John Arsenault – Barmaid

The site of the leather bar Eagle LA, in Los Angeles, has been home to three highly popular leather bars over the decades: the Shed, the Outcast, and the Gauntlett II. The Eagle LA, opened in 2005, follows a long-standing tradition of leather fetish and uniform, set forth by leather Eagle bars around the country.

This publication presents images by American photographer John Arsenault (born 1971), who worked at the Eagle LA as a barback, or "barmaid," as Arsenault liked to refer to the position. The series consists of customer and employee portraits, interior landscapes from the bar, and self-portraits. Having observed the fetish leather and uniform community from afar for many years, Arsenault was eventually accepted into its midst. These exclusive photographs reflect an insider's view of the iconic bar.