Gay guys draw vaginas
Gaymenand vaginas -- historically, the two are worlds apart. So what happens when you ask a same-sex attracted man to sit down and draw one?
This is the question that led Keith Wilson and Shannon O'Malley to curate an ongoing public art project and upcoming picture book called "Gay Men Draw Vaginas." With the results ranging from satisfactory art to clever depictions, the results are both humorous and telling about the relationship between homosexual men and vaginas.
As the project is currently involved in a Kickstarter campaign, The Huffington Publish chatted with the pair this week how the project got started, what's surprised them the most and more.
The Huffington Post: Where did the inspiration for the project reach from?Keith Wilson: Three years ago, we were at a restaurant with a bunch of other homos and the topic of vaginas came up. After a few unenlightened comments came out of the mouths of the queer men, Shannon asked me to draw a vagina on the table with a crayon. After I did, everyone at our table gawked at it, critiqued it. It started a totally vaginal conversation in a restaurant packed of children and families -- fun stuff. Shannon asked my boyfriend, who was also at the table, to d
With the holidays just around the corner, we’re all stuck with the lingering question of what to get the person who has everything. Shannon O’Malley and Keith Wilson have an reply for you. The San Francisco team finally released their long-awaited coffee table book Gay Men Draw Vaginas. Xtra chatted with them about what they learned in the process and whose tree you should contemplate shoving it under
Xtra: How does it feel now that the publication is finally out?
Shannon: For years we’ve been looking at these drawings in Keith’s studio. But a few weeks ago, we got our first advance copy and could see the artwork in the novel. The book context was important because it helped me see the drawings with new eyes and within a sequence Keith created with his excellent editing skills. It’s also awesome to meet people and start conversations with “Wanna see some vaginas?” then tug up our Instagram account. It’s helped me make lots of friends. Sometimes I feel favor the overlord of vaginas.
What has the process taught you about gay men’s relationships with vaginas? Do you deliberate it’s served to quell or enlarge vag-phobia?
Ke Ever wondered what gay guys think vaginas see like? You recognize, the thing they probably came out of but are not massive fans of, sexually? Well Shannon O'Malley wondered the same thing, so she asked her mate Keith, who happens to be gay, to endeavor to draw a vagina. It started a massive conversation about vaginas, obviously. Which was super absorbing. So interesting, in fact, that other gay men also wanted to donate drawing a vagina a go. So Shannon and Keith's friends and colleagues began sending over their artistic renderings of female sexual parts, giving birth (one of the many great things vaginas have given birth to) to the 'Gay Men Outline Vaginas' Tumblr. This then became the gay_men_draw_vaginas Instagram, because Instagram NEEDS more photos of vaginas. The Instagram posthaste picked up speed, with loads of gay men from across the earth sending in their attempts. Some are a bit trippy... Others are more scientific... But they are all very, very absorbing to look at. Look, this one has a unicorn! Instagrammer @mythfit seems to view vaginas as sex on legs, despite being gay. Insert pussy jok Here's what it looks like when male lover men attempt to draw vaginas
Introduction to the 2013 Hardcover Version
In 2011, while eating dinner with friends at a restaurant, the topic of “vaginas” came up, as it does. Neither of us remember what sparked this request, but Shannon asked Keith to draw “a vagina” on the table, which was covered with paper and decorated with a centerpiece of flowers and crayons.
After Keith drew his vag, everyone at our table came over to gawk and laugh at it. His creation sparked a totally fun vaginal conversation. To keep the excitement going, Shannon asked Keith’s crush, who was also at the table, to draw one. When he did, everyone, again, bitchily scrutinized it and then compared it to Keith’s. For the first time ever, we were looking at two vaginas drawn by gay men.
After the fun of drawing vaginas for dinner, we acknowledged that our little art session had surfaced some interesting reactions and questions. But how could we acknowledge these questions with only two vagina drawings -- a scientifically invalid sample size?
The only way to set forth on our path of inquiry was to get more vag drawings. So we set up art-making booths in places where gays congregate -- gay parks, gay sidewalks, etc