Double Header! Orlando Roller Derby vs. Savannah Derby Devils

I have become addicted to sketching Roller Derby. It is a thrill to sketch women competing all out with no holds barred. This double header was held at Barnett Park (4801 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, Florida 32808), the Orange County Parks and Recreation Center.

 Roller derby began in the early 1900s as a form of banked track racing. It then morphed into Transcontinental Roller Derby where two teams of women skater would travel 3000 miles around the oval track. Briefly the sport waned during WWII but then returned with a vengeance and was televised through the 1970s. in 2006, the Women’s Flat track Derby Association was formed and Contemporary roller derby was born. Orlando Roller Derby has been around since 2009. There are 65 active skaters and 12 referees.

There were two matches in this double header. I will share a sketch from the second match tomorrow.
Game 1 – Orlando Ozone Slayers vs Savannah Derby Devils

Game 2 – Orlando Sun Blockers vs Savannah Hostess City Hellions 

Orlando was in the lead 90 to 52 when I sketched the score board, but
the action heated up at the end with Savannah catching up. Ultimately
Orlando was victorious.

Doors opened at 3:45pm, and the first whistle was at 4:00pm.
There was also a 50/50 raffle. The money collected benefited High School High Tech, a program that exposes children with disabilities to careers in the STEM fields.

If you are interested in joining roller derby in Orlando, stop on out to the 2019 Recruitment Info Session at Semoran Skateway (2670 Cassel Creek Blvd, Casselberry, Florida 32707). They will be providing information about how to get involved with Orlando Roller Derby in 2019! If
you’ve ever dreamed of being a derby girl, referee, or are interested
in volunteering for one of the fastest growing, exciting, and fun sports
in the world – please come!  NO SKATING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Find out why so many people say “Derby saved my life”. The ‘fresh meat’ program will teach you everything you need to know about roller skating and playing the sport of roller derby!

Leu Gardens Gallery

I decided to participate in a one night art
exhibit at Harry P. Leu Gardens (320 Ferncreek Avenue Orlando
Fl). I framed a sketch of a Rainbow illuminated dinosaur that I did at the Orlando Science Center.
I sketched the entry outside the gallery as artists checked their work in. The
evening had some complimentary food and drink, so that made it a nice social
hour. We all had to take our work back home when things wrapped up.

Many of the paintings were by students. Of
course I am a student of life as well, and I want to learn something new every
day. Each painting in the show had a small box where guest’s cold vote for
their favorite piece. I joked that it would be easy to stuff those ballot
boxes. The person I was there with was upset and appalled at the suggestion,
but I still think it is the American way.

BASE Orlando – Masquerade Body Paint Art Show

The Masquerade Body Paint Art Show run by Mandi Ilene Schiff, was at DRIP (8747 International Drive Suite 102 (Behind Denny’s and Senor Frogs), Orlando, Florida.) Unfortunately DRIP on has closed down. It used to be a spot to see some of Orlando’s most edgy art.

BASE Body Art Showcase and Exhibit is one of the few places in world where guests can witness a body painting event of this magnitude. Each body art showcase is centered on a theme and features over a dozen professional body painter’s masterpieces. Artists and models come together to create a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art that only exists for the fleeting moments for that one evening.

 I focused my attention on Nix Herrera who is an amazingly talented body painter that I have sketched at work before. Once all the models were painted, there was a runway show to showcase all the creations. Nix’s mom was curious about my work in progress. Clearly she is supportive of her son’s colorful career.

Afterwards, the only remember the creation is in the photography taken, that can never fully bring back view of the 360 degree, living, breathing canvas. My sketch is just another hint at the art created that night.

Weekend Top 6 Picks December 29 and 30, 2018

Saturday December 29, 2018

8am to 1pm Free. Parramore Farmers Market. The east side of the Orlando City Stadium, across from City View. Purchase quality, fresh and healthy food grown in your own
neighborhood by local farmers, including Fleet Farming, Growing Orlando,
and other community growers.

10 am to 4pm Free. Sanford Farmers Market. Sanford First and Magnolia.

10:30am to 12:30pm Free but get a drink and or bite. Son Flamenco. Ceviche Tapas Orlando, 125 W Church St, Orlando, FL.

Sunday December 30, 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.

Noon to 3pm Donation based. Music at the Casa. Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, 656 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Members of the public are invited to visit our historic home museum, listen to live music and take a tour
of our historic home museum and the James Gamble Rogers II Studio by
trained docents.

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.

Foxtail Coffee

I
sketched at Foxtail Coffee (1282
N Orange Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789)
as part of my series of Orlando’s
best cafes. I was working on a book for a London Publisher. Unfortunately that
book wasn’t pushed though to publication. I did a series of sketches for
several spreads in the book for the book pitch. Unfortunately it want picked up
at the London
book fair.

I like
the relaxed ambiance at Foxtail. People worked away on their computers and cell
phones as they sipped their coffee. A separate glass enclosed corner room is
where the coffee beans are ground. Shelves of bagged beans lined the shelves
and a huge old grinder was ready at a moments notice.

I met
the daughter of a friend of mine. It turns out she is a fashion blogger, though
I think the fashion photos are posted on Instagram. I am not sure how all that
works. She encouraged me to get involved on Instagram and the next week I was
up and running. Apparently this is the best business card in this digital age.

Foxtail
Coffee Company was founded in December of 2016 with a mission to provide high
quality coffee and intuitive work space for local communities in Winter Park and Orlando.
Foxtail Coffee Company is dedicated to responsibly sourcing and roasting some
of the finest coffee from around the world.

Before I die at First Thursday

The theme at 1st Thursdays at the Orlando Museum of Art (2416 North Mills Ave Orlando,
Florida) was “Before I Die:
Ultimate Celebration of Life”. This theme invited artists to submit their
version of a life well lived. On the “Before I Die, I want to…” wall, guests
could write their aspirations. Quotes I saw on the wall included, “Visit the Holy land”, “Become more ambitious”, and “Repeat all the good
again.”

On the first
Thursday of each month, you can discover local artists, listen to live music
and mingle with an eclectic mix of people. There are cash bars serving wine,
beer, soft drinks and water, and café offerings from area restaurants.

There
was music by DJ Atnarko Bear, Food by Hawker’s Asian Street Fare, and a Time-lapse
by Chalk Whisperer Kim Panella. Admission for museum members was free and $10
for visitors.

Orlando Director’s Forum

I went to the Orlando Director’s Forum at Valencia College East Campus (701 N Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, Florida 32825). The forum featured a group of Orlando’s most stylistically diverse stage. This was a great opportunity to hear unique perspectives on inspiration, casting, rehearsal process, trouble-shooting, and overall creative process of directing. Seth Kubersky hosted a moderated discussion followed by a questions and answers with attendees.

The event featured (in alphabetical order)…

Rob Winn Anderson: Consulting Artistic Director – Garden Theatre

Mike Carr: Artistic Director – SAK Comedy Lab

John DiDonna: Program Chair of Theater – Valencia College, Director/Creator – Phantasmagoria

Pam Harbaugh: Director – Theater on the Edge

Beth Marshall: Producing Artistic Director/Theatre Artist – Beth Marshall Presents

Eric Pinder: Director in Residence – Opera Orlando

Donald Rupe: Director of Theatre – Central Florida Community Arts

Jeremy Seghers: Independent Producer and Director

I love these kinds of events because listening to these directors talk about the creative process reminds me that all the arts share the same creative challenges. It offered inspiration to keep sketching and painting despite any setbacks. I have seen and admired the work of each of these directors in turn as I sketch the arts scene around Orlando. Orlando has such a vibrant theater community since so man actors come to Orlando to work for the theme parks. Those rolls offer limited artistic challenges, so they are always looking for more edgy options to test their chops.

Axium Coffee

I went to Axium Coffee (146 W. Plant St Winter Garden,
FL 34787)
to sketch and sip. This used to be a place that artist Larry Lauria like
to hang out and sketch. After leaving Full Sail University, I was shocked to find out
that Larry had died. I came to his old haunt to sketch in his honor. I was also
working on a book about sketching in cafes so I was exploring all the best
local cafes to try their best coffee and soak up their ambiance as I sketched.

Axium Coffee was founded in 2005. 
They envisioned a gathering place for the community.  It is not just about the coffee, tea,
smoothies, pastries, and desserts, but also about coming together around a
cause.  It is a place about giving
instead of taking, about helping those in need: locally, nationally and
internationally. Here guests are not just numbers, but people with stories to
tell.  They wanted to find a way to
tangibly touch the lives of people in need: orphans, human trafficking victims,
the poverty-stricken, those without potable water, while creating a place that
unites the local community.  So, they
decided to give all the profit away in hopes of changing the world…one cup of
coffee at a time.

The name was born out of this dream. Axium is a city in Ethiopia.  In Axum,
there are 45,000 people.  The is no fresh
water, inadequate medical care, 1000 orphans on the streets and 1000 beggars
who are old, blind or physically impaired in some way.  Most people walk over 5 miles each day to
collect water from a reservoir that then needs to be boiled to be relatively
safe.  Over the next 10 years, with the
right funding and committed people they can bring fresh water to the city,
enhance medical care, sponsor orphans back into homes of relatives or friends
and help care for the old, the poor, and the blind.  The hope is to bring total transformation to
the city and the impact could be felt for generations to come.  Hopefully in 10 years this will be this
café’s story. The goal is to change lives one city at a time!

I didn’t know about Axium’s mission s I sketched, but I am
happy that choosing to sketch there helped their mission in a small way.

Central Florida Homeless Person’s Memorial

1 of 5 Print SOLD

I went to a Central Florida homeless person’s memorial service at St. James Catholic Cathedral (215 N Orange Ave, Orlando, Florida 32801) which recognized the lives of persons who died this year in Central Florida after having experienced homelessness.

During the service, the names of homeless persons who died in 2018 were be read aloud, and a candle was be lit to recognize and pay tribute to our neighbors who died on the streets or in emergency shelters.

The service began with a hymn and a few words from a pastor. Then the 81 names were slowly read with a bell sounding after each name. It reminded me of the bells being rung for the 49 lives lost a Pulse at the Vigil at the Dr Phillips Center. At that time 49 names seemed to take an eternity to read. 81 names take an even longer. It is sobering that so many lives are taken due to homelessness. Suicide, the elements and a lack of medical care all take their toll. 

People who knew the deceased then stood to have a candle lit and they held that candle as they stood at the front of those gathered. The stage grew crowded as people stood shoulder to shoulder with their candles a glow.  Then people were invited to say a few words about the people they had lost. One woman spoke about a homeless man who fell in love with her. He said he would win her heart and someday she would come homeless with him. She did indeed fall in love with him. She knew what a tortured soul he was and she felt he might have finally found peace. I got choked up listening to her. Her grief was overwhelming. Another man bedded down for the night in a friends driveway and in the morning, that friend accidentally backed up over him with his car.

Some on the list had been granted dignity by getting a roof over their heads.  A volunteer spoke about how a homeless man began sleeping in his neighborhood and the neighbors, knowing her worked with homelessness asked him to talk to the man. “Why don’t you talk to him? He doesn’t bite.” They wanted the man removed, but over time they began to offer him food and showers. When he moved on, another person took his place.

A volunteer from IDignity spoke about how important it is to give someone back their identity by recovering important documents. They host a monthly identification clinic where people can receive
free assistance obtaining identification documents. Only with an identity can you start life over.

Homelessness is a real problem here in Central Florida. It is important to treat people going through tough times with respect and dignity. Embrace every one of your neighbors with curiosity and an open heart. As I left the service, it was encouraging to see several police officers at the back of the congregation. They get to interact with homeless individuals more than anyone else.

6th Annual Derby on Park

I went to sketch Derby on Park, Orlando’s Premier Kentucky Derby Party:
Presented by Mercedes-Benz of Orlando and Anthony Dinova, Realtor at the Winter Park Civic Center (1050 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, Florida 32789). I met Melissa Marie McClain there. She had built an immense derby bonnet that had to be twice the size of any other bonnet there. It was vibrant green with a bright pink fluted lining that made it resemble a huge mushroom. Large feather thrust up to complete the look. There was a Best Hat Contest with a $500 cash prize. Melissa was sure to win. I had on a very floral dress shirt and a bow tie with a loud confetti pattern. I felt this dapper look might help me blend in.

I sketched all the ladies gathered outside at the tables. A gentleman wore a hat with a horse perched on top. It was encouraging to see a man embrace the hat contest. There were mint juleps and champagne along with plenty of food vendors. Everyone was dressed in their favorite derby attire, ready to cheer for their favorite horse.

As I was working on this sketch the Derby started inside the Civic Center. I could hear the roar of the crowd. While people were inside I tried a few of the outdoor food vendor booths. Always Dreaming won the 143rd Kentucky Derby it was over in an instant. Then came the real competition. All the ladies had to register on stage for the hat competition.

Long story short, Melissa’s huge and vibrant hat did not win the competition. The prize instead went to the wife of one of the sponsors. People kept approaching Melissa to compliment her hat. They were all sure she had one. When she explained that she didn’t win they were shocked. It wasn’t a popular vote however. We have all seen how that can go in the general elections.