iamFIVESTAR

Art of Restraint

Fivestar — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:27:22 +0000

I was asked to perform a clothespin piece for a fundraiser at Femina Potens, an art gallery with a mission to support women, queers, trans folks and the kink community. The piece was inspired by the clothespins video dare I shared with Elle and imagery from the blood splatter analysis techniques from the series Dexter.

I also thought that a self suspension would make the clothespins even more fun. I suspended myself in a “puppeteering” style that I learned from Lew Rubens on a frame that my friend Stigma built. (You can see some of his rigging on devicebondage.com)

The night was an amazing night. I really enjoyed performing and watching performances by Lew Rubens, Lochai, James Mogul, Madison Young and more.

The video above includes clips of my performance. Thanks to Leland, Stigma and Jiz and everyone who helped and thanks to Violet Blue, CarnalNation, Suzanne Rachel Forbes and all who covered the event.

Cover: Dominated Love Slave

Fivestar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:14:48 +0000

Thanks for stopping by. I know I havn’t been posting in a while. I over booked my life with some fun and amazing stuff (RPM, SXSW, IMSL, a trip to Death Valley) and made time to shoot but not edit anything.

I’m hoping to kick my blog posting back into gear with this Green Day cover, Dominated Love Slave. I learned it when I was in junior high and now realize its kind of a jab at the BDSM community. In a way, it titillates the audience by bringing up themes of spanking, punishment and pain. Then, though hyperbole and a crazy drunk-country-western aesthetic, makes fun of BDSM.

“Mack me in the forehead with a chain.”

I still think it’s funny so here’s my own take on it.

Lyrics Below:

“Dominated Love Slave”

I want to be your dominated love slave
I want to be the one that takes the pain
You can spank me when I do not behave
Mack me in the forehead with a chain

Cause I love feelin’ dirty
And I love feelin’ cheap
And I love it when you hurt me
So drive them staples deep

I want you to slap me and call me naughty
Put a beltsander against my skin
I want to feel pain all over my body
Can’t wait to be punished for my sins.

Cause I love feelin’ dirty
And I love feelin’ cheap
And I love it when you hurt me
So drive them staples deep

Yee-hah!

Cause I love feelin’ dirty
And I love feelin’ cheap
And I love it when you hurt me
So drrrriiiveeee…..Staples?

Cover: Exerpt from Marry Poppins

Fivestar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:43:31 +0000

I just decided to do this quick video which was originally going to be a Facebook video message but Facebook video SUX (or at least it was down when I tried to use it).

Oh it's a jolly holiday with Mary
Mary makes your heart so light
When the day is gray and ordinary
Mary makes the sun shine bright
Oh happiness is blooming all around her
The daffodils are smiling at the dove
When Mary holds your hand you feel so grand
Your heart starts beating like a big brass band
Oh it's a jolly holiday with Mary
No wonder that it's Mary that we love

For MM.

Clothespins: Joint dare with Elle!

Fivestar — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:28:21 +0000

Elle and I decided to a joint dare: See how many clothespins you can put on your body. Simple enough. I came very close to my original goal and gained insight into how to raise the number of clothespins I can take on my skin.

I can’t wait to see how many she could do and how she documented it.

I want to try it again!

Thanks to Jiz for assistance and photography.

See my flickr Clothespins gallery to view stills used in this video.

“Dance Me to the End of Love” cover

Fivestar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:15:30 +0000

Someone left a comment on YouTube asking if I’d cover “Dance Me to the End of Love” by Leonard Cohen. Since I had never heard it before, I looked up a few versions and came up with this version so far. I decided to change a few words and use Photo Booth for the first time to upload.

My computer fell asleep while recording and the video froze. I didn’t feel like recording it again, but now I’ll either reset my sleep preferences or record with my machine plugged in.

Thanks for joining me on my new experiments with Photo Booth!

Operation: Maid of Honor Ep. 2

Fivestar — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:14:48 +0000

After a limited amount of sleep, no food and a long journey through 3 airports and 2 cramped Southwest cabins, I was taken to a dress fitting for the dress I’m supposed to ware to my sister’s wedding. I was exhausted and annoyed by the whole experience.

Thanks to all my twitter friends who accompanied me through it.

P.S. I know everyone loved the color of the dress, but the actual color will be “berry” which is a cross between pink and purple.

Operation: Maid of Honor

Fivestar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:19:12 +0000

A while back, I reluctantly agreed to be my sister’s maid of honor in August of 2009. I’m already experiencing some of the issues around gender performance and this new role. I’m sure there will be more on this topic soon!

Frank Chu: Statements on the Recent Election

Fivestar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:08:52 +0000

This past weekend, after documenting performances at Tranny Fest, Frank Chu, one of San Francisco’s “best known eccentrics”, approached me and asked me to video tape him.

He did say that he loved the performance but mostly said what he usually says.

I got to sit down and talk with him a few years ago when I saw him at 12 Galaxies, the bar (now closed) named in honor of him. I asked him why he carried his sign everywhere. My understanding of the story is that he is here to warn us about an extraterrestrial forces that are in bed with US politicians who are trying to do something really evil. It’s really not that hard to believe considering the evil legacy of the US Government.

This time themes of the elections came into his statements and I found them quite poetic and wanted to share them with all of you.