Plein Air Old North

 

Sarah Lorentz said she planned to paint Saturday August 24, 2024 while the Old North Saint Louis Chess Club played matches in the Chess Pocket Park near 2711 14th Street. Sure enough, at 8:00 a. m. Sarah parked her Crown Victoria on 14th and greeted Jeffrey Zollmer as the chess clubbers set up tents, sign-in table and prepared for competition. 

Sarah had already prepared her oil pallet with an array of colors. Quickly observing angles she sketched a strategy for her composition on her cradle frame wood plane. She began painting almost instantly. She made a quick course correction as she noted the intensity of two players facing off over a chess board. That match turned out to be a draw. 

Capturing the environment and details such as background green space and large mural on a wall, her composition took shape. She worked her canvas for more than 3 hours. Sarah made time to visit (with me) the Saturday opening of Central Print at 11 a.m. I pointed out the bandstand plaza across from Crown Candy and the future headquarters of the Old North Restoration Group and the windows of the US International Foods location. 

   

The day was sunny and warm. There was a a lot of activity in the neighborhood. Instructional coach Wells said hello and introduced me to her husband Isaiah. I was able to visit the home on Saint Louis Avenue of Juan William Chavez and chatted with his partner about their workshop for SLPS teachers with indigenous people about climate, land and varieties of bees. I kept an appointment with Central Print to produce my artful holiday greeting card. 

Needless to say, it was a full, fun and productive Saturday. 

By Saturday September 21, 2024 the painting will be on display in the window at Central Print. The artist will sell it for $450.00. Old North will be busy on Saturday with house tours, an art fair and music on the plaza across from Crown Candy. The Saint Louis Old North Chess Club will be at the Chess Pocket Park off of 14th street.

The Play is the Thing

 

Plays (the theatrical productions I mean) are significant reference points in my life. 

The Deadly Game (Lakewood Little Theater circa1965) - I was 9 or 10 when I saw my mom on stage in a powerful performance as the end of the show. She joked that her full length mink coat helped her get the role.

The Women - My mom performed a reading from this play with her friends from the Three Arts Club (sometime before 1965). I recall here character delivering a key line "jungle red Sylvia" while they rehearsed in our living room.

The Taming of the Shrew - The Great Lakes Shakepeare Company circa 1977. They asked my mom (after she completed her Masters of Dramatic Arts at Case Western Reserve University) to speak to a group of theater goers prior to the show. I didn't realize until years later that a young actor named Tom Hanks had a part in that show, He was Gumio.

Hamlet - Also at Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival - Mom not only provided my ticket but a detailed explanation of the story or the Prince of Denmark. 

Rosenkrantz and Gildenstern are Dead - Playhouse in Cleveland.

Hamlet - with Dame Judith Anderson, a woman, playing Hamlet. I think this was at the Hanna Theater. 

Good Evening - at the Hanna with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. I shared recorded bits with college friends circa 1975-76 notably the sketch where a one legger man is applying for the role as Tarzan. The sketch was eventually a part of a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.

At Clague Playhouse where mom was director in residence: Man of La Mancha, Roar of the Greasepaint - Smell of the Crowd, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (in which my mom stepped into the role of a teacher/nun when the actress in that role got sick - My mom flawlessly played the part of a nun!)

Oklahoma - Mom fearlessly played Aunt Eller (including singing) at LLT. 

West Side Story - at Saint Edward High School. She was asked to direct this HS production and found the magic of that musical but was careful to show in the end the story of Romeo and Juliet is a Shakespearean tragedy.

Veronica's Room at LLT mom won best actress honors for her performance.

Cactus Flower, Where Did We Go Wrong?, Mary Mary, Any Wednesday. at LLT (She always delivered. I remember her practicing just how the secretary/assistant would answer the phone in the Cactus Flower - "Doctor Winston's Office" with a perfect officiousness. 

Laugh In - Mom directed this play at Wildwood Lake Playhouse. 

She had some raving fans among those she taught at LLT and those she relied on as collaborators (musical director, casting etc.).

Working in New York, I was thrilled to catch Dustin Hoffman in Death of a Salesman. I saw productions of Glenn Garry Glen Ross, Les Miserables. I saw a great production about Groucho in New York too.

Recently in St. Louis I saw a brilliant production of Red about Mark Rothko and he interacted with his assistant while struggling to complete his commission for the Four Seasons Restaurant in the Seagram's Building in NYC. 

This is just off the top of my head. Plays I've seen and remember the association and memories they trigger. Theater is a great way to reflect and dive into feeling.  

 

P.S. And more recently I saw Noises Off at the Beck Center, Girl from North Country in Cleveland, Funny Girl, Rain (Beatles tribute band) at St. Louis Fabulous Fox Theater (and I have plans to see Hamilton there the day after Labor Day 2024).