ARTS & CULTURE: Come see sexy dancers covered in paint

Published Nov. 18, 2009 at 9:04 p.m.

Well, now that I've got your attention, I'd like to tell you about an awesome monthly event called Third Thursdays, a fun little art hop to various venues in downtown Orlando. Blank Space Art Lounge, the newest addition to Third Thursdays, is bringing you living art with performances by DRIP: Paint in Motion.

You might have seen the huge banners with the half-naked paint covered dancers as you drive past the intersection of Central and Rosalind and wondered what they were all about. Well, it turns out that a funky new art lounge and coffee shop called Blank Space has opened up in the former real estate agency and has merged with local performance art troupe DRIP to bring in some more culture for the cool kids in downtown Orlando. The décor is modern and minimal, with a little lounge area and a few well-placed neon lights to give it a bit of a club vibe at night. The sandwich board advertises beer, wine and coffee.

DRIP is an eclectic performance art company, consisting of dancers and artists of all mediums. Their mission is to mix movement with visual art to create a unique, multi-media experience. For their 2008 Fringe show “Wet,” they combined concert lighting, live electric guitar, liquid light and glow in the dark paint to create their rock-and-roll dance show.  They also produced “Fresh,” a romantic Valentine’s Day event, with couples painting workshops, edible gardens, DJ and contemporary dance vignettes. Check out their website to see photos and descriptions of past DRIP events.

Here is some more info on DRIP’s upcoming Blank Space performance:


Back by popular demand, DRIP is performing their Water Box performance with the antique wedding dress that you may have seen last month! They are also premiering 2 new performance pieces. One is an organic and earthy performance in a mound of dirt and the other visually tells the story of a marriage gone bad by freeze framing moments in time with strobe lights and high energy cinematic music.

The 3rd Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Blank Space has become an experimental playground for DRIP.  DRIP’s vision is led by creative director, Jessica “Mariko” with the support of a creative team of directors and performers.  This month features art directors, Christie Brock and Evan Miga, who are creating the concepts of the vignettes, designing the visuals, building sets & props and training the dancers on how to use the mediums.   Performance directors, Linda Eve Elchack (also the director of Nao Dance Collective, www.NaoDance.com) and newcomer, Leah Marke (co-creator of the Macabre Vignettes with the Orlando Puppet Festival), are choreographing the vignettes.  Music Director, David Traver (also the resident music director for Blue Man Group Orlando), contributes to the creative vision and composes the music.  

This month’s featured performers include Samantha Hudson, Tin Tin, and Sarah Maisano.
Additional support and performance by Megan Boetto, Steven Johnson, Melissa Kasper and Sarah Osborn.

DRIP's performance art night returns to Blank Space
3rd Thursday, Friday and Saturday in November

WHAT:
Enjoy wine, beer and performance art by DRIP in downtown's newest contemporary art lounge, Blank Space.

WHERE:
Blank Space Art Lounge (www.BlankSpaceArt.net)
201 East Central Boulevard, Orlando FL 32801, downtown on the corner of Central and Rosalind.

WHEN:
Thursday, November 19th, 8pm (Creative Industry discounted tickets available for $10)
Thursday, November 19th, 10pm
Friday, November 20th, 9pm
Saturday, November 21st, 9pm

TICKETS: $15. Reserve tickets at www.ILoveDRIP.com or purchase at the door
(Limited to 40 tickets so reserve early.  A great list of organic wines, beers and espresso sold separately.)

FACEBOOK EVENT: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=174330609654&ref=ts

MORE 3RD THURSDAY INFORMATION & A LIST OF PARTICIPATING GALLERIES: http://www.orlandoslice.com/page/3rd-thursday-gallery-hop

Back | Read more at Orlando Metromix