Tag Archives: Bay Area friends

Drawing SFxBerlin artist Rachael Jablo working on The Hysteria Project!

Rachael Jablo working on art for The Hysteria Project drawn by Suzanne Forbes Feb 17 2022Such a treat to have a zoom visit with my friend Rachael Jablo, a fellow former Bay Arean!

I met Rachael here in Berlin, at Sadie Lune’s birthday party years ago. Even though we were in the Bay at the same time, and both knew Sadie among other folks, we never met there!

Thank goodness we connected here. I can’t imagine not knowing Rachael! Sick person baker artists rule! Due to both of us being chronically ill, we don’t visit IRL that often, yet our spiritual connection is amazing. And our techie husbands get along great too.

Rachael is creating an incredible collaborative storytelling project called The Hysteria Project.

“The Hysteria Project is a one-on-one storytelling project dealing with menstruation, reproductive, and pelvic disorders, illustrated by individual ‘portraits’ of their reproductive organs based on their stories. These life-size, intimate works start in a traditional darkroom where I use lace instead of negatives to make color prints that I cut up and collage onto a gold leaf background.” – Rachael Jablo

Uterus portrait by Rachael Jablo for the Hysteria Project of Suzanne Forbes with fibroids

Portrait by Rachael Jablo for the Hysteria Project of Suzanne Forbes’ menstrual system with fibroids

I told my fibroids story for the project and Rachael made a portrait of my uterus!

Isn’t it beautiful? You can read my story here, it has lots of swearing and so. much. blood. Other folks I know have also told their stories and had portraits made. Being listened to and witnessed by Rachael’s compassionate spirit is such a healing experience. Rachael describes how the project started here.

Rachael’s website, Rachael’s insta, The Hysteria Project website, insta and twitter.

The Hysteria Project is Funded by Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien.

I of course am funded by my  Patreon Patrons, who have my eternal gratitude and love for keeping me working, making art and documenting Berlin creators as a vaccinated but Covid-vulnerable disabled person.Rachael Jablo working on art for The Hysteria Project drawn by Suzanne Forbes Feb 17 2022 detail

Archives drawings: San Francisco in the Oughts.

Leah dancing the tango at El Valenciana 2005ish by Suzanne Forbes This is Leah dancing the tango at El Valenciana in 2005.

I met Leah through my oldest friend, Victoria. Going to draw her dancing was one of my early conscious moments of “documentary drawing” of Bay Area culture.

Eugene Wong law office 2002 by Suzanne Forbes aka Rachel ForbesThe law office of Eugene Wong, 2002.

My second ex-husband was a foreign national, and Eugene managed the green card process. I believe our friend Shinsaku referred us to Eugene, who did a good job at a good price. I made this drawing on the back of some form while we were waiting one day.

Noise Party 2004 by Suzanne Forbes aka Rachel ForbesNoise Party, Berkeley, 2004.

Logan and JD, close friends of my second ex-husband and I in the Oughts, gave marvelous parties, including ones called “Noise Parties”. Like a kind of John Cage experimental sound thing! For one of the early ones my ex and I wrapped ourselves in bubble wrap and rolled up the garden path, popping and crackling!

These drawings had been scanned but not posted, and were languishing in a backup file inside many folders.

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.