Florida Culture for the Week of August 15 by Josh Garrick

The ‘Cultural Season’ Begins!
It’s a cultural variety show, it’s a fund-raising auction, and most importantly – it’s the official ‘opening’ of the 2011-2012 cultural season in Central Florida. The 7th Annual Red Chair Affair is set for Saturday, August 27 at 8 pm at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. This is the event that celebrates – and introduces – Central Florida performers and artists to audiences for the season in both the visual and performing ARTS. It's our ticket to sample the incredible range of artistic offerings found throughout Central Florida. At the Affair, patrons enjoy activities in the lobby of the Bob Carr from 7 to 8 pm after which a 90-minute performance is presented on-stage from a variety of Central Florida’s cultural organizations. Attractions include everything from Orlando Aerial Arts and the Orlando Ballet to the Orlando Gay Chorus, the Philharmonic, the Shakespeare Theater, and the Winter Park Playhouse. Funds raised support the Red Chair Project, a non-profit service group which includes 360 organizations, promoting the arts through RedChairProject.com, discounted tickets, workshops, and cultural getaways. VIP tickets and corporate packages are available. To purchase tickets, visit RedChairProject.com or call 407-872-2382.

"red chairs" created by arts organizations for the "Red Chair Affair" - 

Full Sail Graduates Help Create Blockbuster Film
Orlando’s Full Sail University has been winning awards as an educational leader for careers in the entertainment and media industry since its founding in 1979. Recognized as one of the Top 5 Game Degree Programs by Electronic Gaming Monthly, one of the Best Music Programs by Rolling Stone Magazine, and one of the Best Film Programs by UNleashed Magazine, Full Sail can now congratulate an unprecedented 43 graduates who worked in various roles on the blockbuster film, Captain America: The First Avenger. Based on the Marvel comic book series, 43 Full Sail graduates were involved in the creation of the film in roles ranging from Lead Character Rigger to Re-recording Mix Technician and Digital Effects Supervisor. “Captain America looks fantastic, and I’m really proud of it. We were able to give it the depth and detail of 3D while maintaining the overall image quality,” said Eric Timm, Full Sail University Film graduate and Rotoscope Artist for the film. In addition, Full Sail graduates have worked on OSCAR, Emmy, GRAMMY, ADDY, MTV Video Music Award, and Spike Video Game Award nominated and winning projects.  For more visit fullsail.edu

Full Sail student at computer 

Full Sail students at work

New Public Sculpture at Mennello Museum
There’s a new ‘public’ sculpture in town, and just like the new Sheriff showing up in the Old West, this sculpture is ‘standing tall’ at 18 feet high. Nationally renowned (and DeLand resident) sculptor  created and installed the new sculpture at the Mennello Museum of American Art. Titled L'homme, the sculpture was commissioned to be an abstract representation of museum founder Michael Mennello. The sculpture was fabricated from steel and aluminum in Wolfe’s studio in DeLand where he frequently combines high-tech and traditional metalworking techniques. L'homme is the companion piece to Wolfe's Les Grande Dame, a 13 foot sculpture, commissioned by Mr. Mennello two years ago. Wolfe has installed many public artworks in Central Florida, including mobiles at the downtown Orlando, Winter Garden, and Alafaya Public Libraries, Orlando's Langford Park, DeLand City Hall and the University of Central Florida. His work is included in corporate and private collections including AT&T and the Florida Hospital. Frank Holt, Director of the Mennello Museum says, “It was the 'missing link' in the view of the lake.”  The Mennello Museum is located at Loch Haven Park at 900 E. Princeton Street in Orlando.  Additional work by John Wolfe may be viewed at wolfesculpture.com

Arabia at Science Center’s Cinedome
The often overwhelming screen of the Orlando Science Center’s Cinedome is the perfect place to lose yourself in the exotic – and enlightening – Arabia, the newest movie offered at OSC.  Premiering on Saturday, August 20 and playing through May 2012, Arabia ‘flies’ viewers through the treasure-laden Red Sea to explore the ruins of a lost city, tells us about three Islamic ‘Golden Ages,’ and introduces us to the youth of Arabia who are literally transforming this ancient land. The movie introduces a country few of us will ever visit while exploring this fabled world with images of more than 20 locations across Saudi Arabia. Spanning 21 centuries of history, the film tells us of an ancient culture based on global trade, an age of scientific discovery in advance of our Western Renaissance, and the current age of technological advances and youthful optimism. The Premiere is an OSC Cocktails & Cosmos event set for Saturday, August 20 from 7 to 11 pm, with food and drink specials along with the premiere of the new giant-screen film. Hamzah Jamjoom, a young Saudi film-maker featured in the film, will be the honored guest of the evening. Call 407.514.2000 or visit osc.org

Concierge Association to Host Statewide Conference
There was little doubt that the Concierges of the hotels that serve visitors to Central Florida represent the finest and best trained of their colleagues throughout the United States. Thanks in part to their efficient and friendly service, Orlando recently became the first U.S. city to ever welcome more than 50 million visitors in one year. Now, the Concierges will enhance our economy once again as their Association prepares for the 15th Annual Florida Concierge Conference. It will be held from September 6 to 9 at the newly-renovated Peabody Orlando. “We want to give the concierges the ultimate Orlando experience so they can confidently recommend restaurants, parks, shopping, and spas in the Orlando area to their guests,” says Hameed Jasat, President of the Central Florida Concierge Association. “We're expecting more than 150 concierge and corporate partners,” he added.  The conference will include visits to theme parks and restaurants, previews of new venues, a tradeshow and educational sessions. For more information visit centralfloridaconcierge.org or call Mr. Jasat at 407.345.4465

Photo credit:  Carlton Wade  The Concierge desk in the Peabody Orlando lobby

And not to be missed …
Tony Robbin: A Retrospective at the Orlando Museum of Art (running through October 30) is the “real-deal” in computer-generated Art. Including four-dimensional objects on canvas, brilliant water color prints, and a sculpture, the works are complex (but oh-so-pleasing) layers of geometric forms. Call 407 896 4231 or visit omart.org

With a witty look behind the scenes at the world of theater, the Mad Cow Theater presents The Understudy, a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck. A Hollywood action hero, a jilted bride, and Kafka thrown in for spice create a thoroughly enjoyable collision of characters performed through August 28 at the Mad Cow Theatre.  Call 407.297.8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators