Seattle Gay News
Issue 25, Volume 44, June 24, 2016
Art by Brianna Pizana | Denver – movoto.com
By: Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer I never really avoided going to Denver, I just never had a reason to go there. But that itself is a reason: to discover a new place for the first time. So off I went to the Mile High City, known widely for its microbrew beer scene, its snowy mountains, ski resorts, outdoorsy types and that football team that just won another Super Bowl. Though it was my first time in Denver, it felt very familiar to me, mainly because it bears much resemblance to Seattle: from the lush natural scenery surrounding the metropolitan area to its individual neighborhoods with trendy restaurants and local hangouts to its cool, laid back vibe. Everyone I met there was friendly and it was easy to get around either by foot or public transportation, and there’s lots to do, from outdoor recreational activities to arts & cultural events to exploring its hidden gems. Non-stop flights from Seattle to the Colorado capital are available on multiple airlines, including Alaska and United, and are just under 2.5 hours long. The Denver International Airport is about 40 minutes away from the city, and if you’re not renting a car, consider taking the RTD, or regional train service (A-Line, $9 one-way) that runs between the airport and Union Station in downtown. You can access the RTD platform by exiting the airport terminal on the main level and descending a long escalator
located across from the front doors; tickets can be purchased by cash or credit card at kiosks. If staying downtown, take the free 16th Street MallRide shuttle to your hotel; there’s a stop across from Union Station. Denver has a little bit of everything and for LGBT travelers specifically, it’s certainly one of the most comfortable, enjoyable and friendliest cities I’ve traveled to within North America. For a long weekend, holiday getaway, or even an overnight mileage run, set out to discover Denver like I did. For trip planning assistance, go to visitdenver. com. Here’s what I personally recommend adding to your Mile High itinerary: STAY The last stop on the 16th Street MallRide shuttle is at Broadway and Colfax, just a few blocks away from The Art Hotel (thearthotel.com). Situated in the Golden Triangle Museum District, this barely year-old hotel is well deserving of its name; it’s artsy and nestled among a trio of must-see museums. The boutique property has 165 guest rooms – 133 Kings, 12 Doubles, 20 Suites – on nine floors with art pieces positioned throughout the hotel, though most noticeable are those displayed at the curved entryway, where a custom-designed installation by Leo Villareal (San Francisco Bay Bridge’s “Bay Lights”) with 22,000 LED lights greets everyone when they arrive, and the fourth
floor check-in area and lobby, where unique pieces by famed artists Andy Warhol, Frank Gehry and Ed Ruscha are exhibited. In each of the two elevators, avant-garde videos loop on small TV screens and each floor features a different modern artist’s original work that extends to the decor in every room on that level. My room, a Mile High Suite on the top floor, was comfy and spacious with simple, yet stylish, modern furnishings, including armchair, coffee table, standing lamps and brightly colored pillows. The bathroom included a double square-shaped sink, glass-enclosed shower, vanity and personal essentials (shampoos, lotions, ear swabs, etc.). Flatscreen TV, Illy coffee brewing system with premium coffee, cushioned slippers and complimentary soft drinks and snacks (gourmet trail mix, nuts, etc.) were additional amenities that came with the room. FIRE is the The Art Hotel’s on-site restaurant and though pricey ($4 for toast), diners are treated to incredible views from the outdoor patio and floor-to-ceiling windows inside. Located on the fourth floor, footsteps from the lobby, it allows guests to peer into the History Colorado Center across the street or catch glimpses of the city action down Broadway; it’s a memorable place to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The adjoining FIRE Terrace serves cocktails in a cozy, upbeat atmosphere with beige and chocolate-colored couch-
es with circular fire pits, while back inside guests can enjoy cocktails at the chic FIRE Lounge. One other amenity worth mentioning is the hotel’s courtesy car, available to hotel guests on a first come-first serve basis for transportation to and from places within the immediate vicinity. I would definitely stay at The Art Hotel again; the location was convenient, staff was accommodating and the spectacular city views from my room were a bonus. EAT Denver isn’t regarded as a top food destination, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have great food. It just means you’ll have to poke around a bit to find the best places to eat, or ask the locals and they’ll point you in the right direction. I love variety, so the concept behind Avanti Food and Beverage (avantifandb. com) is right up my alley. Nestled in the Highlands neighborhood, this modern food and beverage hall houses seven food truck-style eateries and two full bars inside a double-storey building with a beautiful outdoor patio. You definitely need to come here on an empty stomach to try something from every stall, but from what I ate Brava! Pizzeria’s handmade Neopolitan, wood-fired pizzas was the clear winner; the Spicy Italian Sausage (Sonny) pizza was a tasty mix of tangy, spicy and sweet flavors, and lucky for us it was the daily special for $7, which fed two people with leftovers. see DENVER page 8
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Graphic Masters: Dürer, Rembrandt, Hogarth, Goya, Picasso, R. Crumb
at Seattle Art Museum through August 28 SAM’s first large-scale exhibition devoted to the graphic arts features more than 400 works spanning 500 years In its first large-scale exhibition devot- Tim Marsden will highlight the printmaking ed exclusively to the graphic arts, the Seat- techniques on display in the exhibition, givtle Art Museum presents Graphic Masters: ing visitors an insight into these complicatDürer, Rembrandt, Hogarth, Goya, Picas- ed processes – and the deftness these artists so, R. Crumb (June 9-August 28). Featuring brought to the medium. over 400 works by some of history’s greatest THE ARTISTS printmakers, the exhibition offers an in-depth Albrecht Dürer, German exploration of the more than 500-year history May 21, 1471 - April 6, 1528 and process of printmaking. The son of a Nuremberg goldsmith, Requiring less costly materials than painting or sculpture, printmaking gave artists the Dürer became the most accomplished Gerfreedom to experiment, push boundaries, and man artist of the Renaissance, transforming express their own views with a much larger painting, printmaking, design, and artistic audience. The reproductive medium also gave theory. Durer’s innovative work in woodrise to the popularity of the serial form; the cuts turned what had been a crude form of several print series presented in this exhibi- illustration into an achingly expressive metion represent milestones of that form. From dium. On view in this exhibition are 10 of underground comic legend R. Crumb’s mas- a set of 12 woodcuts from “The Large Pasterwork “The Book of Genesis” to Francisco sion” (1497/1510). Produced in two stages Goya’s entire influential “Los Caprichos” separated by 13 years, it tells the story of the print series to Pablo Picasso’s important “Vol- last days of Jesus Christ’s life. Eventually islard Suite” etchings, the prints and drawings sued as a publication – another example of in the exhibition not only highlight some of Durer’s pioneering innovations – it set a new the finest examples of the artists’ work in the standard for the fine woodcut. print medium, but also offer fresh perspectives Rembrandt van Rijn, Dutch on these exceptional artists. July 15, 1606 - October 4, 1669 “This exhibition is about how great artists Picasso said “Every painter takes himtell stories through images and words – often together,” says Chiyo Ishikawa, Susan Brot- self for Rembrandt. Everybody has the same man Deputy Director for Art and Curator of delusions.” Rembrandt’s oeuvre displays a European Painting and Sculpture. “These disarming intimacy; deftness with forms and works are some of the greatest artworks ever volumes; and ingenious use of light, shade, made, and yet their light sensitivity means that and line that had an enormous influence on they often stay in storage. It’s a very rare treat Picasso, Goya, and innumerable other artists. Several of his beautiful etchings are on to see these works presented together.” A free booklet illustrated by Seattle artist view, including “Self-Portrait with Saskia”
Sculptor, Model and Sculpted Head, 1933 Pablo Picasso, Spanish, 1881-1973, aquatint
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(1636) and “Christ Healing the Sick” (The these utterly original works continue to inHundred Guilder Print) (1647-49). spire and humble artists to the present day. William Hogarth, English November 10, 1697 - October 26, 1764 Hogarth was a painter, printmaker, editorial cartoonist, and social critic. On view in this exhibition are 14 engravings from “The Harlot’s Progress” (1732) and “The Rake’s Progress” (1735), “moral progress” melodramas that chart the corruption of an innocent or gullible figure in the big city. With a facility for caricature, acute observation of the telling detail, and indignation at societal inequities, these “modern moral subjects” are ancestors of the modern comic strip. They were immensely popular, resulting in a proliferation of cheap imitations; this piracy led Hogarth to petition Parliament to pass the Engraving Copyright Act of 1734.
Pablo Picasso, Spanish October 25, 1881 - April 8, 1973 In addition to groundbreaking paintings and sculptures, Picasso was a prolific printmaker. On view in this exhibition are all 100 etchings of the “Vollard Suite” (1930-37), commissioned by art dealer and publisher Ambroise Vollard. Unlike other series in this exhibition, the “Vollard Suite” has neither an explicit relationship with text nor a clear beginning or end. Some themes are treated in depth, others seem like one-offs; some are light-hearted and lyrical, others are brutally passionate. Of the more than 2500 etchings Picasso produced in his long career, the “Vollard Suite” is considered his most important work.
Francisco Goya, Spanish March 30, 1746 - April 16, 1828 Named court painter to King Charles III and later, Charles IV, Goya painted countless portraits of the royal family and nobles. At the same time, he embarked on a radically subversive project, 80 prints called “Los Caprichos” (published 1799). The entire series of prints – variously using etching, aquatint, drypoint, and burin – will be on view. The prints and their enigmatic captions are often lacerating critiques of injustices – particularly within the Church and aristocracy – while others are mysteriously dreamlike or nightmarish. Tied to their time and place,
R. Crumb, American Born August 30, 1943 A cartoonist since he was a teenager in Delaware, R. Crumb defined the “underground comix” world of the 1960s-70s with indelible characters such as Mr. Natural and Fritz the Cat. Crumb’s choice of subject matter has won him as many detractors as fans; he has used his incredible talent to create outrageous cartoons that unashamedly lay bare personal obsessions. Unlike the other artists in this exhibition who worked in many types of media, drawing is Crumb’s primary medium. On view in this exhibition are all 207 drawings from “The Book of Genesis,”
Los Caprichos: ¿No hay quien nos desate? (Can’t anyone untie us?),1796-1797, Francisco Goya, Spanish, 1746-1828, etching and burnished aquatint on cream laid paper
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Blind Minotaur Led by a Little Girl in the Night, 1934, Pablo Picasso, Spanish, 1881-1973, aquatint
a massive project in which he illustrated the art. By the late 1980s the museum had outfirst book of the Bible, creating a believable grown its original home, and in 1991 a new biblical world in comic book form. 155,000-square-foot downtown building, designed by Robert Venturi, Scott Brown & RELATED PROGRAMS Associates, opened to the public. The 1933 AND EVENTS building was renovated and reopened as the Every Sunday; June 12-August 28 Asian Art Museum. SAM’s desire to further Press & Print: Drop-in Studio serve its community was realized in 2007 Seattle Art Museum with the opening of two stunning new facilJoin us as we invite local printmakers into ities: the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park our working studio space. Demonstrations (designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architects) – a and lessons will include relief printing, dry “museum without walls,” free and open to point, mono printing, and other techniques all – and the Allied Works Architecture deused by artists in the exhibition and still in signed 118,000-square-foot expansion of its use today. main, downtown location, including 232,000 square feet of additional space built for fuEXHIBITION ORGANIZATION ture expansion. AND SUPPORT From a strong foundation of Asian art to The exhibition is organized by the Seattle noteworthy collections of African and OceArt Museum. anic art, Northwest Coast Native American Special exhibitions at SAM are made art, European and American art, and modern possible by donors to SAM Fund for Special and contemporary art, the strength of SAM’s Exhibitions. Presenting sponsors are Arts- collection of more than 25,000 objects lies in Fund and the Office of Arts & Culture. Sup- its diversity of media, cultures and time periporting sponsor is Baird. Additional support ods. provided by Contributors to the SAM Fund. Seattle Art Museum is located at 1300 Hotel Sponsor is Hotel 1000. Special thanks 1st Avenue. The museum is open: Monday to Fundación ICO. (Summer Mondays), Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm (Thursdays until 9pm). AdmisABOUT SEATTLE ART MUSEUM sion for the Graphic Masters special exhibiAs the leading visual art institution in the tion is: $19.95 general admission; $17.95 sePacific Northwest, SAM draws on its global niors; $12.95 all students (with ID) and teens; collections, powerful exhibitions, and dy- active military FREE (through the summer). namic programs to provide unique educa- For more information and tickets: 206-654tional resources benefiting the Seattle region, 3210; www.seattleartmuseum.org. the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. SAM was founded in 1933 with a focus on Asian Courtesy of Seattle Art Museum
Self-portrait with Saskia, 1636, Rembrandt van Rijn, Dutch, 1606-1669, etching – Photo by Beth Mann
The Innocent Girl Becomes a Harlot, 1732, William Hogarth, English, 1697-1764, engraving – Photo by Beth Mann
Chapter 3 from “The Book of Genesis,” R. Crumb, American, born 1943 Knight, Death and the Devil, 1513-1514, Albrecht Dürer, German, 1471-1528, engraving
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DENVER
continued from cover I also enjoyed my Chicken Shawarma Wrap from Souk Shawarma, loaded with chunks of chicken, rice, pickles and a nice smothering of creamy, yogurt-based sauce. My Carne Asada Taco from Poco Torteria was delicious and authentic, though at $3.75 and the size of my palm, it wasn’t a deal. Bixo (Mediterranean), Quiero Arepa (South American), Bamboo Sushi (Japanese Fusion) and MiJo (Asian) round out your choices at Avanti. Be sure to wash everything down with a beer or glass of wine upstairs, where you’ll find seating at tables, bar counter, or on the patio looking out to downtown. Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox (opheliasdenver.com), a short pedi-cab ride from Union Station, is a brothel-turned-restaurant and live event venue that packs em’ in nightly and on the weekends. The food is decent, yet not spectacular; I’ve had better Chicken & Waffles than what I was served here, though that’s not to say it wasn’t enjoyable. The Scandinavian Duck Meatballs (with balsamic onions, lingonberry jam, parsnip grits & hemp seeds) and Grilled Globe Artichoke (with piquillo pepper coulis, crispy shallots & fennel hollandaise) were the better plates on the evening I visited. At Ophelia’s, 75% of the menu is organically sourced and of Northwest interest, the Seattle Fish Co. is one of its suppliers. Like many restaurants throughout Denver, and something I found surprising, Ophelia’s also has a rooftop patio, as well as indoor seating and bar. But the real reason to swing by this hotspot is the atmosphere and crowd; not only at Ophelia’s, but at its sister restaurants: Root Down (rootdowndenver.com) and Linger (lingerdenver.com) - you’re guaranteed to dine with the cool kids. For a late night bite, coffee, or madefrom-scratch desserts, Crave (cravedenver. com) is a downtown restaurant-lounge across the street from the Colorado Convention Center that serves until 2am and is quite Gay-friendly. The Apple Fritter Donuts with maple glaze, caramel sauce, pumpkin white chocolate ganache and maple bourbon sauce are sinful, but a terrific way to cap the night. GAY NIGHTLIFE Unlike Seattle, where nearly all of the Gay bars are within blocks of each other on Capitol Hill, in Denver there are fewer of them and they’re spread out in a few neighborhoods. A good starting point is the Uptown district, where X Bar (xbardenver.com) and Charlie’s Nightclub Denver (charliesdenver.com) are one street away from each other. Both bars are spacious with indoor and outdoor areas, dance floors, multiple bar counters and theme nights. Especially on the weekends, the energy level at both is very high and they attract similar diverse crowds – Gay men, Lesbians, drag queens, Latinos, jock types, cubs, mixed age group, etc. Similar to most Gay clubs, the music played at X Bar and Charlie’s, which also has locations in Phoenix and Las Vegas, is a blend of electronic, top 40, R&B and hip hop. To avoid standing in line at Charlie’s, which appeared to draw the bigger crowd on the Saturday night I visited, get there before 10pm. Tracks (tracksdenver.com) is another popular LGBT bar, but in the redeveloping RiNo district, where Denver Wrangler (denverwrangler.com), currently in Uptown, is moving this summer. And although it isn’t
Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Photo by Albert Rodriguez
Gay, next door to X Bar is a fun arcade bar called The 1 Up – Colfax (the-1up.com) with wall-to-wall vintage video games and pinball machines that is welcoming to all. In the South Broadway neighborhood, you’ll stumble across a couple more Gay bars, including Boyztown (boyztowndenver.com), where strippers slither around poles to the delight of mostly Gay men, but an inescapable bachelorette party or two as well. Down the street, Compound Basix (compoundbasix.com) provides an expansive area to play pool, dance and socialize. ATTRACTIONS You won’t get bored in Denver, that’s for sure. Aside from sporting events and concerts happening at the city’s stadiums and arenas, which are a good excuse to head over there, you’ll find lots of things to do in the downtown core, such as a visit to the 100 year-old historic Union Station (unionstationindenver.com). Normally, I wouldn’t recommend hanging out in a train station, but the one in Denver is unique in that it functions as a starting and stopping point for Amtrak and regional trains, but it’s also a great spot for locals to eat, drink, mingle and sleep. You can spend an entire night here, literally, beginning at Terminal Bar (terminalbardenver.com), a polished lounge converted from an old ticket counter area offering an extensive selection of Colorado craft beers on draught. “Happy Hour” (46pm) is a great time to stop by, for $4 beers. Right above Terminal Bar is The Cooper Lounge (cooperlounge.com), a swanky and intimate lounge with seating available at ta-
bles, long bar counter and comfy sofas that overlook the station lobby below. On the ground floor, Stoic & Genuine (stoicandgenuine.com) is a well-reviewed restaurant sought out for its fresh seafood dishes in a bistro-type setting with a vibrant energy. Should you want to stay overnight, The Crawford Hotel (thecrawfordhotel.com) is located inside Union Station with elegant soundproof rooms with lavish amenities. The next morning, have breakfast at a restaurant that is a favorite morning ritual for many locals, Snooze: an AM Eatery (snoozeeatery.com) and then enjoy some time in the Great Hall, a multi-purpose gathering space with large chandeliers, gorgeous cathedral-like windows and high ceiling; it’s a train station and hotel lobby, Terminal Bar overflow area, study/work space, coffee shop and a place to sit a read a book, preferably from the Tattered Cover Book Store inside the station, all in one. You can’t go to Denver and not visit Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre (redrocksonline.com). A thirty-minute drive from the city, this outdoor landmark is mostly famous for its concert venue embedded into the large red boulders surrounding it, but it’s also a public park open to visitors during the day. If you’re up to the task, wear your gym clothes and join dozens of people jogging up and down the stairs of the amphitheatre, or participate in a yoga session for a physical and spiritual workout. In the Red Rocks Visitors Center, browse the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and also see photos of the multitude of artists who’ve performed at the amphitheatre, which celebrates its 75th
anniversary this year. Then, have lunch at the Ship Rock Grille, open for dinner as well on concert nights. Acts scheduled to perform at Red Rocks in the coming weeks include Dolly Parton, Modest Mouse, The Avett Brothers and Sufjan Stevens, to name a few. For artsy visitors, within footsteps of The Art Hotel’s front entrance are three museums to explore. The Clyfford Still Museum (clyffordstillmuseum. org) features paintings and self-portraits from the artist, regarded as the originator of the Abstract Expressionism movement and therefore one of America’s true visionaries. Next door is the Denver Art Museum (denverartmuseum.org) with permanent and rotating exhibitions in a stunning building designed by Gio Ponti, the architect behind The Jewish Museum in Berlin. On the opposite side of the street is the History Colorado Center (historycolorado.org) with relics and visual displays documenting the history of The Centennial State: from its earliest Native American settlers to Hispanic migrants that protested for better work conditions under the helm of Cesar Chavez to the fictional characters of “South Park,” set in central Colorado. If you don’t know much about Colorado, like myself, this is a good museum to educate yourself about the state’s history. Tourists wanting to visit several museums in Denver during their stay would benefit from the Mile High Culture Pass, a one price-sees all package; go to visitdenver.com for information. LGBT RESOURCES The GLBT Community Center of Colorado (glbtcolorado.org), or The Center as it’s more commonly referred to, was founded in 1976 to serve the state’s Gay community and to introduce legislation that would reduce harassment and discrimination. Today, it focuses on fulfulling that mission to engage, empower, enrich and advance the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community of Colorado by ensuring that every member of the LGBT community has access to the programs and resources they need to live happy, healthy and productive lives. The Center works closely with the local and surrounding LGBT communities through several programs, primarily its Rainbow Alley (youth, ages 11 to 21), SAGE of the Rockies (specifically for 50+), Training & Legal and Transgender networks. It also organizes Denver’s annual PrideFest, which took place June 18 and 19. Situated on the busy, yet very accessible, Colfax Avenue, The Center’s five year-old home, a four-storey building that includes a magnificent rooftop patio, provides meeting space for the community of all ages to come together, whether to participate in one of its programs, or to browse through its library, utilize a computer in its Cyber Center, or to pick up hard copy materials (magazines, city guides, etc.) with helpful information about the area. Although The Center primarily benefits Denver’s and other Colorado’s LGBT communites, visitors can drop by during business hours, if for nothing else than to grab a copy of Out Front, the city’s premiere LGBT publication with a listing and map of Denver’s gay bars. On foot, it’s a 15 to 20-minute walk from downtown. The Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2016.
Terminal Bar, at Union Station – Photo by Albert Rodriguez
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Celebrating 41 Years!
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Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair at the Bellevue Arts Museum through August 14
Eunice Johnson at wok, 1970 – Photo Courtesy of Johnson Publishing Company, LLC
Bellevue Arts Museum is pleased to bring Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair to the Pacific Northwest (May 20-August 14). Organized by the Chicago History Museum in cooperation with Johnson Publishing Company, Inspiring Beauty is the first-ever exhibition on the Ebony Fashion Fair. The exhibition presents a groundbreaking retrospective on the 50-year history of the fashion spectacle that helped redefine the concepts of beauty, style, and empowerment for African Americans. The exhibition also profiles the Fair’s visionary director and producer, Eunice W. Johnson, co-founder of Johnson Publishing Company and publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines.
Among the approximately 40 statement designs on view are stunning gowns, feathered coats, and sensational hats by icons of fashion including Stephen Burrows, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent, Missoni, Nina Ricci, Sarli, Emanuel Ungaro, and Vivienne Westwood, among others. The ensembles – displayed on stylized mannequins – recreate the way audiences were introduced to these fashion-forward designs on the catwalk. The exhibition also showcases photographs, video, and ephemera. Originally the fashion feature in Ebony magazine, the Fashion Fair’s success can be attributed to Eunice W. Johnson’s determination to gain access to the upper echelons of
Fabrice (United States) Cocktail dress and men’s coordinating dress shirt, ready-to-wear, spring/summer 1990 – Photo by John Alderson © Chicago Historical Society
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fashion design – which at that time excluded African Americans – and then sharing that access with her audiences. In a constant struggle to break the color barrier, Ms. Johnson and the Fashion Fair ultimately provided a platform and financial backing for black designers to be presented side by side with the world’s leading fashion houses. “Bringing those garments to a black audience and putting them on black models said not only ‘You can wear these things’ but also ‘You are the standard of beauty... It was a revolutionary act,’” said Joy Bivins, co-curator of the exhibition and Curator of the Chicago History Museum (W Magazine, March 2013 issue). The Ebony Fashion Fair was always more than a fashion show. Visitors experienced a multisensory presentation of music and fashion while raising funds for their charitable interests. Over the course of fifty years, the annual tour traveled to nearly 200 cities and gave more than 4,000 performances, raising more than $55 million for civil rights groups, hospitals, community centers, and educational scholarships. Inspiring Beauty offers an unforgettable experience to visitors who never had the opportunity to attend Ebony Fashion Fair, and illustrates themes of vision, innovation, and power as exemplified by Johnson’s entrepreneurial spirit, flair for fashion, and philanthropy. In the spirit of the Fair, Bellevue Arts Museum is proud to partner with the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) and Cornish College of the Arts to put together a Teen Fashion Intensive. The program is presented in conjunction with Inspiring Beauty as well as NAAM’s Posing Beauty exhibition,
and Cornish College of the Arts’ prestigious Teen Summer program. Area teens will articulate their vision and create their own looks, with a focus on the artistic process and the professional world of fashion. Design processes will be documented and presented during Cornish’s summer showcase and final looks will be displayed at BAM’s Community Education Gallery in Fall 2016. Additional exhibition programming can be found on BAM’s website. Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair was developed by the Chicago History Museum in cooperation with Johnson Publishing Company, LLC, presented by the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum, and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC. The local presentation of this exhibition is curated by Stefano Catalani and supported by Nordstrom. ABOUT BELLEVUE ARTS MUSEUM Bellevue Arts Museum is a leading destination in the Pacific Northwest to experience art, craft, and design. BAM engages the community through exhibitions, programs, and publications, featuring regional, national, and international artists. Bellevue Arts Museum is located at 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue WA. Museum hours are Tuesday-Sunday 11am-6pm (FREE First Friday is 11am-8pm). Admission: $12 adult; $10 senior/student/military (with ID); $5 teen tix cardholders; $30 family (up to 2 adults and 4 children under 18). For more information: 425-519-0770; www. bellevuearts.org. Courtesy of Bellevue Arts Museum
Tilmann Grawe (France) Cocktail dress, special order, fall/winter 2003-04 – Photo by Johnson Publishing Company, LLC
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Posing Beauty in African American Culture
at the Northwest African American Museum through September 4 This stunning exhibition presents a century of photographs of black Americans as they wished to see themselves and be seen by others. Among the many distinguished photographers represented are Anthony Barboza, Sheila Pree Bright, Leonard Freed, Charles “Teenie” Harris, Russell Lee, Jamel Shabazz, Hank Willis Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, and Ernest C. Withers. The exhibition of about 70 photographs is divided into two overlapping sections, “Posing” and “Beauty.” In “Posing,” subjects present themselves to the camera in photographic studios and less formal settings. They are represented as distinguished, thoughtful, stylish, outrageous, celebratory, and proud. The activist D’Army Bailey wrote, “We had our portraits made to reinforce our own stereotypes, which were positive. We saw ourselves as sharp. . . . Photography provided an extension of ourselves at our best.” “Beauty” documents the truth that “Black is beautiful.” This beauty resides in faces, figures, hair, dress, bearing, and character. As the author Ben Arogundade notes, “The right to be beautiful and to be acknowledged as such whoever you are, wherever you are from, is not so much a folly as a human-rights issue.” NAAM’s executive director, Rosanna Sharpe, says “Posing Beauty encourages all of us to consider how beauty has been constructed for African Americans, how we view ourselves, and how the beauty construct impacts the way we see the world. This exhibit contains some of the most arresting images of African Americans in front of the camera that you will find anywhere. But just as importantly, it allows us to examine how the beauty narrative has been shaped both for and by African Americans in the United States.”
Posing Beauty in African American Culture is curated by Deborah Willis and organized by Curatorial Assistance, Pasadena, California. The exhibit is sponsored by the City of Seattle, Office of Arts & Culture. About the Northwest African American Museum NAAM is a nonprofit organization and the only museum in the Northwest dedicated to exhibiting the art, history, and culture of people of African descent. The Museum is housed in the historic Colman School building located in the heart of the Central District just above the I-90 lid overlooking Jimi Hendrix Park. NAAM is a vibrant community gathering place with 19,000 sq. ft. featuring three main galleries, a gift shop, genealogy center, and rental spaces to host private events and public programs. Our exhibits and programs explore the richness and diversity that echo the varied interests of the Black community. NAAM always has something new and relevant to offer the Northwest and beyond. The Northwest African American Museum is located at 2300 S. Massachusetts St. Museum hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm (with extended hours Thursday, 11am-7pm). Museum admission: $7-adults; $5-students and seniors; children under 5 FREE. For more information: 206-518-6000, www.naamnw.org. Twitter: @naamnw. Facebook: Facebook. com/Northwest AfricanAmericanMuseum. Courtesy of Northwest African American Museum
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Paul McCarthy: White Snow, Wood Sculptures at The Henry through September 11 The Henry presents Paul McCarthy: White Snow, Wood Sculptures showing works – ranging in height from four to fourteen feet – that are derived from McCarthy’s interest in the 19th century German folktale “Schneewittchen” (“Snow White”) and Walt Disney’s beloved 1937 animated classic film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Paul McCarthy (American, b. 1945) created these works by computer mapping them digitally and then scaling, shaping, and manipulating the final wood sculptures. The resulting pieces are recomposed, and sometimes grotesque, variations of familiar characters from the classic tale, including the Prince, Dopey, and Show White herself. The centerpiece of the exhibition, White Snow Bookends (2013), is a two-part monu-
mental sculpture weighing a total of 36,000 pounds. The giant pieces are entangled and dislocated representations of the Prince on horseback, and recall the elaborate compositions of Baroque sculpture that invite truncated narratives and abstraction. His work often described as provocative, McCarthy seeks to violently question conventions. Poking fun at and providing a biting critique of society’s most beloved symbols and deeply held beliefs, McCarthy is intent, and insistent on stretching and subverting the widely accepted notions of moral, social, and artistic order, This is the first comprehensive presentation of this series in an American museum. The exhibition runs March 5-September 11, 2016.
Paul McCarthy: White Snow, Wood Sculptures is organized by Luis Croquer, Deputy Director of Exhibitions, Collections, and Programs, with project management by Susan Lewandowski, manager of Exhibition and Registration. The exhibit is generously supported by the ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. About The Henry A museum of contemporary art and ideas, the Henry Art Gallery offers access to provocative and groundbreaking exhibitions by an international roster of emerging and mid-career artists of note. We are known for taking risks and for allowing space for uncertain outcome and unexpected connections. The only museum dedicat-
ed to contemporary art in our region, we anticipate the conversations and opinions that will be important and relevant in the field. The Henry offers a platform for daring new ideas and experiences in contemporary art and culture. The Henry is located on the UW Campus at 4100 15th Ave NE. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm; Thursday and Friday, 11am-9pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is: $10 general, $6 seniors (62+); free to Henry members; UW students, faculty and staff; students, and children. For more information: 206-543-2280; https://henryart.org/
Paul McCarthy (U.S., born 1945). White Snow, Bookends. 2013. Black walnut. – Image courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth | Photo by Genevieve Hanson.
Paul McCarthy (U.S., born 1945). White Snow Flower Girl #1. 2014. Black walnut. – Image courtesy of Paul McCarthy and Hauser & Wirth | Photo by Walla Walla Foundry
Paul McCarthy (U.S., born 1945). White Snow, Erection. 2012. Black walnut. – Image courtesy of Paul McCarthy and Hauser & Wirth | Photo by Genevieve Hanson
Paul McCarthy (U.S., born 1945). White Snow Dopey Dopey Head. 2013-2014. Black walnut. – Image courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth | Photo by Farzad Owrang
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Frye Salon now on view at the Frye Art Museum Frye Salon features over one hundred forty paintings from the Frye Art Museum’s Founding Collection, recreating the sumptuous viewing experience enjoyed by visitors to the art gallery in Charles and Emma Frye’s Seattle home in the first decades of the twentieth century. Hung floor to ceiling, the paintings capture the atmosphere of the Frye’s salon-style exhibitions, which showcased the artists of the renowned Munich Secession and the “stars” of the preceding Artists’ Association, the Munich Künstlergenossenschaft. Frye Salon combines paintings from both generations of artists. Works by Künstlergenossenschaft masters such as Franz von Lenbach, who enjoyed fame and recognition in nineteenth-century America, hang alongside paintings by prominent Secessionists, including Franz von Stuck and Gabriel von Max. In January 1909, the New York Times noted the close ties between Secessionist and Künstlergenossenschaft artists when a “magnificent” exhibition of German art opened in a new wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art: “It is easy to see how the truly great masters among the old had many of the virtues of the young, and how finely the best art of the different generations holds together when brought into close juxtaposition.” However, there were also important distinctions between the artists of the Secession and the Künstlergenossenschaft, including different styles of presenting artworks. The Secession’s 1893 inaugural exhibition took place in specially designed galleries with light colored walls stripped of ornate decoration. Paint-
ings were hung sparely and installed in single rows. The appearance of the 1906 Secession exhibition so impressed Charles M. Kurtz, director of Buffalo’s Albright Art Gallery, that he wrote, “. . . The general effect of the Secession galleries this year surpasses anything of the kind which the writer hitherto has seen.” In contrast, Künstlergenossenschaft exhibitions displayed an overwhelming number of artworks; a single exhibition could contain up to two thousand paintings, which the artists installed salon-style. Often presented at
Munich’s Glaspalast (Glass Palace), these exhibitions included beer gardens, a greenhouse with exotic plants, and musical offerings from chamber orchestras, military bands, and five hundred-voice choirs. Frye Salon recalls the abundance and visual splendor of the Künstlergenossenschaft’s salon-style exhibitions and those in the Frye’s home on Seattle’s First Hill almost a century ago.
Museum. The exhibition is funded by the Frye Foundation with the generous support of Frye Art Museum members and donors. Seasonal support is provided by Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and ArtsFund. The Frye Art Museum is located at 704 Terry Ave. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm; Thursday 11am-7pm. Admission is always free. For more information: 206622-9250; http://fryemuseum.org/
Frye Salon is organized by the Frye Art
Courtesy of the Frye Art Museum
Installation view of Frye Salon, 2011. – Photo by Sara Tro
Chronicles of Solitude: Masterworks by Vilhelm Hammershøi from SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark opens July 16 at the Frye Art Museum In collaboration with SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark and AFSMK – the American Friends of SMK, the Frye Art Museum is honored to present a rare exhibition of masterworks by one of the nineteenth century’s most distinguished Symbolist painters, Danish artist, Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864-1916). A master of atmospheric and psychological interiors. Hammershøi was admired by his contemporaries in Europe and the United States including German poet and art critic Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) and American artist John Singer Sargent (1856– 1925). In 1899, he was awarded a medal at the Paris Exposition and in 1911 his work was recognized with the Grand Prize at the International Exhibition in Rome. In 1909, on the occasion of his participation in the Tenth International Exhibition of the Munich Künstlergenossenschaft [Artists Association], German critic Georg Biermann, described Hammershøi as a “modern Nordic Vermeer.” Together with Edvard Munch (18631944), Hammershøi participated in a major Exhibition of Contemporary Scandinavian Art in the United States. Held under the auspices of the American-Scandinavian Society, the exhibition premiered in New York in December 1912 before traveling to Buffalo, Toledo, Chicago, and Boston. The exhibition catalogue described Hammershøi’s “subdued ambience of tonality, and permeating quietude of spirit” as well as the “tense and tremulous subjectivity which these incomparable little [picture] panels reveal.” The author concluded that his “interiors and genre studies are quite without parallel in the province of modern artistic achievement.” Employing a strict palette of colors,
many of Hammershøi’s canvases depict the The Frye Art Museum is located at information: 206-622-9250; http://fryemuinterior of his apartment at 30 Strandgade, 704 Terry Ave. The museum is open Tues- seum.org/ Copenhagen, and the streets of the Danish day-Sunday, 11am-5pm; Thursday 11amcapital, as devoid of life. 7pm. Admission is always free. For more Courtesy of the Frye Art Museum The exhibition at the Frye Art Museum is curated by Kasper Monrad, Chief Curator at SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark. Drawn primarily from the collection of The National Gallery, Chronicles of Solitude will also include the masterwork, Interior with Mirror (c. 1907), courtesy of the Wright Family, Seattle, as well as A Room in an Attic with a Table and an Armchair (c. 1883-1885), on loan from a private collection in Seattle. Chronicles of Solitude: Masterworks by Vilhelm Hammershøi from SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark is organized by SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark and AFSMK – the American Friends of SMK, and curated by Kasper Monrad, Chief Curator, SMK. The exhibition in Seattle has been funded by the Frye Foundation with the generous support of Scan|Design Foundation, BNY Mellon, The Robert Lehman Foundation, and Frye Art Museum members and donors. Seasonal support is provided by ArtsFund. Programs support is provided by The Hugh & Jane Ferguson Foundation. Additional support for the exhibition has been made possible by the Oak Foundation, the Ahmanson Charitable Community Trust, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Møbeltransport Danmark, SAS Cargo, ArcusGruppen, Sotheby’s, Henning Larsen Architects, VisitDenmark, The Consulate General of Denmark in New York, and the AFSMK – American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst.
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Vilhelm Hammershøi. Interior with the Artist's Easel, 1910. Oil on canvas. National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, ©SMK Photo
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by MK Scott Special to the SGN Before the first episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race – Season 5” even premiered, head judge, Michelle Visage was on her book tour for The Diva Rules and I caught up with her in Seattle, backstage at the Egyptian Theatre [last November] just before a Q & A moderated by Seattle treasure, Jinkx Monsoon. We got the exclusive from Visage on her rules and her long time friendship with Ru. MK Scott: Hello, Michelle. We are happy that you are in Seattle to talk to us about your new book. Tell me about your book: The Diva Rules: Ditch the Drama, Find Your Strength, and Sparkle Your Way to the Top. Michelle Visage: The Diva Rules was written not as an autobiography, I feel like that should be left to the great names, but as more … it’s a memoir, but it’s more selfhelp, because I get a lot of emails and a lot of tweets and a lot of inboxes and direct messages every day from kids who are just not happy with who they are in life. And they’re being bullied, or bully themselves, or just don’t feel loved, and don’t know how to give themselves the attention they deserve. And I wanted them to know that they weren’t alone, and the path is a tough one, but it’s definitely worth fighting for, because in the end there is a beautiful rainbow waiting. But as a younger kid it’s hard to see that. So email after email it made me feel like, you know what, I want these kids to know that they’re not alone, and I went through the same struggle and still struggle every day. And there is positivity to be seen and I want them to love themselves, and that’s what it’s about. MK: How did you first meet RuPaul? MV: I met Ru in the clubs in New York City when I was 17 years old. And I would kind of watch her from afar, and she would kind of give me the eye and we knew who each other were. And we talked over the years, but we didn’t come together professionally till 1996 on a radio station in NYC. And that’s where the magic began. MK: So she took you under her wing... MV: I don’t think she took me under her wing, I don’t think there was a wing to be under. I had already done Seduction, and I had already done the Bodyguard soundtrack. And we ended up starting radio together and went through that journey together. What she did do was bring me in
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Michelle Visage’s Rules
Image courtesy of MK Scott
as her sidekick on VH1 and that’s where the television relationship started. And I wouldn’t say she took me under her wing, I would say that she recognized the talent that I have, and how it could benefit her and us as a team. And we’re smart about it, and used it. MK: And how was it when she approached you to be a judge on “Drag Race”? MV: Well, “Season One” that hap-
June 24, 2016
pened, but I was in a job doing morning radio in West Palm Beach. And I had a boss that wouldn’t let me out of my contract and it was the most devastating moment ever for me to have to turn her down. But then when it came around, back again, “Season Three,” and I knew that I was going to have to go to that same boss and ask for the same time off, I then became crafty and found a way; through my really close friend, Lea Remedy, I found a way to go around the
boss that was homophobic and didn’t want me to do it and get the job and get it done, and that’s what I did. MK: Out of all the Queens that you’ve met, have you had any favorites? MV: You know, people ask me that all the time, and obviously my favorite is RuPaul. Other than that they’re all equal, because imagine if you will, a mother, I mean, Sophie’s Choice, a mother trying to make a decision who they love more. I have two daughters. I could never tell you which one I love more because I don’t love one more than the other. I have a closer relationship with some of them, just because, some of them, because we tour, but that doesn’t mean I love them more, it just means I know their lives more. Like Jinkx, and Alaska, and Sharon, and Phi Phi; I mean, there’s ones that I know and ones that I’m getting to know. You know, the more I get to spend time with – Manila, Raja, you know, there’s that whole crew, but only because I see them around, they live in L.A., and the ones that I don’t, I see a lot on the road, but I don’t love them more, I just know them more, you know? MK: What is the best advice that you’ve ever gotten? MV: I’ve gotten a lot of advice over the years. And I think the best piece of advice is, and my mother used to say it all the time, and Ru says it in different words, but my mother’s from Brooklyn, so she’d just say, “worry about yourself, don’t worry about anybody else.” And Ru’s quote is “what other people think of you is none of your damn business.” And it’s true. It takes a very strong person to get to that realization and accept it and live by that. But I think it’s really important that you – a chapter in my book is you do you. You have to worry about yourself because you get one go around in this body with this soul. And nobody else is going to do it for you. Nobody can do it for you. So I think it’s really important to worry about yourself and nobody else. Check out Michelle Visage’s book, The Diva Rules: Ditch the Drama, Find Your Strength, and Sparkle Your Way to the Top, currently available on Amazon. This interview was first presented on MK Scott’s podcast show, “It’s FAB with MK Scott,” on December 10, 2015. MK Scott is a Seattle-based blogger. Follow him on Twitter: @mkscott206
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Nine new LGBT books to keep your summer reading list lit would-be affections of Brady and Evren – a well-liked local barista and charming out-of-towner, respectively – as Brady tries Summer is just starting to heat up – to get the handsome stranger out of the literally! – and it’s time to hit the beach. friend zone and into frothier territory. Throw down a towel, pop open the umbrella, and sink into the sand with these LGBTI Am Woman: Surviving the Past, themed recreational reads that’ll keep you the Present & the Future entertained all season long. by Daliah Husu Still having trouble making heads or The Pink Marine tails of the “T” in LGBT? You’re not alone. by Greg Cope White Many of our lesbian, gay and bi brothers Gay Mormon Greg Cope White hilar- and sisters struggle with what it means ious recounts the summer he haphazardly to be transgender – and how to approprienlisted in the pre-Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ately address, recognize, and appreciate Marine Corps at age 18 and spent a sum- transgender people – but Husu’s honest mer in boot camp (because all he heard and emotionally charged memoir shines a was “summer” and “camp” when his best flickering light on her stigmatized world friend proposed the idea), an experience of self-hatred, dependency on men, drug that gave the author a sense of belonging abuse, sex work, and what it’s like to be a and self-worth in the last place he ever ex- not-so-privileged trans woman in Ameripected it. ca. You can’t understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked in their Here Comes the Sun shoes, as they say, and it’s time to take the by Nicole Dennis-Benn first step. Heralded as one of the best books of the summer by Marie Claire, Redbook, Elle Jury of One magazine, Publishers Weekly, and the New by Charlie Cochrane York Times, Dennis-Benn’s debut novel A murder in nearby Abbotson thrusts exposes the dark corners of womanhood inspector Robin Bright into yet another set against the sun-drenched resorts of Ja- intricate web of crimes, but there’s somemaica as Margot, taught as a girl to trade thing more curious about this case: An old her sexuality for survival, commits her life crush of Robin’s lover Adam pops up in the to ensuring that her younger sister Thandi murder investigation, ultimately jeopardizdoesn’t suffer the same fate. When plans ing the happy couple’s relationship in this for a new hotel threaten their village, Mar- homo whodunit. Jury of One is the second got is forced to confront the many burdens book of the Lindenshaw Mysteries series. she bears, including her fight for financial independence and her forbidden love for The Scheme of Things another woman. by Tim Parks Henry Dodge does his best to hide what Heart in Chains makes him different from the other boys by Elodie Parkes – like his bourgeoning lust for his brothRelationship-weary Conner, scorned er’s best friend Danny – by escaping into and single, escapes to Indonesia to put the the TV, movies and music of the 1980s. As past behind him. Mysterious Jay Levesque such, his affinity for nighttime soap operas holds secrets of his own as he tries to put a leads him to devise a plan to follow Danny lifetime of dangerous liaisons to rest. Alas, to Los Angeles, unchartered territory for neither of their hesitations are a match for the teen that has secrets of its own. the romance of the exotic island or the erotic summer nights. Hiatus by L.A. Witt Boy Erased Gay throuples get their own comeupby Garrard Conley pance in an all-too-familiar tale of three As the LGBT community continues boyfriends trying to make a ménage à trito struggle with religious acceptance in os work over the long term. But just when a post-Orlando world, Conley’s memoir it seems like it couldn’t be more ideal, the about being outed and forced to make a trio face a roadblock on the path to trianlife-changing decision – agree to conver- gular happiness when the original couple sion therapy or be disowned – is even more starts to question their love for one another poignant and important. Heartbreaking but each still holds a torch for their rockand courageous, Boy Erased will simul- star third wheel. taneously enrage you and make you count your blessings. Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose Knit Tight work has been published in more than 100 by Annabeth Albert outlets across the world. He splits his time The fourth installment in Albert’s Port- between homes in New York City and the land Heat series, which received the April Jersey Shore with his dog Jaxon. Connect 2016 Seal of Excellence by RT Book Re- with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox. views, Knit Tight gets tangled up in the by Mikey Rox Special to the SGN
The Pink Marine – jacquelinecioffa.com
Here Comes the Sun – ssl-images-amazon.com
Heart in Chains – gr-assets.com
Boy Erased – randomhouse.com
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I Am Woman: Surviving the Past, the Present & the Future– wixstatic.com
June 24, 2016
Knit Tight – amazon.com
Jury of One – riptidepublishing.com
The Scheme of Things – cloudfront.net
Hiatus – gr-assets.com
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