Tag Archives: queer art

The fabulous performers of Drag Syndrome!

Horrora Shebang July 8 2020 by Suzanne ForbesI got to draw the performers of Drag Syndrome at last!

Having to miss the Drag Syndrome show in Berlin last Fall was one of the times I felt most frustrated and saddened by my health problems. The group, described as “highly addictive drag queens & kings with Down-Syndrome”, looked so vivacious and happy! I so wanted to draw Horrora Shebang, above! And luckily I did get to, thanks to online shows!

Gaia Callas of Drag Syndrome July 8 2020 by Suzanne ForbesI am so grateful there was a livestream show of these incredible divas this Spring!

Produced by Culture Device and Queer House Party, the show featured multiple acts and costume changes from each performer. Above, the gorgeous Gaia Callas!

Justin Bond of Drag Syndrome July 8 2020 by Suzanne ForbesThe most wonderful performers, the most charismatic stars!

Justin Bond has incredible moves!! Drag Syndrome and the Friends was one of the best drag shows I’ve ever seen. The House has fantastic dancers!

Horrorchata by Suzanne Forbes May 2 2020 And fabulous Horrorchata started the show off!

A treat to get to draw her again after last summer’s Bushwig Berlin.

Indoor Goblin with Drag Syndrome July 8 2020 by Suzanne ForbesAlso performing was musician Indoor Goblin!

Lovely music! I have a whole bunch more drawings from Drag Syndrome and the Friends, and I will be posting them soon.

Meanwhile, to learn more about these fantastic performers:

I absolutely encourage you to check out the videos, see this new movie by Jess Kohl and read the article in Vogue.

As usual these drawings are licensed Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) for all to share and enjoy!

In addition, I release the copyright on each drawing to the performer shown and they may use the drawings for their own profit and joy in any way they choose.

Made possible by my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support to keep me working and releasing my documentary art as Free Art.

Trans pride and power: action figures and stuffed trans mermaid doll!

Custom trans action figures by Suzanne Forbes June 24 2020 cuCustomized Black Trans Lives Matter protester action figures!

I bought these wrestling figures years ago with various projects in mind, but they have been sitting in the fodder drawer for too long and it was time for them to blossom!

Custom trans action figures by Suzanne Forbes June 24 2020I bought the figure on the right to customize for Stevie, the New Mutants dance teacher, for my X-Men dollhouse.

But wrestling figures are quite tall for 6″ scale, and she seemed muscular for a former ballerina.

Custom trans action figures in process by Suzanne Forbes June 24 2020So I made her a skirt out of an actual trans pride flag, with black ribbon added.

To wear to the protest that is happening on the balcony of my action figure dollhouse!

Custom trans actions figures protest by Suzanne Forbes June 24 2020Look at this group of beautiful people ready for justice!

My NECA Vasquez looks pissed off and with good reason. Our trans sisters and brothers are more vulnerable than ever as tensions everywhere increase. Support programs like @glits_inc and @theokraproject to get black trans people housed and fed, support @transsexworks here in Berlin to help vulnerable street SW’s, and sign up for the Queer Trans Mutual Aid Berlin Patreon to help queer and trans folx in Berlin get warm meals.

Of course I included red umbrellas, the symbol of support and solidarity with sex workers!

Custom trans action figures street protest by Suzanne Forbes June 24 2020Note the cis white woman at this protest is being useful as an armed honor guard off to the side.

Ready to Protect Black Trans People! Who are significantly more vulnerable everywhere, including at protests. Custom trans action figures and rement food setup by Suzanne Forbes June 25 2020After the protest the ladies feasted while my newly arrived Hasbro Ghostbusters Ernie kept up the protesting!

I also made this fluffy darling as part of my Pride Doll Art projects.

Commercially available Trans Mermaid doll adapted by Suzanne Forbes June 24 2020

Commercially available Trans Mermaid Stuffed Doll!

No, you cannot buy a trans mermaid dolly at Tiger or IKEA. Yet. But this is a vision of a world where kids can get stuffed dollies of all genders, BEYOND THE GENDER BINARY. We all deserve a world where trans toys are as common as cis toys. Meanwhile, @mermaidsgender is a great org I like to donate to when she who shall not be named does something hateful.

Much of the art of being an assemblage artist is simply HAVING STUFF AROUND.

Having materials around, having bits of things, having the tools to cut them up and the adhesives to glue them back together. I was at the Dutch store, TIGER, buying markers when I saw this stuffed mermaid doll. I knew, I knew instantly, that I had some black faux fur that precisely matched the doll’s fur. I instantly knew I could make a trans mermaid that would be adorable. So I bought the doll and brought it home. I did a quick look through my materials, knowing I had saved one last scrap of the fur after a project a couple years earlier.

But I could not find it. I have 25 drawers and 12 cabinets of materials and tools. I knew the tuft of fur would turn up eventually, so I put the doll in the Large Doll Parts drawer and moved on. A year and change later, last week, I came across that last tuft of the perfect fur, and glued it on.

It’s like having the plumber come fix your pipe – 1% is banging on the pipe, 99% is knowing where to hit.

As usual these images are licensed Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) for all to share and enjoy!

I am so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me work safely at home.