txt


txt was a performance by Brian Feldman at the Jack Kerouac house in College Park. The premise of the performance piece was that the audience would text the script to Brian as he performed by reading his iPhone. A small stage was set up in front of the fireplace in the living room and 2 lamps were placed on either side of the stage as foot lights.
The performance felt more like a digital seance rather than a simple reading. All thumbs and index fingers were busy typing as Brian started to read a strange disjointed mix of ideas. His reading was peppered with sexually explicit language that even comedian George Carlin might be embarrassed by. I began to think I was in the room with a mix of lunatics rather than a quaintly bohemian audience. That guy in the back row looked like he was having way to much fun as he typed his entries. He must have been the one who typed over and over that fingers are people.
At one point Brian glanced at a message and turned to look at a picture of Jack Kerouac on the wall behind him. He then recited, “That Jack Kerouac is a hunk, I’d do him”. Had a woman in the audience really typed that? Could the guy giggling to himself in the back row have typed that? I found myself laughing uncontrollably at the absurdity of many of the texts being transmitted.
The young couple in the sketch had to share an iPhone. First she would text and then she would hand it off so he could text. My wife, Terry, said than none of her texts had been recited. That caused me to think afterward that perhaps like a seance not everything was as it seemed. Regardless I was certainly entertained.
Post Script: A number of participants informed me that without a doubt all texts were strictly written by audience. Texting seems to unlock inhibitions, it offers a chance to write things that would never be said under normal circumstances. txt was a Mad Lib with an emphasis on Mad.

Emperors New Groove


For the last class of the month in 2D Animation, the students get to choose a film to watch from a selection of about 10 animated feature films. This month they chose to see “The Emperors New Groove”. I did some drawings in that film of the character Pacha and Kuzco. The Florida studios contribution to that film was just to assist the California studio on scenes that needed an army of extra hands to get the film finished.
Some students watch the film intently while others are trying to finish the final drawings in one of there assignments which is a flip book. The students in this class did some really amazing work over the course of the month.

Infusion Tea Reading


Infusion Tea on Edgewater Drive featured another reading by Kerouac House resident artist Michael Hawley. This was Michael’s last evening in Orlando. The next day he would have to pack and fly a plane back to NYC. He said he felt a bit sad to leave but he was grateful for the time he had been given to write without interruption. The evening was hosted by Naomi Butterfield. Besides Michael 5 other authors recited poetry and excerpts from works in progress. I was very impressed by the reading from the author who is seated to the far left in the sketch, her name is Stacy Barton. She read chapter 6 from her first novel which is about a young female art student who was essentially date raped. This young artist while sketching is approached by the child of a midwife who is so forward that she reaches out and places her hand on the artists belly and coos to the child inside. This haunting and tender image remains one that leaves me wanting to know more. I again find myself thrilled and inspired by all the talent in the room.

Fat Tuesday


David, the executive director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, hosted a Fat Tuesday party at his home. The Friends of the Philharmonic and members of the Board of Directors were in attendance. David decorated his home by perching glittery bowler hats in unexpected places and hanging beads from chandeliers and furniture. David barbecued a huge slab of brisket and guests each bought a side dish. While doing the sketch I met a woman who worked as one of three graphic designers for Tupperware many years ago. Today she says Tupperware employs 35 graphic designers. This is one good thing about sketching at a party, people interested in art will introduce themselves to you. The sketch was started after dinner. When I began the room was packed. However in Orlando guests do not tend to linger at a party, they want to rush home. The fellow in the black pin striped suit was in costume as a gangster, his wife had a wonderful flapper outfit on but she never entered the room while I sketched.

Premise Entertainment

I started working freelance at Premise Entertainment studio in Orlando. The studio is located in a nondescript office complex. I signed a non-disclosure agreement and picked up my first scene for a feature animated film. Since the walls in almost every room were covered with backgrounds and character studies, I decided not to draw inside on my first day picking up work. I was lucky that they were screening some dailies and I got to see the work they had done the previous week. It was exciting to rejoin the 15 or so artists from the old Florida Disney Feature Animation studio days who are working in the facility full time.

I was told that to find the building, I should look for the Utility truck parked out front. I could not pass up the opportunity to sketch the utility crew after I picked up the scene. I spoke with the crew since they became curious about what I was up to. They were doing routine maintenance on the electric lines underground. They discovered that one connector had blown out and was lying on the ground. They showed me the part that had blown. It was a heavy metal cylinder that had a chunk missing like it had exploded. Apparently they usually check the connectors by just touching them by hand to see how warm they are. Today for an unknown reason the worker decided not to do that. He is glad he did since that blown connector could have given him a 7200 volt jolt had he touched it.

Cheesecake Factory


Our guests decided they wanted to once again go shopping, so we went to the Millenia Mall first for lunch and then shopping. We decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory but the place was packed. The wait would be 45 minutes, so I took the buzzer and we all split up to go shopping with the idea that I would call everyone when the buzzer when off. Terry took me to the Gap and I got 2 pairs of long pants, which I must admit I need since my jeans have developed a hole in the right knee. The buzzer went off and we all met at Cheesecake Factory. We were offered a table outside. Terry asked if there was smoking outside and was told we would be in the back so we would be away from any smoke.
As we went over our menus, an older man at the table next to us, took out a cigar and lit up. Terry and Elayne noticed immediately. Elayne caught a waitresses attention by shouting out “Yoo Hoo Waitress!” What followed were fruitless arguments with waiters, waitresses and a manager about moving our group to another table or asking the man to put out the cigar. There is no law in Florida against smoking in a restaurant outdoor cafe area. We were told that we would go back on the waiting list, which we knew would mean another 45 minute wait. Terry let the manager know that in today’s economy it would not pay to treat costumers like cattle. We argued among ourselves when the staff left. Should we just walk or put up with the inconvenience. We decided to stick it out and started reading the menus. Since the waiter was taking his time coming back, I decided to start a sketch of the guy with the cigar. I got 3 lines down when Terry stood up and said lets go. I was furious, because I never stop a sketch once it is started. You can see the guys nose and glasses hidden among all the detail of this sketch, which I did after we had eaten at Brio Tuscan Grill across the way. Our waiter at Brio Tuscan was funny and charming. We were glad we had made the move.

Mount Dora


Bob, Elayne and Terry are relaxing on the porch of the Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora after a full day of shopping at the Renningers antique show and flea market. After sipping drinks they each had a turn to show and tell all about the great bargains they had found. Elayne’s daughter Haley and her boyfriend, Ryan were also on hand but they decided to walk hand in hand down to the lakefront to watch the sunset. Elayne is checking her iPhone and is about to call her boyfriend Derick. She found a Mr. Oreo flexible figurine for about a dollar and a Wise Owl glass jar. Terry bought some collectible 1950s dishware and a stunning bejeweled evening bag. Bob always returns to Washington DC with collectible silverware he gets from the same dealer he has been going to for years. They all agread that this year offered unheard of bargans.

Outlet Mall


This weekend two friends of Terrys, Elayne and Bob, are staying over so they can go to an antique show – flea market called Renningers in Mount Dora, Florida. Bob and Elayne have been going to this event since, well since before they can remember. Bob flew in from Washington DC and Elayne drove up from Miami. Renningers is a huge event with hundreds of vendors and more stuff than you can shake a stick at. I am a bit disappointed that I can’t go this year since I have to work at Full Sail this afternoon. I had dreams of finding an antique fountain pen with a soft nib that would change the way I drew forever. Oh well, maybe next year.
Once everyone arrived we went out for a quick bite of lunch and then drove straight to the Outlet Mall at the headwaters of International Drive. I avoid the malls like the plague, but decided to go this once to shop for a sketching location. Terry gave me an escape route by letting me drive her car home when I finished the sketch.

The Races Simulcast


Inside the Jai-Alai building on the third floor is a 340 seat Las Vegas style race book to accommodate the fronton’s loyal simulcast players. The simulcast facility feature 30 state of the art 65 inch big screen televisions and 340 individual workstations with 9 inch televisions. The racing schedule features simulcasts from the South Florida circuit of Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course, the New York circuit plus race cards from Kentucky, Maryland and Southern California. Personally I was overwhelmed by all the information being broadcast all at once. I didn’t know what screen to look at let alone what horse to bet on. But for zero money down, I got to sketch a room full of very excited people.
When a race starts the excitement in the room becomes palpable. The guy standing next to me started screaming “Come on baby, you can do it. Go! Go! That’s it, yes! Go! Oh! No! No! Aw S%*t! I never get a break.” I only asked one person if they were ahead, he said “Do you know any gambler that is ahead.” He then started to lecture me that I shouldn’t waste my time sketching in the fronton. He also said “You need to follow the money, the money is in children’s books, no one wants to see people betting on the races.”

Jai-Alai Fronton


A friend of mine of mine named Louis has just gotten back home after spending 17 days in the hospital. He has been diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo chemo treatments. Apparently this form of cancer is very treatable so he has a good chance to beat it. My wife asked me to do a sketch for him. I know he loves to bet on the horse races so I decided to go to Jai-Alai Fronton a state of the art horse race enthusiasts dream. The Fronton wasn’t as crowded as it was the last time I was there with Louis, which was for the Kentucky Derby. There was a core group of die hard race fans however who looked like they live in the place. Admission is usually $1 but today it was free, thank god for the failing economy. I thought it important that the sign up front was flashing “Military Personnel Always Free”.