Uma Mulher Vieja
When I first received an invite late
last year to come to Porto, Portugal and perform at the World Famous
Groove Ball, I was immediately intrigued, but was afraid that with my
hyperdrive schedule of visual art exhibitions I would not be able to
add another commitment to an otherwise packed calendaria.
So glad I did some re-arranging and was
able to go to Porto, and take part in this marvelous grass roots
queer mega event.
First of all the weather was bright and
sunny, not balmy, but certainly better then dreary icy cold Berlin in
February. Picking me up at the aeroport was Groove Ball architects
the major miss gorgeous Inez Pando and debonair Master
Igor. I was starving so they took me for local grub where i stuffed
myself silly with the tastiest of regional comfort food. You should
have seen my baby bump!
My fab accomodations at The Hotel
Miradouro on Rue de Alegria, 598 an art deco compound situated high
on a hill overlooking the entire city with breathless views. I love
old hotels where you get an actual key, and not a key card for your
suite. My bedroom was simple and charming with furniture from the
1920s that included an old style radio counsel. Even the TV monitor
was deliciously ancient, and not one of those icky flat screen
monstrocities. The best part was the bathroom that had the most
elegant tile, and a giant tub that was meant to hold enormous women
like myself, plus any loo with a bidet gets my extra sensory special
Vagimule safeguard seal of approval. I was so content in my regal
eagle's nest down in the depths of the 11th floor that I
didn't mind the loud generic techno music thumping up from a niteclub
across the street.
Since I don't own a television set, and
don't have internet access at home, the only time I am able to watch
mindless TV is when I stay in hotels, and in Portugal the content is
original language with untertitles.
At a mind altering bruncheon of vegan
specialties at Mafalda's the restaurant in the Matosinhos Market
owned by Ms. Pando and her sister Mafalda, I met the rest of the crew
which consists of lovesexxy glamour girl /supermodel/Djane Simone
Francisco who along with Master Igor and Lady Inez are the
masterminds behind the Groove Ball Collective.
Joining us for brunch was opera singing
sensation and diva extroidinaire the enchanting Symone De La' Dragma
one of Europa's most divine hostesses, who is also a learned scholar
when it comes to classical Hollywood, Broadway showtunes and disco
royalty. Special guest host and DJ from London the delightful JayJay
Revlon was also on hand. Master Igor took me for a little
sightseeing adventure where I got to see their rushing river, and
pristine oceanfront, which reminded me in parts of Malibu and
Laguna's Porno Beach. Even got a glimpse of a broadshouldered surfer
dude version of Sulka.
I was surprised to see lots of tall men
in Porto. A few years ago when I was invited to Queer Lisboa I
noticed that the majority of Portuguese men in Lisbon were on the
dimunitive side, so it was refreshing to see a sprightly gaggle of
dark, tall, swarthy types floating about. Didn't get to chow down
chupa style on any revenously hugo destados, but a girl can't have
everything I guess.
On the night of my performance I was
picked up from my hotel and taken to Maus Habitos which is a giant
community center that features art galleries, restaurants and the
nightclub where Groove Ball takes place. At the restaurant I ate
another fantastic meal. I was told that Porto is a food haven, and
it lived up to that reputation. I tried to take a disco nap as I
wasn't going to hit the stage until 2:30am but I was just too nervous
and anxious to get any sleep.
I got my start in clubs in the late
1970s, and early 1980s, but in the last 20 years or so when I perform
its more in art galleries, art spaces and museums where showtime is
usually late afternoon or no later then 8pm. I miss the spontaneity
of a club environment.
My performance was very messy, and
halfway through I lost my voice. My Rick Owens couture gown had the
photographers in a tizzy, so i looked good for an elderly lady, and
that is half the battle.
A statuesque, handsome curator from
Lisbon approached me after the performance and asked me about the
Horkheimer and Bataille text that I sprinkled within my song “My
Pussy is a Cactus”. So i guess someone was paying attention. He
also was interested in having me perform at an art event he is
curating along with the legendary band The Raincoats.
Groove Ball and their lovely house
children have created a scene that other larger cities could learn
from. I think Porto is on the forefront of a brand new exciting
movement, and soon everyone will be moving there the way people
started moving to Berlin in the early aughts.
*
Just heard that the singer Vic Damone
died. I adored him. Back in the 1950s he was married to Italian
actress Pier Angeli and in the 80s he was married to black actress
Diahann Carroll. He even made a few films at MGM including Young,
Rich & Pretty with Jane Powell and Danielle Darrieux, Hit the
Deck starring Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, and Ann Miller, Athena
with Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds and muscleman Steve Reeves which
was way ahead of its time with an original story about health and
fitness including veganism.
Getting back to Berlin and the freezing
cold weather I went to see a pop-up exhibition in Mitte near the
Berliner Ensemble by my Offenbach am Main students. The event was
filled with some excellent video work and short format performances
which really rockt! So proud of my students from Offenbach. They are
superstars!
They will also be part of an exhibit at
the MMK Museum in Frankfurt.
One of my other Offenbach students
Brenda Lien who had her first film in the Berlinale last year is part
of an exhibition that opens Thursday Feb 15th 7pm at CLB Berlin
Aufbau Haus am Moritzplatz at Prinzenstrasse 84.2 in Kreuzberg. The
exhibit runs till Feb 24th.