The Big Dog Show

Posted on by Thor

At the foot of a walkway bridge that leads from the Mennello Museum to the suburban neighborhood on the opposite side of Lake Formosa is a “Red Dog” sculpture by Dale Rogers.  I love walking across that bridge as the sun sets. Snapping turtles leisurely paddle their way through the thick green water for a breath of air. The bridge is now part of the Dinky Line Trail, an exercise trail that will weave through the Virginia Drive, Ivanhoe Village, neighborhood. Under current plans, the trail ultimately could stretch from the new
arena in downtown Orlando past Lake Highland and the city’s Loch Haven
Park before terminating at Mead Garden in Winter Park, where it could
eventually tie into other trails. Also on the drawing board: a spur to
Lake Baldwin.

Driving past the Mennello, I saw a pack of huge rusty dogs, which were giant versions of the “Red Dog” in he Sculpture Garden and around the entrance to the museum. I had to pull in. The museum has welcomed back Rogers with a fresh pack of twenty 8-foot-tall, 10-foot-long sculptures of dogs made of Cor-ten steel. Small  versions are available for sale in the gift shop. Rogers has said that he thinks his work gives you a dog’s eye view of the world, and he hopes art, the public and animal welfare can all come together for a good cause. The show is open to the public now through March 17th, 2012.

Today, Saturday DECEMBER 1st, there will be a Big Dog Show Happy Hour
from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Bring your four-legged friends to this outdoor reception for Dale Rogers and the new installation of 20 Brown Dog steel sculptures. Refreshments for sale for dogs and their owners from The Spork Happy Food Cafe and Puppy Love Cafe, along with litter bags. Bring donations of pet foods and supplies to donate to local animal shelters. Adopt one of the rare breeds to benefit Canine Companions for Independence and A New Beginning Pet Rescue.

Tr3, Vaughn and Jen Outside Urban ReThink

Posted on by Thor

I went downtown to Urban ReThink, (
625 E Central Blvd • Orlando), to sketch a hacker sound workshop. The workshop offered musicians an opportunity to create instruments from old electronics. I imagined a sketch with tables loaded with old discarded electronics. As I walked towards Central Boulevard, I heard, “Thor!” echoing down a long apartment causeway. I backed up to greet Tr3 Harris who was also on his way to Urban ReThink. I told him about the exciting workshop, but when we went inside, the place was deserted. Joyce Mallon was behind the counter of The Spork Happy Food Cafe. She confirmed that the workshop was scheduled but that only one person showed up. He waited around several hours and then left.

Tr3 had a table set up outside to sell some art, so I decided that would be my sketch opportunity for the day. I decided to order something sweet from Spork as well. Joyce suggested a build your own waffle. I decided on peanut butter and chocolate chips as my toppings. I also wanted plenty of caffeine to get my fingers twitching. I sat outside and Joyce brought out the waffle when it was ready. It was a scorching hot Saturday. Vaughn Belak was there with his girlfriend Jen Woolf selling his macabre paintings. Some of his pieces were prints on canvas that he could sell for incredibly cheap. He in fact sold a piece to a passer by for $40. I didn’t catch Vaughn in the sketch. He stood behind the red table to the right much of the time. Tr3 worked on a painting as he waited for costumers. The bike rack stood empty.


The sky grew dark and ominous. Jen checked a weather app on her cell phone that predicted rain. The tables were broken down and the art packed away in a matter of minutes. The chocolate chips had melted on my forgotten waffle. I continued adding color to the sketch long after the actors left the stage. The rain held off long enough for me to finish my sketch. It started to rain as I drove home.