#otto cushing

[after-zeno]

{after-zeno fiction}: ‘The Ride’

Queer Tour de France Fiction!

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Part 1: Dreams

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/635394226218270720/image-guillermo-p%C3%A9rez-villalta-spanish-

Part 2: Team-Building

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/637564836563304448/image-via-attilioworld

Part 3:  Racing - Day One

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/638739037091463168/image-via-datelinepentagons-after-zeno-fiction

Part 4: The Reckoning

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/648500011834949632

Part 5: New Dawn

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/652241390510735360/image-french-six-day-bicycle-race-by-edward

Part 6:  Team Spirit

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/653693727525765122/image-le-tdf-madness-03-miki-de-goodaboom

Part 7: Distractions

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/657228399448932352/image-the-classic-cicli-fiat-by-plinio-codognato

Part 8: Becoming (Series Final)

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/664910277941379072/image-adapted-from-original-by-rafael-silveira

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[dialogue-queered]

Artist Spotlight: Otho Cushing

Contemporary with J.C. Leyendecker, and Charles Dana Gibson, and heir to the licentious line art of Aubrey Beardsley, Cushing was a mainstream illustrator with a decidedly gay pen stroke.

Extract:

The Smithsonian Archive records that Cushing was born in 1871 in Fort McHenry, Maryland. He received art training from the Boston School of Fine Arts, graduating with honors. He later studied at the Académie Julian in Paris. He returned to the United States and became a professor of drawing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He returned to Paris to accept the position of art editor for the European edition of the Herald-Tribune after the turn of the century. Cushing submitted his first cartoons to Life in late 1906, which were accepted and accompanied by an offer to join the magazine's staff. During World War I Cushing left Life and served in the Army Air Corps. He retired to his home in New Rochelle, New York, after the war and was a successful watercolorist. Cushing died in New Rochelle, New York, 13 October, 1942.

[after-zeno]

Image: Guillermo Pérez Villalta (Spanish, b. 1948), El temporizador elíptico [The Elliptic Timer], 1989. Oil on canvas, 200 x 140 cm  via @terminusantequem

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{after-zeno fiction} : ‘The Ride’

Part 1: Dreams

i.

One, ‘Nathan Carraway’, rested after the long, training ride.

Contemplating his future made him unduly anxious.

Hopefully, in a few weeks, the years of single-minded focus would yield that greatest opportunity for a cyclist - a spot in a Tour de France team!

Image: via @bi-cyclistnetn​

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ii.

Sleep came only slowly that evening.

But once it did - Nate was soon all over the races to come - every which way!

A keen student of history, it was no surprise that Nathan’s mind’s-eye conjured up a heroic image of cyclists as inheritors of a competitive charioteer tradition.

Image: Otto Cushing

But, of course, Nate’s mind flutters soon turned to glory!

He dreamed of wearing the yellow jersey - and for some reason - memories of Cadel Evan’s win coursed through his sub-conscious.

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iii.

Nate woke with a start in the early morning.

He felt dirty, pervy - and even checked his neck for the hickeys he glimpsed in his fantasm.

Image: Jordan Torres

Where did his dreams dredge up such stuff from!

Focus!

He could become a cycling legend if only he put everything out of his mind.

Refracted through a hazy dawn, Nate cussed - “focus, for goodness’ sake, focus!”

Image: Polaroid, Andrei Tarkovsky via @nobrashfestivity

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                                                  ‘The Ride’

                                                 Part 1: Dreams

                                                    The End

*For ‘The Ride’ Part 2: ‘Team-Building’ see:

https://after-zeno.tumblr.com/post/637564836563304448/image-via-attilioworld

[after-zeno]

Image: Otto Cushing

Day-dreaming, just for a moment, Nathan’s mind’s-eye conjured up a heroic image of cyclists as inheritors of the competitive charioteer tradition.

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Image: Otto Cushing

When a team work as a unit and get into a uniform stroke, feel the wind on their faces and relax - it can feel flowing even transcendent.

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Image: via @mavro55

The elderly gentleman had a penchant for formal, themed, afternoon teas at the weekend with pleasing performers in tow, and music - even if just the ukelele.