I am obsessed with fire.
Or let’s say, fascinated.

Artists Space, in partnership with the queer film series Dirty Looks, presents a new translation overseen by Bruce Benderson of the 1979 experimental documentary Race d’Ep! (previously screened in New York in the early 1980s as The Homosexual Century).

Made by the “father of queer theory” Guy Hocquenghem, in collaboration with radical filmmaker Lionel Soukaz, Race d’Ep! traces the confluence between the development of photography in the 19th Century, and subsequent representations of homosexual desire. The film was originally accompanied by the publication Race d’Ep!: Un Siecle D’Images de l’Homosexualite by Hocquenghem, and moves from the nudes of Baron von Gloeden and early sexology, to gay sexual liberation and cruising on the streets of Paris in the 1970s. Influenced by the writings of Michel Foucault on the history of sexuality, and reflecting the revolutionary queer activism of the Parisian movement Front Homosexuel D’Action Révolutionnaire, Race d’Ep! explicitly charts the visibility and representation of gay culture.

The screening will be introduced by a conversation between filmmaker Lionel Soukaz, and author and essayist Bruce Benderson.

More information about this very exciting event is here

$5 Entrance Donation
Members Free
Limited capacity, entrance on a first come, first served basis

Remember, Remember, god is a paramedic ambulance, when the temperature is turning and the sweat is starting? God is a vertical video and a bulletproof cap. Now that we know those things keep going away, and keep coming back, remember, remember The Based God.


ON MONDAY NIGHT
IN ZUERICH, CH
Longstreet Bar

It’s only by invitation, so if you too want to be blinded by the mirror of smoke, the blue fish shark tower, the dilatante scum scraper, the ordained premadonna… CONTACT US ASAP: rm@sangbleu.com

 

Photos I took of some very beautiful folk tattoos on a recent trip to South West India.

All images by Reba Maybury

Six London artists will be interpreting their feelings and ideas into artwork after watching Werner Herzog’s latest documentary Into the Abyss. The documentary explores the death penalty in modern day America in a non biased and humanistic form.

The artwork will be showing from the 30th of March until the 3rd of April at the Protein gallery, Shoreditch, London.

More information here

I rarely use this page to display personal experiences and reflections, but I believe this one is worth sharing. This is a real email exchange which recently took place between me and a Manager at the Chicago Apple store.

From: XXXX XXXXXX
Subject: Hi Sang Bleu. From Apple.
Date: February 27, 2012 8:19:01 PM GMT+01:00
To: info@sangbleu.com

Hi Sang Bleu.


My name is XXXXX. I am the Events Lead for Apple Retail in Chicago.
I am looking to put a Meet the Artist event together in mid-April while the tattoo convention is in town.


Some information about the event layout…
The goal of the event is to educate and inspire our community as well as get the word out about the work you and the artists do.
The event is an hour in length (30 minute moderator discussion, 15 minute audience Q&A).

There would have to be a tie-in to Apple technology in the discussion.

A few questions…
Wondering if you would be interested in participating as the moderator for the event.
Wondering if you have any artist recommendations for the event (we would be looking for 3-4 tattoo artists).


Looking very forward to hearing from you and gauging your interest.
Thanks so much.


XXXX XXXXXXX
Chicago Events Lead
Apple Store, North Michigan Avenue
Apple Store, Lincoln Park
rascione@apple.com
www.apple.com/northmichiganavenue
www.apple.com/lincolnpark

To this first email I answer that I am interested, asking more details about the event etc. Mentioning people I’d like to present, etc. after a couple more emails, I receive this:

From: XXXX XXXXXX
Subject: Re: Hi Sang Bleu. From Apple.
Date: February 28, 2012 6:31:14 PM GMT+01:00
To: maxime büchi / sang bleu


You are definitely welcome to be the moderator.
And if BJ is open and available to this opportunity, we’d love to him.

I need to be clear about one thing though, Apple does not compensate for these events.


In this case, are you still willing to participate?


XXXX XXXXXXX
Chicago Events Lead
Apple Store, North Michigan Avenue
Apple Store, Lincoln Park
rascione@apple.com
www.apple.com/northmichiganavenue
www.apple.com/lincolnpark

I wonder if at least they would arrange travel expenses etc.

From: XXXX XXXXXX
Subject: Re: Hi Sang Bleu. From Apple.
Date: February 28, 2012 10:20:33 PM GMT+01:00
To: maxime büchi / sang bleu


Hi Maxime.
Unfortunately, we cannot cover travel costs either.
If you are ever in Chicago though, we’d love to have you.


XXXX XXXXXXX
Chicago Events Lead
Apple Store, North Michigan Avenue
Apple Store, Lincoln Park
rascione@apple.com
www.apple.com/northmichiganavenue
www.apple.com/lincolnpark

To this I answer:

Dear XXXXX.


I am sorry, i will not be and to be honest i find it cheeky if not dishonest for a company such as Apple tu dare asking for such a promotion for free.


It is one among a series of things that have been putting me off that company lately and i will make sure I advise people to not accept such offers.


I hope you inderstand this is nothing personal but in such economical context, having one of the world’s richest company asking for favours is disgusting.


Kind regards.


Maxime

answer:

From: XXXX XXXXXX
Subject: Re: Hi Sang Bleu. From Apple.
Date: February 29, 2012 4:39:39 PM GMT+01:00
To: maxime büchi / sang bleu


I understand your concerns.
This portion is out of my control.
But I do understand your concerns.


XXXX XXXXXX
Chicago Events Lead
Apple Store, North Michigan Avenue
Apple Store, Lincoln Park
rascione@apple.com
www.apple.com/northmichiganavenue
www.apple.com/lincolnpark

I think it’s all pretty straight forward. I just wanna ask anybody in the tattoo industry, who might get approached by Apple to refuse to do anything for free. Apple is not a charity or non-profit humanitarian organization. It is one of the world’s larges corporation which is about NOTHING but profit. There is no reason to give away our culture, skills, network, inspiration to these people with no compensation.