Berlin Berlin
On my first Halloween in San Francisco since returning from Berlin (2009), I spent the morning witnessing a man interact with his youth. The man was the self-fashioned gay icon of the 70s, Peter Berlin.
Going against most fashion trends of the time, Peter, in the role of model, photographer, fashion designer, stylist, and after-effects man (which back in the day required hand painting and double exposures), and sometimes also publisher, honed a look that was a foil to the mustached clone. Peter's attitude towards sex--he wasn't much interested in anything other than being looked at--also went against the grain of his generation, even while he was portraying a symbol of sexuality.
It's hard to even describe him without making more than one reference (example: "He has the esprit of a Tom Of Finland leatherman, meets a highly-stylized California beach boy, capped with a Dutchboy haircut.")
The man performing Peter's youth was a London-based model and fashion photographer. The youth has Peter's facial features, his body and endowment, and with a little work he also managed to duplicate the clothing style, he straightened his curly locks, and he worked with a photographer (Donatien Veismann) who brought a perfect 70s light to the shots. He even shares a very similar name: Peter Breen.
I'm retelling this story three years later, because one of the people who attended my opening last night was the very soft-spoken Peter Berlin, who now dresses in loose clothes and hopes that people don't recognize him, as he prefers to be remembered as he was in the 70s.
He was thrilled to meet Peter Breen, and encouraged the boy to BE Peter Berlin if he wanted the title.
And, I confess, I was thrilled to have Mr. Berlin there at the opening last night. It was a fun evening, with old and dear friends, as well as new friends and collegues I admire. The work sits well in the trapezoid-shaped room. When Peter said, "You should be proud," I answered, "Yes, I'm going to do that."
[Berlin]
[Breen]
Going against most fashion trends of the time, Peter, in the role of model, photographer, fashion designer, stylist, and after-effects man (which back in the day required hand painting and double exposures), and sometimes also publisher, honed a look that was a foil to the mustached clone. Peter's attitude towards sex--he wasn't much interested in anything other than being looked at--also went against the grain of his generation, even while he was portraying a symbol of sexuality.
It's hard to even describe him without making more than one reference (example: "He has the esprit of a Tom Of Finland leatherman, meets a highly-stylized California beach boy, capped with a Dutchboy haircut.")
The man performing Peter's youth was a London-based model and fashion photographer. The youth has Peter's facial features, his body and endowment, and with a little work he also managed to duplicate the clothing style, he straightened his curly locks, and he worked with a photographer (Donatien Veismann) who brought a perfect 70s light to the shots. He even shares a very similar name: Peter Breen.
I'm retelling this story three years later, because one of the people who attended my opening last night was the very soft-spoken Peter Berlin, who now dresses in loose clothes and hopes that people don't recognize him, as he prefers to be remembered as he was in the 70s.
He was thrilled to meet Peter Breen, and encouraged the boy to BE Peter Berlin if he wanted the title.
And, I confess, I was thrilled to have Mr. Berlin there at the opening last night. It was a fun evening, with old and dear friends, as well as new friends and collegues I admire. The work sits well in the trapezoid-shaped room. When Peter said, "You should be proud," I answered, "Yes, I'm going to do that."
[Berlin]
[Breen]
