If you didn’t make it to ‘Bushwig’ last weekend in New York, you missed out on an amazing drag-filled event! But fret not, because photographer Mario Ashkar captured the third annual event in an amazing series of photos…
[quote]When three Drag Queens ask you to join them to document their 8-hour road trip from Pittsburgh to Bushwig, an annual festival that showcases Drag and Queer performances from around the world, you get in that car, no questions asked.
(I mean, that’s how Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Tu Wong Foo both begin, what could go wrong?)
This was the second year Cherri Baum, the moon baby, and I made the trip to Bushwig and the first that we were joined by Bebe Beretta.
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In addition to the queens I traveled with, I was fortunate to speak with and photograph a great number of the attendees, many of whom are prominent drag queens, queer icons, bloggers, musicians and artists. Over the stretch of the day, I began to notice a trend in the conversations I was having: That beautiful art and personal expression don’t have to be costly to be stunning.
Here’s a short list of the people I photographed and spoke with: Lady Quesa’dilla, Michael Alig, Baby Born, Charlene, Heidi Glum, Michael Musto, Hamm Sandwich, January Bones, John Polly, Patty Spliff, Voxxa Vine, Alotta McGriddles, Goldie Peacock, Huter Schneider, Pearl, Soigne, Pusse Couture, Ellen Degenerate, Elle Emenopé, Cameron Cole, Sick Nasty, Mocha Light, Tyler Ashley, Veruca la Piranha, Krobottom, Andy Pandy, Urethra Franklin, Althea Trix, Demanda, Arcie Cola, Severely Mame, Horrorchata, Daphne Sumtimez, Peter Clough, Untitled queen, and many other talented and beautiful people.
Although our car broke down (thanks to Alotta McGriddles for the jump!), we had zero money, and we took turns sleeping on the floor, we will definitely be making this trip for years to come.
(And like Julie Newmar before me, I’ll close with…)
To Bushwig,
Thanks for everything,
Mario Ashkar[/quote]
Be sure to check out Mario on his website, Vimeo, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for amazing photography and more!
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