JULY 2019 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 7 THESTANDARDPS.COM
THE ART ISSUE
CONTENTS VOLUME 7, ISSUE 7
theStandardPS.com twitter.com/theStandardPS COVER ART BY SHAG
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COVER ART REDEFINED MUSIC PAGES 10 -13
Volume 7 Issue 7 COVER THE MOD WORLD OF JOSH AGLE AKA SHAG EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW COVER ART REDEFINED LOCAL VIEWPOINT FEATURE LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK NOTABLE LGBT ARTISTS FEATURE LGBTQ OF STEEL NEW PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK BY JAN DEE GORDON
ART BY JOE DIETL
MUSIC DARIO’S EPIC ASCENSION THE SINGER’S TRIUMPHANT RETURN JULY 2019 3
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COMMENTARY
The Standard Magazine PO Box 2074, Palm Springs, CA 92263 760.831.4869 Nino Eilets Publisher Luciano McNulty Editor Maya Kalabic Art Director PHOTOGRAPHER David A. Lee CONTRIBUTORS
Steven Barnes, Jeff Dorta, Mona Elyafi, Dann Foley, Michael Khordoc, Jill Langham, Jacob Lopez, Christina Vronay Ruggles, Terri Schlichenmeyer, & Ryan Turrin
www.thestandardps.com EDITORIAL CREDITS :
BrandPoint, Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation, Project Publicity, MSN & Reuters The Standard Magazine is published monthly. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of the Standard or its staff, advertisers or readers with exception of editorials. Publication of the name or photograph of any person, business or organization in articles or advertising in the Standard is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person, business or organization. The Standard disclaims any responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Advertising rates are subject to change without notice. The Standard reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any advertisement for any reason including, but not limited to poor taste. It is the policy of The Standard that we only publish letters to the editor that are signed by the author and verifiable by phone number. We can reserve the right of anonymity upon request. The letters need to be original, in good taste and free of libel as well as edited for clarity and grammar. Letters are subject to editing by The Standard that also reserves the right to decline print. Please forward your letters to: info@thestandardps.com The views expressed is not necessarily those of The Standard. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. No portion of the publication may
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COVER
THE MOD WORLD OF JOSH AGLE A.K.A. SHAG BY JACOB LOPEZ
Josh Agle commonly known as Shag (a contraction of the last two letters of his first name and the first two letters of his last) is one of today’s most popular and widely regarded artists His trademark style is spotted on everything from cocktail napkins to mosaics and beach towels. The cartoon-like paintings are an ode to the cocktail culture of the 1950s and 1960s, done in the style (albeit over the top) of commercial art of the era. Nostalgia for the optimism and fashionable hedonism of that time is one reason for Shag’s popular appeal. But like the best art, it’s the doors in our own imaginations opened up by his work that keep viewers engaged—and coming back for more. One look at a piece of artwork by Shag and you can’t help
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but smile. The swank and swagger of his imagery owes a lot to early James Bond films and David Bailey’s “Swinging London” photography. Other influences include Lowbrow artist (and Juxtapoz magazine founder) Robert Williams, graffiti and visual artist Keith Haring, and animator David Weidman. The Shag Store, the world’s first retail shop and gallery dedicated exclusively to the art of Shag is open in Palm Springs with a second store in West Hollywood CA. They have quickly become must-see destinations for locals and visitors alike. This month’s we are totally honored to have the cover of The Standard Magazine exclusively designed by Shag. We also had the pleasure to speak with Josh about his inspirations, his popularity in Palm Springs and sneak a peek into the mind of the artist himself.
When did you realize that art would be your passion? I wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember. I had a crisis of confidence and studied business in college, but changed my major to fine art about halfway through the program. Like most artists, whose art evolves throughout the different phases of their careers, how has that evolution been for you? The art world has changed dramatically in the 22 years I’ve been painting, and now almost all of my time is spent creating art for the Shag Stores in Palm Springs and West Hollywood. The “stores” are actually galleries, which only carry my art and merchandise. The gallery system that served me well is breaking down as artists promote their work on Instagram and sell it on Etsy.com. My art itself has gone through stages where it got darker and less accessible, but eventually it returns to the brighter, more hedonistic work that I’m best known for. Your art is always very thematic, what is the thought process that goes into creating an exhibit? I feel like every painting needs a reason to exist – something in the piece that gives it meaning, so it will engage people who look at the art. It could be as simple as something darkly humorous going on, or it could be the inclusion of an object or character in the piece that is out of place, which might make the viewer think a little. When I do a group of new paintings, they are tied together by a larger overarching theme as well. My last show in New York was based on stories from the Old Testament, though a viewer would have had to dig really deep to figure that out without looking at the titles of the paintings. I’m not at all religious, but the morality in the early bible stories is topsy turvy, and I wanted to comment on that. It seems that Palm Springs is a big part of your work. Is Palm Springs your muse? Palm Springs is one of my muses – the city has a particular quality to the light that is stunning, but also the lifestyle in the desert is something I try to capture in my paintings. I first came to Palm Springs in the late 1980s and it was like a cultural black hole – it was full of golf stores and businesses that catered to old people. But I could see the mid-century modern architecture underneath it all, and had a strong hope that something cool would happen to the city.
Over time that’s exactly what did occur, as people realized that the history and setting of the town were really special. What has been the most bizarre request you have had from someone who has commissioned your work? A woman commissioned me to paint her with Merv Griffin at a cocktail bar. This was years ago, but I found it a pretty odd request.
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Who or what are your biggest inspirations? As far as artists, I’m really inspired by anonymous commercial illustrators form the ‘50s and ‘60s. Old architectural photography books, cocktail recipe books and interior design books also inspire me. How did your collaboration with Disney come about? Disney approached me in 2003 to do some art to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. The collaboration turned out to be far more successful than either Disney or I imagined, and I have been working with them ever since. I have a policy where I only do one piece of art for them each year, as I don’t want to be known principally as a Disney artist. The art for Disney is the only thing that impresses my neighbors. They don’t care that I had a successful exhibit in Sydney or Madrid, but when they see my art at Disneyland they feel like I must be someone important! Pick three artists (dead or alive) you would have dinner and drinks with and why those particular three?
art world of the 20th century. Second, I would pick Andy Warhol, just to exchange gossip. Finally, I would choose Banksy. I want to see what he looks like. A day in the life of Shag is… I’m an early riser, and I’m most creative in the morning, so I get a lot of work done before 11:00 am. I am also an avid surfer, (my main house and studio are near the beach in Orange County) so I will often spend the middle of the day in the water. The lack of a beach in Palm Springs is one of the things that keeps me from living there full time. In the afternoon I attend to business things – e-mails, contracts, proposals, etc. Then in the evening, I get a second wind, and will often pick up the paint brush again. I gave up drinking five years ago. I used to call it “career research” as most of my art features people consuming alcohol. Since I stopped drinking, I get a lot more work done, but I’ve put an end to the long nights of bar hopping or the big cocktail parties I used to host at my home in Orange County. And finally, what can we expect next from you?
First, I would choose Marcel Duchamp, who was part of the Dada movement in early 20th century Paris, then moved to New York in the ‘40s and experienced the abstract expressionist wave that changed the art world. He saw almost everything that happened, from Picasso to Pop Art. It would be fun to hear anecdotes about the
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I am working on a theme park attraction based on my art. It’s for China’s largest amusement park near Hong Kong. Besides the team building and developing the ride, I haven’t shown anyone the designs, but I think they’ll make people very happy.
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ART REDEFINED One may define art as the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. We have gathered a small group of artists who have expressed their own definition of what art means to them; what inspires them, what projects they currently are working on, and what are their future plans. As you discover these artists, you will see how they interpret their expression of art.
BRIAN HICKS Working in clay has been a process of over 20 years of a self-taught technique. His works are very visual, with bold statements, sometimes graphic, sometimes simple and with organic minimalism. They are also created from a heavy influence of the abstract and modernist masters from years past Claymation, and Saturday morning cartoons heavily influenced the Phat Flower Series. These lighthearted pieces, brightly colored, individually unique with individual personalities and stories of their own, posed as if reaching out, ready to be picked right from the Garden.
BRIAN WOLBAUM Brian Wolbaum comes from a farm in North Dakota. After receiving his BA from North Dakota State University, Brian moved to New York City and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology. He eventually moved to Los Angeles. He now paints from his studio in Palm Springs. He is known for his often bright, graphic style and his unique use of color. He paints mostly in acrylics and has occasionally produced digital pieces. Brian has work available at H3K Home in Palm Springs CA where he is also an interior designer. He has an Interior Architectural Design certification from Santa Monica College, Associate in Applied Arts - Display and Exhibit Design From the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising. His work can be found hanging in many homes in Southern California and across the country.
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DON CHOOI A young 46 year old, Don is an illustrator, a graphic designer and an aspiring academic. He has been creating art largely attributed to the bear sub-culture since 2005. Don’s work celebrates the lustful appeal of erotic gay male masculinity, body positivity and cultural diversity. His major influences are Gengoroh Tagame, Jiraiya, Christophe Jannin and Bill Ward, among many others. Being an immigrant from Malaysia and now living in Auckland, New Zealand, Don firmly believes in supporting and promoting awareness to Asian influenced art within mainstream gay culture. His work also lends itself to discourses pertaining to cultural and sexual identity of the marginalized minority of the Asian diaspora. While Don uses digital means to complete his pieces, he favors traditional media – using inks and watercolors on paper – as it gives him a ‘closer feel’ and a level of authentic voice to the work. www.dchooidoodles.blogspot.com FREE RAMOS Creating art since he was old enough to hold a pencil, Martin Free Ramos, a Hong Kong born Filipino, moved to Los Angeles when he was 16 years old. Aside from his high school art teachers, Free has mostly been a self-taught artist. Involving elements of fashion, fantasy & fun, Free’s artistic vision is expressed through mixed media in a signature style he calls “The Glamour & The Whimsy.” Informed by Erté, Disney & comic book art, he creates “Art from the Heart” that he hopes moves, touches, inspires & encourages all who experience it. Temporarily switching media, from chalk & pencil to marker & ink, Free is currently working on interpreting pop culture characters through his own designs in the Japanese kawaii & chibi styles. Free presently resides in Pasadena, CA.”
GEORGE THOMAS “I enjoy painting realistically and surrealistically. My allegorical paintings are done in the style of utopian surrealism.” Born the same year as Disneyland (1955), George Thomas grew up in the heady era of early space travel, rocket-themed cars, Googie architecture and the Mid-Century marvels that defined a generation. George brings this fascination to his oil-on-canvas works, with amazing effect, iconic allegories, complex imagery and stunning detail, all with a comfortable nod to the fun camp of the age. A Southern California native, George graduated with honors from the Art Center College of Design. He raised three children and spent twenty years as a missionary and teacher in remote cultures around the globe. George currently resides and continues his art in Palm Springs, California. His recent works include a new original diptych oil painting (in progress), titled “Nothing”, and new digital prints of his paintings “The Ghosts Of Castro Corner” and “One Touch Of A Tiny Red Button”.
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COVER JAMIE GALLUCCHI Born in Glens Falls, New York, James grew up with huge artistic influence; his father, who was a sixty-year Signature Member of the American Watercolor Society. James received a Bachelors degree in Graphic Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1986. In 1992, James moved to California, and resided in Laguna Beach for seven years where he was a participant in the Annual Sawdust Festival. As the only non-juried art festival in Laguna, the Sawdust displays paintings, sculpture, printmaking, photography, glass, ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, furniture, textiles, clothing and mixed media. In 2000 he relocated to Palm Springs and has been a resident ever since. Currently residing in Palm Desert, James is creating graphics depicting his interpretations of Palm Springs and the lifestyle it offers through fun, stylized graphics. www.facebook.com/GallucciArt/ JOE DIETL Joe has been a successful working actor for decades in Hollywood, having done almost 100 commercials, televisions guest roles, and indie features with top stars like Mike Myers, Jennifer Aniston, Will Ferrell and more. His talent as a painter and visual artist, which he inherited from his gifted artist Mom, was unable to emerge until he moved to Palm Springs and allowed himself the freedom to explore it full time. In an ironic reversal, his acting and directing gigs provide the “day job” that financially allows him to explore his talent as a painter. Primarily using a palette knife to apply the pigment to the canvas with an intentionally directive stroke allows Joe to create space and dimension without detailed rendering. This deliberate application liberates him to use saturated and hyper-real color that is not typically seen in landscape paintings. Joe’s influences include Lee Mullican, Marsden Hartley, Mark Bradford, Friedensreich Hundertwasser and David Hockney. Represented in Palm Springs at the Brian Marki Fine Art Gallery. www.brianmarkifineart.com He is currently getting ready for a show in Provincetown during Bear Week July 12th through the 20th at the Woodman Shimko Gallery. For more info visit www.dietlart.com
KIM CHASEN Kim Chasen has been a desert dweller for over 30 years. The objective of Kim’s current body of work is to unify seemingly different media by exposing elements they share. The metals take on their physical traits naturally through the effects of weathering, aging and years of use. The painted components complement these characteristics by the conscious selection of color, texture and shape. Kim’s painting, Reclaimed, was honored with a People’s Choice Award at the Artists Council Metamorphosis show at the Galen Museum in March. Kim is looking forward to showing her painting, Denim, at Barba Contemporary Gallery during Women’s Week——September 29th-October 5th, 2019.
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KAT GREEN Kat Green is an artist who lives and works in a sunny studio in the high-desert of Joshua Tree, CA. Originally from South Carolina; Kat has been painting for over seventeen years. She has work in private and corporate collections all across the US and abroad. “My paintings are expressionist in nature and focus on the idea of impermanence relative to life and relationships. Usually, there’s no literal narrative in my work, but rather, the paintings are about flux: a natural evolution that results from the passage of time and the everchanging nature of life. What I’m inspired by and drawn to are seemingly imperfect elements. The work is about unearthing and embracing subtle details that beckon the viewer to explore the work more closely. This wabi-sabi approach has become central to both my life and art making.” In addition to painting, Kat is also an illustrator, workshop instructor and co-creator/curator/operator of the Tumbleweed Art Co.– a rolling small works art gallery in a vintage ’72 Winnebago. Barba Contemporary, Palm Springs, CA and Globe Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM represents Kat. katgreenart.com
LISA BURFORD I am an artist who resides in Joshua Tree. Having moved to Southern California from the Chicagoland area nearly a decade ago to expand my passion of design and art, I’ve fallen deeply in love with the desert, including its wildlife, plants, and the natural shows it puts on each season. While not every art piece includes the desert, what it has taught me certainly influences my art. I enjoy telling stories through different mediums. Stories can be literal or abstract within an illustration, strategically built through movements and paths in a website, broken up and paced throughout a magazine layout, informative through packaging design, woven through macramé, or meticulously arranged through flowers. I approach my art by examining and studying the smallest of details, better understanding the subject to create something beautiful. My work has been shown locally in Palm Springs and Twentynine Palms, in Chicago, and internationally in London, as well as published in numerous books and magazines. I run my own business creating custom designs, illustrations, and websites for clients both locally and throughout the US. Visit lisaburford. com to learn more about me and see examples of my work.
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FEATURE
JAN DEE GORDON’S NEW PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK, LGBTQ OF STEEL BY MICHEL KHORDOC
ALASKA
ALEC MAPA
Los Angeles- based photographer Jan Dee Gordon is releasing this month a brand new photography book, “LGBTQ of STEEL” - a compilation of striking portraits and personal profiles that captures the energy, optimism, and resiliency of fifty LGBTQ heroes bending a ribbon of steel as a proud symbol of triumph. In “LGBTQ of Steel”, Jan Dee Gordon celebrates a group of LGBTQ individuals who bravely and without hesitation overcome unimaginable obstacles that threatened to hold them back, block their path, and completely destroy their lives. These powerful individuals have barred their souls, all of them formidable, bending and molding a seemingly unmovable ribbon of steel to exemplify their individual struggles and hardships and ultimate triumphs.
AUTHOR JAN DEE GORDON
“LGBTQ of Steel” is the second book in the “Of Steel” series Jan Dee Gordon has released. The recurring theme in both “Women of Steel” and “LGBTQ of Steel” is how people use their inner strength to overcome life obstacles - analogized to the toughness of steel - and successfully bend the steel into their chosen paths. The subjects of the books are an inspiration of how to face issues and emerge the victor. We sat down with the photographer to talk about the making of LGBTQ of STEEL and the importance of living your own truth: What was the impetus to start your “Steel” Series? From my heart and soul as a person and a woman - I have always struggled with the force to follow my own desires and strengths having a hard time with what was expected and being a
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FEATURE
MARGARET CHO
ROBERT CLEMENT
good girl and pleasing others. My artistic bent is toward abstract and geometric composition- the use of steel to analogize the hard realities against which a person has to struggle just came to me.
images steel represents reality, life, and society. The subjects can react to the ribbon of steel as they have reacted to their lives- cover themselves with it, jump with joy with it, walk on it, etc. It also adds a great graphic element to the images.
The first book focused on women and now LGBTQ+ individuals, what motivated this choice? Every day we read something about the struggles of the LGBT community to be heard, respected, included, etc. Their hardships, the steel, seemed deeper and more poignant than the women’s’ struggles. Also the subject hit home because my brother led a double life- husband and dad- gay. He died of complications of AIDS before there was the cocktail. His daughter- Soozin Lewis and her partner, Brigit Biagiotti are in the book. How would you describe “LGBTQ of Steel”? An inspirational, compelling look at the real life and struggle of diverse sides of the LGBTQ community interpreted thru photography and the direct words and quotes of the 50 subjects. Why the steel? Steel is hard and tough but it is bendable. In my photographic
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Are you donating any of the proceeds to a specific charity or non-profit organization? If yes, why? Yes we will always donate part of the proceeds to a variety of charity and organizations committed to fighting AIDS. What, in your opinion, makes your book “LGBTQ of Steel” a MUST READ book? INSPIRATION, UNDERSTANDING, INCLUSION Hopefully it will inspire young LGBTQ individuals who have not yet come out to do so. Hopefully it will give mainstream people a better understanding OF gay lives and struggles against prejudices. What would you say is the #1 message of “LGBTQ of Steel”? What about the overall “Steel” Series? You have the inner strength to change your life into a life of your choice. You can see the joy of living honest lives in the stories.
June was Pride Month, how do you feel your book “LGBTQ of Steel” fits within that context knowing that the LGBTQ community is also celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall this year - what do you think makes the book relevant to the celebration? I think Pride began as a revolt against the prejudice and noninclusion of gay people, and a fight for equal rights. The book is relevant because it has 50 examples of success in these struggles. Also, in the book is Bob Clement who was at Stonewall- at the first Pride Parade, and who opened his church to all the LGBT people there…as a first. What is the next topic for your Steel Series? What group or individuals will you focus on? No committed answer yet to this question but ideas, such as: Women who have received from World Bank a stipend to turn their talents into business, Athletes, Gangs, Everyone of Steel. For more information go to: www.humanityofsteel.com
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LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK BY CHRIS ASTRALA LGBT artists have continually challenged mainstream understandings of gender and sexuality. The impact of this on our society is immeasurable. For example, artists of the 1980s who worked tirelessly to bring attention to HIV/AIDS in America, artists today maintain their roles as leading figures striving for change and cultural awareness. On that note, here are a few LGBT artists who have influenced the progress of art and society. Here is just a glimpse of some of the many creative individuals who as members of the LGBT community have put their unique stamp on art history. These amazing LGBT artists have assuredly changed the art world and beyond with their work.
MICKALENE THOMAS New York based artist Mickalene Thomas is best known for her elaborate paintings composed of rhinestones, acrylic and enamel. Thomas introduces a complex vision of what it means to be a woman and expands common definitions of beauty. Her work stems from her long study of art history and the classical genres of portraiture, landscape, and still life. Inspired by various sources that range from the 19th century Hudson River School to Édouard Manet, Henri Matisse and Romare Bearden, she continues to explore notions of beauty from a contemporary perspective infused with the more recent influences of popular culture and pop art.
FELIX GONZALEZ-TORRES Felix Gonzalez-Torreswas an American, Cuban-born, gay visual artist. González-Torres was known for his quiet, minimal installations and sculptures. Using materials such as strings of lightbulbs, clocks, stacks of paper, or packaged hard candies, his work is sometimes considered a reflection of his experience with AIDS. In 1987 he joined Group Material, a New York-based group of artists whose intention was to work collaboratively, adhering to principles of cultural activism and community education. Along with the other members of the group — Doug Ashford, Julie Ault, Karen Ramspacher, and Tim Rollins — González-Torres was invited by the MATRIX Gallery at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in 1989 to deal with the subject of AIDS.
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DAVID HOCKNEY Born in Bradford, England, in 1937, David Hockney attended art school in London before moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s. There, he painted his famous swimming pool paintings. In the 1970s, Hockney began working in photography, creating photo collages he called joiners. Hockney’s early paintings incorporated his literary leanings, and he used fragments of poems and quotations from Walt Whitman in his work. This practices, and paintings such as We Two Boys Clinging Together, which he created in 1961, were the first nods to his homosexuality in his art. He continues to create and exhibit art, and in 2011 he was voted the most influential British artist of the 20th century.
ROTIMI FANI-KAYODE A seminal figure in 1980s black British and African contemporary art, Fani-Kayode’s timeless photographs constitute a profoundly personal and political exploration of complex notions of desire, diaspora, and spirituality. Ancestral rituals and a provocative, multi-layered symbolism fuse with archetypal motifs from European and African cultures and subcultures – inspired by what Yoruba priests call ‘the technique of ecstasy’. A son of a prominent Yoruba family who left Africa as political refugees in 1966, Fani-Kayode received a BA at Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 1980, and an MFA at Pratt Institute in New York in 1983, before returning to the United Kingdom where he lived and worked until his death in 1989.
AARON SMITH Aaron Smith is known for referencing art history in both his painting style and compositions. His new paintings’ color and surfaces are liberated of historic constraints. By taking such liberties with the images’ presentation, the artist transforms still life paintings into uniquely contemporary symbolic portraits. Derived from opulent objects; Gothic and Baroque sculpture originally created to spiritually inspire; the paintings strip the all-male characters of context, suspending them in an existential vacuum. His figurative oil paintings have earned him solo shows at some of LA and Chicago’s finer galleries.
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COVER JEANNE MAMMEN Jeanne Mammen is one of the most impressive, unusual and versatile German female artists of the twentieth century. She is frequently mentioned in connection with Käthe Kollwitz and Hanna Höch, two artists who also showed a strong engagement in social emancipation, and whose most successful years also date to the Weimar era. When comparing Jeanne Mammen to other socially critical male artists of the time, like Otto Dix and George Grosz, a certain resemblance in the selected motifs can be noticed, but there is quite a difference in their vision and style of portrayal. In contrast to Dix and Grosz, Jeanne Mammen’s pictorial statement regarding injustice and the ensuing deplorable social conditions is neither marked by harsh denouncement, nor does it convey pity, and her portrayal of the Bourgeois is without biting malice and condescension. She is the only artist of her time, who, by using her intuitive power and her penetrating eyes, succeeded in delivering precise and cunning portrayals capturing the characteristic physiognomic features, typical of people of all walks of life in the 1930s.
KEITH HARING Throughout his career, Haring devoted much of his time to public works, which often carried social messages. He produced more than 50 public artworks between 1982 and 1989, in dozens of cities around the world, many of which were created for charities, hospitals, children’s day care centers and orphanages. The now famous Crack is Wack mural of 1986 has become a landmark along New York’s FDR Drive. Other projects include; a mural created for the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in 1986, on which Haring worked with 900 children; a mural on the exterior of Necker Children’s Hospital in Paris, France in 1987; and a mural painted on the western side of the Berlin Wall three years before its fall. Haring also held drawing workshops for children in schools and museums in New York, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo and Bordeaux, and produced imagery for many literacy programs and other public service campaigns. Haring was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988. In 1989, he established the Keith Haring Foundation, its mandate being to provide funding and imagery to AIDS organizations and children’s programs, and to expand the audience for Haring’s work through exhibitions, publications and the licensing of his images. Haring enlisted his imagery during the last years of his life to speak about his own illness and generate activism and awareness about AIDS. Keith Haring died of AIDS related complications at the age of 31 in February 1990.
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ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE In the late 70s, Mapplethorpe grew increasingly interested in documenting the New York S & M scene. The resulting photographs are shocking for their content and remarkable for their technical and formal mastery. Mapplethorpe told ARTnews in late 1988, “I don’t like that particular word ‘shocking.’ I’m looking for the unexpected. I’m looking for things I’ve never seen before … I was in a position to take those pictures. I felt an obligation to do them.” Meanwhile his career continued to flourish. In 1977, he participated in Documenta 6 in Kassel, West Germany and in 1978, the Robert Miller Gallery in New York City became his exclusive dealer. Throughout the 80s, Mapplethorpe produced a bevy of images that simultaneously challenge and adhere to classical aesthetic standards: stylized compositions of male and female nudes, delicate flower still lifes, and studio portraits of artists and celebrities, to name a few of his preferred genres. He introduced and refined different techniques and formats, including color 20” x 24” Polaroids, photogravures, platinum prints on paper and linen, Cibachrome and dye transfer color prints. His vast, provocative, and powerful body of work has established him as one of the most important artists of the twentieth century.
MEL ODOM Finding order from chaos, beauty within pain, and hope from despair, the artist Mel Odom’s career has spanned several of our generation’s most tumultuous cultural decades. His innate ability to process, through his work, the events surrounding him and his life are viscerally transformed into a dream-like state of bliss in his art and in his creation of memorable objects of desire.
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COMMUNITY, A NEW LGBTQ FICTIONAL PODCAST SERIES, PREMIERES ON SPOTIFY BY JEFF DORTA Necessary Outlet, an LGBTQ production studio, is celebrating World Pride with an early release of Community, a new audio drama podcast. Ripped from today’s headlines, Season 1 of the twelve-part serialized LGBTQ drama chronicles a fictional shooting that unfolds inside a gay nightclub. Written and directed by Jack Tracy, the first episode is available now on Spotify. Episode two will launch July 9 with a brand-new show airing every Tuesday. “I was inspired to create Community as a podcast after hearing the audio tapes taken inside the border detention centers that surfaced in the press a few months ago,” explains Jack Tracy. “While I was already horrified by this administration’s immigration practices, listening to those tapes made it feel very personal. I suddenly felt activated. Reading about the practices was one thing but hearing the actual impact, the trauma of the migrant children crying for their parents while the border patrol officers laughed at them, I found myself completely overwhelmed with anger and sadness and motivated to do more to help bring about change. It was then that I realized how powerful an audio format can be.” “In creating Community, I wanted to evoke the same feelings for listeners that I felt listening to those border detention center tapes and inspire listeners into action,” he continues. “I decided to turn my attention to the constant threat of gun violence we face today and the need for gun legislation reform.” Jack Tracy narrates Community and plays the role of Hector, a character suffering with toxic masculinity. Additional voice actors include Ben Tracy (Brad), Erik Schneider (Velossa Raptor), Dominic Martello (Nathan), Lebene Ayivor (Desiree), Bianca Sanchez (Jess), Destiny Shegstad (Cynthia), Samanthia Nixon (Nia), Maddie Small (Ellie), Alexander Spears (Angelo), Brandon Salerno (Roy), Aaron Drill (Andy), Miguel Lopez (Miguel), Kelley Lorde (Erica) and Matthew Menendez (Shawn). Necessary Outlet is proud to prominently feature two transgender lead characters in Community, voiced by trans actors Liam Zupp (Luke) and Jay Knowles (Ally).
“Because it was audio, I was able to ignore physical appearance when casting, which made for a real treat when the actors all showed up to record,” Tracy explains. “However, I did keep identity in mind when deciding who played what character. I didn’t want a white actor voicing a black person or a cis actor voicing a transgender role.” It was also important to Tracy that Community include gay, lesbian, bi, pan, trans and queer people of all ages, genders and races. “With so many dueling identities within our community, conflict is inevitable, but I want to tell stories that show our community rising above our internal divisions to face a common threat to us all, together. Especially today. And especially during World Pride.” His main message in Community is that the LGBTQ community is and will always be a minority population subject to the whims, fads and desires of the majority. “Which means that we only survive when we stand together,” he says. Necessary Outlet is an LGBTQ production company founded and owned by Jack Tracy that produces several LGBTQ web series including “History,” a show that stars Tracy as a 30-something gay lawyer, now in its third season. It also produces comedy series “Big Law” and “Millennial Memoir” as well as LGBTQ music videos including Jack Tracy’s “Satisfaction,” “Older,” “Time Travel” and “Wherever You Are”. Jack’s second album, “For You”, is due later this year. The studio’s first feature film, “Snowflake,” had its world premiere at qFLIX Philadelphia and New York premiere at the Big Apple Film Festival earlier this year, and is still making its rounds in the festival circuit. Visit www.necessaryoutlet.com
JULY 2019 23
FILM
NEW FILM FROM ICONIC LESBIAN FILMMAKER, NICOLE CONN BY MICHEL KHORDOC
NICOLE DIRECTING
Multiple-Award winning filmmaker, Nicole Conn world premiered her brand-new film, “More Beautiful For Having Been Broken” at Frameline to a sold out crowd at the 43rd anniversary Frameline LGBTQ Film Festival. The highly anticipated full lengthfeature screened on June 30th at the historic Castro. “More Beautiful for Having Been Broken” is a story about three broken women whose lives intersect at a lakeside community and who are forever changed through their shared love of a boy with special needs. The film pays homage to Conn’s daughter and in particular her son, Nicholas, who has special needs and is medically fragile. He was the focus of her 2005 film little man which earned Conn 12 Best Documentary Awards along with the prestigious Cedar Sinai’s Courageous Beginnings Award.
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“More Beautiful for Having Been Broken” is the breakout debut for 11 year-old Cale Ferrin who was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia, a rare genetic disease that can lead to bone marrow failure and cancer and is often marked by congenital defects and short stature. It stars Australian actress, Zoe Ventoura (Packed to the Rafters), Kayla Radomski of “So You Think You Can Dance” fame, and French Stewart (3rd Rock From the Sun). A semi-autobiographical film that is very personal to Conn. Indeed, Conn’s journey with her son has been the most intensely spiritual and greatest life education she could ever have. With this film she wants to show the beauty that comes from the broken. In fact, It was her producer, Lissa Forehan, who told her about the Japanese term Kintsukuroi which means “more beautiful for having been broken” and inspired the title of the film.
Having had a seriously challenging 2015 with her son almost not making it out of the hospital twice and losing her sister completely broke Conn. And it wasn’t until she began to heal that she saw beauty in the smallest things. Nicholas’s relentless medical needs made her understand the preciousness of now. “ I believe inclusion means ALL OF US. That’s why it was so imperative to cast an actor with Special Needs. I watch people all the time pretend like we’re not in the frame. Watch the averted eyes and just the ease with which they make our kids invisible. Our kids need to be seen. Heard. Laughed with and Learned from! And Loved. Trust me, the love you get back is beyond what you could ever dream. And this world needs a whole lot of that kind of love to deal with the tragedy our nation is immersed in today,” says Conn. Joining the stellar cast are Bruce Davison, Brooke Elliott (Drop Dead Diva), Lesley Nicol, Kay Lenz, Wally Kurth and Gaby Christian.
Gabrielle Baba-Conn (Conn’s real-life daughter) is also making her feature debut. Powerhouse Producer, Amber Geneva (Bellevue) and a group known as the “Silver Tribe” – eleven women from all over the world who are Conn’s dear friends and loyalists, are teaming up with the multiple award-winning filmmaker behind the scenes to bring this film to the international audience that it deserves. A pioneering filmmaker, Nicole Conn is known not only for having paved the way for lesbian themed cinema with her cult classic, “Claire of the Moon”, but also for her acclaimed features Elena Undone (which boasts the longest screen kiss in cinema history) and A Perfect Ending. Her son Nicholas was also the focus of “little man” which earned Conn 12 Best Documentary Awards, along with the prestigious Cedar Sinai’s Courageous Beginnings Award. For more info: www.morebeautifulmovie.com
JULY 2019 25
INDESIGN ART...I’LL KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT BY DANN FOLEY
“I’ll know it when I see it.” In 1964 Supreme Court Justice, Potter Stewart uttered those words in response to the issue of, when does art become obscene? The phrase stuck as part of a bigger conversation about what is art, or what is good-art. I believe that good-taste like good-art is subjective. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So how do you separate the good from the dreck and how do you know when it’s “good art”? More importantly, how do I go about finding art for my home? Is there a trick or a set of rules? Should the painting match a color on the wall? When art cost more, does that make it better or more valuable? As a designer some of those questions are cringe worthy they are, none-the-less, all valid. My goal is to take the stigma out of shopping for and buying art for all of my clients. There does not have to be any pretense when buying art, it does not matter where you find it. The piece(s) only have to bring you joy. Let me share with you some of the ways I source art so you can do it for yourself
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and find the same joy in your choices today and decades from now. • Though established galleries are always a great choice, they are rarely the least expensive option. • I have never visited any city or town that did not have art festivals. They are often times revelatory to me as a person seeking new and interesting art for clients. They usually offer an opportunity to engage with the artist directly which only adds to the excitement of buying • Buying art should be easy. Stumbling upon the right piece is how it usually happens. I never go out looking for anything specific. I only want to be moved. • Keep in mind that art can also be a mirror, a chandelier, or a piece of furniture. Stay open to the possibilities. Let me tell you a funny story. Many years ago I had a client that wanted to go art shopping with me for her project. I made arrangements to pick her up in front of her townhouse in New York
City, so I pulled up and waited with my car for her to come out. When she emerged, she had a sofa cushion under her arm. As she opened the door I asked, “Why are you bringing that with you?” Her response was, “ I thought we should have it to match the art to the sofa.” I was momentarily stunned but, I managed to say, “Go put that back right now.” The idea that you should match your sofa fabric to a painting in the room is a tired one, to say the least. But, it is still one I hear to this day. For years I have laughed with her over that day and I often tell the story when we begin the process of selecting art with other clients. Let me offer a few more tips to selecting art in a way that makes it fun for you and even better if you are doing it with your spouse or partner. • Have fun! I know I say this all the time, but the art you choose will most likely be the longest lasting elements in your home. Make sure you love it. • Buy what you love and love what you buy. • Price does not matter. If it attracts you then it is a worthy element to add to your home. • Less than one-percent of the world can afford to buy museum quality art as an investment. I want you to think in terms of what makes you happy, not what you think is right. Another long lasting expression is, “I may not know much about art, but I know what I like.” Let this be your mantra when shopping
for art. You don’t have to know everything or be an art historian to enjoy fine art. You just have to be interested. You will learn a great deal along the way about art, artists, different artists media…and a great deal about yourself. • Don’t be afraid to mix traditional and modern pieces. I choose a wide array of art for my clients and my home. • Mix your framed art with 3D pieces on the wall. I love mixing wall sculpture, baskets and other media to create visually stimulating wall arrangements • When hanging your art, a simple rule of thumb is your piece(s) should be at eye level and below for best viewing. Your art should relate to, layer with and even intersect with your furnishings. Don’t let anyone dictate to you what you should or should not like. Just like the rest of your home, the choices you make should be about you and what makes you happy. You don’t have to justify anything that makes you happy or brings you joy in your home décor. You cannot get this wrong, so relax, have some fun and choose those things that make you smile. Live Well
www.foleystinnette.com designer dann on: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / HOUZZ
JULY 2019 27
The Digital Worldwide Bear Republic
Bear Video And Photo Blogging & Social Network App www.wbear.lgbt
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BOOK REVIEW
ALWAYS OVERBOOKED BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
Your father’s hands were always rough.
In your memories, they were nimble, too; enough to fix a doll or thread a hook as easily as holding a fork, and it was never a problem for your little fingers to fit around his. Your father’s hands were calloused and strong but, unlike the new book “Inside an Honor Killing” by Lene Wold, they were not meant for murder. She had to lie to set up the interview. Lene Wold knew that, as a lesbian, she was in danger just traveling through Jordan, so she made up a fictitious husband for her own safety. She lied to be prepared, should the subject come up during conversations she had with “Rahman” who, after over a year of effort, finally sat across from her in a small café. He was a killer, but she knew that he deserved to tell his side of the story. When he was a child, Rahman told her, he witnessed the death of a young classmate buried up to her shoulders in desert sand. The sevenyear-old had been raped, he said, but that act brought shame on her family because villagers believed that she had caused it. Stoning her brought honor back. Rahman wasn’t supposed to have witnessed the killing, and when his mother learned that he did, she packed her things and left, a departure that impacted him for the rest of his life. He vowed that what happened in his father’s house wouldn’t happen in his when he married a very conservative woman, and raised two daughters and a son. Years later, as the younger daughter, seventeen-year-old Amina, prepared for marriage, she noticed that her nineteen-year-old sister, Aisha, seemed preoccupied. Only when Amina overheard intimacies and learned that Aisha had fallen in love with another woman, did she understand her sister’s fears: there is no law against homosexuality in Jordan, but it’s a cultural sin that brings shame on a family, and Aisha’s secret couldn’t be held. And so, pressured by his wife, Rahman acted to restore honor… There is no way to soften this: “Inside an Honor Killing” is absolutely chilling. An ice-down-the-spine account of a rape that inexplicably didn’t happen opens this book, illustrating the dangers author Lene Wold endured to get the interviews she needed to tell this story. That, and the how and why of it, are the books’ introduction and while you’re there, Wold also shares statistics that will put you in a heightened state of anticipation, though you ultimately know what happens. Take a quick
breath, then, before you plunge into Chapter One, because that’s the last chance you’ll get for air as this story alternates between Arabian Nights and Nightmare on Elm Street, between idyll and magic, and horrors we can only imagine. This book isn’t one bit easy to read but if you’re concerned about women’s rights or current events, it’s essential that you do. But beware: “Inside an Honor Killing” will stun you almost the minute you get it in your hands. “Inside an Honor Killing” by Lene Wold c.2019, Greystone Books $26.95 / higher in Canada 224 pages
JULY 2019 29
AMAZON TRAIL
A GOOD START TO A PROUD SUMMER BY LEE LYNCH
The Police Commissioner of the City of New York apologized on June 6, 2019 for the most publicized raid of a gay bar in the history of the world. Thank you, sir, but fifty years later? And how many raids before that one? How many LGBTQ careers ruined, bodies battered, families destroyed? How? Many? Suicides? Still, it was a great gesture and more cause for celebration. It was a good start to summer, to this season of pride. Before the bulldykes, the gay men, the transgendered and queer, struck back at the blue-suited symbols of our oppression, could this lovely life of mine have been possible? In our primarily straight community, people genuinely smile when they see us. Just today, yet another resident told us we are the nicest neighbors they could have. Just today, a long-time resident came running to ask if we would help with our small Fourth of July parade. A man and woman waylaid us to show off renovations to their home. I asked
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where they’d found the excellent builders. Quietly, the husband said, “Church.” Many of our neighbors attend conservative Christian churches. They know full well what we are. I get scared, sometimes, with the current rightward political trend, that they’ll turn on us. But for today, we’re living in harmony. It was all going so well, as spring segued to summer, until panic set in. No, it wasn’t the right wing; it was the ceiling, a moisture stain, to be exact. I tried to make something of the shape—a sign, a tray-ceiling stigmata, but couldn’t come up with anything closer than Gertrude Stein in her cassock-like brown dress and monk’s tonsure (without the shaved pate). Was she making an appearance in honor of Pride? No, the stain represented one thing only: a twenty-thousand-dollar roof replacement. This was no way to rejoice in the anniversary of Stonewall. We’d expected two major expenses this summer. A trip to visit friends and tour Crater
Lake National Park for my sweetheart’s birthday; a trip back east to see family and friends and attend The Golden Crown Literary Conference in Pittsburgh. But now, the roof. We learned that thirtyyear roofs actually last only twenty. Ours is eighteen. We learned that some roofing contractors will sell you whatever you’re scared enough to buy. We learned that steep pitches like ours raise not just the ceiling, but also the steep price of a roof. We learned all sorts of things we didn’t want to know. Mostly, we learned that travel and roof replacement are not compatible. Never mind, we have plenty to do all summer. Our ground is too hard to dig, but last year, for kicks, my sweetheart sowed some sugar snap peas in a long planter. Much to our delight, they took off like Jack and the Beanstalk. Or peastalk. This year the peas went in late because I bought starts at a local pop-up nursery. Big dumb beginner mistake: they were snow peas. Not that I’ll turn up my nose at snow peas. A couple of summers ago, a friend took me round to his garden (we all own approximately point zero plots of land) and showed me potatoes growing in bags. Container gardening has always intrigued me. After two years of research and cold feet, this summer I took the plunge. It’s not exactly gay pride, but green leaves are coming out of the soil in those grow bags. My sweetheart came into possession of a cat tower at no cost a few years ago and took advantage of the roofing disaster looming over our heads to assemble it. She’s a handy-femme with infinite patience for reading instructions and redoing mistakes and I doubly love her for it. With modest pride she beckoned me out of my butch cave when she finished. The tower is incredible. A monolith. It must be the tallest cat tower ever made and it’s quite sturdy. Naturally, our seventeen-year-old arthritic cat turned her back and did a “meh” twitch with her tail. She’s correct; now that we can see the floor space this thing requires, it’s way too big for our home. My sweetheart listed it on a local website and had it sold in an hour. Money toward the roof! But only a drop in the bucket we’re going to need under the leak. It looked like we’d be tending the back forty feet and another forty projects this gayest of summers. A retired builder friend came over to take a look at the roof. We’d already made an appointment with a roofer, but our friend insisted on seeing Gertrude Stein in cassock and tonsure first. After the viewing, he climbed a ladder and examined the roof over our heads. He poked around a bit and descended. We’d lost a shingle. One shingle. It would cost all of thirty dollars to fix. Sure, we’re fifty years and proud, and now we’re house-proud too.
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MUSIC I
DARIO’S EPIC ASCENSION BY STEVEN BARNES
“I’m a huge fan of art!” exclaimed Dario when he learned he was going to part of our art issue. “I love how different paintings or pieces make people react and feel. I’m actually attending Art Basal in Miami this December. I can’t wait!”
Love has always been a big theme in Dario’s music, and it remains so in Ascension, but this time around it’s different, more grown-up. “I’m an adult and finally comfortable in my skin. I know who I am, what I want, and what I’m willing to do.”
The singer makes his triumphant return to pop radio with Ascension, his tenth studio album and his most personal to date. Its title refers to Dario stripping himself of all doubt, fear, and insecurity to become the best version of himself. “I took all of 2017 off so that I could work on myself,” he reveals. “I really wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on who I was and how I got to this point in my life.”
He dives deeply into it in the album’s second release, “Don’t Let Me Go,” an anthem-like rock power ballad he wrote about his experience being trapped in a toxic relationship. The song is produced by Kevin Anyaeji (Leona Lewis, Cheryl Cole, Kylie Minogue) and Shane Facchinello (Austin Mahone, Cody Simpson) of Hush Money Entertainment.
In the 8-song album, he takes on inequality, mental health, and the importance of advocacy in his music today. “I no longer want people to talk. I want to inspire them to take action,” he says.
“I hadn’t been in a relationship in ten years so I was excited when I finally let my guard down and gave one a try,” Dario explains. It did not go as he had hoped. “I wanted to be open and honest about the relationship; let everyone in on the ups and downs
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of the experience. But the person I was with insisted we keep things private. As a public person, I can’t live that way. We eventually had to part ways.” But he says he never got the opportunity to say his peace at the end, so he’s saying it in in song. “I hope he realizes that this isn’t a diss; I’m an artist and for me to get through stuff I have to talk or, in this case, sing about it. I think we both learned something, or I hope we did.” Dario is from a small town in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, he wasn’t accepted by peers and was often bullied in school. At times, he didn’t have the full support of his parents either. “The rejection I experienced as a kid definitely impacts my life and music, even today.” He moved to Hollywood to pursue his pop star dreams in 2006. He knew no one and had very little money. “I grew a thick skin that first year. It toughened me up which has helped, especially when dealing with record executives.”
He admits he and the music industry do not have the best relationship. “The labels are corporate. They prefer structure, whereas I tend to do things my way. I don’t like being told what to do,” he laughs. “I’ve been able to make the music I want to make, while staying 100% myself. The downside is that I have to fund everything myself, and at times I’ve had to work 4 or 5 jobs just to get one project out. But I’ve learned a lot and I’m grateful for everything that I’ve gone through because it’s allowed me to understand what it takes to be successful in this business.” He says his biggest aim today is to provide fans with an escape. “As human beings, we stress over everything: work, family, relationships…. I believe that music is the universal solvent for every problem that exists. It allows people to cry, be angry or happy, get excited, or process and forget... even if it’s just for a moment. And if they find some relief, even in that brief time, then I did my job. Visit DarioOnline.com
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CENTER
Mission
Creating vibrant community by helping LGBTQ people along their way.
Vision
Thriving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, living authentically in supportive, inclusive communities.
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@ THE CENTER
The McDonald/Wright Building 1301 N. Palm Canyon Dr., 3rd Floor | Palm Springs, CA 92262 | 760-416-7790 | www.thecenterps.org
JULY 2019 33
MUSIC II
A BRIGHTER DAY, BY SINGER/SONGWRITER DONOVAN HOLDEN BY MICHEL KHORDOC
Out artist Donovan Holden has just released his brand new album - the third to date- dubbed “A Brighter Day”. A Ohio native, Donovan Holden, began early on to write his own songs, in notebooks, vastly influence by the radio tunes of the time: country, soul, rock n’ roll, pop, blues, jazz, gospel, and sacred music, which all seemingly co-existed together before the days of heavily formatted radio. In 2015, he finally completed his first album, ‘An Ordinary Thing’, utilizing songs and players that stretch from east coast to west before releasing his second collection, ‘Accepting All Prayers’, in 2017. ‘A Brighter Day’ is his latest collection of songs - twelve different takes on the human condition. Songs of love, friendship, joy, pain and hope. Songs about getting up everyday and never giving up. We caught up with the artist to get the 411 on his new music project. Where are you from and how did you get started with music? I was raised in Lake Worth, Fl. and grew up in the South Florida music scene in the 1970’s. It was a pretty fertile area for music. Blues, jazz, rock, country, RnB, and Caribbean rhythms were very prevalent at the time. I wasn’t much of a player, but I was always writing and imagining music in my head. What was the inspiration for “A Brighter Day”? I had a group of songs I wanted to release together. Some of those changed during the recording process, and the album became a little more eclectic than I originally intended. It has been a journey, and a challenge to sequence, but I like where we ended up. “A Brighter Day” is your third Album to date, how is it different from the previous ones?
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To me, there are two basic subjects you can write about, when you really boil it down: Love and Death. Sometimes both at the same time. This album is more love, and less death. How would you describe your current sound? The song really dictates the sound. I’m crazy enough to go wherever it leads me. I have an old friend from S. Florida producing me, Patty Sanders. She helps me facilitate my crazy ideas. Not an easy job. She’s really amazing! All the great players on the album came through her. Will you be releasing singles, and if yes what about videos? The first single is ‘Lunch In Paris.’ My husband, Joel Craig, is working on the video. He does graphic novels, and we’re taking that approach for the video. It’s gonna be fun.
by Prince was an important album for me. That album was the soundtrack of my sexual liberation as a gay man. “If I gotta die, I’m gonna listen to my body tonight.” What is the one song you wish you had written and why? That’s really hard. I love different songs for different reasons. ‘Up On The Roof’ by Carole King always brings a tear to my eye and a flutter to my heart. What artist would you love to collaborate with and why? I would’ve loved to work with Prince. I’ve already learned so much from him. Along the living, Mavis Staples or Bonnie Raitt. I think they would sing the hell outta my songs.
What instrument do you play and compose songs with? I write a lot on my Yamaha baby grand. Sometimes I go to my electric keyboards. But mostly the piano. I’m learning to play guitar, which is both big fun and really hard, but I haven’t written anything with it yet. I play better guitar in my head. Focusing on the songwriting process, how does a song typically develop - do you start with the lyrics, the chords or the melody, or? Well, not to sound like a dipshit, but every song starts with silence, or a reasonable amount of quiet. Then your imagination just fills it in. Each song has its own origin story. The words, chords and melody come in different sequences. If you’re lucky, you get the first verse and chorus in one mad free rush. Then it’s up to you use your craft to do the rest. It’s essential that you respect your initial inspiration and write something down to mark it. Otherwise you may lose it forever. I learned that the hard way. There’s nothing worse than letting a song get lost, and then hearing someone else’s version of it on the radio nine months later. What are some of your influences music wise? That’s a long list. I referenced Bob Dylan on my first album. James Brown and Prince on my second. My new album has a tribute to Joni Mitchell called ‘Joni Says.’ You could start there. What are your favorite albums? ‘Talking Book’ by Stevie Wonder really rocked my world back in the day. ‘In a Silent Way’ by Miles Davis really enchanted me. ‘Rubber Soul’ by the Beatles. ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’ by Joni Mitchell. I hated that album, then fell in love with it. ‘1999’
Who do you listen to today - can you turn our readers on to someone they may not have heard of yet? Frank Ocean is doing interesting stuff. Rufus Wainwright deserves a lot more recognition, both as a songwriter and vocalist. We go see him whenever he’s in town. What do you think about the Internet as new distribution platform to promote and disseminate your music? Well, if I were in it for the money, I’d probably hate it! They’re not compensating artists adequately for all the content they generate. On the other hand, there IS a huge platform for musicians to be heard that didn’t exist before. So I exploit them, and they exploit me. If something breaks out, it’s good for both of us. As a listener, I love having instant access to almost everything! That’s pretty insane. The sound is getting better. Thanks Neil Young. You dabble in different aspects of entertainment (film, comics, etc). What speaks to you the most? I’m a songwriter. That’s where I live. I’ve had some thrilling moments as an actor, though. Unfortunately, you have to go through a ton of shit to get to those moments. What are your plans for the future? What’s next for you? I always have ongoing music projects. I have some instrumental things I’m working on, and some more experimental pop music that is screaming for attention. Where can people find you online? How can they connect with you? Go to donovanholden.com Digital downloads and streams are available on all major service platforms: Apple, Amazon, Tidal, Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube. And on CDbaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/donovanholden5
JULY 2019 35
FITNESS
THE HUMAN BODY: THE ULTIMATE WORK OF ART BY JILL LANGHAM
Hello my friends and Happy July! I hope you had a safe and fun-filled 4th of July and also hope that you took a moment to remember all that it took for us to have this Independence. It’s truly amazing.
over sized derrieres don’t do a thing for me nor do all the implants that I see on the people who obviously felt the need to be larger than life. Perhaps they were all hippopotamuses in a past life and can’t let the image go! Just saying!
This month’s edition focuses on Art. To me exercise is a form of art. It takes discipline and knowledge to achieve the physical beauty that comes from loving and exercising your body. For example, the great statues of David or the beautiful images of Robert Mapplethorpe or those of Tom Bianchi, our local famous photographer, all show the beauty of the human body, especially when combined with weight lifting, proper eating habits and of course some type of cardiovascular exercise.
I’m blessed to have strong gluteus Maximus muscles and continue to work on my gluteus minimus and Gluteus-Hamstring tie-in or that area below the cheeks that always seems to sag. But rather than do that work in the gym, I choose to do most of that work on the dance floor! Seriously, I watch this new generation of people doing 100 of squats a week, oftentimes using horrific form that I fear will end up with lower back and knee problems down the road. But that’s not the half of it. They are working so hard on their butts when they could be having so much more fun doing it on the dance floor! I kid you not!
What I love about seeing the human body, as art is the near godlike proportions that blend together so beautifully. At times, I feel like people have gone too far and have created an imbalance to their physiques by over working certain body parts. The Kardashian’s
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I see so many people doing the majority of their cardio indoors, especially here in Palm Springs. The heat of the summer is of course intense and many people have developed skin cancer and need to
protect themselves. But, many are hikers, runners and bikers. I have been done all those forms of cardio, but what I’ve finally learned is that the best cardio and glut workout happens on the dance floor. I think of myself as “Jill with the Jack inside!” Say, what? Well if you’ve seen me dance you know that one minute I will be standing up dancing, rocking back and forth from one leg to another, and then for no apparent reason I’ll start “jacking” myself down to the floor. One foot remaining stable while the other foot bounces or “jacks” me down till I’m almost parallel to the floor. Then when I’m ready will “jack” myself up doing the same thing in the reverse. Lo and behold, I discovered that doing this 100’s of times a night, made my gluts stand up and other people took notice! LOL! Seriously, you should try it! I now have a “hard-ass” at 64 years old! Speaking of the Arts, I am sponsoring a Happy Hour Fundraiser on July 9th at Oscar’s Bar & Cafe for Marquee Academy of Performing Arts. My dear friend, and client, a talented musician, and owner of Architectural Blue Pool Company, Matthew Naylor, founded Marquee Academy of Performing Arts in 2012. It’s a nonprofit organization that ensures that all children have an opportunity to experience music programs if their own schools cut those programs to save money. Music is his passion and he wanted to share that with others. Running a non-profit means having to have fund raisers, dances, performances, dinners, car washes, bake good drives, etc. to raise money to keep the school afloat. When he’s not running his business or his organization you might find Matt in Puerto Rico where he is developing a coffee plantation. He’s one dedicated, busy, philanthropic guy. This year Matt was elected to be on the Board of Directors for the Well in the Desert and was also elected to be the Puerto Rican liaison for the American Adoption Congress. As you can see, Matt is one amazing man with a heart of gold. If you caught my last article in the June edition, you read that I was on my way to Israel for Tel Aviv Pride. I was so moved by my experiences that I want to share them with my community. I’ve titled the talk, “Tel Aviv: Pride, Freedom & Media Misconceptions”. I hope you will be able to join me. I’d be delighted if you could help support his fine school.
Thank you so much! Mazel Tov! XOXO, Jill, Your Dancing Queen!
JULY 2019 37
WELLNESS
A TUNE-UP FOR THE BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT BY DANIEL CLEMENS CMT
You will find BodyTune Studio in downtown Palm Springs at the entrance to a corridor that leads to a secret garden courtyard. Upstairs, the studio opens up to a peaceful open space accented by unusual, yet simple to play musical instruments. Every detail is considered and flows effortlessly throughout each room. The private treatment room overlooks the garden; the adjustable treatment table is roomy and comfortable. Clean and spacious, the intention is to allow the opportunity for the senses to relax while the mind expands. The nervous system is allowed to downshift, going from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest”. This change in state is extremely important for the deep, introspective, yet gentle, practice done at BodyTune. The environment may be similar to a spa but the treatments offered address not only the physical body but the emotional, mental and spiritual bodies as well. When the environment is peaceful, there is an immediate reduction in mental activity, which calms the nervous system. The nervous system controls the muscles that begin to fire less frequently. The physical body is then addressed in a gentle manner using
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non-invasive approaches like Craniosacral Therapy or Myofascial Release. In this way, trust and respect is established allowing for a deeper dive into the emotional body, if appropriate. Sound and vibration in the form of tuning forks, vocal toning, and powerful musical instruments are used to explore old patterns. Complex or painful memories can be released and experienced in a new way. Many blocks can open up, freeing new levels of creativity, focus and goal setting. The therapists at BodyTune have extensive backgrounds in the healing arts such as Chinese Medicine, Massage Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Eden Energy Medicine, Biofield Tuning, Watsu, Flower Remedies, Macrobiotics and more. Experience combined with continuing education and growth in many diverse fields, creates well rounded practitioners who understand the necessity for deep listening, focused attention and an individual, holistic approach to wellness. People are not seen as broken or in need of fixing. Each session is unique, tailored in such a way as to meet and explore the inner physician of each person.
Dis-ease is a lack of ease. Working together, harmony can be renewed and ease becomes a way of life. AN INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL QIGONG Medical Qigong is an ancient form of Chinese energetic medicine, and is one of the four main branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), along with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and medical massage. As with the other “Branches” of TCM, healing occurs through balancing qi or electromagnetic energy, which surrounds and pervades all living creatures. Disruptions in the electromagnetic energy of the body occur throughout our lifetime as a result of poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, injuries, surgery, suppression of emotions, and aging. The goal of qigong is to correct these bio-energetic imbalances and blockages. This enables the body to strengthen and regulate the internal organs, the nervous system and the immune system, relieve pain, regulate hormones, and strengthen and release deep-seated emotions and stress. Natasa Meyer is a local Medical Qigong Master. I recently sat down with her in an effort to gain more information about this ancient form of healing. Daniel Clemens - Natasa, how did you discover Medical Qigong? Natasa Meyer - Actually, I had a dog with a broken bone and a friend offered to assist using Medical Qigong. It wasn’t possible
to meet in person so she worked remotely without even seeing the dog. The results were unbelievable. I’m also a pharmacist and my father was a doctor so my mind has been trained towards a scientific worldview. But I was so impressed that I became a patient. DC - Tell us about your first experience as a patient. NM - The experience was profound. I almost can’t put it into words. I saw the most amazing colors; in fact, I saw a lot of things in my mind. I felt changes happening. It was such a moving experience that I assumed that only very special people could do this kind of healing. My therapist assured me that anyone can learn it if he or she is willing to put in the time and effort. It’s a commitment, but you don’t need any special talents to start. DC - Where did you learn Medical Qigong and what was the training like? NM - I trained at The International Medical Qigong College in Palm Desert. After the first year you become a Practitioner. After the second, you’re a Therapist. A Therapist can start to work on cancer patients, which was not allowed until the proper training is completed. If one chooses to go further, a third year must be completed in order to become what we call a Master. Master training goes much deeper into the spiritual, and esoteric realms. Everyone has to complete a certain amount of clinical hours and there are classes in subjects like anatomy, physiology, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Similar to what an acupuncturist learns.
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WELLNESS
DC - Can you explain what takes place in a typical session? NM - A session takes about an hour. I start with an intake discussion that may lead us to the direction that we take, but I leave it open for change. The person then lies on his or her back on a massage table and we begin. Very little touch is needed. Sometimes I may touch a hand or feet but most everything is done off of the body using my hands and voice. It is painless and noninvasive. Sometimes issues come forward for the person during or after the treatment that we discuss. Then once the energy field around the body is clear and the channels within the body are opened, people feel infused. They feel lighter and brighter. Sometimes euphoric. In order to keep this feeling going, I give patients some simple exercises to do at home. Maybe a sound related to a particular organ, or a meditation, or an easy physical exercise. Usually one of each. Five minutes, two or three times a day. This keeps them active n their own healing. They begin to see that they are actually healing themselves. In fact, I’m not really healing anyone, they are healing themselves. DC - Yes! The inner physician. It’s so important that people realize that they heal themselves. We just gently guide them into remembering how. Please tell us how this training and practice changed your life?
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NM - Wow, it changed everything about me! Before I discovered Medical Qigong, my pharmacist mind saw things in black in white, the scientific method ruled. Something could be proven or not. Although I had an experience when I was younger that showed me that this life is not the end, with Medical Qigong I have no doubt that there is more to this physical life. It changed how I see my purpose on this earth. I know what I’m here to do, where I’m going. I’m clear about my life, other people, and my family relationships just everything is different. DC - This technique is ancient but it’s new to many people. When I began my Chinese Medicine training 25 years ago, acupuncture was considered fringe. Now we accept it as a viable option in healthcare. Sound and energy healing seem to be the next evolution. Where do you see your future Natasa? NM - I’m about to turn 48 years old and Medical Chigong was a real commitment to me at this point in my life. I still work full time as a pharmacist but I do see patients in my clinic space in Palm Desert by appointment in between my usual work schedule. I don’t advertise, and my clientele is purely word of mouth. I truly enjoy what I do and I get to meet the most incredible people - and animals. I’ve worked with dogs, cats, even a tortoise. I do this for the simple joy of it.
Natasa Meyer, Medical Qigong Master can be reached at www.medicalqigonglaquinta.com She will also be speaking at BodyTune Studio in Palm Springs on July 25th. For more info and to RSVP got to: www.bodytune.studio
Daniel Clemens, CMT Owner of BodyTune Studio President, Holistic Care Cooperative www.bodytune.studio
JULY 2019 41
TRAVEL
SOUTH AFRICA AND MAURITIUS WITH AFRIGAY!
Exclusively gay vacation in Mauritius from AfriGay, with additional VIP South Africa option, is a first for Africa! In March 2020, AfriGay (by The Travel & Event Company) with World Leisure Holidays, are taking over the magnificent 4-star Ambre Resort & Spa on the east coast of Mauritius for an exclusive, all gay, 5-night beach vacation! Ambre Mauritius is an adults-only resort that offers gorgeous four-star, all-inclusive accommodation for their guests. The resort embraces the LGBTQ+ community and is the perfect destination for the event. VC Toto Tours AfriGay Mauritius takes place from 2 – 7 March 2020 and is hosted by the fabulous Cathy Specific & her Trolley Dollies from Cape Town. Whether you are a party animal or health fanatic, activities have been crafted to suit everyone of all ages – adults only, of course! Experience a tropical sunrise with a fabulous cocktail, enjoy a beach Yoga session or beach games with a gay touch. Show off your beach volleyball skills, or test your fitness at a daily exercise boot camp on the beach, learn how to windsurf, or go snorkeling in the magnificent reef – all before the daily pool parties! Meet and
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connect with iconic gay influencers, make gorgeous new friends from all over the world… and so much more! At night, you can enjoy a movie on the beach or party into the early hours at Ambre’s ‘Shaker’s’ nightclub, with local and international DJ’s at the decks, or go to themed, exclusive dinners, including a Magical Ball on the beach where you can dress up in whatever makes you comfortable! Additional VIP tickets are available, providing access to dedicated VIP areas, spa treatments, a sunset catamaran cruise and a chance to interact with the iconic Rocco Steele. Rocco will also be hosting an 8-day tour of South Africa for international guests, which will run before the Mauritius event, giving those traveling from afar the chance to make the most of their African experience. Whilst all activities will be hosted within the resort, you can choose to explore the island with external activities. The time is yours – relax, choose what you want to do, when you want to do it, any way you like!
Bookings can be made on the Afrigay website: www.afrigay.co.za Article provided by our media partner, Vacationer Magazine www.vacationermag.com
(760) 891-4072 JULY 2019 43
TRANSCENDENCE
ART SCHMART! OR, WHY ART CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT’S HAPPENED TO ME BY CHRISTINA VRONAY RUGGLES
First of all, Happy Belated Pride! Second of all, welcome (though you probably already knew) to our art issue! I think being queer is a filter that can change how one perceives and absorbs art. How one puts out art is changed by their queerness. I know being trans affects my writing in lots of, shall we say, strange ways? It changes the stories I want to tell. It provides an Overton Window to my experiences and what I want to/can write about with any skill. But I guess that’s true of everything about who I am? Being white provides a form of artistic Overton Window. Being female, being androgynous (at times), being young, growing up the way I did. It’s wonderfully limiting, in a way. But being transgender morphs how I experience art, how I view art, what I want from art, and what art I want to put out into the world. I mean, being queer clearly changes one’s artistic abilities.
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From the Black Book to the AIDs Quilt; from Scissor Sisters to Pansy Division, from Killing Eve to Buffy to Xena Warrior Princess. Queerness changes art. In a wonderful and beautiful way. I mean, it isn’t just queerness that changes art though. Being poor, being a Person of Color (especially in the United States) changes how one experiences and puts out art. A film like Get Out should be the absolutely bluntest proof of that. I don’t think it’s suffering that makes art so good. It’s knowing a bit of truth about the world and being able to express it. The emotional component of art is a melding of communication, ideas, the human spirit, and without knowing certain things about how the world ticks, that emotional component can and will ring hollow. I think that’s why I consume so much (I think nearly exclusively?) queer-made art. It speaks to me. It offers outside influence on who I am, and the places I can exist in. For quick reference, I use Instagram to follow a few dozen visual artists who work across a variety of
mediums. It’s these people whose art I buy, sometimes from galleries, sometimes just from the artist themselves! They’re often young, small, and independent. Sometimes art is their career, sometimes it’s their passion. Often, it’s their second job. But these people, especially one in particular, change how I see myself CONSTANTLY. In amazing ways. To give some background info, it’s really, really hard, as a trans person, to see my body, if that makes sense? I’m very much detached from it. Like, I understand that it’s me in the mirror, but it’s really freaking hard to see that person objectively, and not just as a towering pile of flaws. Nauseating, dysphoric flaws. Looking at myself in the mirror often feels more like playing with a doll, than like looking at my own reflection. Maybe it’s a universal thing, but I blame this body disconnection on being transgender. Maybe I shouldn’t? I don’t know. But it’s relevant to today’s column, I swear. Because of this detachment, this alienation from my own physical form, it’s hard to carve and mold my look into one I’m part of enjoying. It’s an achievement if I can smile at myself in the mirror, or at least smile in a real way. It’s hard to feel attractive. To feel lovable from the outside, never from the inside. But art, especially recently, has changed that. In some strange
way it’s given me permission to feel attractive. To feel beautiful. To feel sexy. To feel lovable. And that’s revolutionary for me. I know I’m failing to communicate the magnanimity of this accomplishment. But, being able to enjoy my body in the mirror, seeing past the flaws, doing those little mental exercises we do for those we love, these things are alien to me. It sounds so minor, but when it’s NEW, entirely, 100% new? I promise, it’s a big deal. And art opened this door. Portraits of women like me, drawn by women who look like me, and love looking at women like me. Seeing women like me dance proudly, sing loudly, and just exist as bold, beautiful people that know they’re amazing. I love queer art. It’s not all perfect. But it’s one of those amazing things that fills whatever I call a soul with joy. It’s this monolith passed down from my elders. This monolith that says, “Hey, hey, we’ve always been here, we’re going nowhere, and we want you here.” Even things like this very magazine are part of this monolith. I have so much more to say on queer art and what it means to me, but I do, in fact, have a word count limit. So I’ll just say thank you to the queer artists who are and aren’t reading this. Never stop making beautiful, inclusive, QUEER art for the best family anyone could ever have.
JULY 2019 45
the3D’s
RESTAURANTS VILLAGE PUB 266 S. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.3265 www.palmspringsvillagepub.com NATURE’S HEALTH FOOD & CAFE 555 S Sunrise Way Suite 301 Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.323.9487 www.natureshealthfoodcafe.com SHERMAN’S DELI & BAKERY 401 E Tahquitz Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.1199 www.shermansdeli.com RÍO AZUL 350 S. Indian Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.992.5641 www.rioazulpalmsprings.com 849 849 N Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.8490 www.eight4nine.com COPLEY’S ON PALM CANYON 621 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.9555 www.copleyspalmsprings.com WORKSHOP KITCHEN & BAR 800 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.459.3451 www.workshoppalmsprings.com
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DINE | DRINK | DANCE Palm Springs LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO 200 S Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.5858 www.lulupalmsprings.com
CHEEKYS 622 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.7595 www.cheekysps.com
PURPLE ROOM 1900 E. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.4422 www.purpleroompalmsprings.com
POMME FRITE 256 S Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.3727 www.pomme-frite.com
EL MIRASOL 140 E Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0721 www.elmirasolrestaurants.com
CHILL BAR 217 E. Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.1079
THAI SMILE PALM SPRINGS 100 South Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.5503 www.thaismilepalmsprings.com
RICK’S RESTAURANT 1973 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.0090 www.ricksrestaurant.biz
TRIO RESTAURANT 707 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.864.8746 www.triopalmsprings.com
PINOCCHIO IN THE DESERT 134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.3776 www.pinocchiops.com
THE TROPICALE 330 E Amado Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.866.1952 www.thetropicale.com
BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS
ZIN AMERICAN BISTRO 198 S Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 760.322.6300 www.pszin.com LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO 200 S Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.5858 www.lulupalmsprings.com
HUNTERS NIGHTCLUB 302 East Arenas Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0700 www.huntersnightclubs.com TOUCAN’S TIKI LOUNGE 2100 North Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.7584 www.toucanstikilounge.com
STREETBAR 224 E. Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1266 www.psstreetbar.com THE TOOL SHED 600 E. Sunny Dunes Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.3299 www.toolshed-ps.com STACY’S AT PALM SPRINGS 220 E Arenas Rd Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.620.5003 BLACKBOOK BAR 315 E Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.832.8497 www.blackbookbar.com QUADZ 200 S Indian Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.4326
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OUR ANNUAL MUSIC EDITION
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EVENTS CALENDAR
JUL 18 SUMMER READING FINALE AT THE PS PUBLIC LIBRARY The Palm Springs Public Library Summer Reading Finale celebration on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. at the main library. Registrations have been breaking the previous years totals and all seem to be enjoying the weekly programs, films and special events. To celebrate our six-week summer reading program It’s Showtime @ Your Library; actress, comedienne, voice impressionist, and singer-dancer Bethany Owen will be at the Library. The fun commences at 4:00 p.m. with red carpet arrivals hosted by Bethany Owens as Joan Rivers ! For Info visit www.palmspringslibrary.org
AUG 21 PALM SPRINGS CULTURAL CENTER NEW CULINARY CINEMA PROGRAM The Palm Springs Cultural Center, in partnership with accomplished filmmaker Petra Haffter, is proud to premiere the CULINARY CINEMA program. Once a month cinephiles and foodies meet to screen a culinary classic and then afterwards are treated to a dinner created by a local chef based upon the themes presented in the film. The culinary cinema adventure begins at the Camelot Theatres inside the Palm Springs Cultural Center on August 21 with “The Hundred Foot Journey.” For a complete schedule visit www.psculturalcenter.org AUGUST 27 PALM SPRINGS GAY MEN’S CHORUS AUDITIONS The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus (PSGMC)
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will be holding open call auditions August 27 at 7:00p.m. at the Mizell Senior Center, 480 South Sunrise Way in Palm Springs. This special evening of camaraderie will also be an opportunity to volunteer and get involved with one of the chorus’ many committees. Interested singers can also attend open rehearsals on August 13 and 20 at 7:00p.m. to experience what it is like to perform with the chorus and meet its members. For more information on meeting the requirements and an application form go to www.psgmc.com/auditions/.
THE JUDY SHOW. PURPLE ROOM SUPPER CLUB PALM SPRINGS The spirit of Judy Garland is alive and well and in Palm Springs at the famed Purple Room Supper Club every Sunday at 7:00! This blend of hysterical comedy and outstanding music explode into an evening of nonstop belly laughs, glamour and high camp, as celebrated entertainer Michael Holmes parodies Judy Garland, who in her 1964 television variety show, played host to some of the greatest female icons of the Golden Age of Hollywood. www.purpleroompalmsprings.com
ONGOING >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CERTIFIED FARMERS’ MARKET Certified Farmers’ Market Palm Springs PS Pavilion Saturdays 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m Certified Farmers’ Market Palm Desert Westfield Mall Sundays 9:00am – 1:30pm For more information, please visit www.certifiedfarmersmarkets.org or call 844-7FARMCV (844.732.7628). CV REP The Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep), now settled into its newly renovated 210 seat playhouse in Cathedral City, has announced it will remain open throughout the hot summer months to present an exciting line-up of one night only summer performances beginning in June, 2019. CVRep’s exciting array of entertainment this summer will include jazz, cabaret, dance and classical music concerts, as well as Tales from the Twilight Café – staged readings of original works from the members of the CVRep Conservatory Writers Workshop. www.cvrep.org TG MONDAYS. TRANSGENDER SOCIAL EVENT Every second Monday of the month, Transgender Social Hour discussing advocacy, transitioning & HRT. Allies, respectful admirers, and transgender umbrella all welcome. Portion of proceeds to benefit the Raina Chessman Fund. For more info www.transcc.org
CHILL BAR PALM SPRINGS A warm and fabulous twenty first century modern venue located on Arenas, suited with multi faceted rooms for any celebration. The gorgeous island bar is surrounded by hi-definition video entertainment and a comfortable designer lounge. Chill on the patio enjoying music and refreshing beverages with friends after a game of pool, or come by and say hello to our friendly staff. Open for business seven days a week. Get out of the heat, and come join us! Happy Hour (From Open to 7pm) and Late Happy Hour (From Midnight to Last Call) www.chillbarpalmsprings.com THE SUNDAY BAND W/ SPECIAL GUESTS. PAPPY & HARRIET’S PIONEERTOWN The Sunday Rock + Roll Service is a Pappy and Harriet’s institution celebrating the healing powers of music and community! Every weekend the club’s favorite singers and players get together and trade songs. Come join us to see Victoria Williams, Gar Robertson, Carol Ann Crandall, Damian Lester, Bob Furgo, Rachel
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EVENTS CALENDAR
Dean, Ryan Norman, Caleb Winn, Danny Frankel and other talented locals performing for your drinking and dancing pleasure. With a come-as-you-are vibe, Sundays have seen great special guests like Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, Rickie Lee Jones to name a few. www.pappyandharriets.com
BLACKBOOK The sleek industrial styled BlackBook Bar located in the heart of the gay strip on Arenas now has Happy Hour everyday from 4-6pm and NAUGHTY hour from 10:00 PM-midnight. During these times you cam enjoy specials such as $5 pint glass well drinks, $1 off all bottle and draft beer, and $2 off all wines by the glass! www.blackbookbar.com
OSCAR’S CAFÉ & BAR Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs on the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon, Oscar’s has a huge outdoor patio with lots of umbrellas for shade and misters to keep you cool, too. You can beat the heat any time of year and enjoy the views of Palm Springs. On Saturday and Sunday from 8am – 2pm, enjoy a $9 Bottomless Mimosas (juice included), a single $2 mimosa or a $5 Bloody Mary with brunch, during which both our full breakfast
and lunch menus are available. Also join us for Sunday Funday Weekly Tea Dance 4pmClose! Live entertainment weekly visit our website for details. www.oscarspalmsprings.com
WANG’S IN THE DESERT The bar & patio at Wang’s in the Desert is known as ‘the venue’ and offers daily happy hour, exciting daily events & amazing no-cover entertainment. Award winning, community giving, Top Shelf Happy Hour & Amazing Palm Springs Pan Asian Cuisine. Well known for Friday “Boys Night Out” Complete calendar list at www.wangsinthedesert.com
HUNTERS NIGHTCLUBS® Palm Springs, Palm Springs’ go-to gay bar and dance club, has been leading the way in full-out fun for 20 years now! And we keep it pumping, making it better for you all the time with our unparalleled event line-up. We enjoy having
the desert’s most sought-after and friendly DJs, full-on themed events, and a staff that has it all without the attitude. And of course, we are proud to hold the longest happy hour in the entire Valley. Remember: Size Matters. Come by for our happy hour from 10am – 7pm. Yes, that’s right: 9 hours long! For a list of all events and specials visit www.huntersnightclubs.com
SUNDAYS “The Playgirls” at Toucans Tiki Lounge featuring Tommi Rose. Performances on Sundays at 8 & 10pm.These darling Divas of drag really deliver with their very own brand of entertainment to packed houses. Special guests appear weekly. DJ in the sound booth. Every Sunday Complete list of events www.toucanstikilounge.com For a complete calendar of community events visit our Media Partner, O’Bayley Communications. CLICK ON LOGO WWW.OBAYLEY.NET
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EVENTS CALENDAR
JUL 18 - 28
OUTFEST LA. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival is 11 days of world-class films, panels, and parties. It is the world’s leading organization that promotes equality by creating, sharing and protecting LGBT stories on the screen. Outfest builds community by connecting diverse populations to discover, discuss and celebrate stories of LGBT lives. Over the past three decades, Outfest has showcased thousands of films from around the world, educated and mentored hundreds of emerging filmmakers, and protected more than 35,000 LGBT films and videos. www.outfest.org
breaking community participation with an estimated 40,000 festival participants and close to 100k parade attendees this year will be huge. Pride is the biggest weekend of the year to champion, celebrate, and support our community. For more info visit www.sdpride.org
JUL 23 - 27
JULY 13 - 21
BEAR WEEK PROVINCETOWN. PROVINCETOWN, MA Provincetown Bears prepares a special welcome for Bears to one of North America’s most famous gay resort towns. We work with local club managers to program different music and an atmosphere for a week of parties. We also allow time to relax and have a true vacation. Our events leave plenty of free time to enjoy the town, restaurants, cabaret shows, National Seashore Park, beaches, and the daily gatherings at hotel pool decks. www.ptownbears.org
JUL 12 - 14
SAN DIEGO PRIDE. SAN DIEGO, CA San Diego Pride celebration promises to be the biggest event to date with record-
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GIRL SPLASH. PROVINCETOWN MA This year, Provincetown hosts the tenthanniversary celebration of Girl Splash, the epic summer event for women in Provincetown. A fun filled schedule of events featuring parties, performers, special activities on land and sea, plus everything that makes Provincetown so special in summer - beaches, shopping, great food, biking, clambakes, dance parties, lesbian comics, and more. New for the tenth anniversary is a foodie tour, a garden party, an inn stroll, movies under the stars, and a daylong tour of Cape Cod. www.provincetownforwomen.com
entertainment and amazing DJs. Stay in local lodges, campgrounds and cabins, or avail yourself of any number of nearby towns and cities. Eat at gourmet restaurants, local diners, cookouts and unique pop-ups. Drink worldclass wine near the vineyards that produce it. www.lazybearweekend.org
AUG 15 - 18
NORTH CAROLINA GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL. DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF) is the second largest gay and lesbian film festival in the Southeast, bringing in thousands of patrons every year. Since its start in 1995, the Festival features a diverse array of shorts, documentaries and feature films. The NCGLFF celebrates a worldwide glimpse of today’s gay, lesbian and transgender life, helps bring the community together and features entertaining and sophisticated films and filmmaking. www.carolinatheatre.org
JUL 29 - AUG 5
LAZY BEAR WEEKEND GUERNVILLE, CA The Lazy Bear fund puts on one of the largest and most successful bear gatherings in the world. Lazy Bear Weekend is our annual, signature event. For over 20 years we have entertained thousands of guests in Guerneville, California in the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. Enjoy pool parties, dance parties, bonfires, live
Our National Media Partner, Queer Forty, is the online magazine for the LGBTQ over40 community. Its mission is to inspire and support older LGBTQ people to keep living amazing lives! www.queerforty.com
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EVENTS CALENDAR JUL 29 - AUG 3
JULY 12 - 14
SPARKLE NATIONAL TRANSGENDER CELEBRATION. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND Sparkle the National Transgender Celebration - a weekend festival held in the Village area of Manchester. We are hoping this will be the biggest and best Sparkle festival to date so please come and join in the celebrations as together we share pride in our trans-identity! Sparkle is open to everyone who sees himself or herself as Transgender (and their friends and families) no matter if they be living fulltime or just ‘dressing up’ for an occasional Saturday night out. We accept the differing aspirations and needs of the various people within our community, but invite all to come together and share our celebration. www.sparkle.org.uk
JULY 18 - 28
PRIDE LONDON LONDON, ONTARIO CANADA Pride London Festival provides an annual opportunity to generate celebratory, cultural, artistic & educational events that affirm the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, Transsexual, transgender, two-spirited people & our allies through activities that promote unity, inclusion, & awareness of sexual & gender diversity. For info go to www.pridelondon.ca
STOCKHOLM PRIDE STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Stockholm Pride remains the largest Pride Festival in Scandinavia since 1998. Stockholm Pride strives to raise awareness for LGBT+ issues, and create a safe zone for LGBT+ people and the gender expressions within the LGBT+ community. We believe that love and equality should exist everywhere. www.stockholmpride.org
the best club circuit parties, and the famous Canal Parade. Gay pride is always one of the busiest times of the year in Amsterdam. The main gay events and parties all take place in the center of Amsterdam. The highlight of the Amsterdam Gay Pride weekend is the famous Canal Parade. Where most parades use trucks, Amsterdam has boats! 75 spectacularly decorated boats with beautiful boys and girls will sail through the Prinsengracht and Amstel rivers. www.amsterdampride.nl
AUG 7 - 18 JUL 26 - AUG 4
BELFAST PRIDE. BELFAST IRELAND Belfast Pride is one of the biggest festivals, Ireland’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival and ranks in the top ten largest Pride parades in the UK! We celebrate Diversity with a ten day long celebration and we will have a diverse program of events which we hope appeals to all tastes and fully represents our community. Belfast Pride is a protest and a celebration – a stand for equal rights and a proud and inclusive celebration of LGBTQ+ lives. A broad coalition comes together under the Pride rainbow and we want to encourage more people than ever before to join together to make Belfast Pride even bigger and even more inclusive. It’s time to make a stand and it’s time to join in the celebration. www.belfastpride.com
JUL 27 - AUG 4
AMSTERDAM GAY PRIDE. AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS Gay Pride Amsterdam is one of the most fun prides in the world. Amsterdam will have street parties all weekend long, as well as
REYKJAVIK PRIDE REYKJAVIK, ICELAND Reykjavik Pride has become a festival which not only promotes LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer & Intersex) visibility but is also a festival where the whole nation comes together in celebrating the fact that in Iceland you can enjoy the freedom of being and living as you are. Six day festival filled with exciting events, lectures, queer cruise, gay walks, a family festival, concerts, gallery openings, parties, big queer dance on Saturday after the parade and of course the Pride parade. www.pinkiceland.is
Our international media partner, FNQ Magazine, www.fnqmagazine.com Cairns gay lifestyle and travel publication that gives Australia and the world a taste of gay life in the tropics, sponsors the International Calendar. www.go2gaycairns.com
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PHOTO REWIND HOT MESS IN A DRESS PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE
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PHOTO REWIND QUEEN OF THE DESERT PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE
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PHOTO REWIND PS PRIDE OUTSTANDING VOICES 2019 PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE
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PHOTO REWIND PS PRIDE OUTSTANDING VOICES 2019 PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A. LEE
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