Captain Barry’s Art Deco Adventure

Posted on by Thor

Once my Art Deco Weekend demos and sketch walks were finished, I decided to join a group of artists on a sketch walk along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. The first stop n this sketch walk was the Versace Mansion. I had sketched the mansion twice already, once in my sketchbook on the first day, and once on a large sea grape leaf for one of my demos. Instead of once again drawing the mansion, I decided instead to sketch the artists perched curbside working on their sketches.

Captain Barry came from Virginia to join us documenting the festival. He attended my leaf sketching demo and he finished a sketch of the mansion on a leaf as well. We hung his leaf in the Urban Sketchers tent and someone wanted to buy it but we were not sure if he wanted to sell it. He is the most enthusiastic artist I have met. He appreciates the talents of all the artists around him and he loves getting up close to the action when he sketches. In my sketch he is leaning up against the New Times paper dispenser.

After I had blocked out the composition of this sketch, a woman walked up to Captain Barry and she leaned over him chatting. She stood there for the next hour or so apparently telling Barry every detail of her home renovation saga. Barry was in the awkward position of not seeming rude, but still having to finish his sketch. I was proud of him for keeping his focus and keeping his hand moving while still nodding occasionally to let the woman know he was still listening.

In Virginia, Captain Barry runs Back Bay Cruises which offers hands on Eco-Expeditions. He sets sail on the Chinoteague, on a flat deck pontoon boat that becomes a floating classroom and research vessel offering hands on aquatic lessons. Participants get off the bots at one point on the sand bars to dig   in the mud for sea creatures. The cruise continues with crab pots and for those that are brave enough, learning how to hold a crab without getting pinched. They then navigate to shell island for shell collecting and then the illusive hunt for jellyfish. The adventure used all the senses, hearing, touch, taste and smells. Should you find yourself in the neighborhood be sure to contact Captain Barry.

Casa Casuarina or Versace Mansion

Posted on by Thor

The Versace Mansion (1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach FL) was built in 1930 by architect Henry La Pointe. It was built in the Mediterranean Revival style with Gothic, Neo-Gothic influences. It is
renowned for being owned by Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace
from 1992 until his death in 1997. The most prominent feature is a highly ornamented carved stone entryway with decorative column and a neo-gothic pointed arch above door. There are arches above windows; wrought-iron grilles and railings, balconies, a bright orange clay barrel tile roof, and lush gardens.

Original owner and designer, Alden Freeman, built it after visiting Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. There he admired Alcazar de Colon, built by Diego, Christopher Columbus’ son. A single brick from that site was used in this home. Legend maintains Casa Casuarina was the original name as homage to the only remaining tree in the lot after the 1926 hurricane. Freeman was forced to cut down the tree in order to make room for construction. Casuarina esquisetifolia is the botanical name of the tree known as the “Australian Pine”.

Gianni Versace purchased the property in 1992 and spent $33 million in expansion and renovations. Versace famously purchased, and subsequently demolished, the adjoining building and land to the south, the Revere Hotel (1110 Ocean Drive), where he expanded the original building, as well as added a luxurious pool and gardens. Versace was shot and killed on the steps of his home in 1997.

Casa Casuarina: Versace Mansion

Posted on by Thor

Orlando Urban Sketchers, Tampa Urban Sketchers and Miami Urban Sketchers teamed up to offer workshops ad demos at the 3 day Miami Beach Art Deco Weekend. My first demo was titled, Leaf Something Behind, and my plan was to sketch the Versace Mansion on one of the large circular Sea Grape leaves that can be found all around the beach front properties of South Beach.

Before the demo, I decided to sketch the mansion on good old paper to get used to it’s proportions and patterns before the challenge of working on a leaf. For this weekend I brought along some gouache paints in a new palette. I immediately fell in love with the option of being able to put down pure bold opaque colors wen needed. I decided while doing this sketch that opaque white might be needed when I decided to work on Sea grape leaves. These leaves are leathery when they dry out and rather study. A tour guide had told me that they can be sent through the mail as post cards.

One of the event staff go carts was parked in front of the mansion as they needed to drop off water and other supplies to the VIP dance area behind me. All around me people were in a hurry to set up their tents to be ready for the crowds that would decent on the festival over the weekend. Rain threatened multiple times during the morning, but the showers were short lived squalls and I put the umbrella up and continued to work.

Art Deco Weekend VIP Reception

Posted on by Thor

Art Deco Weekend is held in Miami Beach each year. Art Deco Weekend was created nearly 43 years ago by the Miami Design
Preservation League (MDPL) to showcase the beautiful Art Deco buildings
of South Beach, saving it for future generations. MDPL’s early work was
the catalyst that created the vibrant, world-class city we live in
today.

This year, Orlando Urban Sketchers, Tampa Urban Sketchers and Miami Urban Sketchers were invited to offer sketch tours and demonstrations during the festival. Day 1 was problematic. It rained much of the morning as we tried to set up the tent. Tensions were high and sketch equipment got muddy. The Florida Urban Sketchers had a tent where guests could try their hand using watercolors and it became mission central for  sketch tours.

Pam Schwartz prepared historical information cards abut each of the Art Deco buildings that were being visited on the sketch walks. She teamed up with James Richards on the first sketch walk and was the historical tour guide before artists sketched the scenes. Day 1 there were two sketch walks and three demonstrations. I gave a demonstration sketching the Versace mansion using as my canvas the large Grape Leaves that are so prevalent beach side in Miami Beach. This turned out to be a fun experiment and others grabbed leaves to try sketching themselves. The leaves are thick and leathery and I was told they can be sent as post cards through the mail. I may try to mail one of the sketches back to Orlando.

In the evening there was a VIP reception for board members. It was insanely windy. Women’s hair and palm tree fronds blew horizontal. Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra performed on stage. The wind blew into the microphones creating extra sound effects. The dancers were all amazing. That is because they were mostly a local dance group. We had several drink tickets and Pam ordered several sangrias. I usually like sangria but this stuff was pure alcohol or rocket fuel. I could not down my drink.