month. Streets were blocked off and I found myself walking besides runners in a 5K race. Everyone was wearing purple tee shirts. I heard an announcer and walked towards the noise. A finish line was set up on the East side of Lake Eola Park on Washington Street.

A Food Truck Bazaar were set up beyond the finish line and hungry runners lined up for food. I sketched the purple Orlando Soccer truck. Soccer has been promoted with a vengeance and   Orlando City Soccer Club logos, murals and stickers are all over town. Lion heads appear everywhere. The renovated Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium is now packed for every game. I haven’t figured out who to contact yet about sketching a game. I feel I need to report on a team that has quickly become as known as the Orlando Magic basketball team. With the US team doing better in the international soccer competitions, the fan base keeps growing.

Mark Baratelli of the Daily City had organized all the food trucks. He showed me a paper that he now publishes that shows where to find each food truck bazaar all around Central Florida.  I admire the marketing prowess of the Orlando City Soccer Club and Mark’s entrepreneurial spirit. After I finished my sketch I walked over to the Falcon Bar to squeeze a few more sketches into my day.

Mystery Sketch Theater has moved to the Falcon Bar.

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Mystery Sketch Theater is a monthly sketch group. Models are usually dressed in elaborate cos play costumes. The sketch session is just $5 for the night. The sessions have moved around over the years. The first time I went it was held in a tiny Japanese bar called Tatame near Rollins College, it was then held in Comic Shop on Semorian Boulevard and then in a warehouse near Fairbanks. Its newest home is The Falcon Bar ( 819 E Washington Street, Suite 2, Orlando, Florida). I like to go when I can. Having a model pose for any length of time is a real luxury.

Tonight’s model is Brooke. She will be coming out of hibernation on stage right in front of your eyes! I suggest you buy a drink to thank The Falcon for hosting. The bar doesn’t serve food so feel free to order delivery from a nearby restauraunt. I haven’t sketched Mystery Sketch Theater at the Falcon yet, so I plan to go tonight to loosen up and relax.

Mark your calendar! Mystery Sketch Theater is tonight, Thursday March 5, 2015. The sketching starts at 8pm until 10pm. You don’t have to be an artist, just come out grab a drink and be a voyeur. Sketching is $5. Its free to watch.

Seen up close, butterflies become monsters.

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When it began to rain during Artlando, I ran inside the Orlando Museum of Art for cover. A crowd of people had the same idea. Inside the museum, local art galleries had exhibits. Jai Gallery was set up in the lobby. I was curious about a large hyper real photograph of a butterfly. Artist and architect James Cornetet was taking microscopic photos of a butterfly. The digital camera was set up on a metal framework which allowed James to move the camera in tiny increments. To get the final high resolution image he shoots hundreds of photos horizontally, vertically and in depth. The camera has a very shallow depth of field which means the tip of an antenna might be in focus but the butterfly head might be out of focus. James had an exhibit titled “High Fidelity” of his monstrous insects at Jai Gallery. Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon was also on hand to let people know about Jai Gallery. One of Josh Garrick‘s black and white photos of a sculpted Greek god’s head was also on display.  Josh’s photos went on exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum in Greece. He was the first American artist to ever have his work displayed there.

Snap! Orlando teamed up with The Falcon and The Gallery at Avalon Island for a special installation at Artlando. The exhibit featured the art of Szymon Brodziak Photography, Aurora Crowley and an interactive digital installation ‘Beautiful Chaos’ by Nathan Selikoff. The exhibit was in the rotunda of OMA, as well as the galleries located to the left of the museum’s entrance. Once I was done with my sketch, I ran outside to my tent to make sure none of the cards on display had gotten wet. Everything was dry, but I was shocked to see that the tip jar which was half full of dollar bills earlier in the day, was now empty. I was furious. Who would stoop so low to steal money from a tip jar? Later that day I found out that my wife Terry had removed the money, “for safe keening.” The tip jar earned me enough money to pay for the food truck feast I enjoyed later that day.

Weekend Top 6 Picks

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Saturday January 11, 2014

1pm to 3pm $5 Science Play Festival. Mad Cow Theatre (54 West Church Street, Orlando, Florida 32801).  “A Short History of Nearly Everything”. Adapted by Lauren Gunderson from a book by Bill Bryson. For the first time ever, Mad Cow Theatre creates a unique play festival exploring the world of science plays through a weekend of staged readings and discussion forums. Join us as we explore the worlds of science, technology and history through imaginative stories.

7:30pm to 9:30pm $5  Science Play Festival. Mad Cow Theatre (54 West Church Street, Orlando, Florida 32801). “Photograph 51” by Anna Ziegler. For the first time ever, Mad Cow Theatre creates a unique play festival
exploring the world of science plays through a weekend of staged
readings and discussion forums. Join us as we explore the worlds of
science, technology and history through imaginative stories.

9pm to Midnight Free Falcon Soundraiser. The Falcon 819 E. Washington Street, Suite 2, Orlando, Florida. Soundraisers are a series of live shows presented by The Falcon, over the next couple of months. We will be actively accepting donations at each event and throughout the coming months at The Falcon, in hopes of generating enough funding to purchase a simple Sound/PA system for The Falcon. This will enable LIVE music on a more frequent basis at an already KICK ASS hang, and give local talent yet another venue to share their art! The first in the series will feature: audiotourism (members of SC Accidental and LostGhosts) http://audiotourism.bandcamp.com/ Instrumental/non-vox/two piece “90’s-esque inde-guitar swing ala wall of sound!” Come on out and support local business and local talent!

Sunday January 12, 2014

7:30am to 9pm Free Gallery Fresh Art Markets. Orlando Fashion Square 3201 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32803. On the 2nd Sunday of every month Gallery Fresh Art Markets and Orlando Fashion Square proudly present “Show Your Art.” This free to the public, indoor, non-juried art event showcases 60 to 90 local artists and fine crafts persons and is located throughout Orlando Fashion Square.

1pm to 3pm  $5 Film Slam 14′. 1300 S Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751. FilmSlam will usually be held on the second Sunday of each month at 1PM at Enzian. Come celebrate independents day! 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. Q&A with the filmmakers to follow screening. http://www.enzian.org/film/filmslam-14

7:30pm to 9:30pm $5 Science Play Festival. Mad Cow Theatre 54 West Church Street, Orlando, Florida 32801. “Isaac’s Eye” by Lucas Hnath. For the first time ever, Mad Cow Theatre creates a unique play festival exploring the world of science plays through a weekend of staged readings and discussion forums. Join us as we explore the worlds of science, technology and history through imaginative stories.

The Holy and Obscene

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On my drive to The Falcon (819 E. Washington Street, Suite 2, Orlando, Fl), the skies to the north loomed ominous with lightning flashes and low rumbling thunder. I was on my way to see the first solo show of Morgan Wilson. I’ve seen Morgan’s work a number of times around town, and I’ve seen her paint. This show was appropriately titled “The Holy and Obscene“. Morgan paints beautiful women but each piece has a dark and sensual subplot. I admire the chances she takes by focusing on themes far astride of what is often seen in this homogeneous white bread theme park town. Tod Caviness who was at the bar with his wife Christin, bought me a beer, a Spitzen Oktoberfest brew that quickly went to my head. I hope they weren’t insulted by the fact that I immediately wandered off to sketch.

I met Blair Richardson, a dear friend of the artist, who was the model for the center painting in this sketch. She confided that Morgan had asked to take pictures of her. When Blair asked what the photos were for, Morgan explained that it was a surprise. When Blair walked into the exhibition, tears welled up in her eyes when she saw the painting. A crown of  thick nails were driven into the painting.  Morgan was humbled to know that her work could elicit such a strong emotional response. She then joked, that maybe her friend was just vain. I doubt that. Each painting was in an intricate frame that accentuated the sensuality.

As I sketched, the exhibit became increasingly crowded. The Falcon barista, Wendy Claitor let me know that Melissa Schumann, the owner of the Falcon said that my beers were on the house.  Well heck, I’ll have another then! I needed to refill my water brush, so I took out a vile and syringe that I use to get water in the brush handle. I like the fact that it makes me look a bit like a drug addict. I’ve done this a thousand times, but this time, I misjudged and pulled on the syringe plunger too hard. It popped loose sending the pink plastic bottle crashing to the floor and water sprayed everywhere soaking my sketch and pants. Artist Janae Corrado helped me recover the bottle and all the pencils that fell off my lap when I jumped up in surprise. Janae remarked that, “At least the beer didn’t spill!” I really shouldn’t drink and draw. I’m such a lush.

A red dot was placed under the round painting of a woman with a gold tiara that said “Fuck“. Another painting was of one of the Yow Dancers all in blue with golden armor. A huge slug mounted a nude woman on all fours. Morgan posed for photos and discussed her work with patrons. Two guys seated next to me where discussing Morgan’s work. She had decided to work on a sketch at a table outside and one of the men went out to watch her. When he returned, he said you can learn much about an artist by seeing how they work. He was fascinated by Morgan claiming she was more interesting than her paintings. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to separate the two. He felt that many of the paintings resembled the artist. Apparently a painting of a woman with a ruffled collar had to be reworked multiple times because Morgan kept painting the penis too big. The guys joked that she needed to paint many more cocks till she got it right.

Morgan explained, “I tried to avoid being too ‘preachy’ with the theme, but there’s definitely some undertones of religion and royalty! My work is meant to create a meeting place for the elevated and degraded, the holy and obscene. My most recognizable theme, through all mediums, is a pervasive sexuality. At times subtle and sensual, there is always a lurking secret begging to be discovered by my viewers, the incidental voyeurs. Peering into a world meant to mirror every dark velvety desire, even those unrealized or unimagined. I aim to remind the viewer that desire and despair are not deep-buried things: they exist in every detail of who we are. In a way, the things we love and fear are what make us more than simply human.”

Mark your Calendar! Morgan’s work is on display at the Falcon through September 26th. I’m a huge fan of this woman’s work. Don’t miss it.

Flash Fiction Slam

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On March 12th, There Will Be Words hosted its second annual Flash fiction Slam, in honor of March Madness.

How does a Flash Fiction Slam work? Well, competitors faced each other in a head-to-head format. Two authors read. The audience decides which story was better with applause One author moves on to the next round, the other cries in their drink.

There were three rounds, with eight authors competing. There were word limits for each round.

Round 1 – 250 words max

Round 2 – 500 words max

Final Round – 1000 words max

Flirt with the competitors at six, watch them beat each other to death at seven, take home the champion at eight. Seriously, these authors had been drinking so they might have needed a ride.

The first round featured Matt Pierce versus Trevor Frasier with Matt winning the audience roar. Raphael lost to Phil in the second round. Hannah Miller and Michael Pierre faced off with a fast paced “Rock, Paper, Scissors” match to see who would read first. It was at this point that I decided to add Hannah to my sketch. She was a strong contender and if she won, I would have two other chances to add detail to her in my sketch. I was pleased that she was indeed the evening’s champion, beating Matt Pierce in the final round by a narrow margin.

After the competition I joined Hannah and her entourage for a victory beer at The Falcon Bar. Multiple conversations crossed the outdoor table ranging from Stanley Kubrick films to art supplies. A high school friend of Hannah’s had just returned to Orlando and she was dipping her toe in the arts scene to try and rebuild her Orlando roots. I seldom hang out after an event so I was very happy to have lingered on this occasion.