Monthly Archives: May 2020

Queerantina Part 2!

Wizzy for Queerantina by Suzanne Forbes May 15 2020The gorgeous Wizzy.

Second round of drawings from Queerantina, an online drag show featuring the performers of our city’s refugee and asylum-seeker drag houses, like Queerberg, Queer Syria, Queens Against Borders, and House of Royals.

WIZZY for Queerantina May 19 2020 by Suzanne ForbesOmg Wizzy! They are so good-looking I drew them twice! Top, Wizzy performing, and above, in curtain-call casual!

Prenz Emrah for Queerantina May 19 2020 by Suzanne ForbesFabulous bellydancer Prenz Emrah danced with fire on their balcony.

I am the most serious fan of Prenz Emrah of House of Royals. They are doing so many cool activities during this time, like bellydance workshops and makeup workshops for young queers. You can check out their insta for performance videos and events! Help Queerberg Soil-Party keep going! You can support the House here.

Julie Dancer for Queerantina May 19 2020 by Suzanne ForbesJulie Dancer is marvelous!

Love to see her go, she is ethereal.

It’s so important to support Berlin’s queer and trans performers who are refugees and asylum-seekers. They get virtually no money from the government, may live in housing where they can’t reveal their true gender, and are dependent on income from performing, which is on hold for now.

We need these glorious folx to flourish! Watch this Don’t Rush challenge to see how much creativity, skill and life these Drag Houses bring to Berlin. Drawings from the previous show here.

I am so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support lets me keep documenting Berlin’s queer, intersectional drag performers while I work safely at home.

 

For the archives: OUTDOORS?!?

Sketchbook Winter 1991 Minneapolis ink landscape by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesYes, it seems that on a few occasions in my life, I actually drew a picture outdoors.

With no people in it. Yes, I am as surprised as you are. This is from April 4 1990, in Como Park, Minnesota, ink on paper. I think I drew it because my friend Tom was bouldering and I was bored?

Sketchbook Fall 1990 St. Paul by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesPicture of a building!

A house on Summit Ave in St. Paul, fall 1990 I believe.

Sketchbook Fall 1990 St. Paul by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesPicture of a street!

Almost no people anyway! September 2, 1990, Portland st., St. Paul, graphite on paper.

Sketchbook Fall 1990 Minneapolis by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne Forbes

Picture of a house!

Fall 1990, graphite on paper. I can’t believe how bad my cars were. This was when I was just barely learning to drive – and note I failed the driving test twice before I passed it on the third go. I just didn’t understand cars!

Sketchbook Fall 1989 St Paul Cafe Latte by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesPicture of a street, around 1990!

The cars were so frustrating I abandoned it.

Sketchbook Fall 1989 St Paul Cafe Latte by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesOutside, from inside!

Grand Avenue seen from inside Cafe Latte in St. Paul, Fall 1989. Cafe Latte still exists!

Sketchbook Fall 1989 or winter 1990 Minneapolis by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesI loved this church I drew in 1989 or ’90 so much I actually got married there, in .. 1995 I think?

I used to pass it on my way home from Cafe Latte to my first apartment, “the Batcave”. I would stop and sit in the little entry house. It was a symbol of how pretty and peaceful St. Paul was to me. Although i have no religious affiliation, I got married to my first ex-husband there.

The writing on this drawing reads “It’s just that I feel- sometimes I feel like I’ve been arguing with the benign politics of light and shadow for so long, questioning their logical procedures; and the darkness of a wheel-well mocks me –”

A comment about the struggle of creating value in drawing, not metaphorical light and darkness!

These drawings had been scanned, but never edited or published, and were buried many folders deep on an old hard drive – I had completely, utterly forgotten they existed.

I am so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to take time to document my art archives.