P-Town in [perspective]
If you’ve never been to Provincetown to celebrate Independence Day, well, you should go. The crowds can be intimidating, sure, but there really is no other sense of gay communion like it; beach-bum homos from every corner of the world converge during P-town’s busiest week of the year on the narrow sickle-shaped stretch of land that was once a fishing village and has since been home to legendary authors, filmmakers, drag queens and artists.
There’s a reason why this place is so hot. There’s a sort of charm that pulls you into a queer neutral zone, where gays and straights, families, couples and singles all mingle like some Biblical vision of lions and lambs sharing green pastures. Only this time the angels are sunbathing and the horns and harps are traded in for vinyl on turntables.
Provincetown is magical. I’ve spent time there all throughout the year, and can honestly say Arthur P. Richmond’s Provincetown Perspectives captures, in photos, the essence of the quaint New England town that harbors memories for many the moment they step out of the car or plane, or off the boat. Because there is something truly disarming about a narrow sickle-shaped sliver of land in the middle of nowhere that allows you to be yourself, to enjoy time with friends, to get to know the locals without worrying about fitting in or fagging out.
Alright, you get the point. But is this book any good? Richmond’s 9 x 8 paperback turns like a postcard book, and at $9.99 you shouldn’t expect art anthology quality. The captions are a bit stodgy and a few images are actually out of focus. But the aerial and beach shots are enough reason to grab it for your bookshelf at home. The author has been involved with photography for over 45 years and at least one photo is a testament to that (what model car is that in the picture?). But seriously, where else can you find a postcard shot of that old guy who plays the creepy organ on Commercial Street?
From a “pride” standpoint, there could be more “gay-friendly” material, but in the end, this book does what it is designed to do: take you back and let your imagination do the rest. Or, if you want to really make it that special souvenir (for you or your host), leave it in your cottage’s common area and have your guests write provocative notes in the margins.
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