They’re drag queens! They’re lovers! They’re former contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race!
Manila Luzon and Sahara Davenport were looking glam last night at a preview party for the show’s new season. (Photo from World of Wonder’s post about the bash, which was held at Patricia Field Boutique.)
I wonder what the gals’ home life is like…
Fierce battles for the mirror? Or lovey-dovey caressing as they hook each other’s bras?
I just learned the sad news that art dealer John Wessel died last month.
He was 70, which means I met him when he was about 50. He and his boyfriend William “Billy” O’Connor owned Wessel + O’Connor Gallery in Tribeca, which represented a few of my up-and-coming artist friends.
The gallery then moved to Soho and became a hotspot for queer identity art during the AIDS activism era. Its biggest buzz was for an exhibit of paintings by Christopher Ciccone, the gay brother of Madonna. She showed up for the opening.
Later on, at various locations, the gallery specialized in vintage homoerotic male physique photography.
John was from St. Louis and was a charming and graceful gentlemen who practically always wore a sports coat. Also endearing was John and Billy’s May/September romance; John was the elder by 16 years. They met in 1979 and married in 2008.
John grew up when homosexuality was a terrible taboo, even in the art world, and his decision to devote his life to championing gay artists and gay art was a courageous act of personal liberation.
I’m very sorry that I hadn’t seen him over the last several years. On Saturday, I plan on attending his memorial.
On Sunday I popped into an opening at the Stephan Stoyanov Gallery on Orchard Street where my pal Michelle Handelman is exhibiting footage and stills from her transgender video spectacle “Dorian.”
Also on display at Stoyanov are Hannah Barrett‘s wild paintings of a “hermaphrodite master race.”
The opening was jumping with tons of pretty people. Plus a brand new gallery was debuting across the street creating even more of a commotion. The vibrancy of the Lower East Side art scene was in full effect and it felt exhilarating to be in the midst of it all.
And to think I had seriously considered staying home and watching the Golden Globes.
Thank goodness I came to my senses. I can plug into pop culture anytime, but taking the time to absorb and appreciate art and artists is special.
What’s up with exhibitionist stoner fitness-model Benjamin Godfre (whose site I visit every day) and “transsexual supermodel” Jennifer Paris?
On his December visit to NYC, Godfre posted video of them hanging out together at Greenhouse nightclub.
Yesterday on his Tumblr account, he posted a photo of the couple dining in San Francisco along with his likewise sexy brother Michael.
UPDATE: I replaced the photo with this one that Jennifer personally provided herself!
Benjamin is in San Fran for another of his boundary-pushing kinky photo shoots. Is Jennifer going to participate? And how about Michael? Sounds hot!
If you find yourself craving a banana in the vicinity of Eighth Avenue and 47th Street…
Duane Reade, the omnipresent drug-store chain, sells bananas for 50¢ each.
Right outside, the fruit and vegetable vendor sells them for 35¢ each or three for $1.00. And they’re not bruised.
With my savings I shall buy myself a slice of celery! But not from Duane Reade!
The camera’s flash revealed my undergarments!
Transparent dresses are such a problem for us glamour gals!
