The performing arts have long recognized and taken inspiration from great works of art. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Broadway musical, Sunday in the Park with George, paid tribute to artist Georges Seurat in months leading up to the completion of his most famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The song, Mona Lisa, written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston describes Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait, Mona Lisa.
 
Now, Art for All Spaces founder Brad Michael Biggs and Director Janae Corrado pay homage to the performing arts and drama with Theatrix at the City Arts Factory, which opened on April 20th and continues for one month. The gallery is located at 29 S. Orange Ave in Orlando and is open from 11 am until 6 pm.
 
The event features paintings, sculptures and photography that pay tribute to theater performance and history, cinema, musicians and performers, as well as dramatic themes and emotions. As you enter the gallery, you are eyed by a large acrylic painting of “the master of suspense,” Alfred Hitchcock, created by Danny Rock.

Hitchcock

You then meet up with Ludwig Van Beethoven, whose portrait by Ivaldo Robles is painted on the front and back of the glass with part of “Piano Sonata No. 14 in C#” musical notes on the background, adding another dimension to the music.

Beethoven

As you proceed down the aisle, you come across internationally recognized photographer Josh Garrick’s photograph of a pair of ceramic figures from ancient Roman theatre that literally rose through the ashes of Pompeii, perfectly preserved by Vesuvius’ explosive burial. His also shows a photograph of Epidavros, outside of Athens, the largest preserved ancient theater in the world.

Pompeii Theatre Diptych

Artist Cathy Hempel has a series of ballerina paintings with her “unique backstage views.” Richard Munster’s ceramic The Lamentation of the Joads and Ode to Rose of Sharon hang on the wall by seemingly invisible strands holding orbs that look like ancient artifacts.  Prayong Deeying’s Dancers sculpture embodies both form and motion in performance, as does Marsha De Broske & John Carrollo’s mixed media collaboration, Ascending to Light.

Ascending to Light

Bonnie Sprung’s CD collection, as this writer names it, features famous artists, including Louis Armstrong, that subtly jump out at you in a 3-D effect as she employs mixed media of acrylic/oil and CDs on canvas.

Louis Armstrong

Samantha Shumaker’s Dan’s Last Dance stands out in beauty and story line. This piece uses delicate, opaque strokes of oil paint 'layered' on to the canvas with incredible detail and colors. It depicts the 200 year old Peking Opera or Bejing Opera’s art form which required the skills of martial arts, singing, acting, and acrobatics. The “Dan” were female performers adorned by elaborate and colorful costumes who brought popular folklore characters to life. This painting depicts the “Dan” with China’s oldest and best-preserved Beijing Theater perched atop her head.  Samantha has a YouTube channel, “Shumakerart”, where she shares her techniques and tips.

Dan’s Last Dance 

Samantha Shumaker
 

These are just a few of the many talented artists whose works are on display at this event. Whether you love theater, cinema, musicians, or performers, it’s time to recognize their contributions to the arts, as they recognize Theatrix!

Ben Hirschenfang had a 35-year career in the aerospace industry, predominantly with Lockheed Martin Corporation, including his most recent position as Deputy Director of the JASSM cruise missile program for the United States Air Force. Ben is a graduate of City College of the City University of New York, holding a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering (and minor in Art). He holds a number of professional citations and was awarded numerous Employee Excellence Awards while at Lockheed Martin Corporation.