Paul Richmond Blog

A few posts back, I wrote about attending the Forte fundraiser honoring our fabulous friend, Jim Arter, for his work as an artist and top-notch advocate for the GLBT community. He was kind enough to share his acceptance speech so that I could post it here. His words really resonated with me, and I hope to embody some of the same tireless enthusiasm and creative energy that earned him this distinction: “It is a great honor to accept the first Forte Award from the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus on the campus of the Ohio State University. Ironically forty two years ago, tonight, I was at Ohio State but instead of celebrating I was confined to the lock-down psychiatric unit of Upham Hall at University Hospital learning to cope with being gay. At that time homosexuality was considered a mental illness. Growing up in Newark, Ohio I didn’t know other GLBT people. There was no Will & Grace or gay bars in 'Nerk' in 1967. I thought there was me and maybe Liberace, but he was probably just...

I'm going to be participating in a few upcoming Columbus shows: My painting "Elegant Imbalance" will be included in an exhibit called "The Circus," curated by Nikos Rutkowski and Sarah Weinstock, which is a part of the Franklinton Arts District's Go West! celebration of the arts taking place in two converted art spaces - 937 W. Broad St. and 897 W. Broad St. — and at the Franklinton Development Association (FDA) office at 922 W. Broad St. Go West! runs from 4-9 p.m., Saturday, May 30. I'm also excited to once again be participating in Stonewall's annual Exhibit of Pride Art Show . My paintings " The Dollypop Guild ," " The Cher Within ," and " Noah's Gay Wedding Cruise " were accepted by jurors Michelle Lach and Nicholas Hill into the show, which opens on Saturday, June 6 from 6pm -10pm. 20% of the artists’ sales will be donated to the center. Artwork will remain on display at the Stonewall Columbus Center on High,...

The super-awesome site Queerty gave " Noah's Gay Wedding Cruise " a plug today. Thanks, guys! What If Noah's Ark Was Actually a Rosie O'Donnell Cruise? THE SHOT — Artist Paul Richmond created "Noah's Gay Wedding Cruise" because "I've been so incredibly moved by demonstrations across the country in support of marriage equality, and I believe we’re on the cusp of great progress." The result? "I chose to symbolize our inevitable victory with my own version of the Noah’s Ark story, complete with some drowning sinners (including Ann Coulter, Larry Craig, Sally Kern, Fred Phelps, and even Pat Boone!), and a grand ark/cruise ship filled with happy gay and lesbian animal couples and a few famous human guests too (such as Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Elton John and David Furnish, and Rosie O’Donell and Kelli Carpenter). Even the fictional cowboys from Brokeback Mountain get another shot at love in this epic re-telling of a biblical...

For my next exhibit, I’m planning to put a gay/glam spin on the fairy tale classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” My version, “Lily White and the Seven Divas,” will use symbols and imagery from the original story (along with some new additions) to tell the tale of a young, androgynous boy coming into his own -- by way of a colorfully inhabited enchanted forest of course! In my previous post, “Wardrobe Malfunction,” I posted some pics of my first attempt to find suitable costuming to help me transform into an appropriately glamorous heroine. Fortunately, with the help of my fashion consultant, Maria, we’ve made some progress since then. There’s much more to come, but I love the red corset (left), and I think the simple yellow shorts would be great with some tights and platform boots. Now, before you start filling out a submission form for “What Not to Wear” on my behalf, I guess I should probably explain my goal here -- I’m going for a combination of classic maiden (hence the laced...

My work got a mention on the site Genderfork today. Genderfork is a really interesting blog, with multiple contributors, that explores androgyny and gender variance through art. Check them out HERE . On their site today, Kate wrote: Recommendation: Paul Richmond's Art Mr. Richmond’s paintings are sensitive, controversial, & beautiful. Even if they didn’t deal with gender variance & homosexuality, they are lovely enough that I’d still want them in my home. My favorites are Room With A View & The Cher Within. His paintings are available for purchase in his Etsy shop .

I'm starting a new painting called "Pin-Up Payback" for a show at the Veaux Gallery in Chelsea called 'Hot & Bothered: Sexuality Post-Feminism" this summer. It will be a triptych showing three modern-day male celebs caught in compromising, classic cheesecake-esque states of undress. Meanwhile, through the windows and doors of the apartment buildings behind them (a panoramic neighborhood scene that spans all three canvasses), fully dressed pin-up girls of yesteryear watch the scene unfold, enjoying their new roles as spectators. I've been using Photoshop to make references for many of my recent pieces, modifying and merging various photos to work out my compositions before I start the sketch on paper. For this piece, my friend Brian took some rather silly photos of me dropping my pants (all in the name of art!), and without setting foot in the gym I was able to transform into beefcake-worthy material thanks to the fabulous Warp tool. I don't want to ...

This weekend, Dennis and I had the pleasure of attending a fabulous event honoring one of our dearest friends, Jim Arter. What could be better than a big, gay, 80's prom honoring a truly inspirational, community (and personal) hero? I'll tell you -- getting to sit at the same table as the guest of honor! The Columbus Gay Men's Chorus hosts an annual fundraising event called Forte, and this year they presented their inaugural Forte Award, which honors someone who represents the group's mission of combining artistic expression with social action. Well, they couldn't have chosen a better recipient than my friend Jim Arter. In addition to being an incredible artist himself (not to mention a foremost Judy Garland expert!), Jim works with the Greater Columbus Arts Council and pioneered an arts-based after school program for inner-city youth that became the pilot program for the award-winning Children of the Future. He also helped develop the "Art for Life" auc...

I just finished my latest cover project which is for the forthcoming book “The Golden Age of Gay Fiction” by MLR Press . I thought it would be fun to share some glimpses into the process of bringing this happy little gay scene to life... The editor, Wayne Gunn, envisioned a 60’s-era chance encounter between two strapping young fellows perusing a book rack for gay pulp novels -- and discovering each other in the process. After doing some research at the awesome site Gay on the Range , I took photo references of my partner, Dennis, and friend, Brian, who were both great sports despite some initial reluctance (and my constant nagging to intensify their come-hither gazes). Then I began sketching...and the pompadours just kept growing! Also at this point, I was given some really interesting insights from Mr. Gunn about the culture of the era – specifically that gay pulp novels were often intermingled with hetero-themed romances in order for shoppers on the DL to peruse discreetly. He said t...

My friend Maria and I paid a visit to one of my all-time favorite places this evening, the costume shop. I was doing research for a new painting series that combines a gay-glam aesthetic with fairy tale imagery. I was hoping to find inspiration for my main character's costume which will be modern, sexy, androgynous, and also incorporate some Renaissance-ish, princessy flair. Let's just say we have a ways to go. Snow White I am not -- at least not yet! Ugly (Frumpy) Duckling, perhaps. Next stop - at the friendly costume shop clerk's recommendation - thrift store lingerie aisles. And you can bet my camera will be in tow...

I recently had the pleasure of coordinating an exhibit for a super-fabulous local artist and wanted to share her work. She combines drawing, painting, quilting, and photography in really beautiful and unexpected ways. I completely get lost in the bright, whimsical zaniness of it all. But I think what I love most is that there often seems to be more to the story. Whether she’s exploring theories of crowd-mentality through complex repetition of her nostalgic “Sunbonnet Sue” character or merging layers of abstract patterning with illustrative figurative compositions, Melissa’s work is both high and lowbrow (whatever that really means), retro and modern, beautiful and conceptual...I could go on, but you get the idea. Check it out for yourself and add on all the adjectives you like: web.me.com/stitchintheditch/melissavogleywoods/Home.html . And if you're hung up on certain preconceived, outdated notions about quilting – watch out. Sunbonnet Sue has a gun!

Photo: Brian Williams

I’m looking forward to participating in the upcoming Agora show at Junctionview Studios in Columbus. My contributions are “The Dollypop Guild” and “The Cher Within.” Agora is an immersive event that brings artists and art patrons together to celebrate Central Ohio's diverse and talented creative community. Agora guests have the opportunity to view and purchase hundreds of works of art, wander through fifty working artists' studios, and watch performances by dancers, musicians, and theatre groups. Each Agora is unique. The experience is shaped by the artists and performers that participate. The maze-like layout of Junctionview Studios provides the perfect environment for guests to look around and explore. AGORA 6 Preview Friday, May 15, 2009 7pm-9pm AGORA 6 Saturday, May 16, 2009 Noon-midnight