Fable

Posted on by Thor

Urban Sketchers Orlando hosted a morning coffee and draw event. Since my mornings are the best time for me to get out of the studio and draw, I decided to head on over.

The meet up was at Fable Coffee and Pastries (11909 East Colonial Drive Orlando Florida.) This was right on the doorstep of the UCF School of Visual Arts Campus which I had been to several weeks before to sketch the Mid-Term reviews fr the graduate program. It is funny how unrelated events often pull me to the same areas of town.

A note by the entrance pointed out that the establishment was protected by a dragon. I of course searched for the dragon when inside. I ordered an iced coffee. Since I don’t know a Latte from a Mocha Chino, I ordered the American Iced Coffee Brew. There were about 3 or 4 Urban Sketchers lined up on a long brown leather couch. Across from them, no one was seated. Since I prefer to have people in my sketches, I sat across from them. I learned that one artist is experimenting with painterly iPad paintings and I certainly would be interested in learning more. But this sketch outing wasn’t for learning the inner working of another artists trade. We were all there to sketch.

I liked that the Wi-Fi password, along with the warning on the staff door, was “You shall not pass!” Listening in to artist conversations, I learned that this Coffee Shop is famous for its board game collection. There is a table up at the front of the coffee house that has a glass top and roll play gaming boards can be back lit on the surface. Some day I hope to sketch that gaming table in action.

While sketching I completely forgot about my drink. As my sketch was nearing completion I got a straw, lifted my mask while holding my breath, and took several long sips. The coffee surprised me, at first I though it must be a tea but then the coffee after taste kicked in and I felt the familiar humming bird buzz. I took another long sip, but didn’t feel the need to finish. I packed up and got ready to go. The Urban Sketchers were scheduled to be there another hour, but I needed to head out.

I shared my work early and there was a mini throw down as people snapped photos.

I heard that this place gets extra crowded in the evenings when UCF students crowd in for caffeine and games. It might be worth returning if there is some sort of gaming event. The Coffee Shop opens at 8am is usually open until 8pm. For any roll ply gamers out there, I am looking for an opportunity to sketch a game in action.

Pre-Pandemic: The Accidental Historian

Posted on by Thor

The Accidental Historian Exhibition was at the Orange County Regional History Center through January 20, 2020, so the exhibit came down just prior to the start of the pandemic. On January 21, 2020, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the United States in the state of Washington. The patient had recently returned from Wuhan, China.

The exhibit featured people who might be historians without even realizing it. That’s certainly true of many bloggers, urban sketchers, photographers, and more. This engaging exhibition, created at the History Center, was about individuals who are absorbed in documenting the world of today accidentally becoming some of Central Florida’s finest historians for the future. The exhibit offered a glimpse into some of our favorite collections that were created for the now – more than 100 years ago.

The Accidental Historian featured both historic and contemporary work and collections, including drawings by the renowned artist and teacher Ralph Bagley and Urban Sketchers Orlando, poetry by Orlando’s inaugural poet laureate Susan Lilley, audiovisual work by food blogger Ricky Ly, historic images by photographer T.P. Robinson, and more.

This panel discussion featured three contributors to the exhibit. At the podium Catherine Duffy asked each panelist questions in turn.

Photographer J.D. Casto had documented the Pulse Nightclub shooting’s aftermath. His photos capture Orlando’s love and hope following the shooting. One of his photos of an auditorium hung next to a similar photo from one hundred years ago and it was as if time had stood still.

Ricky Ly founded Tasty Chops, a blog for local foodies. The exhibition featured several of his videos of local restaurant owners discussing their offerings.

Robin Katz, is a member of Urban Sketchers Orlando. She uses her sketchbook as a journal to document the Central Florida community. Samples of Robin’s sketches were featured in the exhibit.

 

 

Pre-Pandemic: Miami Beach

Posted on by Thor

In October of 2019, Urban Sketchers Orlando went to Miami Beach to do find sketch locations for our participation in the upcoming Art Deco Festival in Miami Beach. We went to the art Deco Museum to plan a series of workshops to be held during the festival and then as a group went to several sites to sketch.

Here we are sketching the Essex House, (1001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL) one block from the ocean. The Hurricane of 1926 wiped away the exclusive hotels of the past, and there was little cash flow available to re-build following the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Jewish families were able to lay claim to land south of Lincoln Road, developing what would become South Beach. The beach became accessible to middle-class families. Architects and investors favored terrazzo floors over costly marble and employed architectural features like “eyebrows” above windows to keep rooms without air-conditioning shaded from the Florida sun.

Henry Hohauser gained recognition for his unique architectural style and his work on other hotels that lined Ocean Drive. In 1938, he was tasked with designing and supervising the construction of the Essex House. Hohauser took on a nautical theme for the project. His work featured porthole windows, a tall spire, and decorative railings to reference the ocean liners of the 20th century. Local artist, Earl La Pan to paint an Everglades scene over the fireplace.

Miami was able to recover from the Great Depression much quicker than many other cities in America thanks to illegal gambling. In these Art Deco hotels, it was not uncommon to have “secret” gambling rooms tucked away behind the lobby.  Al Capone hosted his weekly card games at the Essex House. In January of 1942 the Essex House was raided and the owner was arrested on charges of operating an illegal gambling house.

VIP Opening of Accidental Historian

Posted on by Thor

The evening of September 21, 2019 was the VIP reception for Accidental Historian at the Orange County Regional History Center (65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801). This is the first exhibit to feature sketches from the Orlando Urban Sketchers group. 

The premise of the exhibit is that artists,
bloggers, urban sketchers, photographers, and more could be historians without even realizing it. In this exhibition, created patrons, learn how individuals who are
absorbed in documenting the world of today accidentally become some of
Central Florida’s finest historians for the future. You can catch a glimpse into
some of the museum’s favorite collections that were created capturing the moments more
than 100 years ago.

The Accidental Historian features both historic and
contemporary work and collections, including drawings by the renowned
artist and teacher Ralph Bagley, Urban Sketchers Orlando, poetry by
Orlando’s inaugural poet laureate Susan Lilley, audiovisual work by food
blogger Ricky Ly, historic images by photographer T.P. Robinson, and
more.

A pillar of my sketchbooks from eight years of my daily sketching are in a glass case in the center of the room. The corner of the room is designed to look like an open spiral bound sketchbook and reproductions of sketches done by members of Orlando Urban Sketchers are scattered across the spread along with biographies and information about the artists.

I knew going into the reception that I wanted to sketch the huge transparencies that had been printed of a shuttle launch. They were framed in light boxes which made them glow as bright as an actual launch. A wall was dedicated to the people of central Florida over the years and a sketch I did of a flea market blues performer fit in snugly.

This exhibit is on display through January 19, 2020. Be sure to stop by the History Center and check it out.