New York-based performance and visual artist Rafael Sanchez has discovered the risks that scraggly chin fur can pose in post-9/11 America. “I began growing my beard in 2004 and realized that in the current political climate, I couldn’t even grab a cab with my beard,” Sanchez rues. The artist, who says he has done a lot of drag and was used to keeping his face and body closely shaved, discovered his hirsute mug was a ticket to political discourse. “The beard itself became a symbol of power. I was listening to ZZ Top with Jim Fletcher, my longtime collaborator, and we decided the band offered an interesting way to approach... More >>>