AGENDA

From exclusive premieres to returning favorites, the arts community is serving up a diverse and exciting lineup of performances and exhibits that will appeal to a wide range of tastes and interests. Here are highlights...

February 12, 2022 – June 30, 2023, Carl and Gini Weyand Gallery, Orlando Museum of Art

At the time of his tragic death in 1988 at the age of 27, JeanMichel Basquiat had become an art world celebrity and pop culture icon. Basquiat first achieved fame in the late 1970s as a graffiti artist in the cultural hotbed of Lower East Side, Manhattan. During the early 1980s, his paintings were being exhibited in galleries and museums internationally, and today he is regarded as one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th century.

“He was a serious, major artist as a Black man in a white man’s world. Unfortunately, he would spend an evening with the glitterati and then couldn’t catch a cab home because of racism. These paintings are rare because they have never been seen before [in public]. They were painted in the fall/ winter of 1982 when Basquiat was in Los Angeles. He went out there with his girlfriend — Madonna before she was Madonna — and he was just a kid. We think of him as a superstar now, but at that time he was 21 and had just been discovered the year before by [art historian and curator] Diego Cortez,” says OMA Director and CEO Aaron H. De Groft, PhD.

Heroes and Monsters presents a rare group of 25 paintings from a private collection that is being shown for the first time at the Orlando Museum of Art. This is considered by many to be Basquiat’s best period in his short career. By 1982, he had established his distinctive raw expressionistic style and the symbolic vocabulary that would continue to recur in his work. His paintings often contrasted powerful forces within society and perhaps within himself. Learn more at omart.org.

Top image: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Crown Face), 1982, Oilstick and acrylic paint on cardboard Bottom image: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Industry Insider), 1982, Oilstick and acrylic paint on cardboard Both courtesy MJL Family Trust, LLC, c/o Mr. Richard LiPuma, Manager

Morgan Samuel Price

April 24 – 30, Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

This year 24 professionally acclaimed plein air artists will paint at the Polasek Museum and locations nearby for the 14th Annual Winter Park Paint Out Plein Air Festival. Art lovers are invited to watch the artists at work, view their recently completed paintings in the Museum gallery, and attend free painting demonstrations. Artwork created during the Winter Park Paint Out will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Museum. All artworks will be viewable online as it is created at winterparkpaintout.org.

“This year we are very excited to introduce several new artists to our 14th annual Winter Park Paint Out. They will join returning fan favorites in capturing the beauty of our hometown through the eyes of artists,” says Debbie Komanski, CEO/Executive Director of Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens.

The Winter Park Paint Out will end with a Garden Party on Saturday, April 30, and the gallery and sculpture gardens will be free to the public during the week-long festival.

Through May 8 at Art & History Museums of Maitland

The African American painters known as the Florida Highwaymen are renowned for their depictions of Florida’s natural landscapes, and the story of the collective’s genesis is as intriguing as the works themselves. This exhibition focuses on the recollections of Doretha Hair Truesdell, widow of Alfred Hair, universally accepted as the founder of the group. Mrs. Hair Truesdell’s recent firsthand account brings the narrative of this vibrant community of artists to life.

“I’m excited for visitors to our winter/spring art exhibition, The Recollections of Doretha Hair Truesdell: Alfred Hair and the Florida Highwaymen, to experience Doretha Hair Truesdell’s firsthand account of the Highwaymen movement, beginning in the home she shared with Alfred Hair. A&H staff interviewed Doretha in December of 2021, and a video excerpt of the interview will be playing in the gallery as part of the exhibition. She’s a beautiful person, and her story is incredibly moving. The video won’t be available online, so only visitors to the exhibition will be able to view the footage,” says Danielle Thomas, Executive Director, Art & History Museums of Maitland.

“I’m also incredibly excited for our new fundraising party, A&H: The Art Party. This event will feature live painting and printmaking, along with informal artist salons, where guests will have the chance to talk to A&H’s current and former studio artists. The event, on March 26, will be a fun mix of art, activity, conversation, and of course, great food and drink.” Learn more at artandhistory.org.

Unknown maker, Chinese, bottle, 9 in. (22.8 cm) in height, porcelain, gift of Dr. Benjamin L. Abberger Jr. and Nancy Hardy Abberger Collection, no date. Photo: The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park, Florida.

Unknown maker, Chinese, bough pot, 6 3/4 in. (17 cm) in height, porcelain, gift of Dr. Benjamin L. Abberger Jr. and Nancy Hardy Abberger Collection, c. 1770. Photo: The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park, Florida.

Chinese blue and white porcelain was among many Asian sources of inspiration for European and American artists and designers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, these precious Asian ceramic pieces are still avidly collected and attract a large, popular audience. In the 18th century, two regional variations of porcelain — Canton and Nanking (both produced in the port city of Guangzhou) — emerged. The industry served westerners eager to add an exotic element to their dining rooms. Complete sets of Canton porcelain, fashioned to accommodate European eating traditions, were embellished with broad brushstrokes of toned blues depicting flowers, village scenes, and interweaving patterning. Nanking wares reflected the higher quality of export porcelain. They featured evenly executed cobalt scenes in more refined detail, often embellished with gold accents.

Artists like James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) and Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) admired the ornamentation of these Chinese ceramics and incorporated them into some of their most famous interiors. This vignette exhibits numerous examples of these in-demand Chinese ceramics ranging from around 1740 to 1890. The works were collected over the course of 40 years by life-long Orlando residents Dr. Benjamin L. and Nancy Abberger and recently donated to the Morse Museum by the Abberger family. Visit morsemusuem.org for more information.

Through May 30 at Mennello Museum of American Art

Contemporary Expressions: Prints from Flying Horse Editions (1996-2021) presents a survey of limited-edition prints, artist books and printed objects from more than 60 internationallyrenowned artists electrifying the art world today. Artists including Diana Al-Hadid, Odili Donald Odita, Will Cotton, David Humphrey, Chakaia Booker, James Sienna, Luis Gispert, Inka Essenhigh, Jiha Moon, and Mark Thomas Gibson are on view, engaging patrons with a dialogue about perception and understanding. Curated by the City of Orlando’s Public Art Collection, the exhibit holds the largest and most complete assemblage of works published by Flying Horse Editions. Learn more at mennellomuseum.org

“We’re fortunate to have Flying Horse Editions, a world-class printing program at the University of Central Florida, our community’s renowned research institution,” says Mennello Museum Executive Director Shannon Fitzgerald. “Flying Horse Editions has attracted some of the most prominent artists working today

Jack Mr B Beverland, Untitled

in the role of visiting artists who have had the opportunity to create limited-edition master prints with exceptional printmakers in a state-of-the-art facility. Following the trajectory of the artists and their output from Flying Horse Editions is a visual narrative and a testament to the immense talent we have coming to Orlando.”

Greek (Thessaly), Horse on Two Openwork Spheres, Eighth century B.C, Bronze, The Sol Rabin Collection

Through May 8 at Rollins Museum of Art

From Chaos to Order: Greek Geometric Art from the Sol Rabin Collection is the first major museum exhibition in the United States, in more than 25 years, to focus on Greek art during the Geometric period (c. 900–700 B.C.). This pioneering exhibition includes 57 objects drawn from The Sol Rabin Collection, considered the most important Geometric Greek collection in private hands. The collection presents new evidence that re-examines the contributions and innovations of Geometric art and its enduring legacy throughout classical antiquity. It provides a new approach to understanding pre-classical Greek art and culture, ideologies and values — both ancient and modern—and the elements of design that would be foundational for many Western civilizations. From Chaos to Order: Greek Geometric Art from the Sol Rabin Collection is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. Learn more at rollins.edu.

“What I am most excited about is to share with the community the architectural drawings for the new Rollins Museum of Art. Soon we will be able to envision how our exceptional collection will be installed in much larger galleries, and what temporary exhibitions may dialogue with it,” says Ena Heller, PhD, Bruce A. Beal Director.

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is excited to present four performances as part of its 2021-2022 series in the brand-new Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in March and May. The first of these performances in the long-awaited space will be Gil Shaham Plays Beethoven as part of the Classics Series on Saturday, March 5 at 7:30pm.

Superstar Gil Shaham will perform Beethoven’s magisterial concerto — a creation of dramatic and emotional impact, and Latina composer Angélica Negrón reflects on the struggles with the creative process. To close the concert, the orchestra will show off Steinmetz Hall’s acoustics with Respighi’s epic Roman Festivals, with lots of extra brass and percussion.

“The Orlando Philharmonic is comprised of some of the most brilliant artists and humans and we, as a whole, need music to bring us together. We’ve been doing that for years and have thrived and grown as an organization, and the missing piece of the puzzle was a beautiful venue in which to perform. Steinmetz Hall will surely give Gil Shaham the orchestra a new lease on life and the ability to reach higher and higher artistic goals,” says Orlando Philharmonic Music Director Eric Jacobsen. Other upcoming performances in Steinmetz Hall include: The Celtic Tenors on March 12; Carmina Burana on May 7; and The Great American Songbook with The John Pizzarelli Trio on May 14. Visit orlandophil.org for more information.

Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

ISRAEL ZAVALETA ESCOBEDO MICHAEL CAIRNS

Orlando Ballet welcomes renowned choreographers Jessica Lang, Heath Gill and Val Caniparoli, all of whom will present productions that have never been performed by Orlando Ballet. The Premiere Collection celebrates American artistry taking Central Florida audiences on a journey through the sublime.

Making their Central Florida debut: A concert version of “Lambarena”, a fusion of classical ballet and African dance by Val Caniparoli; Jessica Lang’s contemporary masterpiece “Lyric Pieces;” and a beautiful and intelligent pas, “Confronting Genius” by Heath Gill.

“I am thrilled that Orlando Ballet will present two shows this spring which have not been performed in Central Florida previously — a mixed rep with selections from three American Choreographers at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre (which is truly up-close for the audience) and then, Jorden’s production of The Great Gatsby. Orlando will be the second Company in the world to deliver this exquisite look into the Roaring Twenties. Our Ballet Ball will also follow this theme — a not to miss immersive experience for all,” says Orlando Ballet Executive Director Cheryl Collins.

The Orlando Ballet Ball: A Night with Great Gatsby will take place April 9 at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre with the production of The Great Gatsby following April 28 – May 1 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. More information is available at orlandoballet.org.

ISRAEL ZAVALETA ESCOBEDO

SeungHyeon Baek

Opera Orlando’s 2021-22 Viva Verdi! season on the MainStage concludes with the longawaited move into Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with Rigoletto. This riveting melodrama is a compelling depiction of the callousness of the ruling class at the expense of those beneath them, featuring Korean baritone SeungHyeon Baek in the title role; the stunning soprano Lindsay Ohse as Gilda, Rigoletto’s secret daughter; and Metropolitan Opera tenor Kirk Dougherty as the dastardly Duke of Mantua. For tickets, visit operaorlando.org.

“It truly is momentous to be able to produce our operas in this stunning hall designed specifically for acoustic performances, especially opera,” says General Director Gabriel Preisser. “We have been building up to this over the past seasons, with our MainStage series moving from the Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater into the Walt Disney Theater, and now finally finding a home on the stage of Steinmetz Hall. I can’t think of a better show to mark this milestone. Verdi is one of opera’s greatest composers, and his Rigoletto promises to be thrillingly action-packed, featuring powerhouse voices and familiar melodies, all accompanied by the incredible Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.”

A dream, decades in the making finally came to life in January, with the debut of the third theater that was part of the original Dr. Phillips Center design. Local arts groups including Orlando Ballet, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Orlando now have a performance home designed for their productions. The community — including government entities and philanthropists — came together to finish Orlando’s iconic center.

• As one of the world’s most acoustically advanced theaters, Steinmetz Hall officially achieved an N1 sound rating — the lowest level at which humans can detect sound.

• It’s one of very few theaters in the world that can transform in shape, seating and sound to accommodate a variety of performances and events—with or without amplification.

• The quality of the space and the caliber of artists it will attract is on par with the most acclaimed venues across the globe—including Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera

House and Royal Albert Hall.

• There are 4 seating levels: orchestra (level 1), grand tier (level 2), center tier (level 3) and upper tier (level 4). And depending on the configuration, maximum capacity ranges from 1,597 to 1,741 people.

Still to come this summer is Judson’s, a dynamic music room with cabaret-style seating, perfect for intimate events and live entertainment — including emerging world music, jazz, chamber, and recording.

The latest looks for spring – from trendy denim and playful boots to flowy florals and feminine pastels – all showcased effortlessly in this country chic setting.

Location: BLB HACIENDA Photography: CHRISTI ASHBY Styling: KATE SLENTZ Model: BRITTNIE FAINE Hair and Makeup: MARJORIE ROBINSON

Brittnie Faine is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner who started the first four years of her career as a registered nurse in the post-surgical stepdown unit at AdventHealth in Winter Park. After gaining critical work experience and caring for patients throughout her community, Brittnie decided to go back to graduate school to earn her master’s degree in nursing. She is known for her incredible bedside manner that consistently makes her a favorite among her patients. Brittnie also volunteers in her community at Lake Highland Preparatory School and serves as a board member at The Faine House, which is a charitable organization that primarily houses youth who have aged out of the foster care system. She resides with her husband, Jeff Faine, and their two sons in Maitland.

Marjorie Robinson was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. She moved to the United States 37 years ago and has been working in hair, makeup and wardrobe styling since 1994 and has been a Winter Park local for the past 30+ years. Marjorie spends half her time at Marjorie's Hair and Makeup Studio, located at 400 S. Orlando Ave., Building 100, Suite D in Winter Park, and the other half working for Skystorm Productions Company doing hair, makeup and wardrobe for television commercials. She leaves some time in between the two to focus on charity work. To inquire about Marjorie's services, contact her at 407-375-1345.

BLB Hacienda is located in rural Seminole County near Sorrento. Partners Lee James, Bill Wells and Bob LaRose transformed the former equestrian center into an event venue — with horses, goats, chickens, and a peacock residing on the grounds. Comprised of a series of buildings including a new air-conditioned barn with catering kitchen, immaculate stables, bride’s suite, groom’s cabin and orchid house, it provides everything for a chic country wedding — or reunion barbeque, rehearsal dinner or unique nonprofit fund- raiser. blbhacienda.com