PIN-UP PHOTOGRAPHER HAS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE EARTH AND WANTS A MUD BATH
Pinups, created by Christopher Schulz, is a triannual publication featuring photos of men in various locales doing a variety of things in various states of undress. Each issue has only one or two models, no text, and can be unfolded to make a pin-up poster. Artist AA Bronson has called Pinups ”a coyly elaborate one image publication.” As such, the genre of Pinups is eventually difficult to prescribe; but the guys Pinups features feel very real and are quite sexy. I personally own issue #7 and intend to buy #11 as soon as I get back to the States. I also recently e-mailed Christopher Schulz to ask him a few questions for Jungle Guts.
JOHNNIE: Pinups often features guys who could be categorized as bears in the gay community. I’ve always felt that something about the bear persona has an aura of earth love. As an expert on bears, could you elaborate on my inkling?
CHRISTOPHER: I’ve always been very careful to not identify the models as bears or any other group because it’s too limiting. I believe the models’ beauty transcends trappings of the bear identity. The men that are featured in Pinups don’t all share bear characteristics—some are thin, some are chubby, some are hairy, some are smooth, but they are all comfortable with their bodies and don’t hide physical characteristics regardless of cultural ideals. You’ll find no bleached, bronzed, waxed guys giving Zoolander face, trying desperately to be sexy in Pinups. Instead, you’ll see men in the nude, going about their day-to-day as though clothes were never invented.
