Tag Archives: Suzanne Forbes

Last Days of Ludwig.

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Folx at the Last Ludwig Night by Suzanne Forbes Dec 5 2019To become part of a community is to open the door to loss.

Community is fluid, like gender, like cities. A local business becomes a hub of connection and expression, and then economic forces make that business unsustainable.

Chair dancing at Ludwig by Suzanne Forbes April 4 2020 Ludwig was a bar, an art gallery, a performance space, a clubhouse for Queer Berliners. It existed from 02.06.16 to 21.09.19. And it was located in a rapidly gentrifying area where construction has overshadowed street access for the last several years.

Singer at the Last Ludwig Night by Suzanne Forbes Dec 5 2019You don’t know sad til you’ve heard a trans girl sing “Send in the Clowns” on the last night of one of the safest spaces you’ve ever known.

Everyone tried to save Ludwig, but it’s not always possible to keep things. Running a business is brutally hard on small business owners, and when we love those people, when they’re artists and part of our community, we want them to be saved too, not used up fighting economic and structural factors. It’s a story that happens every day in every city, and it breaks our hearts.

Transophonix at the Last Ludwig Night by Suzanne Forbes Dec 5 2019The last night at Ludwig was very fucking sad.

My husband came out with me, only the second time he came out in 2019, because, well, it was important. He even dressed up super spiffy. Dear Transophonix, above, made a processional to the stage and performed a dirge, filling the space.

Der Jungs at Ludwig by Suzanne Forbes April 4 2020As always,co-owner Maurus Knowles brought me my favorite non-alcoholic beverage, Ostmost Apfel-Minze schorle.

That’s Maurus, right, and co-owner Ceven Knowles, on the left, above. Ceven made a playlist that began with “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing”, so perfect it seared my heart.Shady Darling at the Last Ludwig Night by Suzanne Forbes Dec 5 2019

Shady Darling, above, charmed us all with sass.

The tables out front were packed, spilling over, with colorful queens and queers and non-binary folx. We were all heavy with loss, and yet also exuberant, because of the community we have. Dan and I left pretty early, because my heart was spilling over too.

Thank you, Maurus and Ceven, for giving me the place my life in Berlin truly began.

Here are some previous times at Ludwig:

A benefit for singer Sigrid Grajek

Olympia Bukkakis and Transophonix perform

When we had our Women’s Art Lounge at Ludwig

Young queer folx at Ludwig for Suzanne’s birthday

The book release party for “As You wish, my Lady”

My portrait of Rah Hell hanging at Ludwig, the first painting I showed in Berlin

A holiday elf at Ludwig

When Suzanne and I had a Women’s Art Lounge for Galentine’s and I made my first collage.

Citizen of the world, soul of Berlin.

Live painting during the ARTfair created by Suzanne Wegh and Natascha Artworx, and me!

Dirk Rave and Mads Elung-Jensen performing.

And the Donut Heart video release party, which was when my life in Berlin really crystallized and began.

We can’t always keep things alive in the present, but we will always have our memories and the community and connection that were built at this beautiful queer art bar.

Drawing Liliana Velásquez at Dr. Sketchy’s x Drink and Draw Berlin!

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I am incredibly sad that my beloved Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin is ending.

Lala Vox has poured her heart and soul into it for ten years, creating an event beyond anyone’s imaginings, and needs to let it go now. Co-producer Syren Joey, who has done fantastic work the last couple years, also has reasons to not be producing a big elaborate event.

So the last two events are being held as special intimate sessions of Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin at the Drink and Draw Berlin kunsthaus, and this Sunday’s starred model Liliana Velásquez.

Liliana Velasquez at Take It Easy Baby Tom Petty Tribute by Suzanne Forbes April 20 2018Liliana is a friend and muse who I have drawn many times because she is one of the hardest-working entertainers in Berlin. I’ve caught her doing stand-up, producing variety shows, hosting New Year’s events, teaching the tango at her live talk show, and more.

She is also a professional life model, who worked for seven years at the top New York art schools, including the Art Student’s League and the School of Visual Arts, two of the places where I went to school!

There is nothing like the grace and elegance of an experienced artists’ model, who can tell a story in their gaze or the arch of a foot.

Liliana is also now teaching self-defense to women and minorities at Pretty Deadly Self Defense, a valuable Berlin resource I am hoping to check out soon!

Here is a picture of me at my usual table at a Sketchy’s earlier this year, by Maren Michaelis.

Thanks so much to Lala Vox and Syren Joey for their hard work on Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin, and to Liliana Velásquez and the great folks of Drink and Draw Berlin!

I absolutely encourage all Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin folks who haven’t yet been to visit Drink and Draw Berlin’s gorgeous and welcoming historic boat. The boat is docked on the river Spree, and is set up as a permanent life drawing space, with model platforms, hanging drapery, props, easels, and a variety of seating including very comfy! There are weekly drawing classes, events and more.