GAYLETTER

Thank god my friend Jessica took me to chant at a Buddhist temple before I went to shoot RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon because I needed all the calm and focus I could muster for this brief experience.

The hotel room where Jinkx was preparing for her show (and I was meant to photograph her) was super tight, like a railroad sleeping car with a little nook at the end where the make-up mirror was. There was no space to set up a light or have Jinkx lounging in the bed for the shot I pre-imagined taking. Instead I had to open the front door of the room and stand in the hallway and point my camera lens back into the room in the mirror where Jinkx was making up to take a picture.

With only one dim light on above her it was difficult to get an exposure-but enough complaining. Jinkx was an absolute angel while I photographed her pushing hair pins into place and powdering her flawless face. I asked how long it takes to do this particular make-up and she purred it can take up to three hours. Jinkx then slipped into a sexy black dress to walk over to the Laurie Beechman Theatre where she’s starring in the show ‘The Vaudevillians‘ which I watched with Abi the week prior.

The show is a true gem, like Jinkx showcasing her virtuosity as a singer, comedienne and all around entertainer. I snapped three hurried frames of Jinkx in the black dress before she left, then with a gracious wave of her delicate hand she was gone. …

The progressive dancer and performance artist Rebecca Patek who’s now performing at the Festival TBD: Emergency Glitter, tells us more about her piece ‘ineter(a)nal f/ear.‘  She also talks about trauma, violence, being a sexual person and her deep love for sperm…

How old are you and where are you from? I feel like age and home are concepts that keep shifting according to what context I am in.

How long have you been dancing? I have been dancing my whole life…starting first with ballet.

What was your inspiration for this piece’ineter(a)nal f/ear’? Actually Olen Holm and I first met because he was an audience member for a piece I did last year. I asked for volunteers from the audience and he jumped up. He ended up tackling me onstage wearing a ski mask (for the piece) and it turned into a kind of sex scene and a few months later he emailed me that he still had the ski mask and he was using it as a cum rag. We met for coffee after that.

Tell me about the promotional images for the show, they are great, why the use of cum in some of the pictures? I like that sperm is a visual documentation of orgasm. Sometimes women spurt when they orgasm but for the most part it is an internal experience. I think it fascinates me how with men you can literally see the orgasm. It is a record of pleasure…also using the cum on the face shot is kind of a porn reference. …

The Emergency Glitter guide indicates that it’s experimental theatre; perhaps that’s not enough. It’s an intellectually activating, intense, aggressively raw, sexually charged, hilarious, dark exploration of the human form and the wonderfully engaging movements that humans can achieve through dance and art. But yes — this is a piece of experimental theatre that is being presented by Festival TBD.

The piece to which I am referring is Gillian Walsh’s ‘Grinding & Equations: Two Duets at Abrons.’ It begins with Gillian Walsh and Robert Maynard tangled up in some weird crab walk like position that is hard to illustrate with only words. The two then proceed to thrust forcing the ‘bottom’, if you will, up into the air and then back again which effectively generates that horrid flesh slapping noise that I do my best to avoid in sex — there is no music at this point, just an intensive silence that pierces your ears. Another couple of dancers, Mickey Mahar and Maggie Cloud, are circulating the room and making movements that fall in and out of sync. The performance moves into many different parts each just as interesting as the one prior. There is something like an academic/analytical twerk involved, there is also the blaring voice of Nicki Minaj proclaiming that she “supports this message” on loop toward the end.

Gillian Walsh is amazing — so is her hair. Please go see her.

Festival TBD: Emergency Glitter is series of summer dance/art performances that is centered on the idea of supporting the artists. …

I was first introduced to performer John Kelly some 20 or more years ago when the brilliant photographer I was assisting at the time, John Dugdale, showed me some portraits of him. Shortly after that I saw Kelly channel Joni Mitchell in a performance I will never forget. Needless to say, when his show ‘Rebel Songs of a Range Queen‘ came to Joe’s Pub we had to go.

The variety of songs from Jaques Brel to The Shins was spellbinding and John looked fantastic in a leather kilt, vest and dazzling blue eye shadow. I got inspired, and thought — I just have to photograph those eyes! Thankfully, John made some time to come over to my space and apply the make-up for what was only his second time.

He was very efficient, first applying a light foundation, then some liner and then the shadow. I got excited and snapped some frames before the shadow was applied but held back a few for the shiny blue powder. The whole process was over in about fifteen minutes or so, and since I shot in real time, it felt like the sitting was over in an instant.

John could not have been more generous in spirit, obliging my wishes to shoot exactly as I desired. After debating whether to wear the make-up home or not, as it was a bit much for daytime, John packed up the cosmetics, washed his face, bid me farewell and left — the perfect gentleman. …

Judy Judy Judy! It’s that time of year! The third annual Pride concert celebration ‘Night of a Thousand Judys‘ will honor the legend Judy Garland (of course) with skits tributes and songs from her storied career this Monday, June 17 to benefit The Ali Forney Center — the nation’s largest organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth.

This year the concert is a special presentation of Justin Sayre‘s acclaimed variety show ‘The Meeting‘ and includes a stellar cast of performers: Justin Vivian Bond, Martha Wash, Madeleine Peyroux, Lea DeLaria, Jaime Cepero, Christiane Noll, Karen Mason, Carolee Carmello, Scott Matthew, Nancy Anderson and more. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see a brilliant night of theatre and support a cause so integral to the well being of the LGBT community.

Tickets $30, $60, $100 (VIP pre show 6:30 gift bag), 8:00PM, Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W 67th St. NY, NY. …

When did you begin working at the Village Voice? 1984.

How did you get the job? There was an opening for a columnist, and I had done some pieces for the Voice, so I suggested myself. They had me write a sample column and they even paid me for it. I got the job because they liked the fact that I had my finger in every pot — I was plugged into nightlife, movies, theater, etc. — and seemed to have a breezy way of relating what happened in all those scenes that week. My column “La Dolce Musto” (and blog, dailymusto.com) have always been parties for those who’d probably rather read about them than go to them. And I always infused every syllable with my gay sensibility, promoting LGBT celebs and causes like crazy.

How has the media landscape changed since you first started? When I started, it was only print, and I had about 10 competitors. Now, everyone on earth has a blog, a site, and a Facebook page, so I’m basically competing against the entire population of the planet. I don’t mind, though, because it’s forced me to become even more bold and individual, and besides, I’m out there tweeting and Facebooking up a storm myself. Also, the Internet has opened people’s eyes, made everything instant and accessible, and reduced everyone’s squeamishness about formerly off-limits topics.

How did you get into gossip? I was a withdrawn child, but sitting on the stoop and gabbing with the neighbors, I came out of my shell by dishing the OTHER neighbors. …

Last week GAYLETTER helped host the I ♥ Fire Island Pines Performance Series fundraiser at the Elizabeth Street Garden. It featured performances by Tyler Ashley, Ryan McNamara, Megha Barnabas, and Thinner (Lissy Trullie).

All proceeds will be used to support the hosting of participating artists on Fire Island and the production of this year’s program. It’s the second year of the Fire Island Performance series. It’s a great program that aims to bring a bit of culture to the homos of FIP.

It was a warm night in one of the prettiest places you could think of to throw a party. All our favorite people showed up, Charles Renfro, Felix Burrichter, Chloë Sevigny (who looked lovely and was super friendly) and even one Academy Award winning actress who didn’t want her photo published (how Les Misérables of her).

Ladyfag hosted the later part of the night with John Early and Hamm Samwich. We took millions of photos and drank plenty of prosecco.

Below are our favorite pictures from the evening…

Bartender setting up the bar.

Another bartender looking Summer ready with his GAYLETTER t-shirt.

 The beautiful Elizabeth Street Garden.

I ♥ Fire Island hats and Tom Bianchi’s Fire Island Pines book.

Lizzi Bougatsos and Chloë Sevigny. 

John Early and  Hamm Samwich.

Luke Brown and Paul Kopkau.

Daniel Moss, Andy Patrick, Abi Benitez and Tom Jackson.

Alex Galan, Fabian Bernal, Faris Al-Shathir and friends. …