Dirty Holiday Looks: Snapshots Of A Queer Gift Bazaar

On the first day of Christmas, aka Dec. 8, LA’s true love Dirty Looks gave to thee a Holiday Bazaar for the ages at the only venue suitable for a proper queering of your favorite seasonal traditions: the city’s stalwart leather bar Faultline.

The second annual Dirty Looks Holiday Bazaar, curated by DL founder and creative director Bradford Nordeen, outdid the queer film collective’s inaugural holiday shindig in every way. Amid the bar’s seedy neon and spilt beer, local artists presented an orgy of off-kilter holiday gifts, installations, and performances for every persuasion.

There were ceramic cocks “noses” by Aimee Goguen. Homemade soaps with names like “We-Three-Queens” and “Flaming Earl” by Sven Soapright. A wall of bondage-inspired holiday “wreoths” by Peppré Ann. And a bunch of other amazing stuff I was too drunk to buy!

A bevy of additional holiday delights were on offer to loosen inhibitions and wallets. A photo booth by Ron Athey featured the artist gamely posing for pics in a bull’s head. A twisted video yule log by Michael Robinson replaced the multi-screen porn usually on rotation. And go-go elves in skimpy tighty reddies dicked the halls.

On the performance front, Dynasty Handbag and Brontez Purnell brought on the warm-and-funnies with typically outré numbers, while Glen Meadmore’s Kuntry Band put a festive spin on their ‘80s underground hits. Bringing it all home was Sam Sparro, whose nightcap DJ set included aural hot toddies like “Pull Up to the Bumper” and Mariah’s “Joy to the World.”

Check out photos from the event by Navi below, and subscribe to Dirty Looks’ mailing list for info on future events.