The Total Femme

My wonderful and talented femme Sis is about to wow and gift us with her open studios this weekend – please stop by if you’re in the area! (See below for more information.)

Liz Nania is a beautiful artist and a fierce, hard-working, compassionate queer femme icon! She does so much for our community and for the art world, including creating and designing the colors for bisexual pride (pink, lavender, and blue) way back in 1989, for which she is honored with a plaque at the Stonewall Inn. She has also taught dance for decades to queers and allies.

Deep gratitude to Liz for her stick-to-itness, her generosity, her big heart and big big talent as an artist and teacher. So much queer femme respect and love to ya, Sis!!

(the below is Liz’s recent email telling her news)

“Art News: I’ll be sharing my art at Needham Open Studios, Sat. May 4, 11-4 pm, and Sun. May 5, 11-3 pm. I’ll be at my studio, Studio 201 at Gorse Mill Studios, 31 Thorpe Rd. in Needham. Here’s the link: Needham Open Studios – Home  and here’s my website: www.liznania.com

I’d love to see you there! (I’m also back on Instagram in a very limited way; just look up Liz Nania.)

I’ll be showing small, medium and large paintings, (encaustic and acrylic/mixed media on birch boards and canvas,) some new monoprints and paintings on paper, (and I’ll also have some very small things like mini art and a few painted bangle bracelets.) I may possibly include some of my artists’ books. Plus, Gorse Mill Studios features other artists and makers and a group show in the gallery, or you can drive around and explore all the other artists sharing their work in Needham. There are also some good restaurants and ice cream in the area, especially on Great Plain Ave.  (Plus 2 consignment boutiques, and my fave is The Closet Exchange.)   🙂

I’m excited to invite you back into my studio to say hi, talk about art and life, and have some fun with it! (Don’t be shy, there’s never any pressure to buy, in my studio or anyone else’s.) 

A great honor: I saw a plaque with my name on it in the historic Stonewall Inn in New York City last October. It credited me as the creator/designer of the bisexual pride colors (pink, lavender, blue) in 1989. I was blown away! What a thrill!

Art Show: I have a monoprint in a juried show featuring artists who have Dorchester connections (I grew up there); it’s called “Changes”, and it’s at the Local Hand Gallery near Ashmont Station in Dorchester. They’re super friendly people, and they sell lots of cool small paper stuff, gifts, home goods, and the like. Check it out if you’re in the area. There’s also a great cafe next door. 

Vintage coolness: Also, my Talking Plates (I occasionally write in calligraphy on vintage china) are at my favorite shop, Birch St. House and Garden in Roslindale, owned by the lovely Elizabeth Swanson. Her shop is always worth a visit!”

Every Friday, I showcase a queer femme goddess. I want to feature you or someone you love! Write to me at thetotalfemme@gmail.com and let me shine a spotlight on your beautiful, unique, femme story! If you’ve written a femme story or poem or song, oh, please let me post it!

At the Total Femme, my intention is to post three times a week: Meditations for Queer Femmes on Monday, Pingy-Dingy Wednesday on Wednesday, and Femme Friday on Friday. Rather than play catch-up in a stressful fashion on those weeks when life prevents posting, I have decided to just move gaily forward: if I miss a Monday, the next post will be on Wednesday, and so on. Thank you, little bottle of antibiotics for inspiring me in this! (“…if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one.”) And…as I go life life life, I will post as I am able, Mabel.