Saturday, May 14, 2011

Queer Artist Centerfold: John Cantwell

Name: John Cantwell

Contact info: www.facebook.com/connieslocum, www.thenellieolesons.com

Birthplace:
Vicksburg, MS (raised in Tallulah, LA)

Zodiac sign: Sagitarrius

Your medium/genre:
Huh? Oh, quadruple threat.

Describe what you do:
Whatever pleases me to the discomfort of others.

Turn on’s:
Italian men, Ennio Morricone scores, Brian DePalma movies, voyeurism, chocolate, kissing for the first time, glamour

Turn off’s: creepy fungus-y or jacked up toenails, dirty finger nails (unless you're a mechanic, painter, sculptor OR gardener - in that case it's hot!), circuit music

Describe your perfect date:
food, movies, drinks, making out - not necessarily in that order

Pet peeves: Most L.A. drivers, air travel

Fave sex idol: Debbie Harry

1ST crush: Lyle Waggoner

Fave music: Blondie, Garbage, Bowie, Roxy Music, Sugababes

Top movies that inspire you:
Jackie Brown, Blue Velvet, Suspiria, Grease, The Poseidon Adventure

Fave quote:
"Hello, Jack, can ya hear me? Ya know, like I was saying before ya know about going to New York and stuff and we could see some shows like, ah, ya know, like Sugarbabies and stuff and I know this great hotel in the Times Square area..." - Nancy Allen as Sally Bedina in Blow Out

"You think I'd let Lula go out with a piece of S-H-I-Tut like you?? Boy, you belong in one of these toilets." - Diane Ladd as Marietta Fortune in Wild At Heart

Reading List:
The Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright by Jean Nathan, Will There Really Be A Morning? by Frances Farmer, The Good, The Bad & The Very Ugly by Sondra Locke, Liar’s Club by Mary Karr

One of your obsessions: ‘70’s cinema

Influences/mentors/heroes: Debbie Harry, David Lynch

Fave queer Artist(s): Lance Loud, Warhol

Most Pivotal Performance/event/etc: Seeing Blondie live in 1982

Fave performance experience:
Nellie Olesons in the ‘90’s in NYC and currently “Love, Connie” in L.A.

Most frightening performance experience:
Having a chair break and falling of a platform during a performance of “Making Porn” while I was simulating masturbation on stage. And anything dealing with mime or improv.

Places performed:
All over the U.S. and Canada but mostly in the basement of a Mexican restaurant in L.A.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Music Education/Voice

Awards/Grants/Honors: Best Ass from most anybody you ask.

What do you (does your art) stand for:
I don’t really have any idea. The solo work I've done and created still isn't that far removed from the sissy boy I was who created outfits and made up shows and listened to records with the bedroom door locked. It's the same now except I charge admission.

Fave prop or costume:
Connie’s red, white & blue fringed Kathy Ireland bikini from K-Mart.

Thoughts on the LA queer art scene: Shorter is better.

What is your Vision for the Queer Future:
That we’ll be as boring to straight people as they are to us.

What do you see as the future for queer art:
It’s really bright and I gotta wear shades.

What are your upcoming plans/shows/events/include dates and info:
"Smutopia" at Highways May 20 & 21
“Give Me Gorgeous” at 3F at Akbar June 17
"INVINCIBLE: The Legend Of Billie Jean LIVE" June 3 - 18 at The Cavern Club
and
“Love, Connie” at Highways, July 8 & 9

photo by: ANTHONY MONGIELLO

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