Tag Archives: Anita Berber

Dr. Sketchy’s Weimar Berlin Part 2: Le Pustra as Sebastian Droste!

Le Pustra posing at Dr Sketchys Berlin by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017At the Dr Sketchy’s Berlin “Anita Berber” session, Berlin cabaret superstar and muse Le Pustra portrayed Sebastian Droste.

Le Pustra posing by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017Droste was Anita Berber’s gay husband, a figure of crafted intrigue, tweaked out cocaine addict ferocity, and wild Expressionist talent.

Together they created a kind of Smut Dada that exhilarated and appalled the world, exactly as they intended. Lustmord, Sex and Death.

“Here as elsewhere, Droste materializes as a liminal figure, both male and female, human and god. In this and other scenarios of sacrifice, the accent falls not on redemption, but on sheer eroticism of self-extinction, the ecstasy of Lustmord.”

-from the must-read introduction to Merrith Cole’s translation of the Berber-Droste book of poems, Dances of Vice, Horror, and Ecstasy.

Le Pustra posing by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017

The session was in the very elegant salon setting of queer space Cafe Kalwil on Berlin’s historic gay boulevard Motzstraße.

Le Pustra as Sebastian Droste fox stole drawn by Suzanne Forbes Aug 6 2017Since we did not want to damage the silk satin and devoré velvet furniture, we used only graphite and pencils. I added some pastel and ink later, at home.

On Monday I went to my favorite art supply store near Winterfeldplatz specifically to get an oil pastel in a deep labial/glanz pink to accent the Sebastian drawings. It seemed like the right thing to do!

I cannot wait to see Le Pustra’s celebrated Kabarett der Namenlosen at Ballhaus Berlin next March. (Trailer here) I will make so many drawings!

So much gratitude and thanks to LaLaVox and Le Pustra for organizing such a dream event for artists!

Mad praise to Le Pustra for his creation of Droste as decadent and bitter, yet sensual and vulnerable. Even more drawings coming soon! You can see my drawings of Bridge Markland as Anita Berber here, drawings from the previous Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin here, and here’s the Instagram for Dr Sketchy’s Berlin.

Le Pustra as Sebastian Droste drawn by Suzanne Forbes Aug 6 2017Please remember: if you enjoy my drawing documentation of Berlin’s queer art scene, you can support my doing it for as little as $1 (or euro) a month by pledging to my Patreon!

Dr. Sketchy’s Weimar Berlin – Bridge Markland as Anita Berber!

Bridge Markland at Cafe Kalwil reclining drawn by Suzanne Forbes Aug 6 2017What a fabulous Dr. Sketchy’s! Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin is SO FUCKING GOOD.

The atmosphere, the models, the music – always on lock. This session’s theme was Anita Berber and her Weimar Berlin life of decadence, debauchery and artistic fervor.

Bridge Markland as Anita Berber drawn by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017Bridge Markland, an incredible performer, portrayed Anita Berber late in life, bitter and caustic.

As well as a Drag King, actor and puppeteer, Bridge is an artist’s model with decades of experience. She imbued her characterization with such wickedness and sensuality, such louche elegance.

Bridge Markland as Anita Berber drawn by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017We also enjoyed legendary Berlin model and performer Le Pustra posing – portraying Anita’s husband and betrayer, genderqueer icon Sebastian Droste.

Bridge Markland as Anita Berber drawn by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017You can see the post of my drawings of him here!

Both Le Pustra and Bridge have made a deep dive into the Berlin of the 20s and 30s.

They captured the feel of the time so beautifully, lounging in their silk robes on devore velvet furniture and sniping at each other. When they fought over a fox stole I almost died of happiness!

Since we were working in a very elegant salon setting, we used only graphite and pencils. I added some pastel and ink later, at home.

The exquisite setting was queer space Cafe Kalwil on Berlin’s historic gay boulevard Motzstraße.

So much gratitude and thanks to LaLaVox and Le Pustra for organizing such a dream event for artists! Thanks so much to Bridge Markland for bringing Anita to life in all her rage, sensitivity and passion! More drawings here! You can see my drawings from the previous Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin here, and here’s the Instagram for Dr Sketchy’s Berlin.