Tag Archives: queer berlin

An evening at Barbiche, a woman-owned art space!

Alfred Ladylike at Barbiche March 18 2018 by Suzanne ForbesDo you know what Barbiche means? It means the little beard of the goat!

Isn’t that the best damn thing ever?? Barbiche is a new bar and art space created by artist Lena Braun, legendary Berlin queer gallerist, salon hostess and culture curator. I went there to see my friend Alfred Ladylike perform. Here she is rocking out onstage!

And below is woman rocker Kitty Solaris.

Performer at Barbiche March 16 2018 by Suzanne ForbesI took the bus in the snow to get there, which sounds onerous but was actually delightful.

I was bundled up and cozy, the bus comes every five minutes and is right on the corner, and the snow flickering down in the night was like glitter. And Barbiche is in the West! It’s a gorgeous space with lots of cool art on display. In Schöneberg, where the art scene is getting stronger and stronger. As per Lena: “In the west of Berlin,” she says, “something is happening again.”

Alfred’s consort Chris was petting their dog Georgie Boy here. One of my Patreon Patrons also makes an appearance in this drawing, as does the hostess herself, Ms. Lena Braun!

At Barbiche March 18 2018 by Suzanne ForbesIt’s totally normal to bring your dog to your gig in Berlin.

And Georgie is a good boy! You can see I’m drinking Fritz-Kola, the ubiquitous independent soda of Berlin, in my fave flavor, rhubarb. Pink vegetable soda, sweet doggos, original art, woman-owned art business, friends rocking out. It’s a damn good life.

Souls of Berlin.

M at Ludwig by Suzanne Forbes feb 28 2018M. posed for this drawing at Ludwig on Valentine’s Day, while telling us stories.

She was born on the same continent I was; nowadays she identifies as a “Citizen of the World”, and teaches German here in Berlin. She’s lived all over the planet; maybe all the experience is what keeps her so young. My friend Maurus, who owns Ludwig, calls the beautiful photos he takes of his guests “Souls of Ludwig“. I love the idea that we are all souls, meeting here in this world.

Sarah Omar and Sara at ESDIP Berlin by Suzanne Forbes Feb 28 2018I drew these folks at ESDIP Berlin during a meeting.

We were talking about the schedule for the Illustration Intensive course for the summer, when we get students from all over the world. Sara is from Spain, Omar is from Ecuador, and Sarah is from the UK. But we were all united by a discussion of how appallingly expensive, and yet wildly desirable, the new iPad Pro with the stylus is.

Berlin is a place for all souls to freely be themselves.

And I am so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to tell these stories.