Category Archives: Berlin

Drag Brunch in Prenzlauerberg!

Mx Aleppo Pepper at Drag Bunch May 3 2019 by Suzanne ForbesIt was a quiet Sunday afternoon when I glanced at Instagram and saw my friend Dia was about to perform at Tipsy Bär, on the other side of town.

I hadn’t seen Dia work their moves onstage since we lived in the Bay, so I grabbed my art tools and jumped on the train. I made it just in time to catch Dia’s second act as well some other fabulous people!Ebony Rose Dark at Drag Bunch May 3 2019 by Suzanne Forbes

Ebony Rose Dark danced so gracefully, so delicately on those 6″ heels. She was amazing!

And she casually kept them on after her performance! We had a minute to chat and she told me about some of the other performances she does, including one in pitch dark with fellow visually impaired performers. Now I really want to go to Worn and Felt and draw in the dark.

Vivienne Lovecraft at Drag Bunch May 3 2019 by Suzanne ForbesVivienne P. Lovecraft was a vision of serenity in opal pastels, performing about Steven Universe I believe?

Which is a tv show that so many people I love are into, but I have never seen. I feel slightly guilty about that!

During the trivia contest, the question “What do the H. and P. in H.P. Lovecraft stand for?” was asked and Dia yelled, “Highly Problematic!” Another audience member pointed out that Lovecraft was from Rhode Island, which is hysterical, during Drag Brunch.

Vanessa Jupiter at Drag Bunch May 3 2019 Suzanne ForbesI drew hostess Vanessa Jupiter at a Full Moon Cabaret back in February, so I had a sense of her face already.

I loved her rainbow flag stole and a tender performance to Björk’s “All is Full of Love”, where she came out and hugged all the audience members. It was really comforting and hopeful. As Ms. Jupiter pointed out, a Sunday afternoon drag show may seem silly, but taking space this way is always, always a political act.

I’m grateful I can document moments like this in Berlin, thanks to my Patrons on Patreon whose monthly financial support allows me to make this art!

 

Not the burlesque you expect: more from Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin.

La Labo Balucia as Rorschach at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019That’s right, Rorschach burlesque.

Performer and Shimmy Shake School burlesque teacher La Loba Balucia  blew my comic-artist mind with this. I was losing it with happiness but still managed to draw two pictures of her.La Labo Balucia performs Rorschach Burlesque at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019

Ruby Skyscaper was a man-eating shark.Ruby Skyscraper at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019

That’s some meta-textual feminist neo-burlesque for ya! Amazing costume, amazing shake.Noeline la Bouche at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019

And legend Noéline la Bouche sang AND danced AND performed veil fans, while undressing!

Pretty darn fabulous! Noéline works really hard and performs all over, I try to catch her as often as I can.

Newbie performer at Shimmy Shake Show at Ballhaus Berlin by Suzanne Forbes April 10 2019Last but not least, this young lady Brianna was a newer performer. She did great and looked adorable!

Thanks so much to Shimmy Shake School and mâitresse La Viola Vixen for a lovely show, you can get tickets for the May edition right here!

And always, my deepest thanks to my Patrons, who crowdfund my documentary art project of a queer feminist intersectional lens on Berlin life! You can help, with any amount you like per month, a dollar or euro is great ?

My Patrons on Patreon give monthly financial support which allows me to make this free documentary art available for all to share!