When seven Central Florida counties were factored in, the study showed that the arts contribute $264 million annually to the economies of Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Brevard and Polk counties.

Conducted by Americans for the Arts, aWashington, D.C.-based national advocacy group, the study did not measure ticket sales or entry fees, but tallied other spending created by cultural organizations — everything from the groups' rents and payrolls to patrons' expenditures on transportation and baby sitters.

Christine Betow Seerveld recently moved to Orlando, FL where she spends her days making metal art. She studied music theory and mathematics at Whitman College and outdoor recreation at Western Washington University. Somehow from this hodge podge of interests she took a love of form, structure, geometry, and the natural world and has applied it to her art. She first attended Burning Man in 2006 where she saw The Flaming Lotus Girl's piece, Serpent Mother. This is what first inspired her to take up welding.

Monster Art Studio was formed in 2001 by Jeff Riggan.
Throughout the years Jeff has painted approximately 30 murals for Orlando-based Tijuana Flats
restaurants. Riggan has professionally painted and drawn for nearly 30 years. Jeff has been featured
in many publications, local and national news as well as several television shows. Riggan has sculpted, painted murals and fabricated large scale artwork for UNIVERSAL, NICKELODEON, ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE, SIX FLAGS AND WONDERWORKS to name a few.

Drink Better Beer

Held on the first Sunday of each month starting @ 4:15 PM

I was invited to become a committee member of Tech Thursday events at Urban Rethink, a progressive co-working space that emphasizes collaboration between disciplines such as art, science, technology, and community. Even though it is volunteer work, it is incredibly rewarding, as I’ve met incredible people and have been able to continue in my Nerdom.