40
2QÛ2
D IV E R S IO N 'S
Multi-everything
Magdalen Hsu-Li
Pepe’s Masquerade
the fight against hunger (Nov. 11, Pacific Crest
Community School, 116 N.E. 29th Ave.); Lan
guage of the Body: “explorations,” featuring the
comeback of the unbelievable Human Sculp
ture and nationally acclaimed queer perform
ance artist Jeffery Byrd (Nov. 23, Center
Space, 420 S.E. Sixth Ave.); and Language of
Fetishized Others, a presentation of the video
work of Guillermo Gomez-Pena (Nov. 24,
Center Space).
For a complete list of events, visit
www.2gyrlz.org. Performances and workshops
will vary in price from free to $12.
ake a ltxdc at the accompanying
nless you live in a cave, you
photo of Pepe Raphael of Pepe &
know the big Creating Change
the Bottle Blondes.
conference is Nov. 6 to 10 at
Just Out gets a press release
the
DoubleTree Jantzen Beach. The
about Pepe’s fourth annual Exotic
annual event is a chance for queer
Masquerade Ball on Nov. 8 at the
movers and shakers from around
Crystal Ballroom. We read, we assess,
the country to dialogue and present
we kxik at the Weh site.
workshops and discussions around
We then make the requisite inquiry
myriad issues affecting the gay, les
via e-mail: “ L'Xies Pepe and/or either
bian,
hi and trans community.
Bottle Blonde identify' as a member of
And that’s all fine and gcxxl and
the queer community?” Usually, we get
necessary, sure, sure. But the big
one of two e-mails hack: a defensive
news is that some really cool famous
“no" or a resounding “yes.”
people will entertain the masses
But Pepe, being the kind of guy he is,
Nov. 8 as part of the Columbia
calls us right up on the phone. This turns
he Rose City G ay Freedom Band has
River Cabaret. One of those is the
out to he an excellent strategy because
spent
three long years in its search for the
nearing-pop-stardom
Magdalen
the Spanish cutie is so charming we
perfect musical director, and now they have
Hsu-Li.
wouldn’t care if he wanted to marry his
one
in the fonn of Rice Majors, who will dehut
Yeah, she’s a gorgeous lesbian, and
sofa, we are covering this event.
that alone is enough of a reason to during the fall concert Voices of Am erica:
Suffice it to say, Pepe is, well, eva
A Salute to Am erican Composers, 8 p.m.
show up. But her multidimensional
sive. But playfully so. “ 1 love to make
Nov. 9 at Rose City Park United Methixlist
artistic perfonnance is a gtxxl reason,
them wonder," he admits. “Tell them
Church,
5830 N.E. Alameda St.
tcx>.
Her
shows
are
a
mixture
of
piano,
I’m a hi...cycle,” he quips. “Yes, I’m a
The hand has been without a musical
guitar, vtxrals, impromptu standup,
bicycle!"
director
since Boh Mensel left in 1999 to focus
theater,
ptK'try
and
percussion
Pepe is understandably concerned
on his position as musical director of the Port
improvisations. Also a painter, Hsu-
that if he attaches a queer identity to him
land Gay M en’s Chorus. Majors moved hack
Li
twists
her
varied
art
expressions
self, all the straight costume- and glam-
to his native Oregon from the East C oast last
together, simultaneously twisting the
loving weirdies will wonder whether they
audience around her lit
should come to the party. But ultimately
tle finger.
he’s honest: “I’m from Europe— you
As a first-generation
know, we swing all ways there."
Chinese American, fem
That Sit id, queer and straight alike
will want to walk through the dtxirs of Pepe of Pepe & the Bottle Blondes has killer new boots for the
inist, lesbian musician,
this popular funky event. It’s masquer- Exotic Masquerade Ball on Nov. 8 at the Crystal Ballroom
she has plenty to say
about sexuality, racism
ade at its finest, “no kitty cats or little
and women. Her two albums, 1999’s
that way and hopes his and the hall’s fans do
devils," warns Pepe; if you’re going to come to
Evolution and 2001’s Fire, walk the
what they feel. But, he warns, “You cannot have
this thing, do it right. You can be a devil so long
line between social commentary
sex on the stage. As long as you’re going to do it
as you are a fabulous devil.
and mainstream pop.
Pepe himself is, at press time, unsure what he somewhere else....”
The Exotic Masquerade Ball is from 9 p.m. to
“I try to incorporate as much
will wear this year. “Last year 1 looked like
1:30 a.m. and is 21 and over. Other entertain universality into my songs as 1
Tammy Faye Baker. I kxiked like a float. W hat
ment includes Rick Bain, Sumerland, Sabor can,” she told the Asian American
ever made me think a tight, yellow Spandex
Latino Dance Co., 6 9 a Go-Go and D J G re A ction Figuie Internet site.
dress would make me look gixxJT’
garious. Tickets are $20 in advance from the
“ Being universal exposes your
He hopes to improve on this. “I just got some
box office or Ticketmaster. You’ll pay $30 the
music to a broader audience of
killer boots, so we’ll see.” (Once again, see
day of the show.
people who may not he aware of
accompanying photo.)
minority subgroups.”
Some compare this event to the now-defunct
Dada Ball in terms of style and
Also part of the lineup are
actor/singer Wilson Cruz (My So
dress. “Taking their cue from
Called Life, All Over Me), singer/
the name, our fans designed
songwriter Doria Roberts and Multi-artistic pop singer/songwriter Magdalen Hsu-Li will
and established the nature of
actor/comedian Alec Mapa (from delight audiences at the Columbia River Cabaret
iterary Arts’ announcement of the
the event,” says Pepe. “Just cel
the short-lived Some of My Best
nominees for the prestigious Oregon
ebrate yourself, whatever it is.”
Book Awards includes Portland hi
year, and he and his tuba joined up with the
Since its inception in
Friends). Local talent includes poet Diana
hand immediately. He has a bachelor’s in
writer Sara Ryan for Em press of the
Cohen and mistress of ceremonies M isha
1998, Exotic Masquerade has
Rockafeller.
music from Cornell University and has con
World.
gotten bigger, more extrava
ducted a wide variety of choruses, hands and
Nominated in the Leslie Bradshaw
The Columbia River Cabaret starts at
gant, more wild. Pepe likes it
Award for Young Readers category, the
10 p.m. Tickets are $15 from Broadway Books,
orchestras.
“Being involved in an organization like Rose
In Other Words or www.creatingchange.org.
novel tells the story of two adolescent
City offers us a unique chance to reach out to
girls who fall for each other at summer
our community,” says Majors. “We are able to
camp. The hook was also nominated this
provide opportunities for musical as well as per
year for a Lambda Literary Award in the
sonal growth, both for the people who play in
ortland’s queer-run 2 Gyrlz Performative
Children/Young Adult category. (Tennessee
the hand as well as for the members of the audi
writer Julia Watts’ Finding H.F. won that honor.)
Arts is pleased to present the first-ever
ence. The positive effect we can have on the
Enteractive Language Festival from Nov. 1
“ I’m thrilled,” says Ryan, who has no idea
community is immense.”
whether she will win hut hopes that, if she does,
to 29 at different venues around the city.
The fall concert’s feature program will he
“Art as Language” is the theme running
it would mean...more schools and libraries
George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” which
would have a book on their shelves about two
through each of the diverse offerings. “Each
will highlight the talents of clarinetist Chris
girls who fall in love.”
event explores a different ‘language’ through a
Cox. The evening will also include works by gay
variety of visual, musical and performative
Another nominee in the same category,
composers Aaron Copland and Stephen Sond
Monte Killingsworth’s Equinox, contains a les arts,” explains co-director Llewyn Maire.
heim, lesbian composer Jennifer Higdon and
bian theme: The main character discovers her "W e’ll experience street performance, spoken
U.S. composers Bernard Hermann, Karl King,
word, storytelling, dance, visual arts, screen
mother is involved with a woman.
John Philip Sousa, Samuel Augustus Ward,
and music.”
The Oregon Book Awards will be held
Douglas Wagner, James Swearingen and Frank
Some highlights include Language of the
7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Scottish Rite Center,
Ticheli.
Word: “Obsession,” a night of text exploration
1512 S.W. Morrison St. A reception and hook
signing follow the ceremony, which is hosted by
Tickets to Voices of America are $5-$8. They
featuring queer performance artist Lisa N ew
Sherman Alexie, Native American author and
can he purchased at the dtx>r or in advance from
man & the gyrl grip (Nov. 7, Disjecta Gallery,
Gai-Pied. |P1
director of the gay-themed movie The Business
116 N.E. Russell St.); “Peace Words II,” a
“marathon benefit” of dozens of writers, musi
of Fancydancing. Tickets are $20 from
Sara Ryan is thrilled to gam er yet another
cians
and other performers to raise money for Compiled by LlSA BRADSHAW and SARAH LEIMERT
503-227-2583.
literary nomination for Em press of the World
New director and
a fall concert to boot
Baby dyke book
nominated
Art = Language