By Juliette Tang
Just in time for your big gay Pride weekend, the talented artists at the HomoChic collective have launched their and improved site, now complete with an online store where you can get your very own designer poppers top. Created by SF's Leo Herrera and NYC artisan Blue Bayer, these simultaneously classy and slutty swine-themed poppers tops are available in 14K gold plate or sterling silver, and come with a little chain so that you can conveniently wear your poppers around your neck (the coke necklace from Cruel Intentions is so ten years ago). Says Leo Herrera, co-founder of HomoChic, ""This piece of gay history is the best thing to happen to messy sex and sweaty dance floors since the pump lube bottle & the hanky code." Herrera sat down with the SFBG to talk about the history of HomoChic, the innocent fun of poppers, and what it's like to be a "chubby chasing feeder twink".
SFBG: Can you describe, in your words, what HomoChic is? (And it's absolutely gorgeous gorgeous, by the way). From my perspective, HomoChic is a little bit of everything, from photography to video to design to music to writing to fashion. From a creator's viewpoint, what are you going for with the site?
LH: HomoChic.com is an artist collective, production house, and as of June 09, an online store for prints and gay artifacts. We produce events, films, costumes and images with a focus on gay anthropology and history. We are also planning on representing artists and performers through online promotion and commerce.
SFBG: How did HomoChic take off?
LH: HomoChic has taken off because of our focus on gay history and repackaging it in a way that isn't too focused on looking toward the past (i.e. AIDS activism, "traditional" Pride) to shape ways of taking the Gay Movement to the future. At the same time, we are finding the resources and opportunities to create more of our own projects, so it's something gay men of all ages can identify with. HomoChic started with myself, Jacob Sperber (co-founder of HoneySoundSystem) and my gay brother Allan producing art pieces that revolved around events and vice versa. Whether it is an after-party for an art show, or a film piece produced specifically to be a trailer for a nightlife event. The notion of Chic has always been associated with being a homo. As a lot of us, especially the younger generation, assimilate, we become too focused on being part of mainstream culture and forget that for a long time, the industries have looked to us to show them what's cool and sellable, not the other way around. Think Madonna's Vogue, or disco for example.
SFBG: How were you inspired to make your lovely pig-topped poppers bottles?
LH: I'm a big poppers queen on the dance floor and in the bedroom. I think as far as vices that gay men have to reduce their inhibitions, these are the most harmless and lots of fun. Necessity was the mother of this invention. For anyone who can't open a bottle of poppers with really lubed up hands, or who lose their bottle under a pillow, these come with these little ears that make it easy to open up a bottle and with a long chain that you can just grab when you're, ahem, busy. The Popper Bottle Tops, available at http://www.thepoppertop.com, were produced by myself in collaboration with NYC artisan Blue Bayer (http://www.bluebayer.com).
SFBG: What other sexy items does HomoChic offer?
LH: Right now, we're also selling really affordable art prints of some of my most popular gay-themed work. 11X17" Signed. Archival Prints for $50. I've sold online for years to people all over the world of all ages because I price my work really inexpensively. I think it's important for people of all budgets and ages to be able to afford a good piece of gay art that they can let the cleaning lady or their parents see. We're looking to represent other young gay artists so that they may actually make a little cash with their work, and not just let it gather dust in their hard drives. We'll be placing a call for entries very soon!
SFBG: HomoChic is unapologetically sex-obsessed, and amen to that. Leo Herrera, what is sexy to you?
LH: I wanted to have a stock, professional answer for this, like "Confidence is sexy"... but... I've come out as a chubby chasing feeder twink this year. As a skinny guy, I love watching men, supple, gorgeous eat. If I can run a credit card through the fat fold on your side, I'm in heaven!
Comments (1)
Lovely. I adore the piggie's salacious little grin.
Posted by Jane Cassell | June 30, 2009 07:48 AM