Joe Brainard, Tim Dlugos and ‘the gay artist’ question

From the new Joe Brainard Collected Works, via an interview at the back of the book with Tim Dlugos. (Thanks, Matthew Hittinger! And congrats on Skin Shift!)

TD: Do you consider yourself a “gay artist”? Is there such a thing as “gay art” outside of subject matter? Is there a “gay sensibility” that infuses your work of infuses the work of poets you know?
 
JB: Does a gay sensibility exist?

TD: Does it exist in your work, and does it exist at all?

JB: I think it does in mine, but I think it’s sort of closing out. I think that kids are coming up now…I don’t think it’s that important to most kids now. I mean it’s not that much of an issue, while at one point, in my life, it was an issue.

TD: You mean personal?

JB: Yeah. Isn’t that what you mean?

TD: Well, is it a matter of subject, or what’s it a matter of?
JB: It’s a matter of being aware of it, I think, but that doesn’t answer your question. Sometimes it’s a subject matter, obviously; with a drawing of two guys fucking it’s obviously subject matter.  But I think it’s more than that.  Most artists are very straight, I mean straight in their seriousness and in what they’re trying to do.  I think I’m a lot more sensual, I mean I’m a lot more ga-ga than that–but on purpose.  No, not on purpose.

TD: Sort of a ludic quality, playful?

JB: Yes. (Pause).  I’m not really sure that has anything to do with being gay, though, ’cause I think my work is very sensual, very lush and all that, but I’m not sure that has to do with being gay.  If I was straight it might be that way too.  I don’t know.