Turning the Sapphire Into a Sideshow

May 22, 1998

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Mr. Meah felt the "new Film Festival administration" rejected an exhibit of his art work due to concerns about offending "Orlando sensibilities." Mr. Meah clarified his position and explained that his comments were directed to city and county government administrations, not the festival administration, and referred to a Meah exhibit rejected by an Orlando Museum.

This coming Thursday, the Sapphire Supper Club will transform into a veritable sideshow as the Florida Film Festival Preview party (sponsored by The Slant, Full Sail Real World Education, and Filmmaker Magazine) descends onto it - feet first. Yea, it's true that there will be free Finlandia and food (for a couple of hours only, so get there early), but the real star of this show will be a visit from lifelong carnie sideshow performer and banner artist Johnny Meah, who did the poster for this year's festival. In addition, there will be music provided by Obliterati and The Tarantulas - two local favorites.

Meah is something of an icon in the world of sideshow performance, but he's even more famous for his banner paintings, which are considered a fine art and sold at galleries in New York. Former festival marketing director Mike Monello tracked down this mysterious figure and commissioned him to generate the always-distinctive festival artwork. According to Meah, he was given free creative reign over the design, which he feels lets the artist deliver the most creative and original work - appropriate enough for a film festival. You'll be able to see the banner at the party.

Meah has also agreed to perform his art at this Thursday's soiree. For those of you unfamiliar with the sideshow tradition, brace yourselves. His performance, which will begin at 8:30pm, will include acts that will amaze, shock, and maybe even disgust you (I don't want to give away too much). The show will go for 45 grueling minutes, maybe followed by some Q&A depending on the crowd, says Meah. He's performed in front of a wide variety of audiences, "Tonight I'll be doing a museum and, tomorrow I'll be doing a tit bar," so he generally plays it loose.

Originally, the party was intended to be an exhibit of more of Meah's art, but Meah feels there were fears in the new city (* see above) administration about offending the Orlando sensibility. Meah is a little mystified about the whole thing: "Orlando has developed this Hare Krishna-type Disney good good attitude ... it's crazy...the whole dismal Disney thing." Art or not, the show will go on promptly at 8 o'clock, so don't miss a hell of a good time!

Dan Leeds
I may have broken the dreaded 30 threshold, but internally I still feel like I stopped getting older some time around 25 or so. Yea, I've become more responsible and maybe even a little more ambitious, but not so much that I've lost track of my guiding ideals or my ability to play. While getting older may be inevitable, aging is much more relative. What else is there? :)