The theme of robin b’s show was “Flower Power”—in a word, spring. Colorful floral paintings spotted the walls, yet Barsallo’s piece focused on winter because he wanted to properly bid it goodbye. “This has been the hardest winter in 40 years,” he said.
Barsallo (a past Windy City Times Gay in the Life subject) worked with an air of flamboyant choreography, dancing around the model as he daubed or stroked paint, constantly blowing kisses to the crowd. “I’ve been performing since I was 5,” he said.
Both his dancing and bodybuilding background play into his atheletic style and the inspirations behind his work—he’s a man with a keen eye for color, and is a Schwarznegger fan. He saw his model in Chicago designer Julius LaCour’s fall show—LaCour also designed the model’s dress, the only part of the piece not of Barsallo’s imagination.
Barsallo said that choosing the right model is everything, and that working with the body sparks “emotions and passion.”
Photos by Liz Baudler