JANUARY 8, 1999 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

7

IN BOX

Photo exhibit puts cross-dressing women on bridal satin

Cleveland-Hey, all of you genderbending gallery goers out there! Put on your woolly mittens and trudge out for an evening of visual and intellectual stimulation at the January 16 opening of "Trans-." This photography exhibition by Columbus artist

Columbus drag king troupe H.I.S. Kings. The group puts on a fun marathon of a show," which is a real bang for the buck. They do a variety of original acts, lip-synching and dancing to everything from Elvis to rap and even including a few leather numbers.

Photographer Helen Harris in a self-portrait as "Billy the Lonesome."

Helen Harris includes sixteen portraits of cross-dressing women.

Appropriate to the "alternative" subject matter of the show is the alternative photographic process used by Harris. The process is called xerography, because it involves making a photocopy of the original enlarged print. The copy is then turned, face down, onto a piece of fabric and rubbed with chemicals, transferring the image onto the fabric. The resulting image has a washedout quality to it, much like a dated photograph that might be seen in à box of old cards at an antique store. This quality is quite well suited to the show's subject matter, as it enhances the illusion that these women are

men.

Not having made traditional choices in either subject or method, Harris went with non-traditional materials as well, her fabric of choice for the pieces being briḍal satin. Her intent was to place these traditionally masculine images on a traditionally feminine surface. Not knowing that the subjects are in drag, an insightful viewer might see the material as a clue to the gender bending that is going on in this show.

Why cross-dressing women, you might be wondering? Harris gathered this subject matter from personal experience as a crossdressing performer. She is a member of the

Harris herself can be seen in this exhibit in costume as Billy the Lonesome. Those who have seen the act might expect the image to come alive and perform "Rawhide" at any moment. The photography exhibition is an introduction to the Kings' performance on January 22.

This is the second exhibit of "Trans-"; it was quite well received at the July Gallery Hop in Columbus. There was an opening celebration with guest appearances from a few of the Kings themselves. H.I.S Kings have a saying that some of the best looking guys just happen to be girls. Perhaps you should come out and judge for yourself.

The opening is from 7-9 pm on January 16. The show will run for several weeks in the upstairs gallery at Code Blue, 1946 St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland.

Heard center opens to homeless with HIV

Beginning on January 11, Cleveland's Jeffrey D. Heard HIV/AIDS Counseling and Outreach Center will begin providing emergency and temporary shelter to persons living with HIV and AIDS who are homeless. Free hot meals will also be provided to people receiving emergency shelter.

In addition to offering emergency shelter, representatives of the Jeffrey Heard Center took to the streets beginning on January 5 to distribute educational literature about AIDS, and personal hygienic items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap. Anyone wishing to volunteer or who desires more information can contact the Jeffrey Heard Center at 216-696-7002.

Warm in winter

So, do the sub-freezing temperatures and ice storms of the past week have you thinking about a mid-winter jaunt to a warmer climate? Does spending some time in Southern California's gay mecca of Palm Springs sounds preferable to digging your car out of the snow?

Don't even begin making your plans without first getting a copy of the 1999 Gay Guide to Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and the Coachella Valley, absolutely free, from the Desert Gay Tourism Guild. The Guild is a non-profit organi-

zation of 55 gay business owners committed to the promotion of gay tourism in the region.

A year-round desert playground for Hollywood stars and movie moguls, Palm Springs is now the American West's premier resort destination for gay men and lesbians. The region, host to the annual White Party, proudly offers 32 exclusively gay inns and guesthouses (most clothing optional), 11 gay bars, and 7 gay restaurants.

The colorful 48-page guide contains maps, and information about accommo-

dations, night life, restaurants, recreation activities, not to mention plenty of hot

men.

To obtain a free copy of the guide, call toll free 888-200-4469 or send name and address by e-mail to DGTG760@aol.com. Also, don't forget to check out the many gay and lesbian-operated travel agents listed in the Chronicle's Resource Directory to help plan your trip. ✓

Compiled from press materials by Doreen Cudnik. “Trans-” photo exhibit story by Alycia Ryan and Melinda Tracy.

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