Story Corps Maria and Natalia Guerrero

In 2007, Maria Guerrero founded Woman in the Arts Inc and the Orlando Public Library has offered advise and guidance along the way. Her daughter Natalia Guerrero has helped her every step pf the way and on this journey they both discovered that they are artists at heart.

Women in the Arts, Inc. is a 501(c)3
non-profit organization founded to recognize the work of women artists
and bring art education to the greater community. The organization’s
defining statements, “Art heals by giving voice to the soul,” and “Celebrating the genius of women,”
underline its mission to advance art education for people of all ages,
especially the youth, and raise public awareness of women’s
contributions to the arts.

As Maria said,

The
decision to establish Women in the Arts was my response to a spiritual
call to serve by bringing recognition to the talent and work 
of women artists and
to provide access to free art education, especially to children. There
are different kinds of poverty and the lack of access and exposure to
the arts constitutes a form of intellectual poverty which Women in the
Arts seeks to address.

It was heart warming to see Natalia working so closely with her mom on a project that they both are passionate about. Natalie is a TESS Objects of Interest Manager and Communications Lead at MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. So besides her interest in Women in the Arts, she is exploring the final frontier. They both approached me after the interview to see what I had sketched. They both smiled broadly at my crude interpretation of the brief interview. It is enthusiasm like theirs that is helping keep the arts alive in Central Florida.

Wawa® Shabbawa

Performance Artist Brian Feldman returned to Orlando for a friend’s wedding and, while back in town, he decided to host the Orlando premiere of Wawa® Shabbawa at Store #5153 on Colonial Drive near the Executive airport.  As the event description read, “Many people consider Wawa® a sacred institution, and Jews worldwide certainly consider Shabbat to be one as well.” OneTable helped host this unique Shabbat dinner. Shabbat is a Jewish dinner tradition held every Friday evening after sunset usually with wine and challah. These traditional dishes were replaced with carbonated Grape Juice, and Soft Pretzels. Brian, standing behind LED candles, held up a large soda and recited the Shabbat blessings. I have been to enough Shabbat dinners to recognize the first few words, “Barukh atah Adonai…” After that I get lost. There is something very American and daring about breaking bread together at a chain gas station eatery. 

The event was sold out and I contacted Brian letting him know I had my own chair. He let me know that the seat left open for Elijah was available. People gathered on the edge of the seating area near the cement planters and parking pylons. Perhaps they were nervous that there was assigned seating. A man hung on the periphery wondering what was happening. He asked a guest a question and I heard the response which was to talk to the the guy in black. Brian was wearing a black suit, but I was also wearing a black shirt. The man approached me and asked me a question I couldn’t quite hear. When sketching I get lost in my zone. He asked if this was a food sharing, which I suppose it was. Brian let everyone know that they could order food inside and he would cover the bill thanks to OneTable.

Pam Schwartz was with me and I believe this was her first Shabbat. We had just had dinner at a Pho Restaurant. She went inside and got me a bright pink Banana and Strawberry smoothie. I sipped as I sketched. At the tables, people sipped the thimble sized red plastic cups of grape juice. One member of the Wawa staff had come into work specifically for this Shabbat. Another member of the Wawa staff came out with a swag bag full of Wawa t-shirts stuffed animals and a Wawa history books. Brian gave me a T-shirt and book saying it would help with the write up.

A guy in a bright yellow shirt watched the evening unfold. He had no idea what Shabbat was. He was curious and I suspect, suspicious. Part of me felt a tinge of nervousness to be documenting this open display of religious celebration and tradition. The previous week I had seen a video of two Floridians ruthlessly punching and dragging a small girl by the hair as she waited for her family to come back from inside a similar roadside gas station. The attack was mindless and unprovoked, being caught entirely on the security cams. That seems to be the state of the country today, but this breaking of bread stood in stark contrast. There was laughter and a feeling of shared community.

The next morning, there was a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue which took 11 lives and injured six others. The gunman, armed with a semiautomatic rifle and three Glock .357 handguns, burst into the Tree
of Life Congregation Synagogue
 on Saturday, shouting anti-Semitic
epithets and opening fire on the congregants who were gathered for a baby naming ceremony. The Anti-Defamation League called Saturday’s attack the deadliest against the Jewish community in U.S. history. Are we a county where people can no longer worship freely and live safely? Today I votes early. It seems this is the only thing I can do in the face of today’s madness.

Joyce Fienberg, 75

Richard Gottfried,65

Rose Malinger, 97

Jerry Rabinowitz, 66

Cecil Rosenthal, 59

David Rosenthal, 54

Bernice Simon, 84

Sylvan Simon, 86

Daniel Stein, 71

Melvin Waxn, 88

Irving Younger, 69

Library Video Interviews

After Story Corps conducted each interview on the library’s top floor, staff would escort people down to the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center where a video interview was done to recap what was discussed with Story Corps. I sketched as Anthony adjusted the lighting levels and reflectors. Like a sketch, much of the work is done before people even enter the room. Cynthia Velasco conducted the interviews seated discreetly behind the multiple TV cameras.

Daniella King and Craig Wilkins work for the library and they discussed the pleasure to be found when they hire someone who blooms and flourishes in their new role. Craig is about to retire and he has acted as a mentor for Daniella. She said she is a bit concerned that she will not have his advice once he leaves, but he knows that she will do a fine job moving forward. Apparently there were tears shed in the Story Corp interview as they reflected on their growth at the library. This is the magic in speaking to two people at once, they already have a history.

Genome VIP Opening

Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code opened at the Orange County Regional History Center (65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801) with a VIP opening reception in the lobby. The traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution is presented by Orlando Health and is open through January 6, 2019.

This special exhibit examines the complexities of the
genome—the genetic or hereditary material of a living organism—through
cutting-edge displays, animation, and fascinating real-life stories that
reveal the links between generations and how our histories begin long
before we are born. The exhibit also examines both the benefits and
challenges the study of genetics presents to our society.

The exhibit also contains a special area, custom designed by History Center staff, that
explores three genomic ties to Central Florida – in the fascinating
findings at the Windover Bog archaeological site in Brevard County, in
the development of citrus, and through the family histories of some
well-known Central Floridians, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Jorge
Estevez
, WFTV Channel 9 news anchor; journalist Brendan O’Connor of the
Bungalower; Toni Pressley, Orlando Pride soccer team defender; and
Geraldine Thompson, former state representative and senator and founder
of Orlando’s Wells’ Built Museum.

At the VIP reception all the participants in the family tree project were given time to discuss their feelings about the project. Buddy Dyer took time to thank Pam Schwartz for her contributions in spearheading a collecting initiative of memorial items after the Pulse Nightclub massacre. Geraldine Thompson gave the most moving testimony as she described her feeling after discovering that she had a close relative that she didn’t know existed. A man who was searching for his biological father contacted Pam and she was able to prove through DNA and family history who his father really was. Unfortunately the father had died a few years prior. But the man and Geraldine are both seem excited to meet one another.

The exhibit features large interactive displays with projections and video. You can literally spend hours learning about DNA and life’s code if you read every text panel. The evening was winding down before I could finish my explorations.

Story Corps Green Room

Story Corps was gathering stories at the Orlando Public Library. The Library is the proud winner of the IMLS National Medal which allowed them to fund this project. Two friend or family are interviewed together creating an open conversation. Though people stated by talking about their love of the library the conversations could be about anything when they sat down with the Story Corp interviewer in a separate room. I had about 15 minutes at a time to sketch and learn a little about each couple as they filled out paperwork.

Mark and Chris Beverly are a father and son. Mark founded a Veteran Entitlement Non Profit organization which helps vets with their medical claims. This is his passion and he handed each of us his card so we could learn more about the organization. Next I was surprised to meet Carolyn McClendon who used to work with me at Walt Disney Feature Animation. The studio closed in 2004, so the last time I might have seen her was 14 years ago. It is a shame we didn’t have time to catch up. She now works as a librarian in one of Orlando’s tougher neighborhoods. She was with another librarian since I noticed they both wore the same badges.

Randall Smith was there with his daughter Chelsea. He had an easel and samples of his daughter’s work. I vastly admire her work which is done with a Renaissance era technique of etching on copper plates. Her line drawings are of mystical creatures which are drawn with infinite spiraling patterns. She actually gave me a sample piece which was of two rams. The spiraling patterns seemed to go so well with her long flowing hair so I did a quick study on the sketch I did of her and her dad. At art fairs people approach him thinking he is the artist and he directs them to her.

Erica Lee once worked for Mix 105.1 Radio on the Scott and Erika Show. She now produces her own podcasts using her years of experience. She is proud to put her blend of smooth rock music from the 70’s & 80’s on the air waves. I am sure some amazing stories unfolded in the next room, but I used every minute I had to complete each sketch I started until the next couple arrived. I did five sketches each day and it was an amazing fun spontaneous learning experience. The Story Corp interviews went on for three consecutive days.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for Octover 27 and 28, 2018

Saturday October 28, 2018 

9am to 3pm Adults: $19.50. Seniors 60+: $15.95. Children 3-12 years: $13.75. Children 2 and under: Free. Annual Pass Holder: Free. Zoo Boo Bash. Sanford Zoo 3755 W Seminole Blvd, Sanford, FL 3277. The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens invites children and
adults alike to trick-or-treat throughout the park while learning about
the myths and realities of endangered animals. Kids are encouraged to
wear costumes and bring goody bags. Events include costume contests,
face painting and more. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event included in general zoo
admission. At the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 3755 W.
Seminole Blvd. 407-323-4450. centralfloridazoo.org

10am to 6pm Free. 13th annual Central Florida Veg Fest. Festival Park, 2911 E Robinson St, Orlando, FL 32803. The Orlando Weekly has again signed
on as an Earth Sponsor of Central Florida Veg Fest! The Central Florida
Veg Fest Info Guide will be printed as a pull-out in the middle of the
Orlando Weekly on October 24, 2018 and circulated to over 277,000
readers. The event will also have several promotional ads in the Weekly.

8am to 10pm Free. 10th anniversary “Halloween Block Party”. Liam Fitzpatrick’s Restaurant and Irish Pub at Colonial Town Plaza located at 951 Market Promenade Ave., Suite 1115, Lake Mary, FL. North Orlando’s block party and nightlife destination is at it again as
Liam Fitzpatrick’s Restaurant and Irish Pub joins together with Colonial
Town Park plaza neighbors Graffiti Junction, Dexter’s of Lake Mary,
Duffy’s Sports Grill, and Cantina and Corona Cigar Company to
welcome the 10th anniversary “Halloween Block Party” on Saturday,
October 27, 2017 starting at 8pm. The eek-citing event is free and open
to the public, and all guests (21 & up) are invited to drink, dance
and dress in their Halloween best outside Liam Fitzpatrick’s and around
the festive plaza, while enjoying two live DJ’s spinning throughout the
night, tasty brews and bites and the area’s biggest costume contest
awarding $1000 in cash prizes for the winners.

For
the 10th anniversary, Liam’s Halloween Block Party will support Orlando
City Youth Soccer, who will be on site collecting donations and
receiving 100% of proceeds from a specialty Halloween shot all night.
Orlando City Youth Soccer is the preeminent youth club in Central
Florida, whose core values are player development, parental guidance,
coaches education and community outreach.

Sunday October 28, 2018

10am to Noon Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

11am to 4pm Free. Puppet Slam. 707 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801. Live puppetry performances happening sporadically during the Bazaar Botanica Art Market.

10pm to Midnight Free but get a coffee. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL. Free comedy show! Come out & laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Story Corps at the Orlando Public Library

The Orlando Public Library is hosting Story Corps for three days at the Downtown Branch. I was asked to come in to document the process with my sketches. I couldn’t actually sit in on the actual interviews but instead I met people as they arrived. I spent most of my time sketching in what would be considered the green room. Story Corps has two people speak to the interviewer which results in something closer to a conversation between friends rather than an oral history or straight on interview.

Because the interview room was off limits I didn’t really get to learn much about the people who came in. Will Jones was the first to arrive and he has used the public library for years. He was very pleased to have been invited to participate. He was waiting for his friend Jeanine who was running a bit late because of congestion on the highway. When she arrived, the the Story Corp staff, Jhaley and Morgan explained the process. First, they wanted to know how much each of them knew about Story Corps. The project started in Grand Central Station in NYC, where people could record their stories. The project has been going strong ever since.

Scottie Campbell was working on his laptop promoting the project and managing social media. Cynthia and ___ at the end of the table were there to video record people telling about the project after the interview was done. Cynthia has worked at the library for seven years. They would escort people down to the recording studio in the Melrose Center. My goal was to sketch each couple being interviewed. I found out that I had to work insanely fast. The introduction process probably took less than 15 minutes which means the lines had to be thrown down without a second thought. I found that this panicked immediacy actually helped me in getting more spontaneous sketches and there wasn’t enough time to worry if the subject would like the results.

Immerse by the Creative City Project 2

Five blocks of Orange Avenue were closed off downtown allowing five stages to be set up, which would allow over 1,000 performers to showcase their talents in downtown Orlando. One stage was in the park in front of the History Center, the Red Bull Stage was at Pine Street in front of what used to be City Arts Factory, the UCF Stage was on Church Street, EA sponsored a stage down by Jackson Street,  and the Massey Services stage was between Pine Street and Church Street on Orange Avenue, where I stopped to sketch.

Rollins Choir and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra were on stage when I started this sketch, but at that time I was focusing on people in the foreground. Being Present took to the stage and I decided to place them in my sketch. The female singer on guitar took center stage and she was surrounded by percussion, a bass player and a dance company who improvised to her performance. Being Present was followed by All the Light You Cannot See and then The Orlando Ballet.

The artists who had come out to my ODD event (Orlando Drink and Draw) stood on a cement planter so we could see over the now standing and shoulder to shoulder crowd. The Orlando Ballet performed dances with a hip urban edge which perfectly fit in with the vibe of the night. Dancers were paired off with men and women partners and by the end of the choreography boys were dancing with boys and women were dancing with women. When they walked off the dance floor hand in hand the crowd whooped its approval. It reminded me of the “Keep Dancing” movement that swept Orlando after the Pulse Nightclub massacre.

After the Ballet left the stage the crowd dissipated and we decided to informally share our work for the evening and then disband ourselves. Perhaps a few years ago I would have stayed until 11pm to finish another sketch but I was all sketched out. I just needed to get home to crash. With so much to see and do, Immerse can be overwhelming, but in a good way.

Immerse 2018 by the Creative City Project

The Creative City Project was started in 2012 by Cole Nesmith as a way for people in Orlando to discover the amazing talent that is to be found in the City Beautiful. The first year was small being produced with very little budget but the event has grown through the years. It is one of the signature Orlando events that I enjoy sketching each year. For the past five years the idea has been to present all this talent in one night, but this year the event has expanded to fill two evenings.

This year I co-hosted ODD (Orlando Drink and Draw) on the first evening of Immerse. I set the meeting location at the former City Arts Factory which is a landmark familiar to most artists. On that Pine Street block, the Red Bull truck was set up along with a bar to get the party started. I had already done 5 drawings that day of Story Corps interviewing people at the Orlando Public Library, so my parking spot had been found much earlier in the day. I thought I might be “Sketched Out” for the day but once I felt the energy of the event I had to put my pen to the page. Noga Grosman arrived and we considered the idea of getting a spot in an Orange Avenue bar and watching the event unfold from a bar stool. Other artist hadn’t arrived yet, so I started this sketch and she sketched one of the five stages set up throughout downtown. Another artist had messaged that he might arrive about an hour late, so we both got busy sketching while we waited. A member of the Red Bull staff expressed an interest in buying this sketch and we will see if that pans out.

A rap artist took to the Red Bull Stage and did a mic check for about half an hour. He then broke into an improvised rap in which he picked people out of the crowd and used their fashion sense as a spring board for his lyrics. I started to think that no other Urban Sketchers would show up, so I branched off to sketch at another stage. Immerse would be in full swing from 5pm to 11pm, so the night was young.

The Mystery of Irma Vep

The Orlando Shakes (812 E. Rollins St Orlando, Florida 32803) is presenting The Mystery of Irma Vep, a Penny Dreadful by Charles Ludlam through November 18, 2018. The title is the name of a character in the 1915 French movie serial Les Vampires and is an anagram for the word “vampire.”
The set by Bert Scott was fun with it’s forced perspective that would lead your eyes to the doors center stage. Even the floor boards all radiated from this central focal point. This is a perspective trick I often employ in my own sketches so it was fun to see the idea employed in the three dimensional design.

I didn’t glance through the program when Pam Schwartz and I entered the theater, instead I got right to work sketching. As actors got on stage I started populating the sketch and I wanted to be sure to get as many of the cast on the page as I could. First, I focused on the maid talking to Lady Enid and then I added Nicodemus who gestured up at the painting above the fireplace of the previous lady of the house, Irma Vep. When the sketch was done I put it aside and relaxed to watch the second act. That is when I finally realized that there are just two actors in this play. I had been duped by very different mannerisms and accents. Lady Enid was never on the stage at the same time as Nicodemus. Brad DePlanche played Nicodemus, Lady Enid, Alcazar, and Pev Amri while Chris Crawford played Jane Twistden, Lord Edgar, and an intruder. Some 35 costume changes take place in the course of the two-hour show.

The play is very tongue-in-cheek with lightning fast cross-dressing. There is plenty of sexual innuendo and comedic pauses with dramatic music and lighting cues to heighten the humorous mysterious mood. The director Jim Helsinger seems to be a master at milking a comic moment. The play has a dark and sinister past and features love, intrigue, and a sinister mystery. It was a fun night of theater and perfect for the Halloween season. Get your tickets today, but the Halloween performance is already completely sold out.