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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2011)
OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE To become a living legend generally con notes a life spent on the edge. The label speaks of pioneering new thought, approaching or surpassing previously insurmountable achieve ments and making some noise, figuratively —or literally—speaking while doing so. But above all, it means you’ve had to survive. To be a living legend is a coveted and rare sort of treat. At only 50 years old, it’s safe to say Joey Arias fits that hill. Arias established himself as an enormous part of the new wave, East Village art scene in the late 1970s and early ‘80s— running in the same circles as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. W ith a journey that took him from fashionista department store salesman to the stages of Club 57 to Saturday Night Live backing David Bowie with close friend Klaus Nomi, Arias has blazed a singular path for the advancement of sonic, cabaret- style performance art. For a sample, the 2009 documentary Arias with a Twist: The Docufan- tasy follows Arias and world-renowned pup peteer Basil Twist’s wildly successful show run of the same name. The documentary kicks off the 2011 QDoc Film Festival Thursday, June 2 at the Clinton Street Theater. Arias will be on hand to introduce the film and to answer questions before heading off to perform at M other’s Bistro for a couple of numbers with Pink M artini’s Thomas Lauder dale—just another day for a pop-art pioneer. Luckily, we were able to snag a quick phone interview with the legend himself in anticipa tion of his arrival. MAY 20. 2011 There and Back Again Joey Arias returns to Portland for QDoc “I wasn’t a big fan of drag— period— in the beginning. When I did get into drag, it was a party that Andy Warhol and a bunch of artists were going to and you had to go in drag. ... So I went in drag and people were like, ‘Oh my God, you should always dress in girl’s clothes!’” Just Out: You’re a couple years removed from when “Arias with a Twist” was first per formed. Does promoting the “docufantasy” bring back fond memories? Joey Arias: You know, whenever I see the film, it puts me [back] there. We’re doing the show again in New York in the fall for a month. It’s kind of a present back to New York. It’s called “Arias with a Twist Deluxe.” I don’t like looking back usually— that’s not my thing. It’s all history, and it’s great if you want to be able to look at it that way. I like going to the future. I know there’s a body of ÏL-M -JOEY ARIAS work now on me. I personally don’t go back and look at it. So when I see the film, it mirrors, of course, certain things in my life ... it changes every time I see it. I have copies o f it at home, and I don’t choose to watch it a lot. JO: I’d read that when you first started per forming, and the first couple times you dressed in drag, you weren’t a huge fan o f it... JA: I wasn’t a big fan of drag—period— in the beginning. When I did get into drag, it was You have to be better than him.” I’m like, “I’m not gonna compete with James Brown!" I had by ryan j . prado this devil kind of character look, did this whole show and the crowd went bananas. I remember right before I walked out on stage, I said to myself, “All right, it this flops, I’m gonna walk ; away from all ot it.” I’d have just gone back into n fashion. But it turned out to be something spectacular, and that was it. a party that Andy Warhol and a bunch of art ists were going to and you had to go in drag. I was like, “Oh no! This is not what I want to do!” So I went in drag and people were like, “Oh my God, you should always dress in girl’s clothes!” [My outfit] was kind of based on a Russ Meyer super-vixen kind o f apparel. Then I hooked up with Manfred Thierry Mugler and he was very excited. He said, “You’ve got to be in drag. I t’s too perfect for you. You can’t be wearing men’s clothes.” So I just embraced it. It became part o f my life; it’s part o f my attire. Instead of wearing guy’s clothes, I’m wearing [adopting sultry voice] beautiful womens clothes. Now I have become the goddess. JO: I would imagine, in some respects, with Portland being a smaller city, the scene out here might be comparable to the way it was when you started in New York. JA: Yeah. Portland is definitely insane. I’ve gone to some clubs there that were over the top— things you can’t even do in New York. X- rated—just really nasty. I went to a bar one time there and there were about four guys standing there at the bar. They saw me and all of a sudden they all pulled their pants down. They were like, “This is for you!” I was like, “W hat?” They were like, “We heard you like big cocks, so we’re here to show you Portland has big cocks!” Oh my God! So I wound up sampling some of the culi nary of Portland! [laughing] JO: Well that takes care o f my “where do you like to go or what do you like to see when you come to Portland?” question. I’ll let you go enjoy the rest o f your day. JA: Ha! I’m looking forward to coming there and seeing everybody! I hope you pull your crotch out, too. JO: We’ll see! JA: That’s the new handshake, I think! JO :The Portland handshake... JA: That kind of blew my mind. JO: What would you say was the turning point in your work, where you said, “I’m go Joey Arias appears Ihurs., June 2 at the Clinton ing to live my creativity, live my art”? Street '¡heater (2522 SE Clinton St.) at 7 p.m. JA: Well, when I did Saturday Night Live Sneakin' Out performs prior to screening. After the with David Bowie, and with Klaus— that was film , Arias will be joined by Pink Martini's Thomas one point. There was another point when I Lauderdale at Mother's Bistro (212 SW Stark) at went solo— probably 1988. I was all alone in 9:30 p.m. for a special opening night party featur London or Spain at a big show and the owners ing complimentary hors d oeuvres and beverages. told me, “James Brown was here two weeks ago. Visit queerdocfest.orgfor more information. ► HOLLYWOOD ANTIQUES P O R T L A N D 'S PREM IERE ANTIQUE MALL est. 1983 D ianne Applegate Modem Family Denial Care 23 Years Experience 1969 NE 4 2 Ave. Portland, OR 9 7 2 1 3 503 . 288.1051 * Excellent Customer Service Comprehensive Dental Care Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Low Radiation Digital X-Rays In-Office Whitening Interest-Free Payment Plan 4840 SI 39th Avenue ♦ 503 775-9500 - ♦ www.d rd ia n neapplegate.com
