While I can’t say for certain that this work depicts a gay bar, we know Perlin was active in the 1950 gay bar scene of New York City. I find I gravitate to these places, feeling the most unabashed and comfortable version of myself when I’m there.Ĭonsider this work titled The Bar, by Bernard Perlin. On any given Sunday pre-COVID-19, you might have found me starting my day with brunch at the Duplex Diner on 18th Street in DC and ending it at Trade on 14th Street.
There are performers, silly wallpapers and décor, good drinks, bad drinks, friends, etc.
When you close your eyes and picture a gay bar, what do you see? Do you picture Stonewall, or perhaps a scene from Sex and the City? Maybe you picture drag queens or leather? I picture a collage of sorts, comprised of imagery from hundreds of memories. In honor of Pride month, we're launching an occasional series where SAAM staff take a close look at meaningful works of art in our collection. Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture.
