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