by: Leisa Greene ~
Screenwriter, actor, and idea man, Christoper Logan, collaborated with internationally renowned photographers and top Drag Queen Performers, to create a coffee table book. It shows the art of “dr.a.g” and the glamorous wonder of the 21st century.
Logan relayed a story to me about the opening of “dr.a.g” in West Hollywood:
During the book launch the bouncer brought to Logan’s attention two teens, casually dressed in t-shirts and jeans. One blonde with longer hair and glasses, the other, a short-haired brunette. They were underage lesbians who wanted the book, but couldn’t get into the bar. It was late evening, close to midnight because Lady Bunny hadn’t performed yet, for she was headlining the launch with Tammie Brown. There was quite a steady stream of people coming in the club, and through the crowd, on the curb, you could always see the girls. Logan brought a copy out to them and they sat on the curb and poured through it for hours. Throughout the launch event, whenever he looked over, they were still there, cuddled up peering through the book.
Logan said, “They held it like a kid at Christmas and poured through it as if it was a sacred tomb. It was really beautiful.”
The first page of the book talks about how far we’ve come:
“Drag has become a diverse form of expression that challenges, entertains,and educates by pushing boundaries, while embracing beauty, comedy and glamour. The performers in this book are evidence of that diversity, captured by some of the top photographers working in the world today.”
The amazing part of this collaboration is that every photographer and performer donated their time and talents in creating “dr.a.g” in order to help a ‘small’ independent film as a fundraiser. Logan knows what he is doing, for this 162 page project was anything but small.
Logan states, “Austin Young (a filmmaker, and L.A. Photographer of stars like Simon Cowell, Oliver Stone, and Sandra Bernhard), was incredibly generous, contributing photos for numerous performers’ spreads. Peter Paladino (L.A Photographer for clients like Artemis Records and Stevie Wonder), went so far as to contact Lady Bunny and Lypsinka for permission to include them in the book.”
Embedded in this book is photography from artists like Canadian born and New York based, Mike Ruiz, whose star-studded portfolio from Betty White to Zooey Deschanel is so long, you couldn’t tattoo all the names on one arm.
It is not surprising that Ruiz would graciously donate some of his photography for the “dr.a.g” project. In 2011 he was recognized by the Ali Forney Center during the “A Place at the Table” gala for his commitment to his work with LGBTQIA homeless youth.
More of the same caliber of great artists contributed as well; Internationally based in London and L.A. photographer Magnus Hastings, and San Francisco’s own Jose A Guzman-Colon that worked as an Art Director and Stylist on the “Glam Gender” table book with Marianne Larochelle. The artists are working with the Crème de la Crème of drag performers; Jim Bailey, Jeffree Star, Sherry Vine, Dixie Longate, Frank Marino, and previously mentioned Lady Bunny to name a few.
Logan states, “I was inspired mostly by the generosity of all these great artists. All the performers and photographers donated their work to me so that this book could happen.”
You can purchase “dr.a.g” online at bookthefilm.com or at any quality retail bookstore. If you are interested in the film project you can follow Christopher Logan on Facebook.
Article by Leisa Greene ~ Indie It Gal
@2013LeisaGreene-Indie It Press – Photographs are property of dr.a.g by bookthefilm and the photographers. Use of the photographs without consent is strictly prohibited.
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It’s really a crazy makeevor/transformation, especially looking back on the original images.I’m looking forward to us hosting a little dinner party, just to you know, make sure the table still functions correctly. Gotta test these things out.