MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

ANTHONY TIMIRAOS

With a new career photographing men in stylized states of nature, Anthony Timiraos—one of main founders of South Florida’s Our Fund—is always on the go.  But he still has time to do this every week with his 92-year-old mother. 

Where did you grow up?  In Cuba.  I left in 1962, when I was eight—don’t bother doing the math, I’m 65.  My family was part of the Pedro Pan Exodus.  Me and my 11-year-old brother came to the U.S. first, and my parents and younger brother came two years later.  Me and my brother lived in several locations during those two years, including a catholic orphanage in upstate New York.  What do you miss about Cuba?  I was too young when I left, so I can honestly say that I don’t miss anything.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  Since 2003.  Me and my husband moved here from Connecticut.  Why did you move here?  For the lifestyle and weather, but not necessarily in that order. 

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Almost two years in the making, “expose” is a rich collection of 246 pages of full color nude photos by photographer Anthony Timiraos of nearly 40 different models.  The artists’ collection of nude photographs provides a diverse look at the (mostly) male bodies positioned in classical poses.  The author introduces you to each model with a short narrative providing the reader enough facts to connect the art to the individual on the page.

What do you miss about New England?  Living close to New York allowed us to drive into the city anytime we pleased.  It’s hard to replace what New York has to offer.  What part of South Florida do you live in?  Fort Lauderdale.  What do you like most about living here?  I love the weather and the sense of community in the LGBT community.  Where do you hang out in South Florida, and why?  At home, in the photo studio, on the beach during sunrise, at that gym, and at tai chi lessons.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I don’t have any specific “claim-to-fame,” but I’m hopeful that through my philanthropy, including Out Fund, that I’ve helped to make this community a better place to live.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  Newspaper delivery at 5:00 a.m. during my early teens.

WITH HUSBAND, ARTHUR CRISPINO

How would you like to be remembered?  I’m a member of the Legacy Society at Our Fund, and me and my husband have designated an endowment there from our estate.  I hope the endowment will continue to help our South Florida LGBT community, forever, and I hope that others will do the same.  Will you ever retire?  Probably not, as long as my health allows me to remain active.  I consider that photography is my new job, but, unfortunately, the financial rewards are minimal at best.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  My Instagram page.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why  Barcelona and Madrid, because the quality of life in both cities is impressive. 

WITH ARTHUR CRISPINO (LEFT) AND MICHELLE OBAMA

Who would you like to be for a day, and why?  President Obama, because he taught this country many lessons, but, unfortunately, many were not paying attention.  Do you believe in an afterlife?  It’s hard to believe in anything that I don’t understand.  Do you think that this is the most amoral time that’s ever existed?  Yes.  Who or what is the greatest love of your life?  My husband, Arthur.  How long have you been married?  We’ve been together since May 8, 1970, and we got married in New York in 2013.  What’s your recipe for success in a relationship?  Hard work and honesty.  What talent would you most like to have?  Concert pianist.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  That life’s too short. 

WITH MOTHER, MARIA, AND BROTHERS

What did you learn from your parents?  Hard work and honesty.  What’s your best characteristic?  Patience.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  Doing photography.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  There’s too many to list.  Who do you admire, and why?  The Obamas, because they’ve set a new standard for honesty, service to our country, and compassion.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  Everyone who died from AIDS, because they were all taken away from us too soon.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  I would turn the machine off and walk the other way.  What would your last meal be?  Tapas in Barcelona.  What do you worry about?  A constitutional crisis in the USA.

What are you afraid of?  A constitutional crisis in the USA.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why?  The fiddle, because of its simple and playful sounds.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  A sheep on one end, but a wolf on the other.  You decide which end is which.  Who depends on you, and for what?  My 94-year old mother depends on me and my husband for her Saturday lunch at a local restaurant.  Who are you closest with?  My husband.  What would your autobiography be called?  Move Along.  I’ve lived in 26 different locations during the past 65 years.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  Classical music.  Where can we see you?  On my website!

 

 

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

SHERRY VINE

From crack whorehouses in Hollywood, to men getting fisted next to her on a movie set while she’s putting on her makeup, international drag star Sherry Vine tries to make the most out of each and every day 

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAX KOYOTE

Where did you grow up?  In Columbia, Maryland.  What do you miss about Columbia?  Absolutely nothing!  Where do you live now?  In NYC, in the Hell’s Kitchen area.  What’s something that’s unique about New York that would surprise most people?  People always say, “There’s too much concrete.”  And I say, “Honey, there’s this little thing called Central Park.”  Surprise!  What New York venue do you miss that’s gone?  Many of the ones from the 1990’s: Bar d’O, Jackie 60, Squeezebox and BoyBar.  If you had to live somewhere else, where would you live, and why?  Barcelona.  It’s my favorite city for culture, food, beach, art and men.  I’m always content there. 

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Will you do anything fun while you’re in South Florida?  Yes.  I’ll go to the mall (laughs).  What’s your claim-to-fame?  International drag darling, YouTube sensation, and the creator and star of She’s Living for This.  How did you come up with your name?  There was a building on Vine Street in Hollywood that looked like a crack whorehouse.  Appropriate.  Other than your own TV series, what’s your favorite TV show or film that you’ve been in, and why?  Scream, Teen, Scream.  We had so much fun filming it, and 20 years later, it’s still funny.  Did you watch the sex scenes being filmed in The Raspberry Reich?  No, but someone was getting fisted next to me, at 7:00 a.m., while I was doing my make-up.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFF EASON

What town did you perform in that was most unique, and why?  Bisbee, Arizona.  It’s the strangest mix of people: gays, lesbians, trans, bikers, and copper miners.  But they all get along, and it works.  What’s your dream gig or role?  My own variety show, like She’s Living for This.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  Folding sweaters at Benetton.  How would you like to be remembered?  “Sherry made me laugh when I needed it.”  Will you ever retire?  I hope not!  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked?  “Why?” (laughs).  Literally, that’s what was asked.  A guy came up to me and just said, “why?”

ADVERSTISEMENT

Featuring Sherry Vine, Canadian sexploitation filmmaker Bruce LaBruce goes to Germany to write and direct the satire, The Raspberry Reich, inspired by real-life ’70s radical group the Baader-Meinhof gang.

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  Carol Burnett and Madonna.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  Press-on fingernails.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why?  Budapest.  It’s a stunning city.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  How to peel away the layers of bullshit and the things that don’t matter, and how to focus on what does.  Let go, girl!  What did you learn from your parents?  Unconditional love and empathy, and how to laugh.  If a politician that you didn’t like was drowning, would you save him or her?  Yes. 

What’s your favorite drink?  Jack Daniels and ginger beer.  What’s your most treasured possession?  I’m not materialistic, but I treasure my photo albums.  Do you believe in ghosts?  Yes.  Either living or dead, who would you love to have lunch with?  Carol Burnett.  What performer do you admire, and why?  Jackie Beat.  She’s lightning fast.  What’s your best characteristic?  That I genuinely care.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  Watching the same Marvel movies over and over.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Joe Manganiello.

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If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  Douglas Sanders, who passed away too young.  He was my best friend and co-conspirator in theater.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  To Studio 54, in the 1970’s, so that I could dance and party!  What would your last meal be?  Popeyes fried chicken and a milk shake.  What do you worry about?  The next gig (laughs)!  What are you afraid of?  Spiders.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why?  An electric guitar.  It’s so sexual.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  Both, depending on my mood.  Who depends on you?  I don’t think that anyone depends on me, actually.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTTOBY

Who are you closest with?  I’m very close to my parents.  I’m also close with Josh, Erik, Bruce and Jackie.  Oh, and Joey Arias.  What would your autobiography be called?  Little Votive Nights.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  I play the guitar.  It always lifts me up.  What’s on your bucket list?  I don’t have one.  I try to do what I wanna do as it comes up.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  Je ne regrette rien.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  I’ll never tell.  Where can we see you?  You can see me this Friday and Saturday at The Pub.  I’m also all over the world with lots of exciting shows.  Check out my website for my schedule!