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2nd ANNUAL EROTIC ART FAIR
at The Center
208 West 13th Street
Fri July 12, 7-10 p.m.; Sat, Sun Jul 13-14, 2002, noon to 6 p.m.
Reservations and info: 213.250.1685
Erotic Emporium
2nd Annual Erotic Art Fair brings queer art to New York City
By Aaron Krach
"I’m very passionate about erotic art and about the Tom of Finland foundation," said photographer Pet Silvia. "I can’t believe they exist and that they have no restrictions on sexual orientation or gender of the artists and artwork they support. Their goal is to strictly promote, protect and help erotic artists."
The Foundation accomplishes this goal by sponsoring an erotic art fair, the 2nd annual edition of which will take place next weekend, July 12-14 at the Lesbian and Gay Community Center. Silvia will be at the fair this year with is own provocative work along eight other artists that he and his partner represent at their New York gallery, Art @ Large, on Ninth Avenue.
PET SILVIA'S SELF-PORTRAIT
MICHAEL ROSEN'S EMBRACE
"We’ve done seven wildly successful fairs in Los Angeles, and we were delighted that our first fair in New York in 2001 was a big hit as well," said Durk Dehner, president of the Tom of Finland Foundation. "Thanks to a generous offer by the Lesbian and Gay Center, we’re back for Number Two. We plan to make this another first-class event for artists, collectors of the genre, and the public."
MARC DEBAUCH'S COWBOY >The weekend-long event begins on Friday night with an Artist’s reception and press party from 7-10 p.m. The general public is invited as well, although a reservation is necessary. The event is jointly sponsored by the Foundation, The Center, and the Consulate General of Finland in New York. (The thought of the American consulate sponsoring an erotic exhibition anywhere in the world is ridiculous. Thank god for free-loving Scandinavia.)
More than 30 artists from around the country are scheduled to attend. In addition to already completed work, the fair will also feature live models being sketched and photographed, along with other art making demonstrations.
"I’ve done the L.A. show for six years," said Marc DeBauch, a painter in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "Even if I don’t make money at the event, I'm always meet interesting people and that usually leads to something good happening later."
DeBauch’s work is of muscular young men painted in a friendly, approachable style that sometimes mixes pagan imagery with mythological themes. Also in attendance will be New York-based illustrator Robert Richards, whose work is loosely drawn in a seductively rhythmic style. But it’s not only about boys. There are talented women showing work this year. Barbara Nitke’s photographs of S&M couples are not to be missed.
Queer artists exploring fantasies neither traditionally feminine nor masculine will also be there, see Silvia’s bright photographs of himself in and out of drag.
The Tom of Finland Foundation’s mission is to protect, preserve and promote erotic art of all genders and orientations worldwide. When it comes to the show, DeBauch sees it in a much more humorous light. "It’s not much different than a wildlife art show," he said, "but instead of painting ducks or eagles, there are people painting every kind of erotica. It goes right to the depth of sexuality and what turns someone on, which is very specific. We’re all doing something erotic, but no one is doing the same thing. The result is a little like a candy shop with something for everyone’s taste."
