While
learning silkscreen printing at the New England School of Photography in
Boston, my instructor gave us the assignment to create a print that told
something about ourselves. I knew Suzie was going to take a picture of
herself and her teddy bear and Chuck was going to be standing by his car
and Bob was going to be holding a hamburger. This thought horrified me.
I wasn’t out to my classmates, so I knew immediately what I
had to do. I asked my best friend if I could borrow his boyfriend for
the photograph (he was the right height and had chest hair).
After the shot, I locked myself into one of the private darkrooms to
make the separations. I waited until late at night on Friday to do the
printing while everyone else was out partying. No one was going to see
this until the critique.
The day of the critique arrived and, sure enough, Suzie had a picture
of herself and her teddy bear. “Great,” the instructor said
disinterestedly. “ Suzie likes teddy bears, but what does that tell me
about Suzie? Nothing. Next?” Chuck standing by his car was next. And
Bob holding a hamburger after that. All received the same treatment from
the instructor. I felt ripped-off and said so. “Well!” said my
classmates. “If yours is so good, let’s see it!” “I’m going
last” I declared. There was many attempts to make me go next, but I
refused. The rest of the class followed in the footsteps of Suzie,
Chuck, and Bob. And all were quickly dismissed by the instructor.
Finally it was my turn. I got up from my seat, pinned the print on
the board in front of the class, then turned around and looked each one
of them in the eye before sitting down.
There was dead silence.
My instructor smiled for the first time that entire day.
Finally someone said, “That’s...that’s two MEN!!”
“That’s right,” I said. “I’m gay.”
The print was an immediate hit and I was pressured (not against my
will) to display it in the entry hall of the school. There was no way
anyone who entered the school could avoid seeing it. All of my other
classes wanted me to bring it for their critiques as well. The response
was overwhelming and positive. I’m glad I did it.
