My Weekly Top 10 Work and Playlist 2/27/09

"White Horse" - Sarah Mcleod	"Feel the Love" - Cut/Copy

1. "White Horse (Whelan & Di Scala Remix)" - Sarah McLeod
2. "Feel the Love" - Cut Copy
3. "Midnight Heartache" - September
4. "Tomorrow" - Ladytron
5. "La Ritournelle" - Sébastian Tellier
6. "I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris" - Morrissey
7. "I Owe You a Love Song" - Shiny Toy Guns
8. "The One" - Kylie Minogue
9. "If This Isn’t Love" - Jennifer Hudson
10. "Be Mine!" - Robyn

Weekly Poll: Gay for Pay

There have been, and still are, gay porn stars who profess they are straight, and that filming and having sex with men is only something they do for money. It doesn't seem to be as 'popular as it once was, perhaps gay men like their porn to be more sincere or gay guys who lust after straight guys is a smaller niche market than once thought.

Rather than ask if you believe they are really heterosexual, I was wondering do you care?
The poll is in the sidebar --->

Swimming - The Sexiest Sport

The results of this weeks visitor poll has swimmers coming out on top as the sexiest of sportsmen. Diving came in a very close second. My guess is it's all about the uniform.

I have to say, though, that the trend of wearing those space-tech full body suits in competition is a bit of a turn-off. Not only visually, but it dilutes the athletes' natural abilities. It's a high-tech enhancement and to me, puts it in the same category as steroids. Is it an honest competition between men or technologies?

Q: What is the Sexiest Sport?
Here are the poll results (multiple answers were allowed):

• Swimming 45%
• Diving 44%
• Wrestling 32%
• Soccer 31%
• Surfing 22%
• Football (American) 15%
• Baseball 11%
• Cycling 11%
• Boxing 10%
• Volleyball 10%
• Tennis 9%
• Hockey 9%
• Skiing/Snowboarding 2%
• Basketball 2%
• Car Racing 1%

The Go-Go' - "Head Over Heels"

New Release: "Unsuitable"

There are moments when the world around you changes course, or something inside you transforms. Priorities and ideals that were once acceptable or even revered are looked down upon. A brave new world is dawning, both outside and within, and the ways of the past have become unsuitable.

The original is on consigment at the Lyman-Eyer Gallery. While available for purchase, it will remain with the gallery through the end of my upcoming show, the Breathtaking Blue, this July. In addition to the original, limited edition Gallery and Studio prints as well as open edition Portfolio prints are available for purchase on my website: www.breyette.com. The Day of Issue Sale is on through February 27th at midnight.

Morrissey - "Throwing My Arms Around Paris"

Still great, still melancholy.

on the drawing board: motivations

Sometimes the motivation behind my paintings is clear and easy to sum up. But other times it is a visual representation that's hard for me to put into words. I have ideas, concepts and emotions swirling around that I can't formulate in a concise sentence. Such is my current project.

Poll: What are the SEXIEST sports?

So, what sport is sexiest? Whether it's the way it's played, what the players wear, the physiques of the participants...whatever, just pick the ones that turn you on the most.

I know there are hundreds but I just limited it to these most popular.

Cast your vote in the sidebar!

feel happy

"Happy Up Here" - Royksopp

on the drawing board: scaled down

4 of the last 5 pieces I've done featured life sized or bigger faces (those pieces I have not yet released). Since the faces in my works are generally just a few inches from hairline to chin it was such a nice change to be able to do details on things such as irises, lines on lips, and whiskers. I actually started to wonder if I coudl handle working on a face on a small scale again. Then I rememberd that, though the face is smaller, I get to include much more of the body in the picture. And that is a BIG plus for me!

Is McCouture Next?

I've recently heard 2 stories regarding the struggling economy. The first one was about shoppers in high-end retail locales such as NYC's 5th Avenue, asking for plain shopping bags or bringing their own. The reason? Either guilt or shame for still having money and still being able to afford nice things.

The other story was about Fashion Week in New York. Some design houses have drastically reduced or eliminated many extravagances that usually go along with this upper class spectacle. The usual Champagne served at the Mercedes-Benz sponsored event has been replaced with McCafé coffee.

For me, I'd much rather know that some people are doing okay and people are still buying, that all is not lost. I'd feel much more optimistic, and optimism is key in re-invigorating a slumping economy.

Now Mercedes-Benz doesn't need to go all out with Champagne, but how about a nice white wine, I am pretty sure they can still afford that. Really, has it come to McDonald's coffee already? (c'mon how about Starbucks at least!).

New Release: "A Place in the Sun"

Warmed by golden rays, refreshed by the breeze, lulled by the sound of the waves, unfettered by clothing and technology... from time to time, we all crave peace and simplicity. Whether it is the height of summer or the dead of winter, whenever we need it most we seek out a place in the sun.

"A Place in the Sun" is on consignment at the Lyman-Eyer gallery. While available for purchase, it will remain with the gallery through my upcoming show, The Breathtaking Blue, this July. In addition to the original, limited edition Gallery and Studio prints as well as open edition Portfolio prints are available for purchase. The Day of Issue Sale is on through Midnight ET tomorrow.

Facebook's about face

After a considerable amount of public and user outcry, today Facebook, issued a statement on their homepage which said, "we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised."

Facebook wants to own you forever!

Facebook's terms of service (TOS) changed on February 4, 2009. They used to say that when you closed an account on their site, any rights they claimed to the original content you uploaded would expire. Not anymore.

Anything you've ever posted, uploaded, or linked to on your facebook page can be used at anytime in the future even if you delete it and cancel your account.

You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof.

And the real 'stick-it-to-ya', the TOS was altered without warning, or notification. They simply extended their rights to your content until eternity, and did not ask your permission.

Facebook czar, Mark Zuckerberg, tried to quell the outrage with a blog post, that included the line, "In reality, we wouldn't share your information in a way you wouldn't want."

I'm sorry but does anything in the above clause sound like you have the right to stop or the ability to prevent facebook from using your info, images etc. any way they want to, ever?

on the drawing board: sunkissed

One of the things I love about the color blue, especially vivid blue turquoise shades, is how it complements golden and brown skins tones so well.

on the drawing board: a touch of summer

As I continue to create works for my upcoming show, which is in July and is centered on the theme 'the breathtaking blue', I am drawn to thoughts of summer. This piece is a prime example of that.

Ladytron - "Tomorrow"

Proponents of Prop 8 made public

Despite efforts by Supporters of Proposition 8 to seek a preliminary injunction to hide the identities of those who contributed to their campaign. A California judge ruled that campaign disclosure laws are needed to protect public interests.

If you want to know who and how much money was donated to pass Prop 8 you can check it out here:

http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/prop8/?appSession=94968097114367

Anna, Anna, Fabulous Anna...the opera?

The London Royal Opera House is planning a new opera based on the life on Anna Nicole Smith.

"It is not going to be tawdry, it is going to be witty, clever, thoughtful and sad," Elaine Padmore, Covent Garden's director of opera, told the Guardian newspaper.

"It will tell the story of her life, the people who influenced her, her progress," Padmore said. "Clearly the story is about a woman who met an ancient gentleman in a wheelchair, but it's not going to be a straight narrative; choices have been made about significant moments, selecting which incidents in her life are to be built up."

British classical music composer Mark-Anthony Turnage will work with librettist Richard Thomas. Richard Jones will direct the opera, which is set to open in 2011.

Stop the anti-LGBT propaganda television special!

The ultra-conservative hate spouting American Family Association (AFA) plans to air a "one-hour national special" titled Speachless: Silencing the Christians with showings this week, decrying the "radical homosexual agenda." The AFA program is hosted by controversial talk show host Janet Parshall, who in 2006, suggested Matthew Shepard's lifestyle was responsible for his murder and called gay adoption “state-sanctioned child abuse.” (CNN’s Larry King Live, Jan. 17, 2006). In the new AFA program, the AFA and its allies purposely promote lies and distortions. The program is actually laughable as it tries to paint radical Christians and anti-gay families as persecuted victims, the ones whose rights are being violated by the efforts of GLBT groups who are just trying to gain the basic rights and social acceptance that everyone else enjoys.

They are outraged over laws that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, calling them "special rights" for gays. Even though they are already protected by a set of "special rights" prohibiting discrimination based on religion.

The program uses lies and myths to stir fear and promote hatred against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Viewers who see this propaganda on their local network TV station will believe it – unless we counter these lies with truth.

Tell WOOD-TV, the local Michigan station planning to air this propaganda, to reconsider its decision and instead turn its Sunday public affairs show over to a fair and honest discussion of LGBT issues.

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/stopthespecial

Part of Academia

I recently received and granted a request by Prof. Steven Kruger at CUNY to use one of my works, "The Baths", in an essay he wrote. The paper is on gay male medieval fantasies and will be under submission as a chapter in an edited collection.

Then I was contacted by Professor Scott Herring of Indiana University who is writing a response to Kruger in the edited edition. His is meant to flesh out Kruger's strong claims for gay male eroticism and relationships in the early twentieth century and he wanted to use "Dashing Through the Snow" to exemplify that. Mr. Herring also asked me a few questions regarding inspiration and motivation. The essay will be published in a scholar journal or a scholarly edition.

Art of the Month: Lathered Up

"Lathered Up"

Start with the warm spray of water, the fresh fragrance of an exotic soap, the silky bubbles and rivulets that cascade down your body, and then add the gentle touch of a lover's hands caressing your skin and massaging your body as he lathers you up. The often menial act of bathing becomes intimate and sensual. Arousal is inescapable.

Each month I feature one of my pieces as the Art of the Month. For February it's "Lathered Up". All prints of this work are 20% off if ordered from my website.

I could easily become addicted to Brazillian soap operas.

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Don't Force Divorce

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Ken Starr, who led the campaign to impeach President Bill Clinton, filed a legal brief last month -- on behalf of the "Yes on 8" campaign -- that would forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year before the passage of Prop 8.

Watch "Fidelity" and sign our letter to the state Supreme Court. Tell the Supreme Court to invalidate Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let loving, committed couples marry. DEADLINE: Valentine's Day.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/divorce

"Fidelity" used with permission from Regina Spektor and EMI Records.

MS Challenge Walk 2009

Edward and I have signed up, paid our fees and are participating again this year in the MS Challenge Walk to raise money and awareness in the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. It's a 3 day 50 mile walk this September and if you'd like to support us and donate to the cause you can do so by following this link:

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/breyette