EVENTS
Detroit's no drag, queens of the city!
July 16th, 2008

Right here, in our own unique and diverse city, exists a ballsy sorority of vivacious divas that command attention wherever they go. 
Painter, Nada Jurisic, is presenting a collection of portraits representing Detroit area diva-drag queens at the Pittman-Puckett Gallery in Ferndale, Michigan till the end of this month.
Vivid canvases of men tricked-out as chicks will fill the walls for your viewing pleasure.  We were lucky enough to attend the gallery opening while the models themselves graced the gallery as well as performed for the packed house.  These bitchy-sweet trannies are a delight to behold with their flair for the edgy combined with a fearless demeanor.

Jurisic is a resident of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and a recent immigrant to the United States.  She has been a painter for almost 15 years with a long list of exhibits and a variety of print and television media stories about her.  Growing up in western Canada, Jurisic was a big fan of Motown music and through the media, was aware of Detroit’s glories and infamies.  With a fascination for all things un-ordinary, Jurisic became infatuated with the mysterious lives of the transgendered after attending a drag show in Key West with her husband.  She then sought out these individuals, as artistic subjects, in the Detroit area.   Nada was thrilled to discover that not only did they exist, but were highly intelligent and multi-talented.  Through her paintings, Nada Jurisic is representing the colorful and dazzling ‘ra-sha-sha’ Detroit, in celebration and honor of these glorious femmes.

The show will run until August 22, 2008 at the Pittman-Puckett Gallery in Ferndale.  The paintings are colorful, bold and unique in a way that could only describe the subjects they represent.  The opening show we attended was very colorful with a performance by a tall, lanky Diva dressed in shiny gold pants with a lacy see thru top.  Michiee who performed a few of his songs for the packed gallery, is also the subject of my favorite painting by Nada titled “Meow”. 

In the painting, Michiee is lying across the top of a cigarette dressed in a cat suit.  Very sexy, very different and keeps you looking into the image like many of Nada’s other pieces do.  They grab ahold, and keep you looking into the texture of the paintings. Some of Nada Jurisic’s work can be viewed at Ariana Gallery at 119 South Main Street in Royal Oak, Mi. ph: 248 546 8810 or on Nada’s website:  www.nadaart.com

Photos and Story by Pat Bonish

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