Monthly Archives: November 2019

November Unterwegs!

Unterwegs November 24 2019 lady with gloves by Suzanne ForbesI know, there haven’t been any unterwegs for so long!

And some of my Patrons as well as many of my followers really enjoy them; I’m sorry I haven’t been making them. Unfortunately the last nine months or so have just been a mess with my health, and I haven’t gone anywhere except to doctors, most of whom are walking distance or one subway stop away. I’m feeling better now, and have had a little bit of energy for going to things. And since we live where all the doctors are but none of the nightlife is, that means riding the U-Bahn!

Above, a lady with gloves I saw while heading to the Drink And Draw Berlin boat for a Dr. Sketchy’s/D&D Berlin session. The guy behind her was just staring at me. Not like people usually stare at me – because watching someone draw is vaguely interesting, or because seeing someone draw on the subway is unusual, or I am wearing a giant fly made of Swarovski crystals on my head or whatever. This guy was staring at me like I was one more random event in a day that didn’t make sense. I felt for him, but I liked the way his arm was just hanging there, so I drew him anyway. I do not believe the bottle was his; it had rolled from a different part of the car.

Unterwegs October 26 2019 guy with backpack by Suzanne ForbesThis guy was very aware that I was drawing him.

I had caught his eye when I sat down across from him because I swung my bag around to get my sketchbook out and accidentally bonked the lady next to me. I apologized loudly in my American way, saying “Entschuldigung! Tut mir leid!” while the lady snorted and everyone looked over. Then I saw the guy sitting back so serenely, and started drawing him. And he realized it, and actually posed! Which happens occasionally, but not often, on the U-Bahn.

Here’s the previous unterwegs, and you can see the unterwegs gallery on flickr here.

As always I am so grateful to my Patrons for their crowdfunded support, which lets me make this work and release it as Free Art. 

You can join my Patreon Patrons, for as little as a dollar/euro a month, to keep me making my documentary art of Berlin.

At the PorYes Awards – Nan Kinney, Wayne Yung, Loree Erickson and More!

Nan Kinney at PorYes Awards by Suzanne Forbes Nov 24 2019I splashed out and bought a front-row seat for the ten-year anniversary of Berlin’s PorYes Awards.

The awards were held this year in the beautiful HAU1 theater of the woman-run Hebbel am Ufer. Since 2009, the PorYes award (which is a sparkling, open crystal oyster!) stands for respectful portrayal of all genders and a diverse sexuality.

Above is award winner Nan Kinney, elder and pioneer.

She created the first lesbian adult film production company, Fatale Media. I absolutely adored seeing clips of her films from the 80s – they are funny and playful and sexy, with safer sex education and wonderful characters.

Loree Erickson at PorYes Awards by Suzanne Forbes Nov 24 2019Dr. Loree Erickson is doing such important work in empowering queercrips.

Her critical academic work is in practices of resistance such as the “sexy femmegimp politics of flaunting it”, she makes art that fearlessly articulates desire for historically forbidden bodies, and she was wearing leopard and metallic fucshia which is my favorite.

Wayne Yung at PorYes Awards by Suzanne Forbes Nov 24 2019Wayne Yung talked about the reactions he got when he began bringing feminist gay films to festivals.

He said it was not initially an easy concept to sell! I highly recommend a visit to his site to check out his deep catalog of video art – he has produced an incredible body of work.

Anna Brownfield at PorYes Awards by Suzanne Forbes Nov 28 2019Here’s Ozzie award winner Anna Brownfield of Poison Apple Productions.

We saw clips from her film The Band and it absolutely knocked me out. She went to RMIT, just like my second-ex-husband.

Sadie Lune at PorYes Awards by Suzanne Forbes Nov 28 2019Award winner (and my friend, Patron and muse!) Sadie Lune, in purple satin.

She’s also wearing a beaded velvet fascinator with a Death’s Head moth I made for her!

Polly Fannlaf at PorYes Awards by Suzanne Forbes Nov 28 2019I will get this comedienne’s name shortly!

The balloon she is holding was part of a hashtag action about censorship.

Laura Meritt at PorYes Awards by Suzanne Forbes Nov 28 2019

PorYes was co-founded by Laura Méritt , seen above – she is a communication scientist, salon holder and sexologist! – and Polly Fannlaf.

A visit to Sexclusivitäten is an essential part of sex-positive living when you’re in Berlin. Polly Fannlaf runs the Freudenfluss Network, which organizes sexual-political campaigns.

The work Ms. Fannlaf and Ms. Méritt have done in making these historic awards is so important. I was honored to be present for the ten-year anniversary, and look forward to fifteen and twenty!