It’s incredible how an art experience can leave you different than you were before. If you are someone that might dance a little to your ipod on the train, or can’t put a good book down, you might want to try performance as your next step. A truly three dimensional experience, beautiful movers on a professional stage can leave a mark that you’ll want to show to your friends. This weekend, the inimitable Shirley Mordine Dance Theater is putting on quite a little dance show, and you’d be missing out if you don’t get yourself over to Epiphany Epischopal Church. Local choreographer Darrell Jones, known for his high-concept piece about ball and vogue culture, Third Swan From the Left, is showing a duet with Lisa Gonzales that both taps your funny bone and addresses identity. Trailer Pilot, or my illustrious boyfriend Zachary Whittenburg, takes on a love triangle with a sensitive eye, all the while showcasing his love for traditions in movement. The pews at Epiphany are arranged around the middle of the church, the dancers are at eye-level. This is no ordianary night out; one of the many times I feel blessed to live in Chicago. With six dance pieces in all, tickets for NEXT are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. You can get a $5 dollar discount at seechicagodance.com and there are a limited amount of 2 for 1 specials when you text “mordine” to 30364. Epiphany is at 201 S. Ashland Ave, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 730pm.
My gut is to be offended by things that look like this: bounce-rap with rump shaking video girls that really never stop shaking their respective rumps, all the while some man is yelling into the microphone behind them. BUT, then Sissy Nobby, in all his permed glory, starts to shake his rump and after a while you see that he has spent soooo much more time practicing how to shake his generous rump than they have. This type of aggressive music isn’t so much for the everyday, but more for a live setting. It’ll get you laughing and horny, and I’m pretty sure that is why BUTT has this totally queer rap on their roster for BANG.
One of the many recent finds over at Young Creature is Logan Lynn, a lonely-synth artist from Portland. Logan Lynn is well on his way already, many myspace friends and facebook fans, he’s got several albums and EP’s under his belt and is pretty much ready for the big time. Going through his songs and visual art, as well as his LogoOnline love, makes me wonder where the hell I’ve been! Love it or hate it (I happen to love it) we are all connecting in easier, better ways in 2009 and Logan Lynn is something I have been waiting for: minor-key pop based in electronics. Check out his sexy video for “Feed Me To The Wolves” above, two choice selections of his visual art below, and show him some love when his new album, From Pillar To Post, drops this summer.
I can’t tell you how bad I wish I was going to be in NYC the week before Pride. BUTT magazine just announced two pre-Pride Celebrations. The first one, called BANG, will be at The Knitting Factory with performances by Salem, Hunx and His Punx, and Sissy Nobby (more on Sissy Nobby in another post). The 2nd party will be at at Terence Koh’s gallery, Asia Song Society (ASS), and it will be a queer video film fest. They have just anounced an open call for submissions, and will be accepting films until May 20th, the show opens on June 19th.
After All My Children gave us daytime’s first lesbian wedding, the story potential for supercouple Rianca looked bright. Instead, the marriage was over in a week and Bianca walked out on Reese. I guess finding out your wife has been exploring her sexuality with your sister’s husband (who also fathered your child) can definitely put strain on a newlywed! With actress Eden Reigel (Bianca) deciding not re-sign her contract, the writers decided to go for plot driven story rather than character driven. Reese was written into a corner and made a pariah, then became temporarily blind?!?!? Whatever. This week, Eden Reigel returns for a few episodes to give Rianca a second chance. Bianca and Reese are set to rekindle their love, and venture off to Paris where their love began. As sad as it is to have these two powerhouse actresses leave the AMC canvas, at least we can find comfort in knowing that Rianca will have their happily ever after, and the writers won’t be able to ruin these groundbreaking characters any further…for now. Bon voyage Rianca and may your make-up sex be the stuff of legend!
*ps Amazon was the only place I could find the cover to the book.
Over the weekend, my friends were passing around this article in the NYT about Maddy, the MTF parent who is authoring an essay for “The Book of Dads,” to be published in May by Ecco. Jennifer Finney Boylan is Maddy’s real name, and you have to give some credit to the NYT for putting such a touching story in their paper. Trans folk need as much positive media coverage as possible these days, especially among the liberal elite, and this piece is another drop in the bucket. I couldn’t help but get a little misty-eyed reading it, but a big take-away was, given the right information, how naturally kids can understand gender and its fluidity. I’m not assuming it always comes this easy, but this story is a triumph and we can never have too many of those.
I really wanted this to be a nice post about Dining Out For Life. A nice restaurant + you = $$ for AIDS research. Simple and fun and good for all, but the website is not working. When it does start working, you’ll be able to search by city and find a restaurant near you that will donate a percentage of their sales for the day on Thursday, April 30th. Last year, some of the restaurants in Chicago donated up to 50% of the sales to this cause. I’ll update as soon as they get their shizz together. Stay tuned!
UPDATE: The site is now fully functional and you can see all of Chicago’s participating restaurants by clicking here. The places donating 50% of their proceeds are Big Jones in Andersonville and Pars Cove in Lincoln Park. All DOFL donations are made to AIDSCare,”Since 1992, AIDSCare has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for Chicagoans with HIV/AIDS through housing, compassionate care and support services. Now in its 16th year, AIDSCare’s Programs have assisted over 300 homeless and low-income children, families and adults living with AIDS to achieve stable housing, improve wellness, and transition toward greater independence.”
She’s been a loud, brassy doll to all of us for years, but now she’s actually a real doll. Years from now, when she’s no longer with us, this might be as tacky as Kurt Cobain’s, but for now this plastic version of our favorite tranny chaser is giving us sneak previews of her new clothing line. Beth Ditto for Evans is the new plus-size line of clothes designed by a big girl, for other big girls. Having recently declined to do in-store shows at shops that don’t carry clothes that fit her, Ditto is really putting her money where her mouth is. This collection is due in July.
UPDATE: in about 5 minutes, you won’t be able to notdownload the new Gossip single, “Heavy Cross.”
It’s a mixed-mood news story–today Allen Andrade was convicted of first degree, bias-motivated murder in Colorado for killing 18 year-old transgendered woman Angie Zapata. CNN is reporting that this is the first time in our nation’s history that such hate crimes legislation has been enacted in a conviction. Completely appalling if you think about all the harassment transgendered people endure. Currently, only 11 states and DC recognize transgendered people in their hate crime laws. 11 is less than 1/4th!! We have a long way to go, with this fight people. Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Wyoming DO NOT HAVE ANY HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION BASED ON ANY BIAS. None. Not race, not gender, not religious. WTF. This site has a nice breakdown of which states have what.
UPDATE: angiezapata.com is a website dedicated to her memory and is regularly updated with twitters and blog posts about Angie’s short life.
