Retirement Letter

Dear Friends & Fans,

First off I want to thank each and every one of you who has been a part of this amazing drag journey of mine over the past ten years!  It has been an incredible chapter in my life and I will be forever grateful for it!  But all good things must come to an end and the time has come for Artemis Chase to step off the stage and retire from nightlife.

Drag has played an incredibly important role in my life!  As a young adult I was truly lost in the world and through becoming Artemis I found a place where I belonged, a place where I was special.  I have always been a shy and reserved person.  Artemis helped me come out of my shell, gain self-confidence, and learn to interact with other people.  But most of all Artemis helped me truly learn to love myself!

I’m a firm believer that things in life happen for a reason and that we have lessons to learn through everything that happens.  I believe that I have learned the lessons I needed to learn from drag and now it is time to open myself up to the next phase in my life.  I needed Artemis to help me grow up, but now it is time to stop hiding behind a fake persona and just be myself.

I may pop up from time to time in different creative projects.  And of course I’m keeping a wig and heels just in case I get the urge to hop up on stage someday in the future.  But if that does happen it will just be for the fun of it.  I will most definitely not be producing any more events, hosting shows, or pursuing any part of nightlife on a regular basis.

I understand that my quitting affects a number of people that I work with and I am very sorry for anyone who is upset or disappointed.  But as I step down from the role I play in Portland’s nightlife it is time for new entertainers to step up and fill the void.  There are so many incredibly talented people here and I can’t wait to see what you will all do as the reigns are passed on to you!

I want to urge everyone who does drag or is involved in nightlife to remember one thing!  It doesn’t matter if you are a glamour queen or an androgynous freak, a man in a dress or a lady with a mustache, if you lip-sync or sing live or dance or tell jokes.  We are ALL outcasts joined together in this crazy world that happens after dark!  Always remember to love and accept each other!  Because when we fight amongst ourselves we ALL lose!  That has always been what I believe in and if I can only leave one thing behind after ten years of drag it would be that message!

Never forget…

Love!  Laugh!  Sing!  Dance!

All my love!

---Artemis.

Portland AIDS Walk

Hey Darlings!

I am walking this year in the Portland AIDS Walk.  The walk benefits the Cascade AIDS Project here in Portland which is an incredibly important organization that offers support to those affected by HIV/AIDS and education/prevention throughout the community.

This is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart!  When I found out I was positive over 4 years ago it was an organization very much like CAP that offered me the support and assistance to get through that hard time.  So now I want to do what I can to give back!

If any of you would be willing to pledge a donation for the walk that would be so wonderful!  Any amount  can help, no matter how small or large.  To donate go to http://cap.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=339739&lis=1&kntae339739=F6ACCB32218944CAA8D2E83D095F0BB5&supId=300196220

Thanks so much Everyone!

---Artemis.

Peep Show Featuring Pandora Boxx!

Hey Darlings!

This coming Tuesday is a very special edition of Peep Show featuring the always fabulous Pandora Boxx!!!  This is going to be the most amazing show I have been a part of since moving back to Portland!  You do NOT want to miss it!

Just Out Article About Portland's New Drag Scene!

Hey Darlings!

Just Out published an article about the new drag scene of Portland!  It is an absolutely fabulous article that really expresses what is going on with drag in this city!  Check it out at http://www.justout.com/arts.aspx?id=239 

I've been working tirelessly ever since moving back to Portland to make the drag/nightlife scene here more entertaining and things are finally taking off!  Just be forewarned everyone...this is only the beginning!  So practice your power naps and get your steel liver transplants, because there's going to be a lot more incredible nightlife heading your way!

June Peep Show!

WOW!  WOW!  WOW!  That's about all I can say about Peep Show this past Tuesday!  Last month was brilliant with Sherry Vine and Joey Arias!  But this month we featured 100% local Portland talent and they truly blew me away!  It was one of those rare shows that just seemed magical to me and will forever be one I will remember and hold dear to my heart!

I opened the evening with a parody of "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga called "Outer Space" where it claims that Gaga is an alien.  Many thanks to Allison, Kim, and Nichole for ally being in the number with me!  You were all brilliant (and gorgeous)!

Sally Ingus Wilder then took to the stage with her rewrite of Shirley Bassey's "Hey Big Spender" done as "Hey Big Boner" complete with deep throating balloons and juggling.  The most amazing thing about that number for me is that Sally lip synchs while Allison May sings the song live from off-stage.  And let me tell you...that's NOT easy to do!

We got more live vocals right after with Zora Phoenix performing "Hot Child in the City", with a few humorously rewritten lyrics of course!

One of the most exciting surprises for me was seeing the incredibly talented Mona "Sphongledhoops" perform her hoola hoop act!  It was truly sensational and I don't know how she pulled it off on our little stage!

Laura Beth and Little Tommy Bang Bang brought us a tribute to Marilyn Monroe's birthday with an adorable rendition of "You Ain't Nothin' But a Houndog" sang live by Laura Beth while Tommy hammed it up on stage as only he can!

Burlesque sensation Sadie LaGuerre gave us a fabulous number set to Goldfrapp and I learned a fabulous new trick of filling a giant balloon with confetti and popping it on stage.  Yes girl, yes!

My dear friend Vegas Platinum is leaving Portland in a few weeks, so I had to get her to perform at Peep Show once before she left.  And she tore it up like I knew she would with her outstanding "Plastic Surgery Mix"!

After intermission the incredibly talented boys of Burlesquire got the crowd all worked up with their super sexy dancing!

Little Tommy Bang Bang returned to the stage with his lady friend Dixie Cup for a hilarious white trash rendition of "Livin La Vida Loca" that had me laughing from start to finish!

One performer I was absolutely thrilled agreed to be in the show was one of the legendary Sissy Boys, Fannie Mae Darling!  She enraptured the crowd as she belted out "Purple Rain"!

Sally Ingus Wilder and I both returned with second numbers.  Sally doing her funny as all hell "Party in the USA" and my "Whitney on Crack" number.

And finally we saved what many would call the best for last!  Ecstasy Inferno TORE UP the stage with her 4 backup dancers to "Sex Shooter" and a new track by Erika Jayne!  Nobody in Portland can touch Ecstasy when it comes to dance numbers and I am so blessed to count her among my many talented friends!

If you would like to see videos from the night check out our brand new youtube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/PeepShowVideos and add the Peep Show Facebook Page to stay up to date on all the latest party news!

Peep Show is a Smashing Success!

The time has come for a change in Portland's drag scene!  And Tuesday night we began that change with the the incredible kickoff of my new monthly event, Peep Show @ The Red Cap Garage!  Opening night we brought in the legendary and epic talents of Sherry Vine and Joey Arias and they truly were phenomenal!  Their singing, humor, and even when they were just chatting with the audience took drag to a whole new level!  I was incredibly inspired and thankful to be able to have them here!


I kicked off the night with my tribe of cannibal queens for a gruesome yet funny rendition of "Maneater".  Many thanks to my backup performers Sally Ingus Wilder, Saturn, and Brandon!  It was by far one of the favorite numbers I've done since moving back to Portland!

The second set was opened by the always amazing Ecstasy Inferno with a rousing Missy Elliot mix!  Now this was a seven minute number, which usually would have me shaking my head in frustration, but this girl pulled it off!  And we will be seeing much more of her in the coming months!

Peep Show will continue to happen on the first Tuesday of every month!  We are going to be bringing you the hottest drag talent as well as a mixture of singing, dance, comedy, and so much more!  We want to take Portland's nightlife entertainment to an entirely new level and I think we are off to a great start!  Plus we are working on bringing you more very special out of town guests in the upcoming months!  One hint...think outside the boxx!  So make sure to mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 1st for the next installment of Peep Show!

(Photos by Marty Davis, Just Out)

Rupaul's Drag Race Season 3 Audition!

I have finally completed my audition tape for season 3 of Rupaul's Drag Race!  Here it is!


Artemis Chase - Rupaul's Drag Race Season 3 Audition from Artemis Chase on Vimeo.

Rupaul's Drag Race Finale!

So last night was finally the finale of Rupaul's Drag Race!  It was no big surprise that Tyra Sanchez was crowned the winner.  The surprise for me though was that I wasn't as upset over it as I thought I was going to be.  Granted I still would have preferred Raven to win for sure (or Pandora or Sonique or Jujubee, lol)!  But Tyra did grow on me a little bit at the end.

It will be very interesting to see where all the girl's careers take them now!  My money is on Pandora and Jujubee as being the big break-out stars of the season.

Blogging Break

Hi Darlings!

I have a lot of things going on right now in my life, so I am going to be cutting back on my blogging for a little while.  I'll still be popping on from time to time and keeping you up to date on what's going on with me, but the "Queen of the Week" and "Inside My Makeup Box" features are going to be on hold for now.  I'm sure I will start them up again down the road, but it's just time for a little break.

Kisses!

---Artemis.

Queen of the Week - Sally Ingus Wilder

Name: Sally Ingus Wilder

Age: 26

Location: Portland, OR

Single or taken? I'm a single Sally

What is your drag style like?  Being from the Midwest originally, there's definitely a bit of "Minnesota Nice" in my personality. When I perform I tend towards theatrical, choreographed numbers. I love props, magic and special effects! I'm more interested in performance and spectacle than straight up dancing, lip-synching, or pageantry.

How long does it take you to get ready in drag? Around and hour and a half, or 3 PBR tallboys.

Do you have a favorite number you perform? It's too soon to say. I'm working on a more serious piece involving projected home videos of me as a child when I used to secretly dress in drag and videotape myself, which I hope will be tragically hilarious and moving at the same time.

Where can we see you perform? I'm currently loving performing at Miss Thing each month here in Portland, hosted by the legendary Heklina of Trannyshack! I'm also really excited to be performing in the new alternative drag show Artemis is hosting beginning in May!

How did you first get into drag? I've always had an interest in performance, makeup and costume, but never had the right connections growing up in Minneapolis. It wasn't until moving to Portland that I found an encouraging network of friends and professionals. It's here that I met my drag mother Allison May, who has a rich background in theater and loves drag queens more than anything on earth. She really helped me make the leap, and I'm oh so glad she did!

Who have been your biggest inspirations? Traditional drag really does nothing for me. I love anything androgynous, experimental, and spectacular. I'm currently a huge fan of Suppositori Spelling for the rawness of her performances. I love the look of Minneapolis's Kysa Bong. Sissyboy is super inspiring — I love a good gender fuck! I also have a huge crush on Portland performance artist/Sissyboy Kaj-anne Pepper.

What would be your three biggest tips for a new drag queen? Well being a new drag queen myself, that's a tough one, so here's advice I've received that's been really helpful:

1. BE HUMBLE. Your drag persona is one thing, but you personally must always remain humble (thanks Fannie May Darling!)

2. Drag queens are allowed to be filthy as fuck, but do it with just a touch of class… sometimes.

3. Drag is addicting, no one can do it just once!

If you could perform anywhere in the world where would it be and why? I was raised in an evangelical home, and I performed in one of those Christian Hell Houses as a teenager — I played the role of a tortured soul in hell (ha!) and it was really homophobic and horrible. I'd like to go back in full drag, and reach out to all the poor young queer kids and tell them they're beautiful the way they are.

What is something that might surprise us all about you? In addition to my day job as a graphic designer and illustrator, I've been a professional live caricature artist for 8 years, and have drawn over 10,000 faces at all sorts of venues including Theme Parks, County Fairs, and San Francisco Pride. And you thought drag was trashy…

What makeup items could you not live without? Portland diva Poison Waters once said never to spend more than $2 on a pair of lashes, and its true. I'm a regular at the local Mid-K beauty supply store… they've got the goods for cheap! The people at Hollywood Lights here in Portland are really helpful with stage makeup as well.

Do you design any of your clothes, create any of your wigs, etc? My outfits are usually pieced together from thrift stores, things I've made, and borrowed items. My sewing machine is my best friend! I've just started learning to style my own wigs. It's amazing what you can do with a cheap wig, synthetic hair extensions, a can of Aqua Net and a blow dryer!

What has been your all time greatest moment in drag? Winning the March 2010 title in the Miss Thing talent search! I did a lyrically-altered version of "Big Spender", lip-synched to live vocals, swallowed a balloon, and there was a juggler on stage. Besides walking away with the title for that month, it was also my first time on stage in drag, so that would have to be the greatest moment of my young career.

What else should we know about you? Friend me on Facebook and find out!