AMOS MAC SHOOTS PEOPLE

Dug up this photo of Topher while writing about the open call for Original Plumbing magazine’s 18th issue – Beyond Bathrooms. Read on and maybe you’d like to submit!

I took this portrait of Bryn Kelly in 2012, almost 4 years ago to the day. It was in the middle of a freezing, dark winter, and looking at it I’m reminded of some specials months with Bryn. One memory that came to me this morning and made me laugh was when we went to studio audience tapings of both Martha Stewart and Anderson Cooper’s day-time tv shows within the same week, both days leaving with armfuls of really hilarious (yet free!) swag, including SPANX buy-one-get-one coupons, make-up and foot creams created by reality tv stars, truffle honey, “very expensive” salami sticks and the big hit: Olive Garden gift cards, which we of course used immediately.

My heart goes out to everyone who was and continues to be inspired by the life, love and art of Bryn Kelly. She made a mark on so many of our lives.

Ky Platt, 42, Lower East Side, New York

How do you ID on the gender spectrum?  I don’t really do male or female pronouns. I don’t care.

How can masculinity be toxic?

Masculinity is as complex as any other type of identity — race or whatever. Especially in this day and age — and not just in American society, but globally — masculinity is really sort of limited, and that’s sad and problematic. I see that in my own life: I have a hyper masculine African-American father who was a Golden Gloves boxer. One of my brothers is incredibly athletic; he has three sons, two of whom are gifted athletically. The other son is intellectual, but my brother favors the jocks — and I think that’s sad. Especially, because the intellectual son will probably be the agent for his jock brothers! I don’t think that the modern masculine identity is very nuanced. It’s based around a lot of insecurities that I don’t fully understand. Why is it that my brothers can’t show a complex masculine identity? Our society values the “Soldier”, the “Athlete.” We don’t even really value the “Father,” which is weird. If you’re going to be basic about masculinity, you’d think the archetype of the “Father” would be the #1 image you’d want to uphold or idealize.