Category Archives: Berlin

It’s my 54th birthday! Please help me keep making art :)

Berlin artist Suzanne Forbes in La Femme en Noir in kitchen Jan 3 2020Hi! I’m 54!

I look great, right? I love my self-cut hair, my fat disabled body, my powerhouse survivor’s journey of recovery and growth, and the 1,265 unique pieces of original art I’ve made since I started my Patreon crowd-funding!

And I need your help. To keep making art and to become a permanent resident of Germany.

Can you spare $1/1€ a month to support my crowdfunded documentary art of queer culture?

Crowdfunded Berlin artist Suzanne Forbes Jan 3 2020 4I am incredibly grateful to the small group of very generous Patrons who have made my free queer art possible the last five years.

Because of my Patrons, I’ve been able to make documentary art of Queer Berlin and release it for free, even as I become increasingly disabled by autoimmune illness and C-PTSD. Most of my Patrons have been with me from the beginning, and their support is my treasure, my power center, my grail.

My income is half what it was last year, as Patrons’ circumstances have changed, the censorship impact of SESTA/FOSTA means I have to do my more explicit work for free, and people can’t afford to buy my original art at present.

And I’m gonna earn way less this year, as I need to reduce my posting while I (finally!) learn German and recover from burnout.

I was posting like 14 times a month for much of last year, and donating all my extra money to mutual aid! It was awesome. But also crisis-based and unsustainable. This year I’m exhausted, burned out, very sick, AND it is time for us to apply for permanent residency in Germany!

crowdfunded Berlin artist Suzanne Forbes Jan 3 2020 in salonPlease help me show a stable income as we apply for permanent residency!

All I need is a dollar/euro a month from you, for this one year. If you can’t sign up for my Patreon, please share this post on your socials (yes even FB, even though I don’t have a FB account) and tell people about how I make documentary art and release it for free.

You can see the 298 original pieces of art I made thanks to my Patrons in 2020 here.

308 pieces of art I made in 2019 here.

255 pieces of art I made in 2018 here.

280 pieces of art I made in 2017 here.

Some of the around 100 pieces of art I made in 2016 here.

Some of the around 40 pieces of art I made in 2015. the year I started my Patreon, here.

The single posted work of art I made in 2014, the last year I had a day job, here.

Yeah, it makes all the difference, I can’t actually make art if I have to hold any kind of job. But with Patron support, I make so much art, and you can help!

Vaccine Phoenix on balcony by Suzanne Forbes March 2020I love you, I believe in you, our love and our bravery and our persistence is FIRE.

You can share my socials, twitter is @slurketta and insta is here.

 

Longtime muse Noéline la Bouche selfie photoshoot in headpiece by Suzanne Forbes for Halloween!

Noeline la Bouche in headpiece by Suzanne Forbes Oct 31 2020 1Beloved muse and inspiring performer Noéline la Bouche got the headpiece I sent in time for a Halloween shoot!

I gave it to Gieza who gave it to Pansy who gave it to Noéline at Monster Ronsons during the Naked People telling Scary Stories show last month!

Noeline la Bouche in headpiece by Suzanne Forbes Oct 31 2020 6And Noéline took these beautiful, beautiful pictures in it.

I absolutely adore them! Just as I adore Noéline, who has been a thrill to draw since the very first time.

I have drawn Noéline in person often, and often this past year on livestreams.

A fellow disabled and chronically ill person, Noéline has been very open about the challenges performing presents. I am enormously grateful for this work, because it creates a better climate of transparency and acceptance for all of us in the Queer Berlin arts community.

I often say I can’t make a bad drawing of Noéline.

I’d like to ask you, if you have a moment, to pop over to Noéline’s instagram feed and offer good wishes and appreciation.

Noeline la Bouche for Pansys House of Presents by Suzanne Forbes Sept 10 2020
Noeline la Bouche for Disabilitease by Suzanne Forbes May 28 2020

Noeline la Bouche for Pansys House of Presents Suzanne Forbes April 28 2020

Noeline la Bouche at Berlin Berlin Burlesque Week by Suzanne Forbes June 20 2019

Noeline la Bouche at Berlin Berlin Burlesque Week, June 20 2019 – one of my favorite portraits I’ve ever made.

Noeline la Bouche at Pride Not Prejudice Sept 7 2019 by Suzanne Forbes

Noeline la Bouche at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019Noeline la Bouche at Extravagent Shambles Suzanne Forbes July 24 2018