Featured Artist:
Rick Hotton and the Mindful Art of Holy Molê

By Randy Moore

Rick Hotton is stuck in time, but he’s not complaining. The 52-year-old cartoonist from Sarasota, Florida lives life with the kind of soulful deliberation more commonly associated with an ancient temple or monastery. Hotton would rather observe the flight of a mud wasp or study a turtle munching on grass than watch a popular television show or sporting event.

His reflective nature and reverence for life is the byproduct of practicing and teaching martial arts since he was 14. Hotton has trained thousands of students over the years; 55 have earned their black belt under his skilled tutelage.

It is Hotton’s regard for tradition and ritual that frames his outlook about life and the human experience. It’s also the essence of his award-winning cartoon Holy Molê, an original creation influenced by Eastern sensibilities and the etiquette of martial arts.

“Mindfulness is at the heart of my martial arts practice and Holy Molê,” he said. “Both involve an appreciation for the intrinsic spirit in everything and the deeper truths about living with focused awareness.”

Hotton hand draws each strip with an ink pen on a plain sheet of paper. He uses a simple water color set to color the strips; the same inexpensive brand found in many elementary schools. The Holy Molê collection features 900 strips and current customers include 30 newspapers and magazines in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain. Most of the cartoon’s growth has occurred in the past several months, and the Holy Molê Facebook page has attracted more than 1,200 friends from around the world.

Hotton sees Holy Molê as an unassuming crusader for mindful living in an era when people feel disconnected from the superficiality of modern times. His strips capture the angst and humor people feel about a culture obsessed with celebrity worship, new gadgets and continuous hype presented as news.
“Holy Molê reminds people what’s real and important; things like compassion, honor and the regard for the sacredness of life,” he explained. “It’s an expression of the kind of authenticity many people long for in their busy lives.”

Hotton never set out to be a cartoonist or advocate for social change. The art form found him in 2005; first as a relaxing outlet and eventually as a creative way to encourage mindfulness and compassion. Holy Molê caught on quickly with early fans that began collecting and sharing Rick’s doodles. Today, he draws six new strips each week with a mindful focus that would impress any sage.

The central theme of Holy Molê is the hero’s journey to greater understanding and self-acceptance. It’s a familiar path of hope and courage that resonates with people of all ages. Why am I here? What is my purpose? Which path is right for me? The woodland critters in Holy Molê mirror our human tendency of stumbling forward in spite of our misunderstandings about ourselves and our circumstances.

Molê, the endearing star of Holy Molê, is the archetypal seeker, which is ironic given that Molês are blind. It’s an intentional irony reminding us that our spiritual instincts provide us with clarity as long as we pay attention.

Hotton finds fulfillment in knowing that sharing Holy Molê and teaching martial arts encourages mindfulness.

“I’m one of many people that long for a kinder world,” he added. “Although the path can be difficult at times, we make our greatest progress when we share our journey with others. I feel that sense of connection when I’m training in the dojo and drawing a new cartoon strip. It’s a good feeling that gives me hope and a deep sense of purpose.” Enjoy more Holy Molê on Facebook.

Through January 30
[ venice stage ]

Venice Theatre presents “Falsetto.". From two of the creators of Into the Woods comes a clever, jaunty and hard-bitten musical. This Tony award-winning show explores shifting relationships, non-traditional families, loneliness, and new joys even in the face of an insidious disease. Check theatre box office for show dates and times. Call 941-488-1115.

Through January 30
[ also venice stage ]

Venice Theatre is also mounting “Love, Sex & the IRS." Jon Trachtman and Leslie Arthur are out-of-work musicians who room together in New York City. To save money, Jon has been filing tax returns listing the pair as married. The day of reckoning comes when the Internal Revenue Service informs the "couple" they're going to be investigated. Twists of fate, sight gags, mistaken identities and hilarious comic lines ensue. Everything you expect from a classic farce.

January 21
[ textile talk ]

Art Uptown, Sarasota’s oldest cooperative fine art gallery, hosts the second in its new “Meet the Artist” program on Friday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the gallery, 1367 Main Street. Textile artist Jo-Ann Golenia, the gallery’s featured artist during the month of January, will discuss her inspirations and show her step-by-step techniques. The program is open to the public, without charge.

Jo-Ann's solo exhibit, “Thread of Life: Who We Are,” features intricate works created with fabric and thread from her Abstract Series and Scenes from Life Series. Unlike paintings, her fiber creations can take weeks or months to complete. The textiles are her paints, the threads provide detail. Inspired by the biology of life, she creates a natural world in fabric.
Call 941-955-5409.

January 21
[ flutes ]

Wind Echoes is a local group of Native American flute enthusiasts who meet monthly, to enjoy playing, learning, and sharing their love of Native American flute music and music-making. You are invited to join them and discover your “Heartson." They'll teach you the basics, and the ability to read music is not needed. Flutes are available for loan and purchase. Open to the public, no reservations needed. Donations requested to cover expenses. For more information, please call Bill at 441-5158. Wind Echoes Flute Circle meets on the 3rd Friday each month.

January 22
[ special appearance ]

David Hirson, author of the multiple Tony Award-nominated play, "La Bête," will visit Sarasota’s Asolo Repertory Theatre to attend their production and participate in a panel discussion with director, Michael Donald Edwards and actor Danny Scheie after the 2 p.m. matinee. La Bette is playing through February 20. Call 941-351-8000 for tickets and information.

January 28 - 30
[ two w’s ]

Walker & Wolfe are part of Lemon Bay Playhouse’s Showcase Series, which brings well known professional talent to the local stage to appear between the theater’s regular plays. The couple will bring a fast paced, high energy show to the Englewood stage, complete with song, dance, comedy, and impression routines. In addition to their Broadway shows, they have performed at Carnegie Hall and appeared with well known stars Frank Gorshin and Charlie Callas. They also starred on TV’s Love Boat and worked with acclaimed Broadway director Susan Stroman. Call 941-475-6756.

January 30
[ community art ]

CAFÉ: Community Art Fundraising Event at Bonni Bakes in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts. Here’s how it works: you pay $15 for a delicious vegetarian dinner. Local artists get the chance to pitch their ideas for a community arts project. Then, those in attendance vote and one of the artists is given the grant. All of the meal costs go to the grant, pretty cool. If you are an artist and want to be considered, give them a call: the deadline is January 21. 941-746-6647.

February 4
[ wine reception ]

The Dancing Crane Gallery features the exciting paintings  of abstract artist Fernando Madridejos with a February 4th wine reception from 6-9 PM.  Show runs through Feb 26.  Madridejos is a mixed-media artist whose innovative technique emphasizes spontaneity and improvisation. He uses acrylics with different gel mediums for special effects, a multitude of rough, thin layers of paint splattered, scraped and dripped over the canvas and sometimes incorporates collages in the painterly style of the Abstract Expressionists. 1019 10th Ave W.  Bradenton. Call 941.744.1333.

Starting January 22
[ pencil art ]

The Way of the Pencil, with Chirs Casanta at Art Center Sarasota. A class for all ages from the "Careers in Art" series, 6 sessions
This course will teach students the fundamentals of line-based drawing, illustration, character design, color theory, 1-point and 2-point perspective, and depth. The curriculum will include techniques for comic books, cover art, posters and cartoons. You'll learn line weight, line movement, pen techniques and how to visually tell a story. You will also learn how to draw the human figure, understand the range of motion of the body, foreshortening, posture and muscle/bone structure. You will learn how to create your own characters and put depth and dimensionality in your work. Saturdays, Jan 22 – Feb 26, 2011 1 – 4pm $90 members / 100 non-members for 6 sessions. Call 941-365-2032.

February 3 – March 10
[ career for artists ]

"Career Development for the Artist," a six-week course conducted by Caroll Michels, career coach and artist-advocate, and author of How to Survive & Prosper as an Artist (New York: Henry Holt & Company).  Aimed at helping fine artists overcome basic problems of launching and sustaining a successful career. The course is open to the public and offered at the Ringling College of Art & Design. Call 941-955-8866 for details.

Be sure to check the audition pages of local theaters to make sure you don't miss anything (click the theater name): Florida Studio Theatre • The Players Theatre of Sarasota • Manatee Players • The Golden Apple • Island Players • Asolo Repertory Theatre • Venice Theatre • Lemon Bay Playhouse