Racy Andy Warhol art up for auction online at Christie’s for Pride Month

Posted on 19 Jun 2013 at 11:45am

Lot 125_QuerelleAndy Warhol has been springing up in my life a lot lately. I just got back from Las Vegas, where the Bellagio has an exhibit of his work; I’m preparing a story about his hometown, Pittsburgh; and now, Christie’s auction house has announced — timed to coincide with Pride Month — a curated sale of some of the gay icon’s celebrated works, many of them dead-sexy drawings and Polaroids (and we’re talking racy, gay-ass, NSFW shit, as well as some classy celebrity portraits, like Truman Capote meeting Phillip Johnson).

Called “For Members Only: Eyes on the Guise,” the online auction — which you can get to here — continues until next Thursday, June 27. Even if you don’t bid on anything (though some start as low as $800!), it’s worth a peak. But you’d probably come up with an excuse in advance for your boss about why you’re scrolling through rough-trade photos. (“It’s art, ma’am! I’m an art patron!”)

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Dating auction site says gays pay more for first dates, especially in Dallas

Posted on 19 Jun 2013 at 9:33am

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The dating auction website WhatsYourPrice.com has released its ranking of the 10 cities in the U.S. with the most expensive gay first dates. The site reports 32 percent growth in gay memberships during June ,which is LGBT Pride Month. The average accepted first-date price for gays during Pride Month is $105.20, compared to $80 for the entire site.

“Our website’s recent LBGT growth proves that gay men and women are willing to invest in a first date if the opportunity is worthwhile,” said Brandon Wade, the CEO and Founder of WhatsYourPrice.com. “With an average first-date offer of $105.20, the gay community clearly values every worthy chance at falling in love.”

Below are WhatsYourPrice.com’s Top 10 cities with the most expensive average gay Pride dates.

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Morrissey as Superman? We’re so there

Posted on 18 Jun 2013 at 7:32pm

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With Man of Steel leaping over box office records (I kinda liked it), I was delighted to stumble upon this bit of superhero fanboy art. Someone has taken it upon himself to take post-punk/New Wave icons — including queer icon Morrissey, pictured — and re-imagine them as classic comic book heroes. Sure, Morrissey doesn’t have Henry Cavill’s pecs, but can Cavill burrow under your skin with plaintive lyrics of doomed romantic pointlessness? … I didn’t think so.

You can see all the pieces of cover art here.

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Lambda Lit winners include John Irving

Posted on 17 Jun 2013 at 9:56am

IN ONE PERSON jacket imageThe 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards recently announced their winners, and among the recipients was novelist John Irving for his fiction book In One Person. I interviewed Irving about this time last year, just as the book was being released (we actually had dinner together on its release date), and he’s one of the best allies the LGBT community can claim. Starting with his character Roberta Muldoon in The World According to Garp, he’s addressed sexual orientation cogently and respectfully. He even has a gay son. The choice of In One Person for an award is well-deserved.

I was disappointed, though, that John Boyne’s The Absolutist — surely one of the finest novels of 2012, and one with a staggeringly smart introduction of gay issues — didn’t win its category. Ah well. But Dale Carpenter, who has contributed to Dallas Voice, did win, for his history of Lawrence v. Texas.

A complete list of winners after the jump.

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Couple gets engaged at Razzle Dazzle

Posted on 14 Jun 2013 at 3:42pm

Matthew Kowalewski

To some, the Razzle Dazzle Dallas Main Event in downtown Dallas last Saturday was just to party. But for one local gay couple, it also turned out to be an engagement celebration.

Matthew Kowalewski wrote to thank the Razzle Dazzle Dallas committee for throwing him and his partner a wonderful party, according to an email forwarded to Dallas Voice.

“He proposed to me at the event, and as we finally left, beaming, he said, ‘So how did you enjoy our engagement party?’” Kowalewski wrote. “As I walked around with my new life partner, he commented about the fact he never thought this could or would happen in Dallas, especially in his life time. He’s a native of Dallas and turning 70, Aug. 3.”

No word on when the wedding is.

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David Fisher steps down as executive director of Turtle Creek Chorale

Posted on 13 Jun 2013 at 9:48am

David Fisher

David Fisher, who became executive director of the Turtle Creek Chorale two years ago, just as a shake-up within the organization led to the sudden departure of its artistic director, is stepping down from his post.

Fisher, who previously worked for the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, will return there, once again serving as its assistant director.

“After nearly 20 years working in the arts in Dallas, I’m grateful for my time with the chorale, and I’m thrilled to be returning to the Office of Cultural Affairs where I will be able to continue the work of fostering the growth and success of all of the arts and arts organizations in Dallas,” Fisher said. No reason was given for the move.

Hank Henley, a singing member of the chorale since 2009, will step in as interim executive director.

“Having been vice president and president of the Turtle Creek Chorale, I’m thrilled to be serving this wonderful organization in yet another way,” Henley said in a statement. The board, as well as Henley and current artistic director Trey Jacobs, will immediately begin a search for Fisher’s permanent successor.

“Hank’s experience and passion will serve us well in this role, and we look forward to working with him,” said Zan Moore, Turtle Creek Chorale’s board president.

While at the TCC, Fisher led the search to replace former AD Jonathan Palant. Jacobs was named interim AD in the summer of 2011, and in the spring of last year became its permanent artistic director.

The final concert of TCC’s current season takes place next Thursday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

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Lupe Valdez makes HBO’s ‘Out List’

Posted on 12 Jun 2013 at 11:05am

outlist01Just in time for National Pride Month, HBO will soon be airing a new documentary called The Out List, and among the gay movers and shakers profiled is Dallas’ own lesbian sheriff, Lupe Valdez. (Others profiled include Suze Orman, Neil Patrick Harris and The Lady Bunny.)

The documentary will received a world premiere screening on Thursday (prior to its debut on HBO on June 27) with a Black Tie Dinner Captains event at the Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station. Valdez will be in attendance, along with the film’s director and producers, who will participate in a post-screening discussion.

The event begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the screening at 7.

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Voice of Pride under way; Tavern Guild accepting grand marshal nominations

Posted on 11 Jun 2013 at 4:13pm

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Dallas may not celebrate Pride in June — which some would apparently prefer — but we do have Voice of Pride, which is well under way and continues tonight at the Dallas Eagle. In addition, the Dallas Tavern Guild is now accepting nominations for grand marshals for September’s Pride parade. Submit your nomination by by going here.

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STAGE REVIEWS: ‘One.Man.Show.’ at The MAC, ‘Sister Act’ at FP Music Hall

Posted on 11 Jun 2013 at 3:23pm
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Tim Johnson goes bananas in ‘One. Man. Show.’

Tim Johnson comes onstage at The MAC as his cabaret act One. Man. Show. opens, playing a cross-dressing lounge singer who’s equal parts Courtney Love, Jackie Rogers Jr. and Janis Joplin. It’s in-your-face and disconcerting, and it’s not half of what’s to come in this brilliant confessional (which, if it gives you any indication, is not in fact a one-man show.)

Performance art like this can be aggressive — not primarily in the physical interaction with the audience, but the confrontational nature of owning up to your life. Johnson’s is almost Dickensian, if it weren’t so modern: A pawn in his parents’ divorce (including multiple kidnappings); drug addiction; mental illness; contracting HIV. And there’s more big stuff to come.

Johnson’s 75 minutes involve multimedia presentations (how strange a close-up feels in live theater!), re-created moments from TV, delivered verbatim (especially the Oprah show) and Vaudeville-like slapstick, all without a seeming purpose but really just fleshing out the random, pinball brain of a middle-aged man not sure how to look backward or forward. Brilliantly, it’s not self-indulgence run amok but searing self-examination. Daring theater like this is what Kitchen Dog’s New Works Festival was meant to encourage. See it. (Wednesday at 8 p.m., Thursday–Saturday at 9:30 p.m.)

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WATCH: Razzle Dazzle in 90 seconds

Posted on 11 Jun 2013 at 3:11pm

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DVtv segment producer Israel Luna recently returned to Dallas after an 18-month stint in San Francisco. Give him a warm welcome home by checking out his piece below from Razzle Dazzle Dallas at Main Street Garden on Saturday. Also, if you haven’t seen Chuck Marcelo’s photo slideshow, you’re totally missing out.

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