Tag Archives: Gay Berlin

Berliner Kinder: zoom-drawing the cutest Skeleton Zombie family in town!

Zombie Skeleton family of Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 22 2021This was the first time I drew my friend Sadie Lune’s whole brood!

Her second child joined the family two years ago, and is seen here with a cherished Elmo. We had been planning a family portrait painting to begin last winter… but.

Instead, Sadie and Vampirina, the older sib, did a zoom modeling session for me at Halloween.

Zombie Skeleton family of Berlin on couch by Suzanne Forbes April 22 2021Then we organized this zoom posing session for the kids’ winter break in March.

Of course, whether kids can even go to kita, or go back to kita, is constantly in flux. Sadie has been able to take the kids to the country village home of a friend much of this last year, so they have had incredible experiences with nature and animals and wildlife. Her photos and videos of the lilacs blooming, the kids with ponies, and the German countryside have been incredibly sustaining to me as I have spent this year-and-change indoors.

Zombie Skeleton family of Berlin in graveyard by Suzanne Forbes April 22 2021Vampirina requested a graveyard background for one of the drawings.

I did my best! I am so grateful to know and love Sadie Lune and her brood, and her older child’s co-parents. You can see Sadie’s work and social here: website, insta, twitter. Drawing Sadie when she was pregnant with the younger here!

 

I am incredibly grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support lets me keep documenting Queer Berlin while I work safely at home.

The last, for now, House of Presents show at Monster Ronsons.

Pansy at Halloween House of Presents show at Monster Ronsons by Suzanne Forbes Feb 25 2021Halloween 2020 seems like seconds ago, or years.

It seems impossible that Berlin nightclubs were ever open again. But for a short time last Fall, clubs were open, observing careful Covid protocols.

Beloved queer clubhouse Monster Ronsons changed its entire setup, creating a cabaret dinner theater with table service from the bar.

Pansy of Pansy’s House of Presents (in full Jessica Rabbit style at top) and Gieza of Gieza’s Poke House redesigned their stage shows, instructing the audience to clap instead of scream and politely nod to strangers instead of fingering them.

I feel like these drawings were some of the best I did from a livestream last year, because I was drawing performers I’d seen and drawn in real life, and they were performing in a space I know well, to a real audience.

I so much appreciate Pansy, Gieza and Nana making these shows accessible to folx at home by streaming them!

Lola Rose at Halloween House of Presents show at Monster Ronsons by Suzanne Forbes March 6 2021For the two nights of double-header Halloween shows, the family of House of Presents created spectacular acts.

Lola Rose hit the stage to deconstruct a racist American caricature, Aunt Jemima- with a knife!

Naya at Halloween House of Presents show at Monster Ronsons by Suzanne Forbes Feb 25 2021Naya The Cisgenera had a powerful reading and a very sexy look.

Follow Naya on Instagram for humor, decolonization teaching and trans awareness.

Lolita Va Voom at Halloween House of Presents show at Monster Ronsons by Suzanne Forbes Feb 25 2021

Gieza decorated the stage with a monster theme, using old wigs!

Lolita Va Voom, above, shook it gorgeously. Always a joy to draw Lolita.

Lolita’s ongoing show with Nana Schewitz called Jews! Jews! Jews! is a treasure of Berlin.

Nana Schewitz is seen below, performing an interactive and hilarious act.

Nana Schewitz at Halloween House of Presents show at Monster Ronsons by Suzanne Forbes Feb 26 2021

Jews! Jews! Jews! has an online Virtual Queer Seder on March 28.

I am incredibly grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support lets me keep documenting Berlin’s drag and burlesque performers while I work safely at home.