Missed Connection, M4M, 29, Hairy Bearded Swimmer

Harry Bearded Swimmer
Saturday, September 5, 2009
- m4m - 29 (astoria)
we were both swimming around 5-6 in astoria pool. we ended up walking the same direction in the park for a while but didn't talk. i wish i had said hi...so i figured i would on here.
worth a shot.

Sophie Blackall, a Brooklyn-based artist, illustrates Craigslist 'Missed Connections' ads.

California Sculptor and Mosaicist Emile Norman Dies at 91

Emile Norman (pictured, below, front), a sculptor, jewelry artist, and mosaicist whose most well-known work is the massive mosaic and relief sculpture adorning the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco, died in Monterey last Thursday. He was 91.

The San Francisco Chronicle points out that Norman was a pioneer in both his art, and his life:

"But Mr. Norman's independent spirit was always a driving force. In 1961, he summoned up the courage to leave the New York art scene for good, having had several gallery shows there, and he opened a gallery of his own in Carmel. With his life and business partner, Brooks Clement (right, rear), Mr. Norman settled into a house in Big Sur that they built themselves. The home became a never-ending design project. At a time when being out was almost unheard of, Mr. Norman and Clement lived openly as gay men. The fact that they were a couple was also a rarity for the times."

Clement died in 1973.

The Only Portrait Michael Jackson Ever Sat for, is For Sale

A portrait of Michael Jackson, the only one he ever sat for, has been put up for sale, as its owners see opportunity in the singer's death.

"The 50-by-40-inch painting, called 'The Book,' was done in 1990 by an Australian artist, Brett-Livingstone Strong, who was a close friend of Mr. Jackson and shared his taste for slightly fantastical style of life and dress. The portrait depicts Mr. Jackson dressed in red velvet holding a journal of thoughts and sketches. 'We called it, ‘The Book,’' Mr. Strong said. ‘What are you going to put in ‘The Book’ today, Michael?’' The backdrop is Neverland, with an image of Tinkerbell. The painting has touches of Vermeer, as that was one of Mr. Jackson’s favorite painters, Mr. Strong said. The painting is owned by two toy inventors, Marty Abrams and John Gentilly, who received the painting in 1992 from a Japanese businessman who had bought it to make good on a debt he owed the inventors."

It's currently on display at the Dancy-Power Automotive at Lenox Avenue and West 129th in Harlem, near the Apollo Theater.

In related news, yesterday it was reported that Katherine Jackson, Jackson's mother, would be awarded custody of Prince, Paris, and Blanket, Jackson's children. Together, they were left 80% of Jackson's estate. A report on the court hearing, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Carol Channing, Episcopalians, Biological Blob, Savannah

Bishop Gene Robinson speaks about the Episcopal church's recent moves toward accepting gays and lesbians.

The Vatican embraces Oscar Wilde.

Janet Jackson is a single woman again.

Pepsi outraged over release of Michael Jackson hair fire video.

Florida Gay couple and lesbian couple battle for custody of child: "After considering arguments from both sides, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Leon Firtel on June 3 found Ray was nothing more than a sperm donor. Because there was no contract before birth, he had 'no rights.'"

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) appointed to Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.

ESPN columnist LZ Granderson: Gay is not the new black. Pam Spaulding responds: "This nonsense about 'Is Black The New Gay,' just reached another plateau of bullcrap."

Bush's Justice Dept. blacklisted LGBT groups: "The Blade recently learned that among the blacklisted groups was Immigration Equality, which focuses on LGBT-related immigration issues. Also blacklisted was the immigration project for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis."

Johnny Depp's dream role is to play Carol Channing.

Biological "blob" drifts for miles in arctic waters off Alaska: "It's certainly biological. It's definitely not an oil product of any kind. It has no characteristics of an oil, or a hazardous substance, for that matter. It's definitely, by the smell and the makeup of it, it's some sort of naturally occurring organic or otherwise marine organism."

Groups assembling war chests for election marriage battle in Maine.

Former GOP Rep. Pickering's wife sues his mistress for adultery that ruined their marriage and his career.

Polish European Parliament leader under fire for homophobic remark made in 2000: "The latest row has been sparked by a short video clip available online dated July 2000, in which Mr Kaminski - a member of Poland's Law and Justice Party - uses the word 'pedal' to refer to gay rights campaigners, in a TV interview. This is a derogatory Polish word for homosexual, usually translated into English as 'fag' or 'queer'."

Orlando Bloom robbed of $500K in home burglary.

Madonna offers tearful memorial to two workers killed by her tour stage collapse in France.

France bans videogame in which players shoot a gun at naked gays.

Savannah Morning News: Crack down on gay cruising in public.

Anderson Cooper visits David Letterman. Video.

Metropolitan Museum of Art "de-gays" blockbuster Model as Muse exhibit: "Room after room is shoulder to shoulder with over seven decades of queer genius, showcasing the extraordinary visions of gay men whose simultaneous status as sidelined outsiders and ultimate insiders, dressing the planet's most visible women while their sexuality was illegal, spurred them to perpetually reinvent not only what we wear but how we live in the world. That's where art comes from and that's what the museum ignores."

Vertical Living

Two artist brothers, Gabriel and Tiago Primo, have taken up residence on a wall in Rio where they spend 14 hours a day eating, sleeping, reading, and climbing from "room" to "room". They've been there since the end of May and plan to stay there until August 20.

Not as hot as this or as strange as this, but I guess something to do for a bit of attention.

Watch a report on the brothers, AFTER THE JUMP...

Man Protests Own Art Exhibit for Exclusion of Gay-Themed Work

John Paul Blanchette, a Massachusetts artist protested his own art exhibit after a Barnes & Noble in Framingham decided to exclude one of his paintings because it is gay-themed.

Said Blanchette: "It's so ridiculous that when I met with (the manager) it took a minute before I was like, 'Oh, she's actually serious. There are romance book covers in there that are more offensive."