hotdog army

Anyone that's spoken to me lately will know that I can't shut up about the joy/zen that hotdogs bring to the world. I need your help. Call it embrace/call it getting it out of my system, someone _may_ call it art. Think fondly of the archetype crazy old cat lady, but hotdogs, stuffed ones.

I WANT YOUR STUFFING.

Crappy old doonas, pillows, stuffed toys, etc.

In the vicinity of Melbourne.

I can pick up.

Message me on here and we can arrange details. My best offer so far has been chewed up dog toys.

So yeah, my vision is to make lots of hotdogs. Some in actual size and some in that size that's good for a full body cling to. Mustard affirmations and here's some of the fabric I got so far, the vision is LURID:

I'm mostly excited about combinations of clashing ugly oranges.

The plan is to sell them at the Antiverse Market and maybe I'll try etsy. I'll post when stalls are happening.

I just got access to a sewing machine, thanks to Holly Fluxx! So hopefully I'll be pumping them out soon

Wheat _AND_ Meat!

I've been watching hotdog eating competition videos on youtube for inspiration. This cringe-humour clip might help explain also:

EMBRACE YR INNER LIBRARIAN!

ZINE LIBRARY NEW CO-ORDINATOR ROLE

SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

I am looking to hand over my role as the Copy and Destroy Zine Library’s coordinator to someone with an investment in zine culture. This is a really fun project! It’s a great opportunity to meet other zine makers, see their work and learn some project and event management skills. I will be available for support during the handover.

This is an unpaid position unless you are successful with a funding application where a wage is budgeted. The new coordinator is encouraged to seek out and stock zines that they think are artistically, culturally and politically interesting to them individually and the people that access the library.

EMAIL ME ASAP FOR A FULL EOI DESCRIPTION

warren dot gracie at hotmail dot com

EOIs due Fri Nov 6.

Young people are especially encouraged to apply.

PLEASE CIRCULATE!

HARNESSED

With a little funding help, I'm starting the HARNESSED project. I will be running workshops from August, talking about sexuality, fantasy, safer spaces... and making chest harnesses! out of whatever materials you dream up that reflect your sexuality! Down with leather protocols! (unless, of course that is your thang).

I can supply materials. All I ask of you is that you donate your harness for the duration of the project so they can all be exhibited at the QArts Exhibition later this year. Then it is all yours for happy flagging.

I got excited and made mine already. Considering my infatuation with all things CAMP, I went down the sequined track:

Workshop details soon to be announced. If you are private about these things, I can arrange 1-on-1 workshops. Contributions can be anonymous. Contact me if you are interested: warren dot gracie at hotmail dot com

HO extension & female involvement

EXTENSION!!!

Originally the deadline for Ho submissions was May 30 2009, but I've extended it! I would really like for this to be an ongoing project. 

If you are planning on contributing, shoot me an email so I can know that they're coming. Also, I am really open to any conversations about the project. 

warren dot gracie at hotmail dot com

See the earliest post tagged with 'ho' for submission requirements and background.

CONSIDERATIONS

One conversation I've had recently is about the lack of contributions by women, t-girls, sistagirls, trans-feminine spectrum id-ing folks, and how I address this with the project. One suggestion was that I define the images as of "trans-masculine sex workers". However, I have included trans-female people in my call-out and I think it is an interesting point of discussion that so far, none of the contributions have been of this identity. 

By redefining the project, I think this could be silencing their lack of involvement. This could be for a million reasons, some of which I could guess but would really like to not speak on their behalf considering this is not my experience. I would really love to hear any feedback from trans-female people on the project in general, or ideas about how their experience can be included in the project. There are a lot of options for this: audio, presenting writing, interviews, etc... 

However, remembering that the point of this project is about the experience of sex working as your birth assigned gender, with a transgender identity. So I would like discussion to be around this as a point of inclusion/exclusion.

It is possible that the promotion or nature of the project is not inclusive of trans women since there is a history of trans women being socially excluded from the homo, dyke and trans-masculine communities I am a part of. This is a problem that should not be perpetuated. So any feedback on addressing this as a point of exclusion is SO WELCOME also.

xxx LOVING THE CONTRIBUTIONS SO FAR. THANKS SO MUCH TO YOU ALL WHO HAVE SENT PHOTOS IN xxxx

HO update

There have been some concerns raised around 'outting' that could incur by contributing photos, outting either as trans or as a sex worker.

Here are some photos of myself that i'm possibly using for my contribution, ones which you can't tell that i'm the subject. I'm also toying with the idea of using identifiable pictures, but i like that there is an option of not outting myself to the general public. I'm expecting to receive contributions that are both identifiable and non-identifiable.

 

Some other ideas are to do shots of you from behind (like an over the shoulder, into a mirror, no flash shot), or body part close ups, or headless shots. Also, avoid using flash where possible as a general rule.

Remember, the deadline is May 30 2009. Feel free to shoot me an email if you want to discuss photo plans, straying from the format i've asked for, any concerns or if you need an extension. warren dot gracie at hotmail dot com

HO: TRANS SEXWORKER PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT

CALL OUT FOR SUBMISSIONS

This photographic project will document transgender sexworkers who work presenting as the gender they were assigned at birth and no longer identify as. I will be applying to exhibit the series at different events in Australia, mostly at queer and sexworker arts events and also online. 

Since the photos will be released publicly, contributors will have to be comfortable with disclosure to some extent. However, I will not use your legal name and I’m open to negotiating measures to protect your identity if you would like to contribute but have privacy concerns.

To participate, you will have to consider the implications of the associations of your image and the content.

I am a transgender hustler who works as a lady babe. Primarily, this pays the bills. It also has been both affirming and dysphoria exacerbating, a result of limited financially viable representation options, the safest option, performative and an opportunity to max out lessons in the behavioral codes of feminine wiles. It’s creating a stronger affiliation with femmes and my class background. I feel moments of concern for my safety if a client recognises my face on the street and feels betrayed, and moments of satisfying queer subversion when being told, “You’re the hottest chick I’ve ever seen”, accompanied with a wad of cash.

I’m interested in documenting the process of embodying the rentboy/stripper minx/mistress/etc within, the transformation, the relationship that incurs with our bodies, the culture of trans people sexworking to pay for their medical transition, the connections between transgender identity and class, sexwork and class. I am really happy to have any discussions about representation.

The requirements:

• Email self portrait photographs (taken by you, either by holding the camera or with a self timer) taken while you’re in your ho persona, preferably at work but about to head to work is fine too. Around 5 photos would be great. Send to warren.gracie@hotmail.com
• Do not change the resolution settings on the photos
  
• Working photographs taken in the past are fine if you are not currently working
  
• Give me the following info in the body of the email:
  

  your working name (this can be the one you use or one made up for the project)

  your contact info

  the text “I consent to the use and publication by Warren Gracie of the attached photographs of me”. Include any conditions you have (eg. No online publishing)

  A short blurb on who you are/your experiences or thoughts on working as the gender you were assigned at birth/why you wanted to participate (this part is optional)

The deadline is May 30 2009.

This project is inclusive of pre, post and non medical transition transgender people, including but not limited to female-to-male, male-to-female and genderqueer transgender people. If you identify as trans, you are welcome to participate.

The term ‘sex-worker’ is an umbrella term, including but not limited to dance, full-service, porn, domination, submission, fetish, gf/bf experience and peepshow workers.

Feel free to contact me with any questions. 

warren.gracie@hotmail.com

Peeping Tomboy

I have a show coming up! Jackson Badger & I are rehashing a new & improved Tomboy performance installation at the Perv Queerotica Film Festival opening night. Thurs 23 April 7-10pm at the Red Rattler, Marrickville. 

If you come along, I would love to hear your feedback.

Also, the festival program looks great! Check it out: http://www.pervfilmfestival.org/ (scroll to the right to see program details).

(Stills, 2007. Photos by Marde Tozer).

DISTRO!

If you're based in Brisbane, get in touch if you would like copies of the following:

• Slit 'Weird Science' issue
• back issues of Slit magazine
• Spunk magazine issue #1
• 52 Pick Up decks of cards

Slits are also available at Avid Reader.

To check these things out go to:

www.slitmag.org

www.showusyourspunk.com

52 pickup

email me at warren dot gracie at hotmail dot com to get prices & pick up info.